- NEWS & COMMENTARY
Lapid: No settlement freeze for peace talks
Israeli Finance Minister Yair Lapid said he opposes a settlement freeze, but that thousands of settlers would have to leave their homes in a peace deal.
Israel to authorize four West Bank settler outposts
Israel plans to declare legal four unauthorized West Bank settler outposts, a court document showed on Thursday, days before U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry returns to the region to try to restart peace talks.
Palestinians mark Nakba with West Bank protests
Thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank marked the 65th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel, which they call the “catastrophe,” with marches and protests.
- HOLLYWOOD
The Office’s best Jewish moment
Funny music, sad life
On an otherwise unremarkable day in 1938, a chubby but charming student at John Burroughs Junior High in Los Angeles “cracked the code of his comic gift and discovered his…
Filmmakers reveal magician’s secretive world
A British journalist recalls how she once sat down at a cafe with the legendary magician, author, historian, actor and, perhaps, the greatest sleight-of-hand artist on the planet in the documentary…
- LIFE & CULTURE
7 Rules for Perfect Hummus
When was the last time you opened a tub of hummus and swooned? When was the last time a restaurant put a plate of hummus in front of you, and…
Survivor: Irene Rosenberg
“Mommy, I’ll be right back.” Irene Rosenberg — then Irene Grunfeld — said as she was leaving the apartment of her cousin Mancy Weiss, where she and her mother were…
The Divine Wedding and Kiss - Parashat Naso
“O for your kiss! For your love / More enticing than wine, / For your scent and sweet name – For all this they love you. Take me away to…
- BLOGS
What would my Israeli grandmother think?
When I hear about the latest events in Israel – the air strikes on weapons facilities in Syria, the flare-ups over women donning prayer shawls at the Western Wall –…
A hot topic, a great panel, and chance to learn and discuss—immigration at issue
It's a critical time for immigration reform in this country. Washington is getting set to make major changes, the likes of which haven't been seen since the 1980's under President…
State 194: A Documentary About Palestine
Opening this weekend at Laemmle’s Music Hall 3 is a very hot-button new documentary called State 194, which follows the recent history of Palestine. Many will approach this film with…
- JUDAICA STORE
- INFO
Mobile
Read the JJ
Community/Events
Advertisement
March 3, 2008 | 5:04 pm
Sephardim are rational—Ashkenazim, not so much
Posted by JewishJournal.com
Follow JewishJournal.com on 
From an essay in Zeek—A Sephardic Answer to Modern Jewish Identity
By David Rabeeya:
” . . . Ashkenazic authorities traditionally have placed a âfence around the Torah,â enlarging restrictions in order to be sure not to risk breaking the original rules. At least in the past, however, Sephardi Jews did not add such extra restrictions, believing it was more important to trust in the intelligence and integrity of Jews to follow the laws as written. In general, Sephardim, as rationalists, tend to believe that individuals who are well-schooled in the tradition should have fairly wide latitude to judge principles for themselves.
Do little, but do right, could be said to be how many Sephardi Jews regard Jewish law. A Jew should try to follow the Jewish law, but he must not be controlled by inventions of religious leaders which could lead to fanaticism, radicalism and irrationality. . .
I turn into a Sephardi every Pesach.
Maybe it’s time for a more permanent transformation!
—Dennis Wilen
The Jewish Journal believes that great community depends on great conversation. So, jewishjournal.com provides a forum for insightful voices across the political and religious spectrum. Bloggers are not employees of The Jewish Journal, and their opinions are their own. Our entire blog policy is here. Please alert us to any violations of our policy by clicking here. (editor@jewishjournal.com). If you'd like to join our blogging community, email us. (webmaster@jewishjournal.com).
Alison Brie on her very Jewish mother
5.14.13 at 9:59 am | This week on his podcast, Jewish comedian Marc. . .
Beastie Boys writing memoir
4.30.13 at 10:58 am | Michael Diamond (Mike D.) and Adam Horovitz. . .
Norway’s Last 819 Jews Are NOT Leaving the Country
4.25.13 at 4:47 pm |
Murder-suicide by despondent senior reported in Sherman Oaks
4.25.13 at 11:57 am | Burton Levin, an 88-year old Sherman Oaks. . .
It’s official: Kate Upton isn’t going to Jake Davidson’s prom
4.24.13 at 3:15 pm | So, 17-year-old Milken Community High School. . .
Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet’ gesture to Boston [VIDEO]
4.23.13 at 2:18 pm | After a horrible week in their city, one. . .
It’s official: Kate Upton isn’t going to Jake Davidson’s prom
4.24.13 at 3:15 pm | So, 17-year-old Milken Community High School. . . (721)
Norway’s Last 819 Jews Are NOT Leaving the Country
4.25.13 at 4:47 pm | (552)
Alison Brie on her very Jewish mother
5.14.13 at 9:59 am | This week on his podcast, Jewish comedian Marc. . . (161)
Los Angeles Demonstrations Support Egyptian People [VIDEO]
Egypt was a middle eastern civilization, not a...
Rabbi Manis Friedman, who downplayed damage caused by sexual abuse, apologizes [VIDEO]
Ginger, sweety, You’re absolutely right! He...
‘Who’s On First?’: The Sequel (w/ Jimmy Fallon, Billy Crystal & Jerry Seinfeld) [VIDEO]
Very cute!
Howard Zinn: Israel was a “Mistake.”
No mention of desire to annihilate Israel. All...
Rabbi Sharon Brous’ statement on the Newtown, Connecticut shooting
Amen. Clearly it’s all our responsibility
Zionism: The great Jewish ethical project
How do you truly feel in living on stollen land?...
More from JewishJournal.com
COMMENTS
We welcome your feedback.
Privacy Policy
Your information will not be shared or sold without your consent. Get all the details.
Terms of Service
JewishJournal.com has rules for its commenting community.Get all the details.
Publication
JewishJournal.com reserves the right to use your comment in our weekly print publication.
Blog Extras
israel jewish storyblog los angeles video bloghome jews hollywood obama anti-semitism chanukah youtube jewish journal jewishjournal.com comedy community iran circumcision videoblog orit judaism zionism religion funny humor racism jay firestone gaza jew barack obama oscars videojew hate holocaust music rabbi president jerusalem election menorah
About this Blog
Blog Home
About the Blogger(s)
Contact
Blog Archive
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
August 2006
| |||||||||
| |||||||||
| |||||||||
| ||
Site SectionsNewspaper
Serving a community of 600,000, The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles is the largest Jewish weekly outside New York City. Our award-winning paper reaches over 150,000 educated, involved and affluent readers each week. Subscribe here. © Copyright 2013 Tribe Media Corp. | ||
|