Personal Blog: The joy of Jewish reading

By Donald H. Harrison

Donald H. Harrison

Rabbi Devorah Marcus of Emanu-El Temple

SAN DIEGO – Maybe that's my biased, but sometimes I think that rabbis should often talk about lessons learned from their own lives and not just morality that we should draw legends of rabbis such as Shammai, Hillel and Tarfon. This is not to denigrate the proven tales found in the Talmud or any other clbadic Jewish source. However, I think contemporary Jews also like to hear rabbis talk about here and now. It is for this reason that I like very much reading the bulletin of Emanu-El Temple, although I belong to another congregation (Tifereth israel)

In the last issue of Ha Sofer (The Scribe), The great Rabbi Devorah Marcus, whose warm personality makes her a favorite of adults and children, celebrated her tenth birthday as a rabbi – her "rabbiversary" as she called him, and his ten years of marriage with her husband Sebastian.

"Being a rabbi of a congregation is very much like a wedding," commented Rabbi Marcus. "It's a deep commitment, a lot of work and rewarding beyond measure.Being a rabbi here at Emanu-El Temple, continues to be an incredible sacred alliance experience." synagogue has grown, we have new committees working hard to make the world a better place, we have experienced committees working hard to make the world a better place, we have the most amazing volunteers who have created an incredible gala that has strengthened our future We have the most wonderful and apolitical council that works together in an atmosphere of respect and reciprocity to run our synagogue and ensure our institutional well-being.We have a strong community of learners who engage in in-depth reflection and vigorous debate while creating a respectful and healthy dialogue I can not be the rabbi without such an incredible partnership of our incredible community . "

Regarding her marriage, she said:" J & # 39; spent ten years in partnership with a sacred amazing and humble man who n & # 39; not like to be praised publicly. Being a rabbi means accepting a very different life, filled with constant business, many celebrations and many times when the needs of the faithful come first. For ten years, Sébastien has understood this delicate balance and has supported me totally and completely in my career and in this sacred vocation. It's a real partner and it strengthens me in my work. He also ensures that I rest and cool off after I tore myself apart … "

Rabbi Benj Fried

In the same newsletter, Rabbi-educator Benj Fried reflected on the the critical role that the Jewish summer camp can play 19659006] "I was 8 years old when I went to the Jewish summer camp," he writes. lounging, I rode for the first time in a canoe on the lake and climbed the famous Hershey Rock at Tawonga camp (the rock took its name because it looks like a kiss from Hershey) I also learned my first Jewish songs at the camp; I was particularly attracted to "Myriam's Song", one of Debbie Friedman's greatest. I think the most memorable moment at the camp for me was to live Havdallah for the first time.I must hold the Twisted Havdallah candle, it was a moment of beauty and community that I loved. ris. "

" … The Jewish summer camp is special because it is the only place where many of our children can live at the Jewish time. They say Motzi during meals, pray to fillah, celebrate Shabbat and learn Jewish values ​​every day. Judaism at the camp is not only something that they learn for a few hours a week, it is woven into the very fabric of the camp and the schedule, so that Judaism becomes an important part campers going to the camp. Camp teaches the values ​​of friendship, independence, community, and fear and preservation of the environment. "

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In another of the various publications I read, The Israel Philatelist Sid Morginstin of Negev Holy Land Stamps paid tribute to his late wife, Charyl, who was Constantly at his side at various philatelic exhibitions and postage stamps, he remembers: "Charyl's brownies were a hit at my table or at my booth, they increased sales a bit, the more a customer bought the more had brownies, I always joked that she was putting a secret ingredient in. Now that we can have legal marijuana in New Jersey, maybe I can use this secret ingredient in some brownies (like college) .

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In the last issue of Costco Connection there is a story by Leah Ingram about remarkable dogs, including a pit bull named "Einstein" who is being held by Tanya Svejda. Einstein, 12, is a newly retired doggy blood donor at the North Carolina Veterinary Hospital in Raleigh. He gave blood every two months for six years. "When he retired, we were told that he had saved 100 lives," Svejda told Ingram. Among them was a pregnant woman who needed an emergency cesarean section. "It was a dog-to-dog gift, with Einstein in the mother's next bed, he was able to donate blood, save his life and the life of his four puppies." In another type of theory of the relativity, perhaps Einstein is a doggy stepfather

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Diego Union-Tribune Peter Rowe, who is remarkably good reporter, quoted two rabbis among many clergy on the issue One of them was Rabbi Rachel Kahn – Troster of T – ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, an organization based on in New York who called for the decriminalization of immigrants and the abolition of the US Agency for Immigration and Customs. The other was Chabad Rabbi Baruch Ezagai of La Jolla. two agreed on certain points, but not entirely Kahn-Troster said that Jews "understand from our own experience that when borders are closed and that people can not flee, we saw in the 1930s how terrible this can be. And if you look at the Jewish Bible, there is a very strong sense of protecting the immigrant. The Torah tells us to love the widow, the orphan and the stranger. Ezagai told Rowe: "We are an immigrant nation and the Jewish people have benefited immensely – and we paid the price when we could not easily get into other countries. We also understand that it is a balance between immigration and the laws of the country. As a Jew, you must respect the laws of the land in which you find yourself. "

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I am grateful for the newsletters, magazines, newspapers and newspapers that come to my mind from time to time." I made it here I am going to pbad on some of the nuggets I find.

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Harrison is the editor of San Diego Jewish World, he can be reached via [email protected]