tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87743522011-04-21T21:21:04.703-07:00News, classes, questions, insights, and speculation gathered from my pulpit, serving Jewish students as a campus Rabbi since July 2004 in Southern California.Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.comBlogger881100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-15715589331053170552006-12-08T11:50:00.000-08:002006-12-08T11:51:49.315-08:00

Looking for the perfect Hanukkah gift for a college student or a teen? I think I found it, but they don't include the bottle of sweet wine! This is the softest t-shirt you will ever put on, real American Apparel, and a very cool logo. Hanukkah times can be tough—where to get that unique gift that means a lot, and that won't get put on the top shelf for generations to come. Check out this

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1163740408956558732006-11-16T21:09:00.000-08:002006-11-16T21:13:29.063-08:00

The Jewlicious Festival Shop is now open for Chanukah! Hip design and super comfortable, you will want to be seen around town in this already vintage American Apparel Hoodie, with the huge Jewlicious 2.0 logo on the back. They are totally original, totally cool, and an awesome deal. To buy these hoodies in the stores without the great design would cost you over $30! These are limited edition

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1137768134364679452006-01-20T06:42:00.000-08:002006-01-20T06:43:16.086-08:00

Matisyahu rocks Letterman, rocks MTVu, rocks Madison Square Garden, and now rocks Starbucks. Recorded live from starbucks. (1 min 26 sec) MP3 File

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1137700531673749372006-01-19T11:55:00.000-08:002006-01-19T22:37:34.856-08:00

Short reflections on the way of coffee and reggea.

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1137633138684967162006-01-18T17:12:00.000-08:002006-01-18T17:12:18.736-08:00

Matisyahu rocks Letterman, rocks MTVu, rocks Madison Square Garden, and now rocks Starbucks. Recorded live from starbucks. (1 min 26 sec)

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1136696371378871872006-01-07T20:58:00.000-08:002006-01-07T20:59:31.386-08:00

Dear Friends, Please consider looking at my newly expanded blogAnd I look forward to your comments and ideas on how to make it better! Shavua Tov, a Good Week to all Rabbi Y0nah

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1136487369817120532006-01-05T10:56:00.000-08:002006-01-05T10:56:09.876-08:00

jews love food.JPG Originally uploaded by Rabbi Yonah. The Jewlicious meetings go late into the night, but we are kept going by massive amounts of chips, dips, and salsa.

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1136231174052318882006-01-02T11:38:00.000-08:002006-01-02T11:46:14.063-08:00

Hope everyone has recovered from a weekend that for some reason - please explain to me - is awash in fermented grains. Is this just preparation for Purim? While the world was drunk I spent some time setting up a new MySpace Music page. There are three songs up there, all for download, ignoring, or listening. MySpace is really a breeze to use to set up a band page, and if you are a musician,

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1136178704551844352006-01-01T21:11:00.000-08:002006-01-02T11:37:19.150-08:00

Subscribe to RSS headline updates from: Powered by FeedBurner

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1136144386874697412006-01-01T11:38:00.000-08:002006-01-01T11:39:46.886-08:00

Swedish filmaker Bernt Hermele produces documentary about mother who was killed in suicide bombing at Netanya's Park Hotel Susanna Abramowicz, EJP Swedish journalist Bernt Hermele is the producer of a documentary film called “My mother was killed by a suicide bomber” which was shown at the International Documentary Festival in Amsterdam this year and had its television premiere last week in

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1136093795506078872005-12-31T21:36:00.000-08:002006-01-05T00:28:59.533-08:00

Entire concert of Rabbi Yonah and Shankbone in LA this month. We opened the show with a bang!

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1135931210476850912005-12-30T00:22:00.000-08:002005-12-30T00:26:51.773-08:00

If you are not familiar with Rabbi Yonah' style of teaching, being serious and humorous simultaneously, you are forwarned: This is serious, and humourous. One of the most important commentaries on Jewish life in America is sadly flying under the radar. Even when recognized, it is usually misunderstood. I am speaking of course about the LeeVee’s Hanukah Rocks Album. The LeeVee’s not only have

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1135811958053251852005-12-28T15:03:00.000-08:002005-12-28T15:39:52.050-08:00

I recently read a facinating article in the New Yorker about Rick Warren and the Saddleback Mega-Church. It was a great article, really delving into the success of this modern day Jesuit. But one thing hit me. You know it is an instinct as a Rabbi to check references, especially when a reference is used to substantiate something that is not usual. So I did nome back checking on Psalm 72 that

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1135638774131256802005-12-26T15:11:00.000-08:002005-12-26T15:12:54.143-08:00

It's dark and cold in Russia. That doesn't stop the Jews from spreading a little light! Siberian Jews Spread Light of Chanukah with Ice Menorah Monday, December 26 2005 KRASNOYARSK, Russia – In the Jewish community of Krasnoyarsk, the first candle of Chanuka was lit during a festive ceremony. This is the sixth year in a row that the local Jewish community, a member of the Federation of Jewish

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1135508780256528152005-12-25T03:04:00.000-08:002005-12-28T21:27:42.456-08:00

Just in time for the Chanukah spirit, Jews for J sues Google over a blog:The disputed blog, http://jewsforjesus.blogspot.com, was started in January 2005 by someone taking the name "Whistle Blower" and airing critical views of the San Francisco-based organization, which seeks to convert Jews to Christianity....."Our reputation is at stake," Perlman told Reuters.Uhm. Reputation? Anyway, here is a

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1135327885120672422005-12-23T00:49:00.000-08:002005-12-23T00:51:25.130-08:00

According to Beer Expert Marty Nachel, "The word cider is believed to be a derivation of the Hebrew shekar, which means "strong drink". The recorded history of cider dates back to the first century B.C. Roman soldiers under Julius Caesar marching across the Kentish countryside in southern Britain discovered this drink and brought it back with them to Rome, introducing it to the rest of western

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1135023368324753352005-12-19T12:16:00.000-08:002005-12-19T12:18:37.103-08:00

What a fantastic evening at Mogen David for the annual Happy Minyan Memorial Concert for Reb Shlomo. Joining me on this jam are Bass Shaul of 8th Day, Rafiki, and Avi Sills of Naked Drum Project. Thanks for all the support and I'll post the other tunes asap!

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1134694993643183512005-12-15T16:47:00.000-08:002005-12-15T17:03:13.670-08:00

We read in the Torah this week how Jacob returns to Israel and encounters his brother Esav. Esav is very upset with Jacob. The whole selling the birthright, then gotted tricked out of another blessing thing that transpired when they were younger. Esav always had it out for Jacob and Jacob now seeks to return to the land of his parents. Jacob camps by a river and is attacked by an assasin

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1134468789769317382005-12-13T02:05:00.000-08:002005-12-13T02:13:09.783-08:00

My letter over the weekend to Arnold that went unheeded, along with the letters of over 100 other Rabbis: Dear Honorable Governor, Jewish tradition holds life sacred. While Tookie Williams certainly deserves punishment for his crimes, he also deserves to live to continue to influence young people to stop gang violence. Life always outweighs death. Let us begin the culture of life that our

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1134424925746358962005-12-12T14:02:00.000-08:002005-12-12T14:02:05.753-08:00

Meet Esther K. in our trial podcast...

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1134414155771329872005-12-12T10:56:00.000-08:002005-12-12T11:02:35.796-08:00

The latest and greatest foray into alternative President's weekend events has now been launched. Much anticipated since last years' resounding and hillariously Jewish weekend, we return with Jewlicious @ The Beach.2. This is part sequel and part new frontier. Weekend highlights include folk-jazz café, master challah baking, Friday Night Feast, Kiddush wine tasting, iMac Saloon, iPod listening

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1134108955031194492005-12-08T22:11:00.000-08:002005-12-08T22:17:25.226-08:00

UN Israel Free DayThe UN Observed Solidarity with the Palestinian people by having a map that didn't show Israel. How nice. Thanks Annan, you know how to make us Jews feel really safe!

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1133940709292985332005-12-06T23:30:00.000-08:002005-12-06T23:41:46.056-08:00

Apparently, Mel is doing a Holocaust mini-series. Mr. Gibson's television production company will base the four-hour miniseries for ABC on the self-published memoir of Flory A. Van Beek, a Dutch Jew whose gentile neighbors hid her from the Nazis but who lost several relatives in concentration camps. Hard to find anything positive to say, yet. Can't help but be critical and say: Why are you

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1133548682818733182005-12-02T10:34:00.000-08:002005-12-02T10:47:02.650-08:00

A recent article in Jewsweek highlights the recent Madonna Kabbalah Crises."I seem to be getting a lot of criticism from people who haven't even heard the album yet." Madonna only sighs. "You do appreciate the absurdity of a group of rabbis in If this infraction sent the entire town into an angry buzz. "People get very upset about the fact that I decided to study a spiritual belief system," she

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1133361519102118952005-11-30T06:37:00.000-08:002005-11-30T06:38:39.116-08:00

Shimon Peres is Israel's leading diplomat and politician. He just presided over a Israel-Palestinian Peace Soccer match in Barcelona, sponsored by his Peres Center for Peace. While Ariel Sharon may be running the show, clearly, Peres, as deputy PM has been heavily involved in Israel's current diplomatic triumphs. Now both have left their political birthing grounds, and go it alone. Peres is

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1133224708175000212005-11-28T16:32:00.000-08:002005-11-28T16:39:17.716-08:00

I am sorry. I published a piece about a speaker at Long Beach State and included correspondence that I had with someone about it. It was a mistake, and I hadn’t checked the piece before I published it. I have had a chance to reconcile and apologize in person. Hopefully I will not, even accidentally, publish anything here which might hurt another personally. The University Interfaith Center,

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1133167809149923732005-11-28T00:46:00.000-08:002005-11-28T16:43:08.406-08:00

The British are once again talking nonsense, which sadly has major implications. According to a report in the NYTIMES, the Brits claim that Israeli policies in East Jerusalem are preventing future peace deals that the Palestinians will except. Hmmm. EU: Israel's E. Jerusalem policy endangers final-status talksBy Haaretz ServiceThe European Union's diplomatic representatives have sharply

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1133085335979168792005-11-27T01:48:00.000-08:002005-11-27T01:55:36.013-08:00

This received today in my mail box. Please feel free to distribute.From: Baruch Adler Reply-To: Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 11:28:21 +0200To: Subject: [Jewish Philanthropy] Hungry Children in IsraelDear Friends,As of this writing we (Shlom Bonaich in Jerusalem)have been feedingthe children at our institution a hot meal every day, besides Friday &Erev Chagim, the only hot meal most of them will eat

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1132940054479346982005-11-25T09:26:00.000-08:002005-11-25T09:35:21.023-08:00

Jewlicious Laya has brought to our attention a No Shopping Day campaign. And she points out that:It also happens to be the beginning of official “Shabbat” day, where for a whopping 25 hours, millions of observant Jews the world over agree not only to both buy nothing, but also to drive nowhere, stepping back from the consumer binge and shopocalypse as well as helping decrease our dependence on

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1132891051281977942005-11-24T19:57:00.000-08:002005-11-24T20:03:58.630-08:00

I've listened to this song every Thanksgiving since I was 9. I remember in Detroit I would camp out next to my little clock radio and go from channel to channel trying to find the song. I would listen to it as many times as I could. Obie1.JPG Originally uploaded by Rabbi Yonah. Thanks to officer Obie, we have Arlo Guthrie's ballad, Alice's Restaurant Massacre. Learn about Obie at Arlo,

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1132689146888696832005-11-22T11:42:00.000-08:002005-11-23T16:25:32.200-08:00

I arrived early, about 7 am, on the red-eye, into the fair weather of Orlando. The people that I encountered in the short trip have been uniformly nice and polite. Remarkably so. I want to make a quick mention of the fact that the FAA has decided, or is the TSA, that guitars will no longer be allowed on the plane. Now, it is not as if I want to bust out with dong on each flight (even when

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1132214355218686822005-11-16T23:52:00.000-08:002005-11-17T09:52:12.006-08:00

Kazakhstan, bastion of no sense of humor, is mad at Sacha Cohen, creator of Borat. Borat is one of Rabbi Yonah's favorite characters, absolutely brilliantly funny, taking the piss out of everything and revealing so much about our own prejudices. Kazakhstan got all upset last year at Borat's claim that women are kept in cages, the the Kazakh national sport is shooting a dog and then having a

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1132208268628853822005-11-16T22:12:00.000-08:002005-11-16T22:17:48.640-08:00

A Teacher is being flogged for being, well, a teacher. Saudi Arabia, AKA Islamofascistan, is beating up this fellow for "praising Jews" according to Reuters. A court in Saudi Arabia sentenced a teacher to 40 months in jail and 750 lashes for "mocking religion" after he discussed the Bible and praised Jews, a Saudi newspaper reported Sunday. Al-Madina newspaper said secondary school teacher

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1132200070471660912005-11-16T19:58:00.000-08:002005-11-16T20:01:10.483-08:00

Ms. Glassman, As a rabbi and community leader I feel it is my moral and ethical duty to respond to the proposed changes to Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards (NHTSA-2005-22223). I grew up in Detroit. I understand the auto industry and the pressures not to grow up. But boosting auto fuel economy is clearly an economic, environmental, and national security mitzvah, i.e. commandment.

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1131998167688649802005-11-14T11:53:00.000-08:002005-11-14T11:56:07.746-08:00

Modern Jewish Girls Guide To GuiltRuth Ellenson Presents Her Funny and Poignant New Book In Long BeachRuth Ellenson, featured on NPR, and across the country, comes to Long Beach’s AJCC on December 1, 2005, at 7:30pm, in an event sponsored by Beach Hillel.Ellenson is the editor of The Modern Jewish Girl's Guide to Guilt, a collection of essays by Jewish women writers about everything from

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1131658629303689632005-11-10T13:34:00.000-08:002005-11-10T13:47:52.853-08:00

Students in Cincinnati deserve a yashar koach!Students from the Cincinnati Hillel Jewish Student Center gave out pieces of broken glass Tuesday on McMicken Commons while the names of Holocaust victims were read.The broken glass is symbolic of Kristallnacht, translated as "the night of broken glass," which was the first day of the Holocaust.Tuesday marks the 65th anniversary of that day.On Nov. 9,

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1131381577188045602005-11-07T08:32:00.000-08:002005-11-07T08:39:37.236-08:00

A Palestinian boy's family donates organs to Israeli kids. His organs helped save the lives of six patients. His heart was given to a 12-year-old girl; his liver was divided in two and given to two patients, a six-month old baby and a 56-year-old woman; his kidneys were given to a 5-year-old boy and his lungs were given to a 5-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl, Israel Radio reported. It is hard

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1131317858232063702005-11-06T14:47:00.000-08:002005-11-06T14:57:39.710-08:00

Over the summer I managed to put some classes online. However, it was impossible to hear. Then I refined my technique and equipment and came out with podcasting this fall. I have had some very good feedback, notable from London, UK ,where a fellow has enjoyed a class on Kabbalah that I teach for BJE of OC. Soon, if all works out well, we will really be ramping up the amount of classes available

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1131123473708104102005-11-04T08:32:00.000-08:002005-11-04T10:54:06.956-08:00

I work as a Spiritual advisor, ie Campus Rabbi, for Hillel in Orange County and Long Beach. I attended your film last night in Irvine with students from Universities of Chapman and Irvine. Everyone of the students was impressed and moved by the film. It was a self-selected group who decided that instead of partying on Thursday night, they would check out this movie. Many want to go into film

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1130834465264264362005-11-01T00:40:00.000-08:002005-11-01T00:41:05.296-08:00

31 October 2005 – The United Nations General Assembly (GA) today adopted a resolution designating 27 January Holocaust Remembrance Day, and urged all nations to develop ways to keep the memory alive so that future generations will help prevent similar acts of genocide.Introduced by Israel, and co-sponsored by some 90 Member States, the resolution rejects any denial of the period in time as an

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1130822750705970772005-10-31T21:23:00.000-08:002005-10-31T21:25:50.716-08:00

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1130425722664343272005-10-27T08:07:00.000-07:002005-10-27T08:16:21.763-07:00

Earlier, Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres, a Nobel peace laureate, said, "Since 1945, the establishment of the United Nations, no head of state which is a member of the United Nations ever called for the destruction of another member of the United Nations, publicly and clearly, as the president of Iran did."It is against the charter of the United Nations, it is against the practice of the United

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1130394500891512032005-10-26T23:24:00.000-07:002005-10-27T08:04:38.213-07:00

Ladies with AK-47s, American and Israeli flags being desicrated... Must be Iran!TEHRAN, Iran - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared Wednesday thatIsrael is a "disgraceful blot" that should be "wiped off the map" — fiery words that Washington said underscores its concern overIran's nuclear program.Iran Leader Calls for Israel's Destruction - Yahoo! NewsIn a lovely post-yomtuf present to the

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1130144546765352422005-10-24T02:01:00.000-07:002005-10-24T02:02:28.970-07:00

THE JEWNIVERSE :: Surphology HeadquartersThis is a practice blog from FLOCK.

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1130126731660853902005-10-23T20:57:00.000-07:002005-10-24T01:24:00.820-07:00

There was simply no room for everyone in the sukkahs at once, but this did not ruin our mood. The intensity of the evening was real. So many Jewish students from all over Long Beach and the OC. Even from LA they came in for the fun. Sorry about my neighbor tackling some of the students when they accidentally stepped on his lawn returning to the bus. If this was any other event, I am sure he

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1129597155814451962005-10-17T17:56:00.000-07:002005-10-23T20:56:51.776-07:00

The Sukkah is the Chupah for the wedding of the Jewish People and Hashem. Like any good wedding, expect fantastic food, dancing, wine, and l'chaims. The Lulav is a Jewish Light Saber, a powerful tool in the right hands. Best wishes on this awesome holiday.

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1129473618317302642005-10-16T07:37:00.000-07:002005-10-16T07:45:13.636-07:00

When Israel was established in 1948, Arab regimes expelled many of their indigenous Jewish populations that had been living there for centuries. Of course not a popular topic, I mean Jews get kicked out of places all the time right? So the Jews lost property, valuables, and businesses. Well now, they want justice, legally of course. An international conference promoting the rights of Jews from

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1129142880073755042005-10-12T11:48:00.000-07:002005-10-12T11:50:05.646-07:00

You can listen here.

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1129097903115096172005-10-11T23:02:00.000-07:002005-10-12T11:44:43.433-07:00

Today's talk is about Yom Kippur and the High Holidays in general. It really delves into how Yom Kippur works, and what we need to do to have a successful Yom Kippur. Campus Rabbi Podcasting is at the following URL--> http://rabbiyonah.audioblog.com/rss/campus_rabbi.xml The best is to go to the Advanced drop down menu in iTunes and SUBSCRIBE to this podcast by entering in this url. iTunes will

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1128292463539165782005-10-02T15:16:00.000-07:002005-10-02T15:34:25.663-07:00

A recent film by StandWithUs exposes more of what I have mentioned here in this blog. Jewish students are allowed to be targeted by racist Islamic extremists. Jews are fair game. You can say anything you want about Jews and hey, that's cool. Abdel Malik Ali said at CSU Long Beach just last week that 9-11 was planned by Bush and executed by the Mossad. His wild conspiracy theories are so

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1127772449573729332005-09-26T15:02:00.000-07:002005-09-26T15:07:29.580-07:00

Hey there. My new blog for the Kabbalah & Madonna class is ockabbalah.blogspot.com This is a Talit class for 11 and 12 grade students, through the BJE of Orange County. The Aduioblog of the class will be live by the end of the week. Stay tuned Best wishes!

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1127201975846366922005-09-20T00:39:00.000-07:002005-09-20T00:39:35.856-07:00

30 minutes to get you ready for the Jewish New Year

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1126797176717707882005-09-15T08:07:00.000-07:002005-09-20T01:45:35.753-07:00

I just signed this petition to Gov. Arnold to show my concern, sadness, and anger, at the treatment of Jewish students in this state. This petition has been initiated by Professors Leila Beckwith of UCLA and Ilan and Tammi Benjamin of the University of California-Santa Cruz who head the Scholars for Peace in the Middle East Chapter at UCSC. The petition has been endorsed by the Scholars for Peace

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1126618975783464482005-09-13T06:26:00.000-07:002005-09-13T06:42:55.813-07:00

During the last year we watched dozens of Southern California Muslims students become radicalized under the guidance of radical imams. Some of these so-called religious leaders are African American converts, and some are middle-east born. And while very few administrators take this problem to be serious, they should. ABC news has just released this video of Adam, the American Al Queda

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1126316521520318632005-09-09T18:40:00.000-07:002005-09-09T18:42:01.526-07:00

The sense of frustration over the tragedy in the Gulf has made work very difficult. After all, the people there lack basic necessities of food water and shelter. Those things are so fragile and precious and we often take them for granted. People struggling to survive, the weakest of the weakest left to fend for themselves. The elderly, the children, the uneducated and the poor. What have we

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1125943294961838202005-09-05T11:00:00.000-07:002005-09-05T11:01:34.966-07:00

Dear Mr. President: We heard you loud and clear Friday when you visited our devastated city and the Gulf Coast and said, "What is not working, we're going to make it right." Please forgive us if we wait to see proof of your promise before believing you. But we have good reason for our skepticism. Bienville built New Orleans where he built it for one main reason: It's accessible. The city

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1125087180873437502005-08-26T13:10:00.000-07:002005-08-26T13:13:00.876-07:00

We are doing a beta podcast of concerts from Spring 2005. Hear the music: Easi Enai/Ki Va Moed.

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1124786078026474312005-08-23T01:24:00.000-07:002005-08-23T01:34:38.066-07:00

An avowed enemy of the Jewish State, David Weiss, gets hugged by another avowed enemy of Israel, and this is news? The man that just can't keep from being a Hillul Hashem, a disgrace to G-d and the Jewish People, David Weiss, made more headlines as he embraced a major muslim leader. While he was lovey dovey in New York, his brethren in London were having a much harder time of it, getting

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1124251658210465812005-08-16T20:50:00.000-07:002005-08-16T21:07:38.233-07:00

The Presbyterian Church USA, which has more than 780 Million dollars in assets, and investments over 190 million dollars has gone off the deep end. Completely loony. Attempting to create peace in the middle East, they have voted to divest from five companies that do business with Israel. This is the same group that praised Hezbollah during their recent trip to Beirut. If you think the Presbys

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1121740083097875172005-07-18T19:26:00.000-07:002005-07-18T19:28:03.106-07:00

Yiddish will be integrated into Jewish Day School curricula at three Los Angeles area schools thanks to gelt from the Spielberg Righteous Persons Foundation. That is good news for Jewish kids who have been denied access to Yiddish by generations that viewed Yiddish as the language of the old country, of backwards, superstitious, Fiddler-On-The-Roof kind of Jews and Judiasm. What lacks in this

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1121715237213068822005-07-18T12:26:00.000-07:002005-07-18T12:40:08.090-07:00

The association of former Poles in Israel has launched a public campaign against a bill to return private property to its owners that is now being discussed by the Polish parliament, charging that it grants de facto recognition to the Nazi regime's Nuremberg lawsThe Polish Sejm is discussing a law, finally, to reach a compensation deal with thsoe who lost property in WWII and afterwards by the

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1121438130329295202005-07-08T07:34:00.000-07:002005-07-15T07:36:47.343-07:00

July 7th we arrived in Detroit. My hometown. We just flew here to visit my grandmother and family after a year hiatus. Arriving at Metro airport today is a whole other world. It the old days we straggled down long and dilapidated corridors of Detroit’s old terminal. A terminal so ugly, that even casual acquaintances made references that this was the ugliest airport they ever saw. Not only

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1119895477383937972005-06-27T11:02:00.000-07:002005-06-27T11:04:37.390-07:00

Jewlicious (one of my favorite blogs) is reporting that Tom Cruise tried to convert Scarlett Johansen to the Chruch of Ron L. Hubbard. According this article, which we must report to be a rumor, poor Scarlett spent two hours listening to him, and he didn't even offer "her a cookie." (is that how it works?). That was way too polite ck and company. I have some solid advice for Jewish ladies,

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1118001219236890062005-06-05T12:20:00.000-07:002005-06-05T12:53:39.250-07:00

Found this from a very creative pro-Israel blogger. This is one solution... "There have been frequent anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist activities, speakers and events on this campus. It is fully supported by the campus administration under the rubric of free speech. Political studies, particularly middle eastern studies departments typically espouse a singular anti-Semitic or anti-Zionist position

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1117825909670810112005-05-10T12:09:00.000-07:002005-06-06T02:36:46.016-07:00

I write this, cognizant that it may be passed on to other people who need to know what is happening on our college campuses. Therefore, I preface these remarks by underlining my qualifications for what I am about to say. As a person who studied the Holocaust for my Masters degree at Oxford University, who lived in Europe and interviewed the perpetrators, bystanders and victims for ten years, I

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1114824175341023382005-04-29T18:21:00.000-07:002005-04-29T18:22:55.343-07:00

During my time as a graduate student at Oxford University in the 1990’s I benefited from the highest caliber of scholarship and research in the world. Literally, at my doorstep, were some of the world’s great minds, historical resources, and an international elite student body. This was the result of centuries of open-minded and brilliant intellectual journeying and discovery. AUT’s recent

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1110317925856103142005-03-08T13:34:00.000-08:002005-03-08T13:40:57.310-08:00

After seeing the Mohel With Herpes strories in the press, I knew I had to act. JMERICA.COM editors I contacted recently published an article to help spread good news. The Rabbi in question is innocent of wrongdoing. Mohel Seeks To Clear His Name And Profession The mohel accused of infecting three male infants with herpes after performing the obscure circumcision ritual of metzizah b'peh is

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1109813592139901102005-03-02T17:30:00.000-08:002005-03-02T17:33:12.140-08:00

I received the following message in my myspace account: Date: Mar 1, 2005 10:48 PM From: _________::"Are piercings okay? " Following is my reply: Dear ________, Thank you so much for writing. The Jewish tradition has a very cool perspective on piercing, in my opinion. The Talmud discusses this very issue, and it was written almost 2000 years ago. Piercing that women do customarily for

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1109736495424970372005-03-01T20:01:00.000-08:002005-03-01T20:08:15.426-08:00

And in other news: The Ukrainian ministry of Defense indicated that two shoulder fired missiles had been stolen from a military storehouse in the west of the country. Hmm. I wonder who in the world would need a shoulder fired missile. I’m sure the good guys stole them.

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1109718639055307332005-03-01T15:08:00.000-08:002005-03-01T15:17:43.693-08:00

JEWLICIOUS @ THE BEACH Tastes Good To Be Jewish™ April 8-10, 2005—Long Beach, CA Join an international student and young professional gathering, featuring scholars, hipsters, gurus, radicals, designers, conservatives, liberals, musicians, activists and pranksters under one roof. We’re bringing together some of the most talented and creative young Jews in the country to have fun, collaborate,

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1109052980652640002005-02-21T20:29:00.000-08:002005-02-21T22:16:20.656-08:00

Recent actions by activists at the UCR campus draw attention to a serious problem. Unfortunately, they misled the entire campus by their portrayal of Israeli checkpoints in the disputed territories. Israel created checkpoints in order to foil the infiltration of human bombs into Israeli buses, cafes, malls, disco clubs, and restaurants. Israelis detest these checkpoints, however, they are a

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1107505059033874082005-02-04T01:16:00.000-08:002005-02-04T00:17:39.033-08:00

McShwarma Is A Pita With Turkey Inside It Ray Kroc's brash vow: whatever people ate, McDonald's would be the ones to sell it. Consequently, you've seen McRibs and McSalads, and McLobster Roll, because Ronald McDonald will stop at nothing to infiltrate the eating habits of unsuspecting ethnic groups. So now, only in the Holy Land, the ones who gave us cheeseburgers with kosher for Passover

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1106718629360844012005-01-25T21:48:00.000-08:002005-01-25T21:51:14.950-08:00

Breakfast. Morning paper, La Times (yes groan if you must). Front page article on the Cali section regarding a novel way to pillage and destroy some very nice foersts up north. You see, The Pacific Lumber Co. are Oncelers and are trying to blackmail all of us. They will file for chapter 11 unless we let them cut some forests. If they go chapter 11, they will have no choice but to cut some

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1106265827270122682005-01-20T16:02:00.000-08:002005-01-20T16:03:47.270-08:00

Some of you may know that we created a web site to fight against the film Jenin Jenin. The site, called MyJenin.com, has had hundreds of thousands of visitors. We connect people to articles about the truth to combat many of the lies in the film. Today, the story broke that the man responsible for the film, has been sued by five Israelis in the film. They are suing for libel. On the stand,

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1105943078315986192005-01-16T22:06:00.000-08:002005-01-16T22:24:38.316-08:00

Time for some tough talk from a Rabbi. I’m sick of hearing anti-Martin Luther King day kvetching from talking heads on radio and TV. Attempts to de-legitimize the holiday by focusing on allegations of MLK’s impropriety usually dominate the reactionary, empty-headed, mouthpieces that pass for cultural and political criticism today. I have heard some go so far as to claim that this day is

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1105726069577644742005-01-14T09:43:00.000-08:002005-01-14T10:11:53.646-08:00

A man is ordered to do a heinous act. Then when caught, he blames others. It is an old saga, and as I heard the defense on the Abu Ghraib Torture Case, it sent shivers down my spine. Spc. Charles Graner, who bears no regrets over the matter it appears, did the bidding of his superior officers. How can anyone with a conscience or knowledge of right and wrong have such a defense? There

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1105029967501351022005-01-06T08:34:00.000-08:002005-01-06T08:49:53.560-08:00

Spain manages to catch and convict nearly all the accomplices of the horrific bombings in Madrid. They manage to sweep the floor with Basque terrorists that have killed over 800 people in their efforts to get a Basque Homeland. This raises for me two fundamental, existential issues. 1) Why is it that the US, the superpower of world dominion, with the most sophisticated intelligence,

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1104992518715653752005-01-05T22:17:00.000-08:002005-01-05T22:21:58.716-08:00

Amidst tragedy and devastation there are stories that glow with hope and optimism. The outpouring of aid is the greatest ever. More countries are helping more people than ever before, cutting across political, religious and social boundaries. While I have been lodged in despair, adrift in articles about the tsunami, and the victims, I have turned a corner to find the good, the pearls, the good.

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1103300774131117962004-12-17T08:19:00.000-08:002004-12-17T08:26:14.130-08:00

Dear JMERICA, Thank you for the very special accolade, "Arguably the coolest campus rabbi ever." I am also a huge fan of what you are doing and look forward to staying connected. Best wishes and Good Shabbos Rabbi Yonah

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1103071656986069542004-12-14T16:40:00.000-08:002004-12-15T23:28:32.890-08:00

I received the following letter from a student after PETA released a video of allegedly faulty kosher practices in Iowa. They have filed suit in state court to halt slaughter at the nations largest kosher slaughter facility. Hi Rabbi, I wish I had more time to talk to you about 'happier' things, but I just came across this [PETA video], and it is really bothering me, especially because

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1102313416873720462004-12-05T22:07:00.000-08:002004-12-05T22:10:16.873-08:00

“Chanukah is the festival of lights…” begins Adam Sandler in his now famous Chanukah Song and movie. The real story of Chanukah —spelled phonetically with a guttural “ch”— could be a blockbuster on its own merits! It all began when Antiochus IV, who ruled part of Alexander the Great’s fragmented empire, ordered Jews—under penalty of death—to abandon their religion. He appointed Hellenists

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1102006233993310522004-12-02T08:42:00.000-08:002004-12-05T22:06:43.796-08:00

I was on a panel recently with a representatives of Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist Judaism. In front of us sat 300 teenagers and their parents. We were to answer several fundamental questions. 1) What happened on Mt. Sinai? and 2) Who is a Jew? You can guess what everyone said about Sinai. "If the Jews were ever in the desert - not certain that is true - then they had some kind

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1101501804119602462004-11-26T13:41:00.000-08:002004-11-26T12:51:28.060-08:00

I remember as a child the inundation of X-Mas Spirit after Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Already in the parade, an air of X-Mas was apparent. But no one dared to declare the start of X-Mas marketing till the gravy had congealed, and the stuffing demolished. Sadly those days are gone. As I walked into a local Starbucks for a meeting, I was struck in the face by a large, white, X-Mas

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1101498307199377102004-11-26T11:43:00.000-08:002004-11-26T12:02:29.716-08:00

Recently the Forward published at article called "The Buddha From Brooklyn," about Jeff Miller, AKA Surya Das. The article’s author wrote: “In a way, Surya Das's Buddhist teaching is actually very Jewish.” And with that, I had to break my silence about Buddhism. In discussions about the nature of Jewish life at the turn of this century, the Jubu phenomenon, deserves our attention. But don’t

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1101498211926030902004-11-26T11:39:00.000-08:002004-11-26T11:50:28.193-08:00

It seems that American's love affair with the Bagel are over. Low-carb diet fettish has proven that people want skinny legs and not skinny onion sticks. They want flat abs, not round everything's. What will become of an America denuded of bagels? Where will hungry Jews have brunch? Could it be that this is the sign of the impending implosion of Jewish culture, or is it just a phase in the

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1099803062278301742004-11-06T20:50:00.000-08:002004-11-06T20:58:15.893-08:00

As The Parsha Goes, So Goes The Week This famous statement means that world events often mirror events in the Torah Portion of the week. Sometimes subtly, and sometimes gratingly obvious, the parsha never fails. As the world’s eye is upon a military hospital in France, and reporters scramble to tell the inside story of a wicked man’s fate, it appears that he remains connected to life

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1098166377256158322004-10-18T19:09:00.000-07:002004-10-18T23:12:57.256-07:00

Sunday night I had the great privilege to be in Irvine, at the amazing and new JCC. The Musical Mystery Tour began. OC Hillel has created a beit-cafe program in their student lounge for an evening of music and conversation with me, really, can you believe it? All told, this is going to be a marvelous venue for music and ideas, for thought provoking questions and discussion. The essence of our

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774352.post-1098118575029927472004-10-18T09:52:00.000-07:002004-10-18T09:58:15.136-07:00

Its raining. Now this may not be surprising to most SoCalniks (Yiddish for “from southern Cali”), however, after many months without rain, I was getting pretty used to it. In fact since it is now thundering and lightening outside, I feel like a little of that old Midwestern fall I once knew. It said on the weather alert that this is the first rainfall in 181 days, that being the sixth longest dry

Rabbi Yonahnoreply@blogger.com0