Judaism: branches and groups Books
JTS Press Saul Lieberman The Man and His Work
£15.00
Pluto Press The End of Jewish Modernity
Book SynopsisA provocative take on Jewish history, explaining the metamorphoses of mainstream Jewish culture and politicsTrade Review'Enzo Traverso is without doubt the most gifted historian of his generation. His book on Jewish modernity is, as all his writings, a unique combination of radical commitment and brilliant scholarship' -- Michael Löwy, Emeritus Research Director in Social Sciences at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (Paris), and author of On Changing the World: Essays in Political Philosophy from Karl Marx to Walter Benjamin'Imaginative and provocative ... a nuanced and intelligent treatise' -- Benjamin Ramm, Jewish Quarterly'Stimulating' -- Times Literary Supplement'Exciting and delightful ... this slim volume manages to deliver a comprehensive statement which makes a significant contribution to the discourses of politics, postmodern theory and intellectual history' -- The Muslim World Book ReviewTable of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction 1. What Was Jewish Modernity? 2. Cosmopolitanism, Mobility and Diaspora 3. Intellectuals between Critique and Power 4. Between Two Epochs: Jewishness and Politics in Hannah Arendt 5. Metamorphoses: From Judeophobia to Islamophobia 6. Zionism: Return to the Ethnos 7. Memory: The Civil Religion of the Holocaust Conclusion Notes Index
£16.19
Liverpool University Press Karaism: An Introduction to the Oldest Surviving
Book SynopsisFinalist for National Jewish Book Award for Scholarship 2022. Karaite Judaism emerged in the ninth century in the Islamic Middle East as an alternative to the rabbinic Judaism of the Jewish majority. Karaites reject the underlying assumption of rabbinic Judaism, namely, that Jewish practice is to be based on two divinely revealed Torahs, a written one, embodied in the Five Books of Moses, and an oral one, eventually written down in rabbinic literature. Karaites accept as authoritative only the Written Torah, as they understand it, and their form of Judaism therefore differs greatly from that of most Jews. Despite its permanent minority status, Karaism has been an integral part of the Jewish people continuously for twelve centuries. It has contributed greatly to Jewish cultural achievements, while providing a powerful intellectual challenge to the majority form of Judaism. This book is the first to present a comprehensive overview of the entire story of Karaite Judaism: its unclear origins; a Golden Age of Karaism in the Land of Israel; migrations through the centuries; Karaites in the Holocaust; unique Jewish religious practices, beliefs, and philosophy; biblical exegesis and literary accomplishments; polemics and historiography; and the present-day revival of the Karaite community in the State of Israel.Trade Review'An amazing book. Bravo Professor Lasker. I'm giving this book the highest review possible. The book accomplishes right what it sets out to do. [...] It is rare for a book to be written from a purely academic perspective, to have academic rigour, but also to be extremely sensitive to the Karaite position. [...] I can't imagine there's a better [book] out there right now.'Shawn, A Blue Thread'Lasker’s book offers an extremely well-researched introduction to the relatively unknown and un-researched branch of Jewish history that includes Karaite Jewry and its texts, commentaries and records, in the hope that it inspires readers to continue learning about the “oldest surviving alternative Judaism”.'Hadassah Faur, Jerusalem Post'The need for [Karaism], the first wide-ranging English-language introduction to the study of Karaite Judaism, is abundantly clear. In twelve concise and readable chapters, made admirably accessible to the nonspecialist, Daniel J. Lasker draws on a lifetime of research into what he calls an “alternative Judaism,”… Even though few can match the breadth of Lasker’s interest or productivity, one hopes that this volume stimulates a new generation of interest in Karaism.'Marc Herman, H-Judaic'A useful and informative handbook on a little-known but intriguing strain of Judaism.'Sara Jo Ben Zvi, Segula'Karaism is written for a general audience and does a wonderful job showing the Karaites’ development, history and attempts to stay vital in contemporary times. Anyone interested in the history of Judaism will find this work fascinating in its ability to show how contemporary assumptions about our religion do not always accurately reflect our history.'Rabbi Rachel Esserman, The Reporter'A lively introduction to general Karaism that spans from its origins to the present and persuasively argues for its vital relevance to Jewish studies as a whole ... Karaism is an academic work, but Lasker’s personal affection for the Karaite community community shines through.' Alan Verskin, Jewish Review of Books‘The presentation of Karaite doctrines and practices is based partly on an analysis of the religious literature and partly on the observation of contemporary communities. The chapters on Karaite theology, exegesis, and historiography provide a useful summary of classical Karaite literature and clearly show the evolution of doctrines from one author to another. In a tour de force of exposition the author successfully presents complex theological systems and disentangles an often obscure intellectual history in the form of clear, thorough, and reader-friendly explanations that are up to date on the most recent literature, of which this book is, in a sense, a synthesis.’ Translated from French: ‘L’exposé des dogmes et des pratiques karaïtes repose tant sur l’anayse de la littérature religieuse que sur l’observation des communautés actuelles. Les chapitres sur la théologie, l’exégèse et l’historiographie karaïtes résument utilement la littérature classique karaïte et montrent clairement l’évolution des doctrines d’un auteur à l’autre. Ces résumés réussissent le tour de force d’exposer des systèmes théologiques complexes et de démêler une histoire intellectuelle parfois obscure sous la forme de résumés clairs, exhaustifs, agréables à lire et à jour de la bibliographie récente, dont ce livre est, en quelque sorte, une synthèse.’ Peter Nahon, Revue des Études Juives‘As it stands, this work is the first, long-awaited, reliable scholarly compendium on Karaism addressed to wider readership, for which important achievement its author is to be praised and congratulated. It will be of value not only to anyone interested in Karaism but also to anyone involved in Jewish studies in general, and will serve brilliantly as an introductory course book in these fields.’ Marzena Zawanowska, AJS Review"Here is what I wanted to know about the Karaites: 1) their origin, 2) a summary of their practices and beliefs, and 3) where they are now. Daniel J. Lasker does this admirably in his book Karaism: An Introduction to the Oldest Surviving Alternative Judaism … and much more." Mitchell First, Jewish Link‘Lasker effectively synthesises and summarises a mass of material. His study is a welcome contribution to our knowledge of an intriguing chapter in Jewish history.’ John Moorhead, Journal of Religious History‘Here is what I wanted to know about the Karaites: 1) their origin, 2) a summary of their practices and beliefs, and 3) where they are now. Daniel J. Lasker does this admirably in his book “Karaism: An Introduction to the Oldest Surviving Alternative Judaism”… and much more.’ Mitchell First, Jewish LinkTable of ContentsIntroduction1. Karaite Origins2. The Golden Age in the Land of Israel3. In Byzantium and Beyond4. Eastern European Karaites5. The Return to Israel6. Karaite Law and Religious Practices7. Principles of Karaism8.Theology9. Exegesis10. Polemics and Historiography11. Language and Literature12. The Future of KaraismBibliographyIndex
£39.88
Pluto Press The End of Jewish Modernity
Book SynopsisA provocative take on Jewish history, explaining the metamorphoses of mainstream Jewish culture and politicsTrade Review'Enzo Traverso is without doubt the most gifted historian of his generation. His book on Jewish modernity is, as all his writings, a unique combination of radical commitment and brilliant scholarship' -- Michael Löwy, Emeritus Research Director in Social Sciences at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (Paris), and author of On Changing the World: Essays in Political Philosophy from Karl Marx to Walter Benjamin'Imaginative and provocative ... a nuanced and intelligent treatise' -- Benjamin Ramm, Jewish Quarterly'Stimulating' -- Times Literary Supplement'Exciting and delightful ... this slim volume manages to deliver a comprehensive statement which makes a significant contribution to the discourses of politics, postmodern theory and intellectual history' -- The Muslim World Book ReviewTable of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction 1. What Was Jewish Modernity? 2. Cosmopolitanism, Mobility and Diaspora 3. Intellectuals between Critique and Power 4. Between Two Epochs: Jewishness and Politics in Hannah Arendt 5. Metamorphoses: From Judeophobia to Islamophobia 6. Zionism: Return to the Ethnos 7. Memory: The Civil Religion of the Holocaust Conclusion Notes Index
£68.00
Rlpg/Galleys The Implicit Norms of Rabbinic Judaism
Book SynopsisImplicit norms of law and theology governed in Rabbinic Judaism from the onset of its canon in the Mishnah (concluded at ca. 200) to its climax in the Talmud of Babylonia four centuries later. These norms of conviction and conception prevailed in a complete system, which was logically present, if not fully realized, from the very beginning of the canon. Norms of belief, not only behavior, governed in the canonical documents of Rabbinic Judaism and defined its orthodoxy and its heterodoxy. This book proves that proposition by asking, what are the theological premises of the documents upon which the Rabbinic canon was built and do these premises cohere in a tight theological system? The Implicit Norms of Rabbinic Judaism answers this question by identifying the principles that had to govern in order for a given composition to be articulated or a particular composite to be assembled. Those premises at the foundations of the canonical documents prove not episodic, but coherent. The documents speak, so it is universally maintained, for the community of the Rabbinic sages that sponsored them. Hence the premises and presuppositions of a document represent the consensus of the Rabbinic sages: the implicit norms of attitude and action. Canonical orthodoxy and heresy come to definition in those norms. How individuals conformed, and what institutions functioned to enforce conformity, do not figure into this account. It suffices to show that orthodoxy and heresy constituted native categories of the Rabbinic system of thought inherent in principal documents of the canon.Table of Contents1 Preface Part 2 1: Defining the Human Condition: Abot Part 3 2: The Categorical Structure of Knowledge: The Mishnah Part 4 3: The Laws of Intellect: Sifra Part 5 4: The Laws of History: Genesis Rabbah Part 6 5: The Laws of Society: Leviticus Rabbah Part 7 6: The Celestial Laws: Pesiqta deRab Kahana Part 8 7: Knowing God: Lamentations Rabbah Part 9 8: Loving, and Being Loved, by God: Song of Songs Rabbah Part 10 9: The Norms of Conviction of Rabbinic Judaism: Orthodoxy and Heresy
£34.20
Jason Aronson, Inc. The Scholars Haggadah
Book SynopsisIn this unprecedented masterwork, The Scholar's Haggadah: Ashkenazic, Sephardic, and Oriental Versions, Heinrich Guggenheimer presents the first Haggadah to treat the texts of all Jewish groups on an equal footing and to use their divergences and concurrences as a key to the history of the text and an understanding of its development.
£49.40
Jason Aronson, Inc. Sparks of Light
Book SynopsisThe author writes: 'Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak HaCohen Kook (5635-5695/1865-1935) was one of the greatest Jewish leaders of recent history. He was steeped in Jewish knowledge of all kinds, a master of halacha, Talmud, and Jewish philosophy, and he also had a good knowledge of the general philosophy and science of his day.'Trade ReviewI was very happy to learn that you are planning to publish books in English. The time has come that the holy concepts connected with the vision of Israel and man, that emanate from the Torah, should be publicized in the world in the language of the time that is spoken by the most people who most need to hear these concepts. -- Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook
£89.10
Jason Aronson Inc. Publishers Rashis Torah Commentary
Book SynopsisDraws upon comments made by Rashi throughout each of the Torah portions in the "Five Books of Moses". This book extracts the basic thoughts, ideas, and values of Judaism.Trade ReviewPinchas Doron does not really need my approbation, since the great scholars of this generation already approve of his holy work. I come merely to add my blessing that his thoughts may find wide acceptance and that the multitude should benefit from this. -- Rabbi Shmuel KamenetskyThe honorable author R. Pinchas Doron is a rare person and Torah scholar who expended great labors to interpret difficult passages in Rashi's commentary on the Chumash. He showed me examples of his supercommentary. He also has an approbation from the great Gaon, the Teacher of Israel, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein. Hence he surely does not need my approbation. I only come to strengthen his hands to publish his book for the benefit of those who learn Chumash with the commentary of the holy Rashi, that they should be scrupulous with every single of his words, so as to understand his profound meanings—for all Rashi's words are 'holy of holies' above. -- Rabbi Shimon Schwab
£99.00
Jason Aronson, Inc. Symbols of the Kabbalah
Book SynopsisGives a philosophical and psychological interpretation of the major symbols of the theosophical Kabbalah. This work shows that the Kabbalah, as it is expressed in the school of Isaac Luria, provides an account of the cosmos, and humanity's role within it, that is intellectually, morally, and spiritually significant for contemporary life.
£69.30
Jason Aronson Inc. Publishers Storytelling and Spirituality in Judaism
Book Synopsis'The purpose of this book is to elevate stories and storytelling in people's esteem, so they will understand their holiness and appreciate them at their full worth. There are those who enjoy stories and storytelling but in the back of their minds think, 'After all, they're only stories.'Trade ReviewStorytelling is an integral feature of hasidic culture. "Mayses" about rebbes, their lives, teaching, and philosophies are a rich source of Jewish values and Buxbaum has taken the disparate strands and woven a colorful textile. He has made accessible material generally not available in English, and explicates it for those not acquainted with much of the esoteric lore. This scholarly book is not just stories. What mainly interested me was the importance storytelling played in the lives of hasidic masters and how we can use these stories in this day and age. -- Sylvia Friedman, Association of Jewish LibrariesIn recent years there has been a revival of Jewish storytelling in North America and this book is the first and only work on the subject. The author increases our appreciation of how hasidic tales can awaken the religious spirit and how even the average person can become a valuable storyteller. -- Canadian Jewish NewsTable of ContentsPart 1 Introduction: Storytelling and Spirituality Part 2 Part I: Storytelling in Hasidism Chapter 3 Ch.1 What Made Hasidic Storytelling Different? Chapter 4 Ch.2 Hasidic Praise of Stories and Storytelling Chapter 5 Ch.3 The First Hasidic Storyteller: The Baal Shem Tov Chapter 6 Ch.4 The Besht's Stories Chapter 7 Ch.5 The Besht's Use of Secular Tales Chapter 8 Ch.6 The Besht's Storyteller Disciple Chapter 9 Ch.7 Storytelling in Hasidic Life Chapter 10 Ch.8 An Established Place in Hasidism: The Mitzvah of Storytelling Chapter 11 Ch.9 Drawing People to God Through Storytelling Chapter 12 Ch.10 Traditional Opposition to Storytelling Chapter 13 Ch.11 Scriptural Support for Storytelling Chapter 14 Ch.12 Storytelling Among the Misnagdim and Non-hasidim Part 15 Part II: Hasidic Teaching About the Methods and Practices of Storytelling Chapter 16 Ch.13 Deriving Lessons from Stories Chapter 17 Ch.14 How to Tell, How to Listen Chapter 18 Ch.15 Hearing the Hints in Stories Chapter 19 Ch.16 Miracle Stories: What to Believe Chapter 20 Ch.17 Different Story Versions: Issues of Truth and Falsehood Chapter 21 Ch.18 How Rebbes Use Stories Chapter 22 Ch.19 An Exceptional Case: Rabbi Nahman of Bratzlav Part 23 Part III: Hasidic Teaching About the Benefits of Storytelling Chapter 24 Ch.20 Stories Save Chapter 25 Ch.21 Stories Save—Continued Chapter 26 Ch.22 Messiah Chapter 27 Afterword: Applications for Today
£50.48
£16.15
Jason Aronson, Inc. Talmud for Beginners
Book SynopsisRabbi Abrams writes: When I teach Torah classes to my congregants, sometimes they become very uncomfortable with what they read in the Tanach. Jacob tricks his father. Moses kills a man. David commits adultery. They struggle to come to grips with the difficult passages in the text. They also work on finding meaning in worship services, even though they don''t know Hebrew. They strive to define themselves proudly as Jews in a non-Jewish world. They worry about assimilation. And I''m pretty sure that they think their problems are modern ones. Blessedly, the rabbis of the Talmud struggled with these questions, too, and they came up with some terrific answers. In this introduction to the tractate Megillah of the Babylonian Talmud, we will learn how the rabbis viewed the Torah, and how they teach us to relate to it. They don''t shy away from the hard-to-deal with passages, but show us how to meet them head on without sacrificing respect for them. They show us how to make the text our own and how to honor it in our everyday lives. These are ancient answers to modern questions. In this tractate, the rabbis develop a whole system of honor that is based on respect for the Torah in each person and object in our world. In other words, the true Jewish status system is based on learning and menschlichkeit, rather than money or fame. So while this tractate may be stimulating on an intellectual level, it''s also stimulating on the mensch'' level. As the second volume in a series, this book challenges the learner to reach new heights of understanding the Talmud, and the way the rabbis thought. However, don''t be afraid, it''s still very much for beginners. A general introduction about the Talmud is provided, then selected passages from each of the tractate''s four chapters are explained in simple language. A bibliography for further reading, glossary, halachic appendix and descriptions of the rabbis mentioned in the book, are also provided.Trade ReviewAll too often Talmud dissembles into a mass of details, some fascinating but many others esoteric or irrelevant. In this book, Rabbi Abrams identifies the underlying grand themes that pull it all together. She takes the novice by the hand, gently walking him/her through complex logical analyses, until the beauty of the complete structure comes into sight. By weaving lively examples of loving relationships between human beings into her explanations, Rabbi Abrams not only clarifies the nature of a Jew's relationship to God, but prods the reader into grappling with some of the larger religious issues of the day. In short, like Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, she makes the study of Talmud inviting instead of intimidating. -- Rabbi Judith Hauptman, Jewish Theological SeminaryRabbi Abrams has produced an excellent introduction to the study of the Talmud. Through explication of selected texts, she conveys to the reader the high degree of accessibility and comprehensibility of the Talmud, proving again that even the most complex matter can be grasped if properly transmitted. Bringing in her own insights, she transforms material that at first blush might seem abstruse or unrelated to human concerns into texts that speak not only to the historical reality of the Rabbis but to our contemporary self as well. -- Blu Greenberg, author, How to Run a Traditional Jewish Household
£34.20
Rowman & Littlefield Torah Encounters: Exodus
Book Synopsis“Torah, as both book and process, is the taproot that penetrates to the heart of Jewish meaning, understanding, and expression. Torah study is how we mine not just meaning from the text, but our awareness of God’s will,” writes Rabbi Daniel Pressman in the introduction to Torah Encounters: Genesis. This book invites readers into the richness of the Torah, sharing context and information for each parasha, as well as commentary from generations of Biblical interpreters—historical and modern, and Rabbi Pressman’s own insights. The second in the five-volume Torah Encounters series, Torah Encounters: Exodus makes the weekly Torah portion approachable and applicable. It is a wonderful resource for clergy, adult or high school Hebrew education, or personal study.Trade ReviewYou hold inspiration in your hand. Daniel Pressman’s words have informed Rabbis, delighted congregants, and touched innumerable hearts. Read, learn, and delight in a true teacher of Torah. -- Rabbi David Wolpe, Senior Rabbi, Sinai Temple, Los AngelesRabbi Daniel Pressman has been a teacher of Torah for as long as I can remember! His wisdom, humor, warmth, and skill all come together in Torah Encounters, offering a path to the very heart of wisdom and compassion that is the Torah’s legacy. Walk with this master teacher, and you will not only find yourself harvesting life-enhancing jewels, but you will advance with a great sage by your side. -- Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, Dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, Vice President of American Jewish University
£23.75
Rowman & Littlefield Stepping Forward Together: Synagogue Visioning
Book SynopsisStepping Forward Together can help leaders create their vision and put these changes into perspective and help them take a leadership stance in a challenging world. This book provides a resource that empowers them with planning tools and exercises to engage the community and step forward.
£46.80
Rowman & Littlefield Stepping Forward Together: Synagogue Visioning
Book SynopsisStepping Forward Together can help leaders create their vision and put these changes into perspective and help them take a leadership stance in a challenging world. This book provides a resource that empowers them with planning tools and exercises to engage the community and step forward.
£23.75
Rowman & Littlefield God-Talk: The Heart of Judaism
Book SynopsisDavid Novak, one of the most distinguished Jewish theologians in the world, offers a new interpretation of how the Jewish people and the Jewish tradition talk about God. What does the Torah say about God? How does the God of the Torah talk about Godself? And how does the God of the Torah talk about human beings? The book traces the history and theology of God-talk in Judaism, and how it remains relevant, now more than ever, and speaks directly to contemporary issues such as human rights. Table of ContentsPrefaceChapter 1: God-Talk: An IntroductionChapter 2: What is Jewish Theology?Chapter 3: The Inner Life of GodChapter 4: Seeing GodChapter 5: Natural Law and Natural TheologyBibliographyIndexAbout the Author
£48.60
Rowman & Littlefield God-Talk: The Heart of Judaism
Book SynopsisDavid Novak, one of the most distinguished Jewish theologians in the world, offers a new interpretation of how the Jewish people and the Jewish tradition talk about God. What does the Torah say about God? How does the God of the Torah talk about Godself? And how does the God of the Torah talk about human beings? The book traces the history and theology of God-talk in Judaism, and how it remains relevant, now more than ever, and speaks directly to contemporary issues such as human rights. Table of ContentsPrefaceChapter 1: God-Talk: An IntroductionChapter 2: What is Jewish Theology?Chapter 3: The Inner Life of GodChapter 4: Seeing GodChapter 5: Natural Law and Natural TheologyBibliographyIndexAbout the Author
£18.04
Scholars Press Understanding the Rabbinic Mind: Essays on the
Book SynopsisAn essential collection of works on the theology of an important figure in jewish history.
£65.00
Jason Aronson Inc. Publishers Storytelling and Spirituality in Judaism
Book Synopsis'The purpose of this book is to elevate stories and storytelling in people's esteem, so they will understand their holiness and appreciate them at their full worth. There are those who enjoy stories and storytelling but in the back of their minds think, 'After all, they're only stories.' But in the same way that the Western Wall of the Temple is not just a wall, a mere pile of stones, neither are the stories of the Torah or of the tzaddikim 'just stories.' Holy stories are the light of the world. When we understand that, when both tellers and listeners know they are engaged in sacred activity, we will hold stories and storytelling more dear. The teller will tell with the tongue of faith, the listeners will hear with ears of faith, and the circle of holiness will be closed.' -from the IntroductionTrade ReviewStorytelling is an integral feature of hasidic culture. "Mayses" about rebbes, their lives, teaching, and philosophies are a rich source of Jewish values and Buxbaum has taken the disparate strands and woven a colorful textile. He has made accessible material generally not available in English, and explicates it for those not acquainted with much of the esoteric lore. This scholarly book is not just stories. What mainly interested me was the importance storytelling played in the lives of hasidic masters and how we can use these stories in this day and age. -- Sylvia Friedman, Association of Jewish LibrariesIn recent years there has been a revival of Jewish storytelling in North America and this book is the first and only work on the subject. The author increases our appreciation of how hasidic tales can awaken the religious spirit and how even the average person can become a valuable storyteller. -- Canadian Jewish NewsTable of ContentsPart 1 Introduction: Storytelling and Spirituality Part 2 Part I: Storytelling in Hasidism Chapter 3 Ch.1 What Made Hasidic Storytelling Different? Chapter 4 Ch.2 Hasidic Praise of Stories and Storytelling Chapter 5 Ch.3 The First Hasidic Storyteller: The Baal Shem Tov Chapter 6 Ch.4 The Besht's Stories Chapter 7 Ch.5 The Besht's Use of Secular Tales Chapter 8 Ch.6 The Besht's Storyteller Disciple Chapter 9 Ch.7 Storytelling in Hasidic Life Chapter 10 Ch.8 An Established Place in Hasidism: The Mitzvah of Storytelling Chapter 11 Ch.9 Drawing People to God Through Storytelling Chapter 12 Ch.10 Traditional Opposition to Storytelling Chapter 13 Ch.11 Scriptural Support for Storytelling Chapter 14 Ch.12 Storytelling Among the Misnagdim and Non-hasidim Part 15 Part II: Hasidic Teaching About the Methods and Practices of Storytelling Chapter 16 Ch.13 Deriving Lessons from Stories Chapter 17 Ch.14 How to Tell, How to Listen Chapter 18 Ch.15 Hearing the Hints in Stories Chapter 19 Ch.16 Miracle Stories: What to Believe Chapter 20 Ch.17 Different Story Versions: Issues of Truth and Falsehood Chapter 21 Ch.18 How Rebbes Use Stories Chapter 22 Ch.19 An Exceptional Case: Rabbi Nahman of Bratzlav Part 23 Part III: Hasidic Teaching About the Benefits of Storytelling Chapter 24 Ch.20 Stories Save Chapter 25 Ch.21 Stories Save—Continued Chapter 26 Ch.22 Messiah Chapter 27 Afterword: Applications for Today
£40.50
Jason Aronson Inc. Publishers A Student's Obligation: Advice from the Rebbe of
Book SynopsisThe last hasidic rebbe of the Warsaw Ghetto explores many facets of spiritual growth and character development.Trade ReviewAt last! The great chasidic education guidebook, Chovat HaTalmidim, translated into clear and accessible English. This work, by the famed chasidic master Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Shapira, has been called a gateway to the palace of Chasidism. It is filled with practical advice and concrete suggestions on developing one's spiritual potential, impoving one's character, and sensitizing oneself to the holiness present in one's own soul. Reading this book is like being in the presence of a true master, a wise and benevolent spiritual guide who has taken a personal interest in one's spiritual growth and destiny and who reaches out to touch one's soul with joy and sweetness. -- Rabbi Nehemia Polen, author of The Holy Fire: The Teachings of Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Shapira, the Rebbe of the Warsaw GhettoThis remarkable book, the only of Rabbi Shapira's works to be published during his lifetime, has been required reading among a significant portion of yeshiva students and their parents ever since it was first published in Poland in 1932. It is, on the surface, a book of practical advice given by a rebbe to a serious, motivated student on how to achieve true success in life—how to learn well; how to be a truly decent, God-fearing individual; how to overcome one's weaknesses; and how to build one's strengths. But, more deeply, it is a guidebook to an extraordinary spiritual adventure, aimed at making each and every person who reads it truly aware of their own extraordinary worth and potential in the realm of the transcendent and the sublime. * Wellsprings *Table of ContentsForeword: Kalonymus Kalman Shapira, Rebbe of the Warsaw Ghetto by Aharon Sorasky Part I: Revealing the Soul and Training the Student in the Ways of Chasidut Author's Introduction: A Discussion with Teachers and Parents Chapter 1: A Call to the Student Chapter 2: First Steps in the Student's Development Chapter 3: Principal Ills of the Soul and Their Cures Chapter 4: Laziness and Its Cure Chapter 5: Some Specific Advice for the Lazy Chapter 6: The Ill of Egotism Chapter 7: The Ill of False Humility and Its Cure Chapter 8: The Importance of Spiritual and Character Growth Chapter 9: Advice for Growth and Self-Improvement Chapter 10: To Transform Bad Character into Light Chapter 11: Consistent Work, Consistent Searching, and Exalted Attitude Chapter 12: Some Thoughts on Chasidism and How to Connect to Torah through it Chapter 13: Do Not Delay Chapter 14: Instructions and Admonishments Part II: Three Essays for Senior Students and Young Married Scholars Introduction Essay 1: How to Study Chasidic Texts Essay 2: Torah, Prayer, and Singing to God Essay 3: The Holy Shabbat
£40.50
Wicked Son Free as a Jew: A Personal Memoir of National
Book Synopsis“Ruth Wisse’s intellectual autobiography is a lasting work of profound moral force and scathing political discernment.... Its illuminations are likely to be as urgent one hundred years hence as they are now.” —Cynthia Ozick A Jewish child born into the worst of times in Europe grows up during the best of times in North America—only to recognize that it could be moving back in the opposite direction.First came parents with the good sense to flee Europe in 1940 and the good fortune to reach the land of freedom. Their daughter, Ruth, grew up in the shadow of genocide—but in tandem with the birth of Israel, which remained her lodestar. She learned that although Jewishness is biologically transmitted, democracy is not, and both require intensive, intelligent transmission through education in each and every generation. They need adults with the confidence to teach their importance. Ruth tried to take on that challenge as dangers to freedom mounted and shifted sides on the political spectrum. At the high point of her teaching at Harvard University, she witnessed the unraveling of standards of honesty and truth until the academy she left was no longer the one she had entered.
£22.40
Academic Studies Press We are not only English Jews - we are Jewish
Book SynopsisA distinct Anglo-Jewish identity developed in Britain between 1840 and 1880. Over the course of these forty years, a mature, increasingly comfortable, native-born Jewish community emerged and matured in London. The multifaceted growth and change in communal institutional and religious structures and habits, as well as the community's increasing familiarity and comfort with the larger English society, contributed to the formation of an Anglo-Jewish communal identity. The history of this community and the ways in which it developed are explored in this volume using archival and also contemporary advertising material that appeared in the Jewish Chronicle and other Anglo-Jewish newspapers in these years.Table of Contents List of Tables List of Abbreviations Glossary of Terms Acknowledgements Introduction Note on Sources Chapter One: Jewish Life in England after Readmission Chapter Two: Dissent and Decorum: Establishing Community and its Limits (Anglo-Jewish Community and its Discontents) Chapter Three: London Jews and the Giving of Ẓedakah and Charity: Creating Anglo-Judaic Practice Chapter Four: Anglo-Jewry on the Move: Demographic, Political, Social, and Economic Change Chapter Five: London Jews and Education: On Becoming English and Remaining Jewish—By Class and Design Conclusion: The Making of an Anglo-Jewish Identity, 1840–1880 Appendix 1: Sampling of Charities and Charitable Institutions Advertising or Soliciting Subscribers in the Jewish Chronicle, 1841–1859 Appendix 2: Sampling of Charitable Institutions, Friendly Societies, and So Forth, 1874 Bibliography
£76.49
Academic Studies Press The Project of Return to Sepharad in the
Book SynopsisThis work, the fruit of intense research work spanning several years, examines the first serious attempt by the descendants of the Sephardim-the Jews expelled from Spain in 1492-to "return to Sepharad" more than three decades after the abolition of the Inquisition. At the beginning of the nineteenth century a trend towards historical revisionism, backed by Liberals, whose influence was pivotal at the Cortes de Cádiz (the national assembly convened to assert Spanish sovereignty, introduce reform, and establish a modern Spanish nation), combined with economic factors, culminated in the abolition of the Inquisition in 1834. This paved the way, ideologically, for the freedom of worship to be proclaimed in Spain on the heels of La Septembrina, or La Gloriosa, the September Revolution of 1868 in which Queen Isabel II was deposed. European Sephardic Jews, galvanized by their perception of a tolerant Spain, decided to undertake a major project to initiate negotiations with the Spanish state.Trade Review"In doing so she has produced a detailed analysis of the attitudes and roles of the Jewish press and the Jewish community. Highly accessible, it would be an important addition for any Judaica library." - AJL ReviewsTable of Contents Acknowledgements Introduction 1. The Press and the Jews' Return to Spain 2. Guedalla's Project 3. Reticence in the Jewish Community Conclusion Annex: Letter from the Liberal Bayonnais of October 17, 1868 Sources Bibliography
£76.49
Academic Studies Press A Kabbalist in Montreal: The Life and Times of
Book SynopsisThis book illuminates important issues faced by Orthodox Judaism in the modern era by relating the life and times of Rabbi Yudel Rosenberg (1859–1935). In presenting Yudel Rosenberg's rabbinic activities, this book aims to show that Jewish Orthodoxy could serve as an agent of modernity no less than its opponents. Yudel Rosenberg's considerable literary output will demonstrate that the line between "secular" and "traditional" literature was not always sharp and distinct. Rabbi Rosenberg's kabbalistic works will shed light on the revival of kabbala study in the twentieth century. Yudel Rosenberg's career in Canada will serve as a counter-example to the often-expressed idea that Hasidism exercised no significant influence on the development of American Judaism at the turn of the twentieth century.Table of Contents Abbreviations Preface 1. Introduction: Rabbi Yudel Rosenberg and the Paradigms of Jewish Modernity 2. On a Spiderweb Foundation: Yudel Rosenberg's Life in Small-Town Poland (1859–1889) 3. A Rabbi and Rebbe in Urban Poland (1890–1913) 4. "Allright! It's America!": A Rabbi in Toronto (1913–1918) 5. "The Rabbis Are for the Dollar": Rabbi Yudel Rosenberg and the Kosher Meat Wars of Montreal (1919–1935) 6. "Better to Be in Gehinnom": Yudel Rosenberg's Halakhic Voice 7. A "Folk Author": Yudel Rosenberg as Storyteller 8. "Almost Alone": Yudel Rosenberg as Preacher 9. Magic, Science, and Healing 10. "Those Who Understand Kabbala Are Extremely Rare in OIr Generation": Rabbi Yudel Rosenberg as Kabbalist 11. What Is Rabbi Yudel Rosenberg's Legacy? A Chronological Bibliography of the Writings of Rabbi Yehuda Yudel Rosenberg General Bibliography Index
£76.49
Academic Studies Press “And You Shall Tell Your Son”: Identity and
Book SynopsisIn this volume, Bible Studies scholar Yitzhak (Itzik) Peleg offers an educational, values-based approach to the cycle of Jewish holidays—festivals and holy days—as found in the Jewish calendar. These special days play a dual role: they reflect a sense of identity with, and belonging to, the Jewish people, while simultaneously shaping that identity and sense of belonging. The biblical command “And you shall tell your son” (Exodus 13:8) is meant to ensure that children will become familiar with the history of their people via the experience of celebrating the holidays. It is the author’s claim, however, that this command must be preceded by another educational command: “And you shall listen to your son and your daughter.” The book examines the various Jewish holidays and ways in which they are celebrated, while focusing on three general topics: identity, belonging, memory. Throughout the generations, observance of the holidays has developed and changed, from time to time and place to place. These changes have enabled generations of Jews, in their various communities, to define their own Jewish identity and sense of belonging. Trade Review“[T]his book caters to Jewish people of all backgrounds and different levels of observance. The book places a great emphasis on the fact that the common denominator that unites us as a Jewish people is our love of the Bible, our tradition, and the preservation of our rich heritage for generations to come. … Peleg conveys in his book that both integration and balance between tradition and renewal will make the Jewish holidays relevant to more and more Jews, both younger and older. By embracing and celebrating the holidays that have been passed down to us generation after generation, the book speaks of the connection between Jews among themselves, as well as that between Jews and their past.” — Joseph Scutts, The Jerusalem ReportTable of ContentsIntroduction Holidays as an Educational Tool throughout the Generations (Ledorotaichem): Examples Holidays as Tools for Shaping Jewish Identity Holidays as Building a Sense of Belonging to Our People Remembrance in the Holidays as Shaping Identity and a Sense of Belonging to the Jewish People The Memory of the Holocaust as Shaping Identity and Belonging Developments and Changes in the Holidays throughout the Generations and in How We Relate to Them Passover as a Reflection (Mise en Abyme) of the Jewish Holidays Lessons from Our Journey through the Jewish Calendar from a Child’s Overview Epilogue: How Should We Celebrate Independence Day? BibliographyIndex of the Jewish Holidays
£78.19
Academic Studies Press “And You Shall Tell Your Son”: Identity and
Book SynopsisIn this volume, Bible Studies scholar Yitzhak (Itzik) Peleg offers an educational, values-based approach to the cycle of Jewish holidays—festivals and holy days—as found in the Jewish calendar. These special days play a dual role: they reflect a sense of identity with, and belonging to, the Jewish people, while simultaneously shaping that identity and sense of belonging. The biblical command “And you shall tell your son” (Exodus 13:8) is meant to ensure that children will become familiar with the history of their people via the experience of celebrating the holidays. It is the author’s claim, however, that this command must be preceded by another educational command: “And you shall listen to your son and your daughter.” The book examines the various Jewish holidays and ways in which they are celebrated, while focusing on three general topics: identity, belonging, memory. Throughout the generations, observance of the holidays has developed and changed, from time to time and place to place. These changes have enabled generations of Jews, in their various communities, to define their own Jewish identity and sense of belonging. Trade Review“[T]his book caters to Jewish people of all backgrounds and different levels of observance. The book places a great emphasis on the fact that the common denominator that unites us as a Jewish people is our love of the Bible, our tradition, and the preservation of our rich heritage for generations to come. … Peleg conveys in his book that both integration and balance between tradition and renewal will make the Jewish holidays relevant to more and more Jews, both younger and older. By embracing and celebrating the holidays that have been passed down to us generation after generation, the book speaks of the connection between Jews among themselves, as well as that between Jews and their past.” — Joseph Scutts, The Jerusalem ReportTable of ContentsIntroduction Holidays as an Educational Tool throughout the Generations (Ledorotaichem): Examples Holidays as Tools for Shaping Jewish Identity Holidays as Building a Sense of Belonging to Our People Remembrance in the Holidays as Shaping Identity and a Sense of Belonging to the Jewish People The Memory of the Holocaust as Shaping Identity and Belonging Developments and Changes in the Holidays throughout the Generations and in How We Relate to Them Passover as a Reflection (Mise en Abyme) of the Jewish Holidays Lessons from Our Journey through the Jewish Calendar from a Child’s Overview Epilogue: How Should We Celebrate Independence Day? BibliographyIndex of the Jewish Holidays
£14.24
Creighton University,U.S. Yiddish Language and Culture: Then and Now.
Book SynopsisYiddish language and literature played a major role in the lives of millions of Eastern European Jews, both in their homelands and in the centers to which they immigrated in America. Aspects of that culture have continued to be enjoyed and explored by Jews and non-Jews alike in many "translated" contexts. Yiddish, then, clearly has a past and and something of a present. Its future, in doubt according to some, should be vibrant, if considerably changed, in the opinion of others. These are among the topics and issues addressed in this series of papers, which manage to be scholarly, lyrical, challenging, and evocative all at the same time.
£20.79
Liverpool University Press Hasidism Beyond Modernity: Essays in Habad
Book SynopsisThe Habad school of hasidism is distinguished today from other hasidic groups by its famous emphasis on outreach, on messianism, and on empowering women. Hasidism Beyond Modernity provides a critical, thematic study of the movement from its beginnings, showing how its unusual qualities evolved. Topics investigated include the theoretical underpinning of the outreach ethos; the turn towards women in the twentieth century; new attitudes to non-Jews; the role of the individual in the hasidic collective; spiritual contemplation in the context of modernity; the quest for inclusivism in the face of prevailing schismatic processes; messianism in both spiritual and political forms; and the direction of the movement after the passing of its seventh rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, in 1994. Attention is given to many contrasts: pre-modern, modern, and postmodern conceptions of Judaism; the clash between maintaining an enclave and outreach models of Jewish society; particularist and universalist trends; and the subtle interplay of mystical faith and rationality. Some of the chapters are new; others, published in an earlier form, have been updated to take account of recent scholarship. This book presents an in-depth study of an intriguing movement which takes traditional hasidism beyond modernity. Trade Review'Chabad has become a global movement, powered by dedicated emissaries fuelled by a belief in the sacredness of their task and holy potential of every individual, whether Jew or Gentile. Dr Loewenthal masterfully links these ideals and the activism they inspire to their theological roots.'Dr Harris Bor, The Jewish Chronicle'Loewenthal has dug deep into the heart of Chabad’s philosophy... his work is destined to be more than another dusty tome read only by a select cohort of colleagues in his field. Throughout the book, he maintains his humanity, a personal voice that compromises neither his objectivity nor his convictions. The observations of the scholar are considered side-by-side with the insights of school girls. There is no more moving testament to the challenge and the resilience of a postmodern movement; the prior categories exploded, the either/or thinking rejected, while the nucleus—present since the inception—is retained.'Chana Silberstein, Lubavitch MagazineTable of ContentsIntroduction Part I. From the Ba’al Shem Tov to Modern Outreach 1. Hippy in the Mikveh: The Hasidic Ethos and the Schisms of Jewish Society 2. The Ba’al Shem Tov’s ‘Sacred Epistle’ and Contemporary Habad Outreach Part II. 3. The Hasid and the Other 4. Reason and Beyond Reason 5. Finding the Individual 6. Habad Contemplation in Context 7. Women and the Dialectic of Spirituality in Hasidism 8. From ‘Ladies’ Auxiliary’ To ‘Shluchos Network’: Women’s Activism in Twentieth-Century Habad 9. Habad Messianism: A Combination of Opposites 10. ‘From the Source of Raḥamim’: Graveside Prayer in Habad Hasidism 11. Habad, the Rebbe, and the Messiah in the Twenty-First Century Bibliography Index
£43.45
