(Due to popular request we are including the same question as last week)

Q: Does Judaism believe in Reincarnation?

A: This concept does not appear in the Torah and in the Talmud. Jewish medieval philosophers (Maimonides, Judah Halevi, Saadia Gaon, Albo) either do not mention this doctrine or reject it.

On the other hand, Kabbala ( Jewish mysticism) embraces the notion of reincarnation enthusiastically and the Hasidim tell many stories of great Rabbis who remembered their activities in a previous incarnation.  

"Between Cross and Crescent"

Lecture 19

 

The Decline and Expulsion of Spanish Jewry

Of all the Jewish communities living under Christian rule, Spanish Jewry was the oldest and largest. It was the last to be expelled from Europe.

 

Whereas Christian hostility to Jews elsewhere in Europe left Jews increasingly insecure and victims of the Crusades and the expulsions, Jews in Spain went on living relatively at ease. Until 1391. Aggravated by economic instability, class hatred and religious fanaticism, anti-Jewish violence erupted through the major cities of Castille and Aragon.

 

What was unique was not the violence, but the reaction to it.  For the first time ever thousands of Jews converted en masse to Christianity. They became what is called Nuevos Christianos, New Christians.

 

All are welcome to join the discussion and video on Tuesday, January 31, 10:30 sharp in Senter Hall.

Please be aware that there will not be 

a discussion group on Thursday, February 2. 

The group will resume on Thursday, 

February 9, 10:30 AM

 

 

Gerald & Iris Lichstein

Native New Yorkers, Jerry and Iris moved to Florida in December of 2003 to begin their new life. Jerry retired at the end of 2003 and Iris, who is a C.P.A., and was the senior audit manager for her New York accounting firm, continued to work from their home in Florida for seven years. They understand that they have been blessed with good fortune and a good life and therefore they choose to give back to the community through various volunteer activities. 

They Joined Temple Beth El in 2004. Jerry is currently a member of the Temple board, a member of the Fishman Youth Fund Committee, regularly attends and leads the morning minyan and both he and Iris attend most Friday night services. Jerry is also taking over the responsibility of producing the Yikzor Book as well as volunteering one day a week in the Temple office.

Jerry has been a volunteer in the West Palm Beach police department detective bureau for the past thirteen years, a mentor to three different children in the Mentoring For Kids program, and a friend to a Holocaust survivor in the Friendly Visitor program. Both of these programs are sponsored by Jewish Family Service. Iris volunteers three days a week at Good Samaritan Hospital in the lab and the OR waiting room. Both Jerry and Iris volunteer several times a year at Morse Geriatric Center at their holiday meals, i.e., on Thanksgiving and Purim. In order to have balance in their lives, they both engage in vigorous physical activity in a daily exercise program, Jerry plays golf several times a week, and they both take classes at the Life Long Learning program at FAU in Jupiter.

They look forward to many more years of a challenging and exciting life at Temple Beth El and in the community at large. 

Tina & Manny Newmark

24 years

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