Judaism

Self-Defense versus Turning the Other Cheek

The statement “an eye for an eye” is in this week’s Torah portion, Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1–24:18). At first glance, this familiar saying appears to promote revenge. However, by carefully studying related biblical passages, we can understand why Judaism never understood this passage literally. Furthermore, to do so would contradict the Torah directive, “Do not seek revenge among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). [Rabbi Bentzion Kravitz]

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Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Parsha Mishpatim: ‘We Will Do and We Will Hear’

This week’s Torah portion, Mishpatim, is a profound exploration of law, ethics, and relationships, offering deep psychological insight into emotional well-being. Through a mental health lens examining this section of the Torah, we can extract valuable lessons about trust, mindfulness, and interpersonal dynamics—critical components of mental health and emotional resilience. [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Holocaust Education Fund Proposed by State Senator Stern

This critical legislation will establish the Holocaust and Genocide Education Grant Program to provide direct allocations to districts to help them establish relevant courses and professional development opportunities around Holocaust and Genocide Education (HGE). [Press Release]

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Antisemitism, California, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education

Children’s Literature: A ‘Mitzvah Fairy’ Performs Six Good Deeds in a Single Day

A little boy has styled himself “the Mitzvah Fairy,” and does six good deeds in a long, rewarding day. He brings chicken soup to his grandmother, who has the sniffles. He waters the plants for his neighbor, Mr. Gordon, whose leg is in a cast. He also fills up Mr. Gordon’s bird feeder. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Founder of Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel Visits San Diego County This Weekend

Dumisani Washington, founder and chief executive officer of the Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel (IBSI), will participate in five Jewish communal events in San Diego County from Friday, Feb. 21, through Sunday, Feb. 23.  [SDJW staff report]

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Barrett Holman Leak, Israel, Jewish History, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Jewish Biography: Arnold Schoenberg, Composer and Latter-Day Jew

After the Nazis came to power, Schoenberg emigrated to the United States. On his way there, in 1933, he underwent a rite of conversion to Judaism in a synagogue in Paris. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, California, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Presentation of Purim Recorded Music at the JCC on Thursday, Feb. 20

Three familiar songs “Chag Purim (Purim Holiday),” “Shoshanas Yaakov (The Rose of Jacob),” and Abraham Goldfaden’s “Heint Iz Purim Brider (Today is Purim, Brothers),” will be part of the dozen selections for this coming Thursday’s Treasures from the Music Collection of the Astor Judaica Library.  [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Plaque Celebrates Historic Indian and Jewish Amity

A remarkable historical plaque was recently presented in the Kalikotta Palace here in Cochin, India. It honored His Highness, Rama Varma Pareekshith Thampuran, the Last Maharaja of Cochin. The brass, 2’x3’ plaque, in English and Hebrew and mounted on rosewood, hangs below the Maharaja’s portrait. [Jerry Klinger]

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International, Jerry Klinger, Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Documentary Charts Journey of Honduran Refugees Helped by Jewish Congregation in Seattle

All We Carry is an 87 ½ -minute documentary distributed for sale by Good Docs that follows Honduran refugees through Mexico to their detention at the Tijuana/ San Diego border and later, as adoptees of a Seattle, Washington, synagogue as they awaited a decision on their applications for asylum in the U.S. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Jewish Caucus in State Capitol Expresses Solidarity with Refugees and Immigrants

“The experience of the Jewish Community, particularly within the United States and California, is rooted in the immigrant story. Many of our families came here as immigrants and refugees fleeing persecution and in search of a better life. We see our stories reflected in the immigrants and refugees of today and we are proud to stand in solidarity with them as they are targeted in this moment of deep vulnerability…”

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California, International, Jewish History, Press Release, USA

Mann O Mann, Could Thomas Write on Biblical Subjects!

Thomas Mann … set himself the monumental task of tackling the stories of the ancestors of the Jewish people and setting them in their wider context, thereby resurrecting them in a way that draws on archeology, history, geography, comparative religions, philosophy, and psychology to portray the events described in a skeletal manner in the Bible. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors