Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel is spiritual leader of Temple Beth Shalom in Chula Vista, California.
His books, available on Amazon, include:
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –Liam Neeson has always been one of my favorite actors in Hollywood. His films have often been stimulating, entertaining, and often contemplative. His latest film, The Grey, disturbs me for many reasons. It is surprising to see Hollywood produce a movie that portrays […]
‘The Grey’ is an irresponsible attack on wolves Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Michael Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –Last Halloween, two atheists decided to poke some adolescent fun at the expense of Catholicism and Islam. One person dressed up as “Zombie Pope” and the other dressed up as “Zombie Mohammed.” Their behavior was outrageous. This is what happened afterwards. A Muslim man named Talaag Elbayomy
Free speech vs. religious sensibility at issue in Pennsylvania case Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USABy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –Somebody recently asked me, “Are Haredim changing the face of Traditional Judaism? Is the divide between the ultra-Orthodox and other denominations (Modern Orthodox, Conservative and Reform) too great to promote a better understanding and respect between each other?” This is a very important question. In the 19th
Gulf widens between Haredim and Modern Orthodox Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi
Birth and Rebirth Through Genesis: A Timeless Theological Conversation, Vol. 1: Genesis 1-3 by Rabbi Michael L. Samuel, Aeon Publishing, ISBN 978-1-4563-0171-3 ©2011, p. 495, including excursuses, bibliography, and index; $20.70. By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — The biblical narrator of the first three chapters of Genesis, whoever he may be: Moses at God’s direction,
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Most rabbinical students attribute omnipresence and omniscience as qualities befitting a Creator. Only God is called, “The Knower of Thoughts,” and “The Searcher of the human heart.” Rabbinical wisdom has long taught, “Always keep in mind these three things, and you will never come to the
Protecting the right to privacy has biblical precedents Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USABy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — One of the more interesting questions that is sometimes asked in modern anthropology is whether a group is a collection of individuals, or are they like a body with various members? Much of this has what to do with the issue of individual vs. corporate identity.
Have some Lubavitchers turned the late rebbe into an idol? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California– R. Yochanan observed, “If the Torah had not been given we could have learnt modesty from the cat, honesty from the ant, fidelity from the dove, and good manners from the cock which first coaxes and then mates.”– BT Eruvin 100b “Had the Torah never been given,” say
Humans have much to learn from their dogs and cats Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –Avraham Burg is an interesting personality. He challenges the religious sensibilities of the Orthodox and Jewish world. Burg is also a leader in the Israeli peace movement. He served two terms in the Israeli Knesset. Over the years, he has emerged as one of Israel’s most articulate
Noah was a worker not a philosopher Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — One of the most respected Chabad authorities on kosher food, who is also the chief rabbi of a haredi city in Israel, has banned the use of tap water on Shabbat. Bnei Brak’s Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Leib Landa issued a halachic ruling that using a faucet
Does turning on the water faucet violate Shabbat? Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiCourage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen–Winston Churchill By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California–Over the years, many of us regarded the Jewish Press as the Orthodox answer to the National Enquirer. Mind you, the Enquirer is quite entertaining. However,
A bold newspaper helps a gay Orthodox man to tell his side Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Over a year has passed since the terrible Arizona shooting, when a gunman opened fire, killing six people and wounding 13 others. Gabrielle Giffords, a conservative Democrat representing Arizona’s Eighth District, was among those wounded. She remained in critical condition after she survived a single gunshot to
Reasonable restrictions necessary on who can buy a gun Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Kingston, Ontario was once a quiet peaceful community. That all changed when Mohammad Shafia, his wife, and son decided to murder the girls of their family. When he discovered his daughters sending pictures of themselves posing in bras and panties to their boyfriends, he said,
Misogyny may be found in doctrines of some Muslims, some Jews Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California–After reading Neil N. Winkler’s new book, Bringing the Prophets to Life: A Timely Look at a Timeless Story (Jerusalem: Gefen, 2011), I felt elated. Somebody in the Orthodox world has finally written a book on the Prophets! The study of the Tanakh remains one of the most
Was King David guilty of adultery? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-RabbiBy Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — The 1930s are one of the most famous periods of early 20th century American history. Most of us of the Baby boom era grew up watching The Untouchables television series. Chicago, 1930, is best remembered for Al Capone, America’s most successful gangster, who made organized crime into
Niso Shaham is Israel’s version of Eliot Ness Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East