Latest news with #Rabbi
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rabbi Milkow champions open-mindedness in Jewish Heritage Month
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Working to create a safe place for those of the Jewish faith to find security, stability, and sureness. Rabbi Bryna Milkow is this week's CI Hero. Inside Congregation Anshai Emeth in Peoria, Milkow spiritually leads and teaches her congregation which is one of three within Peoria. 'It's the best job in the world,' said Milkow. 'I just love every day of doing my job. I love the diversity of it. I like the variety. I like being able to be with people at difficult times of their life as well as joyous ones.' In Reform or progressive Judaism women can be ordained as rabbis. That started in the 70s. She was ordained in 2006 and that led her to the exploration of her faith, which she says is rooted in hope. 'We're always on a journey,' said Milkow. 'It's not a static point. No matter what your religion is, you're always deepening, questioning, learning. And so, we're all on a spiritual journey and luckily, hopefully, we can respect each other's journeys.' During Jewish American Heritage Month she hopes people approach their belief system with goodwill and positive intention. 'We each have our own story to tell,' said Milkow. 'I think having openness and curiosity toward other and tolerance toward other groups just makes this world a little easier to live in. And and I think we are also very proud of the heritage and the contributions that we've made to this country, both in terms of medicine and law, but also in terms of social justice action.' She said Peoria offers a welcoming and safe environment for practicing Jewish people. 'There are families that have been here five, six, seven generations that came here in the 1800s,' said Milkow. 'This congregation is over 170 years old. Right. And so we have a long, long history here in Peoria.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Washington Post
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
At Pope Leo XIV's inaugural Mass and beyond, Jewish leaders show hope in Jewish-Catholic relations
VATICAN CITY — Jewish leaders got up-front seats at Pope Leo XIV's inauguration Mass . An American rabbi there and other representatives saw that as a hopeful sign for an upswing of Catholic-Jewish relations under the first U.S.-born pontiff , after a strained relationship with his predecessor. With growing antisemitic rhetoric and attacks in various countries, as well as mounting international criticism of Israel's conduct in its war with Hamas , the moral voice of the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics can make a real difference, they said.
Miami Herald
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
U.S. government is loaded with Floridians. Great. How about they stop Trump?
Florida's failures Mary Anna Mancuso, in her May 7 Miami Herald column, 'Trump puts Florida at the heart of U.S. leadership,' seems to take pride in that the most crooked and incompetent presidential administration in U.S. history is loaded with Floridians. We have not seen any Florida Republican in the federal government do anything to try to stop President Trump's destruction of our Constitution and our democracy. America's all time hypocrite, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has disgraced himself by suddenly backing autocrats. We have seen U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi flagrantly upend the rule of law. Not one Florida Republican has shown a spine. In normal times, it might be fine to write a column about congressional Floridians using their influence to get money for Tri-Rail, for example. Today, however, it is far more appropriate to write about the failure of Florida's federal politicians to protect us from autocratic rule. Martin Kleinbart, Aventura Man of wisdom Our community lost a leader, a true trailblazer. Rabbi Sholom Ber Lipskar, of blessed memory, laid the foundation for what would become the revolution of Jewish life in Bal Harbour, Surfside and Bay Harbor. He built The Shul (of Bal Harbour) and he built it big. Rabbi Lipskar founded the Aleph Institute — an organization that provides material spiritual support and advocacy for Jews who are incarcerated and later expanded to provide for Jewish military personnel. Rabbi Lipskar was a giant and well known throughout the Jewish and secular world. He was a leader with never-ending wisdom, a muse for all and trusted advisor. Above all, he was a friend to all and you knew that when he was speaking with you, you were the center of attention, always with a twinkle in his eyes. As Rebbetzin Chani Lipskar told me, 'he loved all people.' Rabbi Lipskar was the Chaplain of the Bal Harbour Police Department, a role he took very seriously. He was always present and will be missed. It is with deep sorrow that I am writing this. At the same time, I know that his legacy lives on through the institutions he founded, all the lives he touched and all the righteous work he did. His impact goes well beyond the Surf-Bal-Bay area. All of us are better for him. Our hearts go out to Rebbetzin Chani Lipskar, his children, grandchildren, siblings and family. May his memory be for a blessing. Jeffrey P. Freimark, mayor, Bal Harbour Village History will judge Gov. Ron DeSantis has instructed maintenance crews to shut off the flow of fluoride in our public water supplies, even though thoughtful people appreciate the dental benefits of fluoride in drinking water, which no doubt also protects the health of our 'confused' (to be generous) governor. Given that DeSantis graduated from Yale and Harvard, to issue such an order implies either illness or deeply nefarious intent. We, the people, have allowed bullies to cause too much damage to America recently. We are all responsible for this mess. Bullies will go as far as we let them, as they attempt to satisfy their psychopathic need to rule over others. Those who control the flow of fluoride must take a stand and just say 'No' and keep the fluoride flowing to protect the children. Winston Churchill, statesman and former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, had a message for DeSantis: 'Let all of us who are here remember that we are on the stage of history, and that whatever our station may be, whatever part we play, great or small, our conduct is liable to be scrutinized, not only by history, but by our descendants.' Rick Soskis, Havana Mother, daughter grads The captured moment, photographed between a mother and daughter graduating college together from Barry University, in the May 6 Miami Herald, was touching and inspiring. How their shared support, achievement and joy brought them closer than the years that separate them. Congratulations to Maratha Irene Ternier and Hilary Pierre, who demonstrate that reaching milestones and achievements don't have an expiration date. Wishing each of them the best in their chosen career paths! Enid Garber, Palmetto Bay Next step If President Trump has forgotten that he swore to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, it is time to invoke the 25th Amendment. Charles Sanders, South Miami No vacation spot I regret not visiting El Salvador in the past decade, especially when it seemed that, after years of hardship, the country was finally becoming a destination to enjoy, offering opportunities for surfing, beautiful beaches and hiking. Today, sadly, I have little desire to visit. I'm reminded of a political cartoon I saw from 1980. The image depicted then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan handing a soldier of El Salvador's National Guard an armful of assault weapons, with the caption, 'No more priests and nuns, okay?' That cartoon could be re-imagined today, but with a disturbing twist: El Salvador President Bukele would be shown handing President Trump an armful of cash, with the caption, 'No more breastfeeding mothers, bakers, hairdressers, makeup artists, or union members, okay?' Jacqueline Gross, Key Biscayne Government waste As President Trump eliminates essential agencies and lays off more than 275,000 federal workers, including those who keep his powers in check, he's throwing millions at shameful projects, such as a $90 million military parade for himself and spending $6 million to send refugees to an El Salvadoran prison. His golf games at Mar-a-Lago have cost taxpayers $30 million, while his Oval Office/West Wing decorations amount to nearly $2 million. This is not our democracy; it's DOGE: Destruction of Government for Ego. Ossie Hanauer, Miami Interesting thoughts I was moved by the Miami Herald's May 11 special section, 'Remembering our Triumph,' a commemoration of the end of World War II and the heart-breaking sacrifices made in defeating Adolf Hitler who, of course, accomplished his monstrous crimes with the willing help of those citizens who elected him Chancellor. I wonder what the 141,000 U.S. soldiers who died in Europe during that war would have thought about a future president of the United States instructing American neo-Nazis to 'stand-by,' or of that president's unelected right-hand man twice giving an enthusiastic Nazi salute during a world-wide speech. I wonder, too, what's next from that president who has now threatened to forcefully annex countries beyond our borders and has disappeared people from our streets and placed them in faraway detentions because they are, in his words, 'poisoning the blood' of our country. Steve Kronen, South Miami May again The merry-go-round at the old Crandon Park Zoo in Key Biscayne played Juventino Rosa's 'Over the Waves' on spring days in the 1950s. My sisters and I wore sundresses with ruffles at the hem that caught the breezes off Biscayne Bay. Fifth grade, third grade and kindergarten were winding down as we rode our favorite painted horses on the carousel — the white one, the palomino and Big Chocolate. Our parents, taking a rare day off from the mango grove in Kendall, waved and smiled in the crowd of grown-ups. Then, the world turned on and on. The century changed and Miami rearranged itself, but some spring afternoons go on forever. Miriam Rosen, Miami Refugee status Because Elon Musk is a Donald Trump confidant and a native South African, I wonder if the South African White Refugee program is a means for Musk to immigrate his relatives into the USA, much as Melania Trump's status expedited the immigration of her parents from Slovenia? Don Deresz, Miami
Wall Street Journal
09-05-2025
- Science
- Wall Street Journal
‘I Am a Part of Infinity' and ‘Free Creations of the Human Mind': Einstein's Sense of Awe
When asked his view of religion, Albert Einstein often invoked a 17th-century Dutch philosopher. 'I believe in Spinoza's God,' Einstein told a New York rabbi in 1929. What exactly he meant by that has been debated ever since. In 'I Am a Part of Infinity,' Kieran Fox, a physician-scientist at the University of California, San Francisco, argues that Einstein's ideas on religion 'have always been approached in the wrong way.' The author claims that Einstein in fact wished to found a 'cosmic religion' whose 'mandate and meaning' was to remind us 'that we embodied Infinity.' Spinoza, Mr. Fox suggests, was but one of many 'radical geniuses who anticipated and inspired' the idea. These are bold claims—and I am not convinced.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Double dream come true as Rabbi Matondo opens Wales account
Rabbi Matondo revealed he fulfilled two childhood dreams with his first international goal as Wales began their World Cup campaign by beating Kazakhstan. Matondo put the seal on Wales' 3-1 Group J qualifying win at Cardiff City Stadium with a close-range 90th-minute strike soon after replacing Daniel James. 'I've had to be patient,' said Matondo, who won his 13th cap on Saturday over six years on from making his debut in November 2018. A first Cymru gôl for Rabbi ☝️ — Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) March 22, 2025 'It hasn't been easy at times but it's about how the team do. I've always been a big Wales fan from the get-go, from growing up to where I am today. 'I'm grateful for getting picked and being in the squad, so it was nice to get on the pitch and score the first goal for my country. 'It's something I've always dreamed of when I was younger.' Cardiff academy product Matondo had double cause to celebrate with his maiden international goal coming at his hometown stadium. It was a moment Matondo never savoured as a Cardiff player after leaving the Welsh club at the age of 16 to join Manchester City. Matondo said: 'I was buzzing. I came through the Cardiff academy ranks before moving away, so it was always a dream of mine to score at the Cardiff City Stadium. 'To score, especially at the Canton End as well, was a lovely feeling. 'It was nice to get on for the minutes I did and to get my first goal, so hopefully many more now. 'I'm loving every moment of camp so far. It's my first camp under the new manager and I'm enjoying the training and instructions and the way we're playing.' A moment to remember ❤️ — Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) March 22, 2025 Matondo spent time with Craig Bellamy previously when the Wales manager worked at the Cardiff academy. But the 24-year-old winger's football path has not been straightforward. Matondo joined German club Schalke and had loan spells at Stoke and Cercle Brugge in Belgium after failing to make the breakthrough at Manchester City. He joined Rangers in the summer of 2022 but made just 18 Scottish Premiership starts in an Ibrox spell bedevilled by injury. Matondo returned to Germany in January with a loan switch to Hannover in the second tier. 'It wasn't an easy decision at first but when Hannover showed me what they were planning in the future I thought, 'Why not? Go there and try to play my football',' he said. 'It's been a long, hard season with injury at the start so coming back and trying to get minutes was very important. 'I didn't know whether I would get that at Rangers at that moment.' Wales are in World Cup action again on Tuesday away to North Macedonia, who began their qualifying campaign with a 3-0 success in Liechtenstein on Saturday.
