Beth Israel Messianic Synagogue Blog

Krauthammer's Law: Everyone's Jewish...

By Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post
Monday, September 25, 2006; A21

Strange doings in Virginia. George Allen, former governor, one-term senator, son of a famous football coach and in the midst of a heated battle for reelection, has just been outed as a Jew. An odd turn of events, given that his having Jewish origins has nothing to do with anything in the campaign and that Allen himself was oblivious to the fact until his 83-year-old mother revealed to him last month the secret she had kept concealed for 60 years.

Miami Herald: New forms of Jewish worship

At Rosh Hashana, a nontraditional return to spirituality
As Jews celebrate the start of the year 5767 in the Hebrew calendar, many will do so in creative ways.
BY ALEXANDRA ALTER

Miami Heral
aalter@MiamiHerald.com

A nontraditional return to Atonement isn't always a dismal affair, at least judging by the jubilant atmosphere at Temple Adath Or.

Crisis in Israel

Sunday, August 6th at 4:00 at the JCA, Dr. Itzhak Ben Gad, Israel Counsel General, will address the Jewish community concerning the current crisis in Israel. Everyone is invited to attend.
For more information:
email: jecohen@jewishjacksonville.org
phone: 904-448-5000 x205
web: http://www.jewishjacksonville.org

Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra Performance

The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra will perform at the University of North Florida Fine Arts Center on February 18th. Tickets range from $40 to $55. There is a dessert reception afterwards for all those who purchase the $55 ticket in lieu of a contribution to the Jacksonville Jewish Federation's 2006 campaign. For more information, call 620-2878.

Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage

There is currently a petition drive under way to get put on the November ballot a Florida constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman. It's time-sensitive, as it has to be postmarked for regular mail by 1/23, otherwise overnighted for receipt by 1/31 or 2/1.

Here's a link to the Web site with the petition and instructions: http://www.florida4marriage.org/

Customs vs. Law in the Jewish World

Dear Friends,

Our recent Shabbat discussions about the celebration of Holidays can fit into a greater Jewish tradition: How to deal with customs vs. laws. You might enjoy reading the article below from the Jewish Encyclopedia, in order to see how Rabbinic Judaism processes such controversies. Happy reading!

Love,

Rabbi David

CUSTOM (Minhag)  (back to article)

By : Executive Committee of the Editorial Board.   Julius H. Greenstone   

An old and general usage, or a religious practise, not based on any particular Biblical passage, and which has, through the force of long observance, become as sacred and binding as laws instituted by the proper authorities."Custom always precedes law" (Soferim xiv. 18). This is true not only of the Talmudic laws prescribed by the Rabbis, but also of many Biblical institutions. Many statutes and commandments, civil, moral, and ecclesiastical, found on the pages of Scripture undoubtedly had their origin in the customs of the people, which, however, became modified and fixed by being inscribed on the sacred books. Some of the customs, as, for instance, circumcision, or the prohibition of eating blood or of eating the "sinew which shrank," may date back to patriarchal days; others, again, may have a later or perhaps a foreign origin.