Judaism life and practice Books
Princeton University Press Reckless Rites
Book SynopsisHistorical accounts of Jewish violence - particularly against Christians - have long been explosive material. Some historians have distorted these records for anti-Semitic purposes. This book looks at both the history of Jewish violence since late antiquity and the ways in which generations of historians have grappled with that history.Trade ReviewOne of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2006 Runner-Up for the 2006 National Jewish Book Award in History "[A] dazzlingly erudite study of the many ramifications of the Purim odyssey from medieval times to our days. Horowitz's ambitious book achieves two accomplishments: the documentation of 1,500 years of Christian and Jewish interpretations of the knottiest, and naughtiest, sections of the Book of Esther, and then the chronicling of the actual social-historical consequences of those interpretations; that is, how Purim was used and abused through the ages. [Horowitz's is] a scrupulously honest voice, dealing in exemplary fashion with an important subject that has been ignored by scholars precisely because of its extreme delicacy. Horowitz has enriches us with a model of historical scholarship. Anything but reckless, Reckless Rites is a rare gem of academic work that will make a real difference."--Allan Nadler, Forward "Reckless Rites is a provocative volume, rich in historical detail. Horowitz tells a story, not without humor, that attempts to connect events of the distant past with contemporary conflicts. Unusual for a work of history, Reckless Rites is also a good read."--Irven M. Resnick, AJS Review "Reckless Rites is an excellent read, and for a book on such a serious subject not devoid of humor... [I]t's most important purpose ... is to throw a very large bucket of cold water over the misconceptions and the willful misreading of history in which we all too easily indulge."--Rabbi Dr. Charles Middleburgh, Jewish Chronicle "In his new book, Elliot Horowitz attempts to undermine the conventional wisdom about Jews and violence. Focusing on Purim, he convincingly shows that the image passed down over the centuries, of Jewish passivity and nonviolence during the medieval period, is, if not wrong, at least in need of correction... [A] thought-provoking book, whose trees are often as memorable as the forest."--Kalman Neuman, Jerusalem Report "The book is a valuable contribution to what appeared to be an already enormous volume of religious history. The author's presentation of a well-researched and thoroughly analyzed history of Jewish violence that accompanies a sacred festival makes this an extraordinary book."--Willem F M Luyt, Studia Historiae EcclesiasticaeTable of ContentsIllustrations xi Acknowledgments xiii Introduction 1 PART ONE: BIBLICAL LEGACIES 21 CHAPTER ONE: The Book of Esther For and Against 23 CHAPTER TWO: A Pair of Queens 46 CHAPTER THREE: Mordecai's Reckless Refusal 63 CHAPTER FOUR: The Eternal Haman 81 CHAPTER FIVE: Amalek The Memory of Violence and the Violence of Memory 107 PART TWO: JEWS LIVING DANGEROUSLY 147 CHAPTER SIX: "The Fascination of the Abomination" Jews (and Jewish Historians) Confront the Cross 149 CHAPTER SEVEN: Mild Men or Wild Men? Historical Reflections on Jews and Violence 187 CHAPTER EIGHT: Ancient Jewish Violence and Modern Scholarship 213 CHAPTER NINE: Purim, Carnival, and Violence 248 CHAPTER TEN: Local Purims and the Invention of Tradition 279 Abbreviations 317 Bibliography 319 Index 325
£31.50
Princeton University Press A Short History of the Jews
Book SynopsisPresents the narrative history of the Jewish people from biblical times to today. This book tells a dramatic story of change and migration deeply rooted in tradition, taking readers from the mythic wanderings of Moses to the unspeakable atrocities of the Holocaust; and from the Babylonian exile to the founding of the modern state of Israel.Trade Review"As the title indicates, this is a compact survey of Jewish history, an introduction for general readers. Still, Professor Brenner manages to cover a great deal of ground while effectively explaining many of the key elements of the Jewish experience. From biblical times to the present, Brenner asserts, a recurring theme of Jewish history is migration, yet it is migration that constantly kept the land of Israel as the focus of Jewish emotions and aspirations... On the whole, this work serves as an excellent introduction."--Jay Freeman, Booklist "In this concise but all-encompassing account of the Jews, Brenner (After the Holocaust) does a remarkable job of escorting readers from the biblical narrative of Abraham's journey from Ur and idolatry through the treacherous, monotheistic course of Jewish history, concluding with modern-day Israeli society."--Publishers Weekly Religion Book Line "This is an excellent overview of Jewish history--a well-written, up-to-date survey for college students and the general reader. Considering the scope of the coverage, the book is remarkably concise. The explanations under the attractive illustrations aptly point to their relevance in the period being discussed."--Robert Seltzer, H-Net Reviews "Brenner offers a digestible, interesting, complex history, in an accessible format."--Jewish Book World "Recommended."--Sandra Collins, Library Journal "A Short History of the Jews is well-written and Jeremiah Riemer's translation from the German is quite readable. All in all, an excellent source for the reader, Jewish or otherwise."--Ed Sizemore, Denton Record-Chronicle "This elegantly produced, generously illustrated text attempts the impossible--the telling of 3,000 years of Jewish history in less than 400 pages."--Choice "Michael Brenner's lavishly illustrated and authoritative A Short History of the Jews is not exactly short, given its 421 pages with the index. But since he is dealing with about 3,000 years, Brenner's feat of condensation is commendable."--Sheldon Kirshner, Canadian Jewish News "[A]n interesting survey and good place to start for any reader curious about the history of the Jewish people in their societies."--Jay Howard Geller, Canadian Journal of HistoryTable of ContentsChapter 1: From Ur to Canaan A Wandering People 1 Chapter 2: From Exile Back Home Priests and Prophets 19 Chapter 3: From Hebrew into Greek Disdain and Admiration 31 Chapter 4: From Modiin to Jerusalem A Jewish State Stands and Falls 39 Chapter 5: From Jerusalem to Yavneh The Diaspora Legitimates Itself 55 Chapter 6: From Medina to Baghdad Under Islamic Rule 69 Chapter 7: From Sura to Cordoba Sepharad--Jewish Culture on the Iberian Peninsula 83 Chapter 8: From Lucca to Mainz Ashkenaz--The Roots of Central European Jewry 95 Chapter 9: From Lisbon to Venice Expulsions and Their Aftermath 117 Chapter 10: From Khaybar to Rome Messianic and Mystical Movements 137 Chapter 11: From West to East A New Center in Poland 151 Chapter 12: From Dessau to Berlin Rural Jews, Court Jews, and Enlightenment Philosophers 167 Chapter 13: From the Ghetto to Civil Society Political Emancipation and Religious Reform 189 Chapter 14: From Posen to New Orleans Starting Over in America 209 Chapter 15: From the Shtetl to the Lower East Side East European Jewish Dreams and American Realities 223 Chapter 16: From Budapest to Tel Aviv An "Old New Land" in Zion 255 Chapter 17: From Tetouan to Teheran The Europeanization of Jews in the Islamic World 273 Chapter 18: From Czernowitz to Cerna?ut,i Political Crisis and Cultural Florescence between the Wars 287 Chapter 19: From Everywhere to Auschwitz Annihilation 319 Chapter 20: From Julius Streicher's Farm to the Kibbutz The Jewish World after the Holocaust 349 Appendix: Jewish History in Numbers 389 Further Reading 393 Picture Credits 401 Index of Names 405 Index of Place Names 415
£19.80
Princeton University Press Hidden Heretics
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Finalist for the National Jewish Book Award in American Jewish Studies""Finalist for the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature, Jewish Book Council""Finalist for the Jordan Schnitzer Award in Social Science, Anthropology, and Folklore, Association for Jewish Studies""[An] absorbing account of how Haredi Jews in contemporary New York use social and other digital media to negotiate religious doubt. . . . It is the personal stories in particular that make Hidden Heretics so compelling."---Giulia Miller, Times Literary Supplement"Engaging. . . . Fader effectively shows how modern apostasy meets hard-line orthodoxy." * Library Journal *"Providing us with a detailed examination of how disbelief occurs on a spectrum, Fader pushes us to understand how staying or leaving a religion does too."---Katie Christine Gaddini, Marginalia"Hidden Heretics provides a view of contemporary ultra-Orthodox life from a series of unexpected angles and tucked-away corners."---Naomi Seidman, Public Books"Fader has written a groundbreaking work that delves into the parts of the Orthodox world that many do not even know exist."---Ben Rothke, Times of Israel"Substantial and riveting."---David Zvi Kalman, The Forward"Ayala Fader . . . unpacks one of the most daunting public secrets confronting Haredi communities: the suspicion, or realistic understanding, that there are members of the community who are experiencing life-changing doubt." * American Anthropologist *"[Hidden Heretics] explores, with great insight and sensitivity, the complex existence of double lifers and the conditions under which they live. [Fader’s] engaging style makes this fascinating work appeal both to scholars of contemporary Orthodox Judaism and those who study the relationship between technology and society, as well as to the general reader." * American Jewish History *"Hidden Heretics does indeed reflect the best of anthropology: an incisive, sensitive book that draws novel ethnographic fieldwork together with scholarship on language and semiotic ideologies, secrecy, doubt, media, authority, and ethics." * Journal of Linguistic Anthropology *"Masterfully written"---Oren Golar, Journal of Religion, Media and Digital Culture
£37.80
Cornell University Press The Jew and the Other
Book SynopsisEsther Benbassa and Jean-Christophe Attias show that alterity is a useful and morally compelling notion with which to structure Judaism's historically specific and politically charged encounters with deity, femininity, Christianity, and Islam.Trade Review"This is a rich summation of the resources and challenges of Jewish identity and difference at the turn of the third Christian millennium. Committed, lucid, critical, and informed, it exemplifies a vibrantly human science of Jewishness." -- Jonathan Boyarin, author of Storm from Paradise: The Politics of Jewish Memory and Thinking in Jewish
£81.00
University of Pennsylvania Press A Common Justice
Book SynopsisFocusing on the late seventh to early eleventh centuries in the region between Iraq in the east and present-day Tunisia in the west, this study explores the multiplicity of judicial systems that coexisted under early Islam to reveal a complex array of social obligations that connected individuals across confessional boundaries.Trade Review"This is a very welcome book. It offers a theoretically informed and up-to-date analysis of the workings of social power within communities that lived side by side, even if they are said to have lived separate lives." * Arietta Papaconstantinou, Université Paris I *"An important and much-needed contribution to ongoing debates about minorities in the Middle Ages and about minorities under Islam as well as their relative freedoms and disabilities. The book is built on solid research and an impressive mastery of a wide variety of source materials in numerous languages. The arguments it puts forward are entirely convincing and have the potential to help move forward a remarkably stubborn and ideologically laden historiographic consensus." * Marina Rustow, Johns Hopkins University *"A complex and detailed picture of judicial attitudes and practices of the Christian and Jewish leaderships and communities under Muslim rule in the early Islamic period, throwing light on the lives of these communities from a particularly interesting point of view. The presentation of the ample evidence, as well as the discussion, is clear and coherent and the conclusions are convincing and thought-provoking." * The Medieval Review *Table of ContentsNote on Transliteration Introduction PART I. LEGAL PLURALISM IN LATE ANTIQUITY AND CLASSICAL ISLAM: SURVEY AND ANALYSIS Chapter 1. A Late Antique Legacy of Legal Pluralism Chapter 2. Islam's Judicial Bazaar PART II. THE JUDICIAL CHOICES OF CHRISTIANS AND JEWS IN THE EARLY ISLAMIC PERIOD: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS Chapter 3. Eastern Christian Judicial Authorities in the Early Islamic Period Chapter 4. Rabbanite Judicial Authorities in the Late Geonic Period Chapter 5. Christian Recourse to Nonecclesiastical Judicial Institutions Chapter 6. Jewish Recourse to Islamic Courts Conclusion List of Abbreviations Notes Bibliography Index Acknowledgments
£59.50
University of Pennsylvania Press Biblical Women and Jewish Daily Life in the
Book SynopsisIn Biblical Women and Jewish Daily Life in the Middle Ages, Elisheva Baumgarten seeks a point of entry into the everyday existence of people who did not belong to the learned elite, and who therefore left no written records of their lives. She does so by turning to the Bible as it was read, reinterpreted, and seen by the Jews of medieval Ashkenaz. In the tellings, retellings, and illustrations of biblical stories, and especially of those centered around women, Baumgarten writes, we can find explanations and validations for the practices that structured birth, marriage, and death; women''s inclusion in the liturgy and synagogue; and the roles of women as community leaders, givers of charity, and keepers of the household.Each of the book''s chapters concentrates on a single figure or a cluster of biblical women—Eve, the Matriarchs, Deborah, Yael, Abigail, and Jephthah''s daughter—to explore aspects of the domestic and communal lives of Northern French and GermTrade Review"Ingenious scholarship...Much of Biblical Women will likely resonate with modern readers, including for the ways it illuminates some of our own concerns...Baumgarten’s clear-eyed and painstaking attention to her subjects is an act of true kindness for these long-vanished people. Her book [helps readers] care about them, their lives, and their moral imaginations purely for their own sakes, as all good social history should." * Jewish Review of Books *
£35.10
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Kosher Food Production
Book SynopsisThe second edition of Kosher Food Production explores the intricate relationship between modern food production and related Kosher application. Following an introduction to basic Kosher laws, theory and practice, Rabbi Blech details the essential food production procedures required of modern food plants to meet Kosher certification standards.Table of ContentsForeword xiii Acknowledgments xv Preface to the First Edition xvii Preface to the Second Edition xxi Introduction xxiii 1. Kosher Certification: Theory and Application 1 The Purpose of Kosher Certification 1 Theory of Kosher Certification 1 The Kosher Certification Program 3 Restrictions on Raw Materials 4 Restrictions on Production 5 Restrictions on Packaging 6 The Certification Process 8 Choice of Certification 8 Labeling 10 Application 11 Initial Inspection 12 Review of Ingredients and Other Issues Relating to the Certification 13 Contract 14 Inspections 17 Letter of Certification and Labeling Requirements 17 “Dairy” versus “Dairy Equipment” 19 Private Label Agreements 20 M’hadrin Certifications 22 2. Basic Halachic Concepts in Kashrus 25 Food Sources 25 Prohibited Mixtures 26 Milk and Meat— Ba’sar b’Cholov 27 Fish and Meat 28 Bitul (Nullification) 29 B’lios (Absorbed Flavors) 31 B’lios in Foods 31 B’lios in Equipment 32 Practical Applications of the Concept of B’lios 33 B’lios and Utilities 36 Practical Utilities Issues 37 Practical Solutions to Utilities Issues 38 Kosherization (Kashering) of Equipment 41 Libun 41 Libun Chamur 41 Libun Kal 42 Hag’olah 42 Ayno Ben Yomo 42 P’gimah 43 Temperature 43 Bishul Akum 47 Types of Food Subject to Bishul Akum Concerns 48 Types of Cooking Subject to Bishul Akum Concerns 49 Methods of Creating a Bishul Yisroel Status 49 3. Ingredient Management 53 Ingredient Grouping 55 Ingredients Not Requiring a Kosher Certification 56 Ingredients That Require Kosher Verification 57 Non-Kosher Ingredients 58 Ingredient Status 59 Additional Specifications 61 4. Rabbinic Etiquette 65 Shabbos 66 Yom Tov 66 Prayers 68 Shaking Hands 68 Vehicular Travel/Seating 68 Beards and Sidelocks 69 Clothing 69 Yarmulke and Tzitzis 69 Food for the Mashgiach 70 5. Kosher for Passover 71 Passover Ingredient Classification and Terminology 72 Inherently Kosher for Passover 73 Certified Kosher for Passover (Nongrain Based)—Regular Production 74 Certified Kosher for Passover (Nongrain Based)—Special Production 75 Matzah (Unleavened Bread) 76 Gebrokts 77 Matzah A’shirah (Egg Matzah) 77 Kitniyos 78 Chometz 80 Passover Certification and Supervision 80 Jewish-Owned Companies 81 6. Fruit and Vegetables 85 Insect Infestation 85 Israeli Produce 87 Wine and Grape Juice—S’tam Yaynam 89 Fruit and Vegetable Coatings 89 7. The Baking Industry 91 Dairy Bread 91 Ingredient Issues and Kosherization 92 M’zonos (Cake) Bread 95 In-Store Bakeries 95 Challah 96 Supplementary Standards 97 Pas Yisroel 97 Yoshon 99 8. The Biotechnology Industry 101 Fermentation Using Ambient Microflora 101 Fermentation Using Starters from Previous Productions 102 Preparation of Pure Cultures 102 Recovery of Metabolites of Fermentation 104 9. The Dairy Industry 107 Dairy Status 107 Cheese and G’vinas Akum 109 Practical Issues Relating to Dairy Products and Ingredients 110 Fluid Milk 110 Powdered Milk 111 Cream 111 Rennet-Set Cheese 111 Acid-Set Cheese 113 Whey 114 Whey Cream 116 Condensed and Powdered Whey 116 Whey Protein Concentrate 116 Lactose and Minerals 116 Ricotta Cheese and Gjetost 117 Butter, Butter Oil, and Buttermilk 117 Sour Cream and Yogurt 117 Casein and Caseinate 118 Ice Cream 119 Hydrolyzed Casein and Whey 119 Cholov Yisroel —Supervised Milk 119 10. The Fish Industry 123 Kosher Species 123 Identification of Kosher Species 124 Kashrus Issues Relating to Production 125 Ingredient Issues 126 Processing Issues 127 Bishul Akum Issues 129 11. The Flavor Industry 131 Ingredients 131 Kosher Supervision Programs in Flavor Companies 134 12. The Meat and Poultry Industries 137 Kosher Species 137 Kosher Slaughter—Sh’chitah 139 Kosher Meat Inspection and Preparation 141 Inspection of Slaughtered Animals: “Kosher” and “Glatt” 142 “Kashering” and Treiboring: Issues Relating to Blood, Gid ha’Nasheh, and Cheylev 143 Organs, Meat Trimmings, Rendered Fat, and Edible Oil 146 Supervision of Kosher Meat and Poultry 147 13. The Oils Fats and Emulsifier Industries 149 Lipid Sources 149 Processing Issues 150 Supervision 154 Additives 154 Emulsifiers 155 Margarine 155 Lipids Used As Incidental Ingredients 157 14. The Food-Service Industries 159 Restaurants 160 Kosher Standards and Nomenclature 161 Supervision 165 Wine, Whisky, and Liqueur 170 Shabbos, Holiday, and Other Halachic Considerations 172 Caterers 174 Segregation of Meat, Milk, and Pareve Productions in the Same Facility 175 Categories of Catering Services 175 Renting Additional Equipment 177 Equipment Kashering Issues 177 Shabbos 178 Hospitals and Long-Term Care Facilities 182 Prepared Kosher Meals 182 Kosher Food-Service Systems 183 15. The Candy and Confection Industries 185 Ingredient Issues 185 Sugar and Sweeteners 185 Gelatin 189 Food Colors 190 Glazes 191 Production 191 Boiled Candies 191 Starch-Molded Candies 192 Chocolate 193 Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, and Cocoa 193 Other Fats and Emulsifiers 193 Dairy Ingredients 194 Equipment and Kosherization 194 Recirculating Hot-Water Systems 196 Marshmallows 196 Licorice and Sour Sticks 197 Gum 197 Powdered and Compressed Candies 198 16. The Snack Food Industry 199 General Issues 199 Bishul Akum 200 Dairy versus Pareve 201 Cholov Yisroel 201 Yoshon 201 Potato Chips 201 Fryers 202 Seasonings 202 Extruded Chips 203 Bishul Akum 204 Passover 204 French Fries as a Snack Food 204 Pretzels 205 Extruded Puffed Products 205 Rice Cakes 206 Popcorn 206 Corn and Tortilla Chips 206 Pita and Bagel Chips 207 Granola and Granola Bars 207 Nuts 207 Dried Fruit 209 17. Essays in Kashrus and Food Science 211 Introduction 211 The Story of Bishul Akum 212 The Story of Bread 219 The Story of Butter 227 The Story of Candy 230 The Story of Canning 234 The Story of Cheese and Casein 239 The Story of Chewing Gum 249 The Story of Chocolate 253 The Story of Coffee 258 The Story of Colors 262 The Story of Condiments 270 The Story of Eggs 276 The Story of Emulsifiers 283 The Story of Enzymes 288 The Story of Essential Oils 296 The Story of Fat and Fat Replacers 299 The Story of Fish 302 The Story of Food from the Tree 309 The Story of Fruit 313 The Story of Gelatin 317 The Story of Honey and Royal Jelly 323 The Story of Ice Cream 330 The Story of Imitation Foods 334 The Story of Infant Formula 339 The Story of Insect Infestation 342 The Story of Juices 353 The Story of Kitniyos 357 The Story of Kosher Meat 363 The Story of Kosher Poultry 370 The Story of L-Cysteine 374 The Story of Margarine 379 The Story of Matzah (Unleavened Bread) 383 The Story of Minerals 390 The Story of Mushrooms 393 The Story of Noodles 397 The Story of Nuts 401 The Story of Olives 405 The Story of Potatoes 409 The Story of Preservatives 415 The Story of Release Agents 420 The Story of Spices 426 The Story of Starch 430 The Story of Steam 433 The Story of Sugar and Sugar Alcohols 437 The Story of Sugar Replacers 443 The Story of Tea 450 The Story of Tuna 453 The Story of Vinegar 461 The Story of Vitamins 466 The Story of Whey 471 The Story of Wine, Beer, and Alcohol 477 Kashrus Glossary for the Food Technologist 487 Index 499
£190.76
Wayne State University Press For Times Such as These
Book Synopsis
£23.96
New York University Press Powers of Pilgrimage Religion in a World of
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewAn impressive overview of the state of the field of pilgrimage studies. Coleman does an excellent job of putting scholars in context and in dialogue with each other, from anthropologists Victor and Edith Turner to cultural studies scholar Stuart Hall. Coleman presents a complex view of pilgrimage that opens up new possibilities for study and analysis. . . . This book will be an invaluable resource for scholars of ritual, pilgrimage, religion, geography, politics, and beyond. -- Sarah Pike, California State University, ChicoA lucid, wide-reaching, and brilliant book that provides us with a valuable new theoretical lexicon and framework for exploring human pilgrimage. Coleman’s attention to mobilities, context at multiple scales, emergence, uncertainties, and ambiguities further illustrates the relevance of political economy and social justice for pilgrimage studies. This volume will have a major and lasting impact on Pilgrimage Studies and beyond. -- Sharon R. Roseman, co-editor of The Tourism Imaginary and Pilgrimages to the Edges of the WorldPowers of Pilgrimage is an important book for scholars of pilgrimage and religion, but also for scholars of culture, mobility, economy, and geography. The book provides an impressive overview and analysis of the field as well as an impassioned call to expand the field’s approaches and subjects. -- Melissa Coles * The Cushwa Center for the Study of American Catholicism *Coleman’s book is an extremely worthwhile read, bound to leave its mark on the anthropology of religion and beyond.It successfully sets an agenda of interest to anyone, or any discipline engaged in the study of religion. -- Maja Balle and Bjorn Thomassen * Social Sciences and Missions *
£69.70
New York University Press Jewish Mysticism and Kabbalah
Book SynopsisOver the past generation, scholars have devoted increasing attention to the diverse forms that Jewish mysticism has taken both in the past and today: what was once called nonsense by Jewish scholars has generated important research and attention both within the academy and beyond, as demonstrated by the popular fascination with figures such as Madonna and Demi Moore and the growing interest in spirituality. In Jewish Mysticism and Kabbalah, leading experts introduce the history of this scholarship as well as the most recent insights and debates that currently animate the field in a way that is accessible to a broad audience. From mystical outpourings in ancient Palestine to the Kabbalah Centre, and from attitudes towards gender to mystical contributions to Jewish messianic movements, this volume explores the various expressions of Jewish mysticism from antiquity to the present day in an engaging style appropriate for students and non-specialists alike.Trade ReviewAn excellent summary of the history of Jewish mysticism and Kabbalah and the notes here, as in all of the essays, will provide readers with much additional reading material and resources... This is an excellent book for general readers who wish to learn about this fascinating area of Jewish life and literature, as the jargon of scholar-speak is kept to a minimum * Jewish Book Council *If you have an interest in Kabbalah, but are not aware of recent trends in the field, this is the book to pick up. -- Daniel Scheide * AJL Reviews *Libraries serving religion and Judaic programs will want to add this volume. -- S.T. Katz * CHOICE *Greenspahn has assembled many of the & usual suspects along with some welcome teachers from a newer generation of scholars. The buffet he sets before us refreshingly summarizes much of the current thinking about mysticism in general and Kabbalah in particular. The essays are thoughtful, provocative, and frequently even inspiring. -- Lawrence Kushner,author of I'm God; You're Not: Observations on Organized Religion & Other Disguises of the EgoThis carefully edited collection of essays on Jewish mysticism effectively delivers on its promise to be accessible to broad audiences. The volume amounts to a thoughtful and lucid conversation among leading scholars . . . It provides a sense of overall coherence as themes set forth in one essay regularly intersect with themes developed in other essays, the sum nicely ending up greater than the parts. The literate lay reader as well as faculty and students in a wide range of university courses will find this to be a most useful gateway to Jewish mysticism as well as an illumining account of current trends in scholarship. -- Jeremy Zwelling,Wesleyan UniversityTable of ContentsPreface Introduction: Reading Mysteries: The Origins of Scholarship on Jewish Mysticism Hartley LachterI. Jewish Mysticism Takes Shape 1 Ancient Jewish Mysticism Michael D. Swartz 2 The Zohar: Masterpiece of Jewish Mysticism Eitan P. Fishbane 3 Abraham ben Samuel Abulafia and the Prophetic Kabbalah Elliot R. Wolfson 4 New Approaches to the Study of Kabbalistic Life in 16th-Century Safed Lawrence FineII. Becoming Modern 5 Mystical Messianism: From the Renaissance to the Enlightenment Matt Goldish 6 Hasidism: Mystical and Nonmystical Approaches to Interpreting Scripture Shaul Magid 7 Christian Kabbalah Allison P. CoudertIII. Contemporary Concerns 8 Kabbalah at the Turn of the 21st Century Jody Myers 9 Gender in Jewish Mysticism Hava Tirosh-Samuelson Epilogue: Kabbalah and Contemporary Judaism Pinchas Giller About the Contributors Index
£24.99
Jewish Publication Society Seasons of Our Joy A Modern Guide to the Jewish
Book SynopsisProvides rituals, recipes, songs, prayers, and suggestions for new approaches to holiday observanceTrade Review“There is a poetic quality to the writing, and the ideas are original, provocative, and enriching.”—Library Journal“A wonderful blend of information and innovation that will help readers find both traditional and new meaning in the Jewish holidays.”—Judith Plaskow, author of Standing Again at Sinai “Arthur Waskow’s fresh, imaginative vision brings the familiar Jewish holidays to life with new meaning.”—Rabbi Harold S. Kushner “Arthur Waskow’s unique voice, at once eloquent, musical, creative, and passionate, rings throughout Seasons of Our Joy, weaving together strands of Jewish life: the meaning of our ceremonies and celebrations; the spirituality of the individual; the essential fragility and wonder of the world entrusted to us; the mystical chains that bind together the generations; and, permeating all of that, Waskow’s powerful Jewish vision of peace and justice.”—Rabbi David Saperstein, director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism “Seasons of Our Joy brings reverent renewal to ancient practices. And it presents new understanding and approaches that we are invited to sanctify. This book will heighten your awareness of the eternal religious power of the Jewish calendar.”—Rabbi Gordon Tucker, former dean, Jewish Theological Seminary Table of ContentsIntroductionHow to Read This BookA Word on HebrewPreface: Seasons of the Sun, Seasons of the MoonCHAPTER ONE: Heading Up the Year - Rosh HashanahCHAPTER TWO: Face to Face - Yom KippurCHAPTER THREE: Harvest Moon - Fulfillment at SukkotCHAPTER FOUR: Seed for Winter - Sh'mini AtzeretCHAPTER FIVE: Dancing with Torah - Simchat TorahCHAPTER SIX: Dark of the Sun, Dark of the Moon - HanukkahCHAPTER SEVEN: The Tree that Sustains All Life - Tu B'ShvatCHAPTER EIGHT: Spring Fever - PurimCHAPTER NINE: Giving Birth to Freedom - PesachCHAPTER TEN: Trek through Anxiety and Hope - Counting the OmerCHAPTER ELEVEN: Peak Experience - ShavoutCHAPTER TWELVE: Burnt Offering - Tisha B'AvAfterword and ForewordFrom Generation to GenerationAppendix I: The Second Day of FestivalsAppendix II: The MoonAppendix III: GlossaryAppendix IV: Go and StudyThe Festivals and the FutureAfterword Again
£17.99
Jewish Publication Society Typically Jewish
Book SynopsisIs laughter essential to Jewish identity? Do Jews possess special radar for recognising members of the tribe? Since Jews live longer and make love more often, why don't more people join the tribe? “More deli than deity” writer Nancy Kalikow Maxwell poses many such questions in eight chapters exploring what it means to be “typically Jewish”.Trade Review"A spirited examination of the essence of Jewishness."—Kirkus Reviews"Typically Jewish is a wise and witty cornucopia of Jewish likes and dislikes, customs, humor, and tribal tastes and treasures. Over the centuries and across the globe, Jews have built a vast library of books devoted to every imaginable topic of concern and interest to the Jewish people. Typically Jewish is a charming addition to that large and inclusive library."—World Religion News"I can't imagine a more accessible or fun book for a Jewish book club to discuss than this one."—Jordana Horn, Lilith"Nancy Kalikow Maxwell's Typically Jewish (Jewish Publication Society) provides an original, down-to-earth, earnest look at pressing questions about identity and culture faced by the Jewish community, looking at the way Jews live their lives."—Jewish News"Readers will enjoy learning about how Jews feel, think, act, love, and live. They'll also schmooze as they use the book’s 'Typically Jewish, Atypically Fun Discussion Guide.'"—Jewish Book World“As Maxwell takes readers on a humorous safari to observe Jews in their natural habitat, even Jews who have never set foot in a synagogue or JCC will recognize themselves with wondrous insight. And Jews who love learning—in other words, all of us—will delight in learning a lot from Typically Jewish. I definitely did.”—Maggie Anton, author of Rashi’s Daughters and Fifty Shades of Talmud“I’m often asked, What does it mean to be Jewish? Is it a religion? A race? A nationality? A faith? A way of life? Typically Jewish answers these questions—and, like any other great Jewish book, raises many others. Complete with a superb, extremely user-friendly discussion guide, it’s a fantastic source for adult education study sessions. I plan to make it required reading for my Introduction to Judaism students.”—Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn, Temple Israel of Greater Kansas City “I loved this book and look forward to sharing it with my book groups.”—Sharon Curtis, coordinator of Lunch ‘N’ Lit and Ladies of the Night Hadassah book groups“Maxwell took me on a fascinating whirlwind discovery tour of the top historical and modern insights into my Jewish identity, concluding with the “Typically Jewish, Atypical Fun Discussion Guide.” I highly recommend this book for Jewish book clubs, JCCs, organizations, federations, and home conversations where you too may laugh, nosh, and kvell together over your Jewish identities.”—Gail K. Harris, coauthor of Journey from Invisibility to Visibility: A Guide for Women Sixty and Beyond“When you are about to enter Jewish life, wouldn’t it be great to have a friendly, knowledgeable, and down-to-earth tour guide? Typically Jewish is just that: a witty, unpretentious, and comprehensive explanation of the complexities and conundrums in the twenty-first century mostly Ashkenazic American Jewish experience.”—Rabbi Peretz Wolf-Prusan, chief program officer and senior educator, Lehrhaus Judaica Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: Why Is This Book Different from All Other Books? 1. Worrying 2. Kvelling 3. Dying 4. Noshing 5. Laughing 6. Detecting 7. Dwelling 8. Joining Conclusion: What It Means to Be Typically Jewish Appendix: Typically Jewish, Atypically Fun Discussion Guide Notes
£17.09
Jewish Publication Society The Sabbath Anthology
Book SynopsisBack by popular demand, the classic JPS Holiday anthologies remain essential and relevant in our digital age. The Sabbath Anthology delves into one of the earliest Jewish institutions - the holiday the prophet Isaiah characterized as ""the day of delight"" - elucidating its history, laws, customs and traditions, religious and ethical insights, and observances in different eras.Trade Review“Throughout my long career as a rabbi, the JPS holiday anthologies have been an essential resource. All the core background is in one place. If I need a holiday story, the anthologies contain a wide range of choices. And sections on celebrations worldwide provide new approaches to festivals.”—Rabbi Steven Bob, author of Jonah and the Meaning of Our Lives “This reissue is good news! I read this rich, varied, and classic series with pleasure and collected the volumes avidly when they first appeared.”—Rabbi Reuven Hammer, author of Akiva: Life, Legend, LegacyTable of ContentsList of Illustrations A Note from the Publisher Preface Acknowledgments BOOK I: THE SABBATH IN PRACTICE THE TRADITIONAL SABBATH THE SABBATH IN THE HOME HOME SERVICE FOR THE SABBATH THE SABBATH HOUR FOR CHILDREN THE SABBATH IN THE SYNAGOGUE THE ‘ONEG SHABBAT THE LAW OF THE SABBATH SABBATH SPICE BOOK II: THE SABBATH IN LITERATURE, ART AND MUSIC THE SABBATH IN THE BIBLE THE SABBATH IN JUDAEO-HELLENISTIC LITERATURE THE SABBATH IN THE TALMUD AND THE MIDRASH THE SABBATH IN MEDIEVAL JEWISH LITERATURE THE SABBATH IN MODERN JEWISH LITERATURE THE SABBATH IN THE SHORT STORY THE SABBATH IN JEWISH POETRY THE SABBATH IN MUSIC THE SABBATH IN ART BOOK III: THE SABBATH IN HISTORY THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SABBATH THE STRUGGLE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE SABBATH THE JEWISH SABBATH AND THE CHRISTIAN SUNDAY SABBATH OBSERVANCE IN THE FAR-FLUNG JEWISH COMMUNITIES MUSIC SUPPLEMENT THE SABBATH SERVICES ZEMIROT GRACE AFTER MEALS ‘ONEG SHABBAT SONGS CANTILLATION MODES ON THE SABBATH Glossary Bibliography Notes
£19.79
Jewish Publication Society The Rosh Hashanah Anthology
Book SynopsisBack by popular demand, the classic JPS Holiday anthologies remain essential and relevant in our digital age. The Rosh Hashanah Anthology is designed to make the religious impact and commemoration of the Jewish New Year meaningful as both a solemn and a festive day. Its significance, history, and messages are embodied in the great treasures of Jewish classical writings.Trade Review“Throughout my long career as a rabbi, the JPS holiday anthologies have been an essential resource. All the core background is in one place. If I need a holiday story, the anthologies contain a wide range of choices. And sections on celebrations worldwide provide new approaches to festivals.”—Rabbi Steven Bob, author of Jonah and the Meaning of Our Lives “This reissue is good news! I read this rich, varied, and classic series with pleasure and collected the volumes avidly when they first appeared.”—Rabbi Reuven Hammer, author of Akiva: Life, Legend, LegacyTable of ContentsList of Illustrations A Note from the Publisher Preface Acknowledgments 1 ROSH HASHANAH IN THE BIBLE 2 ROSH HASHANAH IN POSTBIBLICAL WRITINGS 3 ROSH HASHANAH IN TALMUD AND MIDRASH 4 ROSH HASHANAH IN MEDIEVAL JEWISH LITERATURE 5 ROSH HASHANAH IN JEWISH LAW 6 SELECTED PRAYERS 7 THE SCRIPTURAL READINGS 8 THE SHOFAR 9 THE SYMPBOLIC CEREMONY OF TASHLIKH 10 ROSH HASHANAH PARABLES 11 HASIDIC TALES AND TEACHINGS 12 ROSH HASHANAH IN MODERN PROSE 13 ROSH HASHANAH IN ART 14 THE MUSIC OF THE ROSH HASHANAH LITURGY 15 ROSH HASHANAH IN MANY LANDS 16 ROSH HASHANAH IN POETRY 17 ROSH HASHANAH IN THE SHORT STORY 18 ROSH HASHANAH GREETING CARDS 19 THE CULINARY ART OF ROSH HASHANAH 20 ROSH HASHANAH MISCELLANY 21 CHILDREN’S STORIES FOR ROSH HASHANAH 22 CHILDREN’S POEMS FOR ROSH HASHANAH 23 NEW YEAR PROGRAMS Notes Glossary of Rosh Hashanah Terms Bibliography
£19.79
Jewish Publication Society The Yom Kippur Anthology
Book SynopsisBack by popular demand, the classic JPS Holiday anthologies remain essential and relevant in our digital age. Drawing on Jewish creativity from hundreds of sources and describing Yom Kippur observances in various lands and eras, The Yom Kippur Anthology vividly evokes the vitality of this holiday throughout history and its significance for the modern Jew.Trade Review“Throughout my long career as a rabbi, the JPS holiday anthologies have been an essential resource. All the core background is in one place. If I need a holiday story, the anthologies contain a wide range of choices. And sections on celebrations worldwide provide new approaches to festivals.”—Rabbi Steven Bob, author of Jonah and the Meaning of Our Lives “This reissue is good news! I read this rich, varied, and classic series with pleasure and collected the volumes avidly when they first appeared.”—Rabbi Reuven Hammer, author of Akiva: Life, Legend, Legacy Table of ContentsList of Illustrations A Note from the Publisher Preface Acknowledgments I YOM KIPPUR IN THE BIBLE II. YOM KIPPUR IN POSTBIBLICAL WRITINGS III. YOM KIPPUR IN TALMUD AND MIDRASH IV. YOM KIPPUR IN MEDIEVAL JEWISH LITERATURE V. YOM KIPPUR IN JEWISH LAW VI. SELECTED PRAYERS VII. THE PARADOX OF KOL NIDRE VIII. THE MUSIC OF THE YOM KIPPUR LITURGY IX. HASIDIC TALES AND TEACHINGS X. YOM KIPPUR IN MODERN PROSE XI. YOM KIPPUR IN ART XII. YOM KIPPUR IN MANY LANDS XIII. YOM KIPPUR IN POETRY XIV. YOM KIPPUR IN THE SHORT STORY XV. PRE-YOM KIPPUR FEASTING XVI. YOM KIPPUR MISCELLANY XVII. CHILDREN’S STORIES FOR YOM KIPPUR XVIII. CHILDREN’S POEMS FOR YOM KIPPUR Notes Glossary of Yom Kippur Terms Bibliography
£19.79
Jewish Publication Society The Sukkot and Simhat Torah Anthology
Book SynopsisBack by popular demand, the classic JPS Holiday anthologies remain essential and relevant in our digital age. The Sukkot and Simhat Torah Anthology offers new insight into the Festival of Ingathering and the Festival of Rejoicing in the Law by elucidating the two festivals' background, historical development, and spiritual truths for Jews and humankind.Trade Review“Throughout my long career as a rabbi, the JPS holiday anthologies have been an essential resource. All the core background is in one place. If I need a holiday story, the anthologies contain a wide range of choices. And sections on celebrations worldwide provide new approaches to festivals.”—Rabbi Steven Bob, author of Jonah and the Meaning of Our Lives “This reissue is good news! I read this rich, varied, and classic series with pleasure and collected the volumes avidly when they first appeared.”—Rabbi Reuven Hammer, author of Akiva: Life, Legend, Legacy Table of ContentsList of Illustrations A Note from the Publisher Preface Acknowledgments SUKKOT IN THE BIBLE SUKKOT IN POSTBIBLICAL WRITINGS SUKKOT IN TALMUD AND MIDRASH SUKKOT IN MEDIEVAL JEWISH LITERATURE SUKKOT AND SIMHAT TORAH IN JEWISH LAW SUKKOT AND SIMHAT TORAH LITURGY HASIDIC TALES AND TEACHINGS SUKKOT AND SIMHAT TORAH IN MODERN PROSE SUKKOT AND SIMHAT TORAH IN ART THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FESTIVAL THE SUKKAH THE FOUR SPECIES SUKKOT AND SIMHAT TORAH IN MANY LANDS SUKKOT AND SIMHAT TORAH IN POETRY SUKKOT AND SIMHAT TORAH IN THE SHORT STORY SUKKOT AND SIMHAT TORAH MISCELLANY SUKKOT AND SIMHAT TORAH HUMOR THE FESTIVAL DELICACIES CHILDREN’S STORIES FOR SUKKOT AND SIMHAT TORAH POEMS FOR CHILDREN PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES DANCES FOR SUKKOT AND SIMHAT TORAH MUSIC FOR SUKKOT AND SIMHAT TORAH Notes Glossary of Sukkot and Simhat Torah Terms Bibliography
£19.79
Jewish Publication Society The Hanukkah Anthology
Book SynopsisDelves into the stories and messages of Hanukkah as they have unfolded in Jewish literature over the past two thousand years: biblical intimations of the festival, post-biblical writings, selections from the Talmud and midrashim, excerpts from medieval books, home liturgies, laws and customs, observances in different nations, stories and poems, art, and recipes.Trade Review“Throughout my long career as a rabbi, the JPS holiday anthologies have been an essential resource. All the core background is in one place. If I need a holiday story, the anthologies contain a wide range of choices. And sections on celebrations worldwide provide new approaches to festivals.”—Rabbi Steven Bob, author of Jonah and the Meaning of Our Lives “This reissue is good news! I read this rich, varied, and classic series with pleasure and collected the volumes avidly when they first appeared.”—Rabbi Reuven Hammer, author of Akiva: Life, Legend, LegacyTable of ContentsList of Illustrations A Note from the Publisher Preface Acknowledgments HANUKKAH AND ITS HISTORY HANUKKAH IN THE BIBLE HANUKKAH IN POSTBIBLICAL WRITINGS HANUKKAH IN TALMUD AND MIDRASH THE MEDIEVAL SCROLL OF THE HASMONEANS HANUKKAH IN JEWISH LAW HANUKKAH IN MODERN PROSE HANUKKAH IN ART A HANUKKAH DRAMA HANUKKAH IN MANY LANDS HANUKKAH IN POETRY HANUKKAH IN THE SHORT STORY HANUKKAH ODDITIES HANUKKAH SIDELIGHTS THE HANUKKAH CUISINE CHILDREN’S STORIES FOR HANUKKAH CHILDREN’S POEMS FOR HANUKKAH HOME SERVICE FOR HANUKKAH HANUKKAH PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES DANCES FOR HANUKKAH MUSIC FOR HANUKKAH Notes Glossary of Hanukkah Terms Bibliography
£19.79
Jewish Publication Society The Jewish Family Ethics Textbook
Book SynopsisThe Jewish Family Ethics Textbook guides teachers and students of all ages and backgrounds in mining classical and modern Jewish texts to inform decision-making on hard choices.Trade Review"The Jewish Family Ethics Textbook is an excellent work for anyone looking for an introductory text in Jewish ethics."—Rabbi Rachel Esserman, Reporter"Scheindlin has provided us with a gift to continue to look at ourselves and those we are close to, whether family or friends, and to engage in a continual learning process by linking our contemporary lives to the ethics and values of our rich tradition."—Stephen G. Donshik, Jerusalem Post“In this thoughtful and thorough work, Rabbi Scheindlin brings traditional Jewish texts directly into conversation with contemporary Jewish voices, managing to both honor the tradition and the values of our day. Rabbi Scheindlin does not shy away either from the aspects of the tradition that seem most remote from—or offensive to—our own social mores or from the thorny real-life dilemmas of our experience in twenty-first-century America. This guide speaks directly to our most difficult questions. It is an extraordinarily useful resource for all those who seek to teach the tradition—whether in a synagogue, school, or home—and all those who seek to live an ethical life rooted in Jewish tradition and responsive to contemporary life.”—Rabbi Rachel Timoner, senior rabbi, Congregation Beth Elohim, Brooklyn, New York“This is the book we have been waiting for! For inquisitive high school students and adults of all ages and streams of Jewish life who are eager to wrestle with questions of ethics, this creative book by an esteemed teacher grounds the most urgent moral issues of our time in eye-opening texts. The Jewish Family Ethics Textbook is sure to generate lively conversations from the classroom to the dinner table.”—Rabbi Judd Kruger Levingston, director of Jewish studies, Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and author of Sowing the Seeds of Character: The Moral Education of Adolescents in Public and Private Schools“Neal Scheindlin’s book is a gold mine for educators. Distilling decades of wisdom from a master teacher, this rich trove of important Jewish texts bears on challenges that teenagers, families, and schools grapple with every day.”—Rabbi Joshua Cahan, educator, Leffell School, Westchester, New York“This is a most important book introducing students to the profound depth of Jewish Family Ethics found in classic Jewish literature.”—Rabbi Mel Gottlieb, president, Academy for Jewish Religion, California“A richly rendered, sensitive, and nuanced volume. As a beloved teacher of Jewish studies in a pluralistic Jewish high school, Scheindlin presents cutting-edge issues that loom large for today’s youth with warmth and empathy toward his audience and a reverence for Jewish tradition.”—Elliott Rabin, director of thought leadership at Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools, New York City“This is an essential study guide for parents, educators, young adults, and teens seeking to clarify and deepen their understanding of and relationship to Jewish ethics. Educators will appreciate this well-curated collection of cases and texts as a valuable compass to navigate explorations with teens about challenging essential questions of our day. In an era when opinions are so often shaped by influencers and soundbites, this book provides substantive Judaic source material to ground student learning about ethical dilemmas in our tradition in our times.”—Miriam Heller Stern, national director, Rhea Hirsch School of Education, Los AngelesTable of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments How to Use This BookUsing the Book in a Classroom Setting Using the Book without a Teacher Introduction Theories of Ethical Decision Making How Jews Approach Ethical Problems Works and History of Classical Jewish LiteratureText 1—Deut. 17:8–11A Brief Jewish LexiconText 2—Eiruvin 13bClassical Literature as Understood by Modern Jews 1. Parents and Children Case Study #1: Who Chooses Where to Go to College? Case Study #2: Caring for a Parent with Dementia Case Study #3: Distancing from an Abusive Parent Text Study #1: Children’s Twin Obligations to Parents—Honor and ReverenceText 1a—Exod. 20:12 Text 1b—Deut. 5:16 Text 2—Lev. 19:3 Text 3—Mekhilta, Massekhta de-BaHodesh 8 Text 4a—Kiddushin 30b Text 4b—Kiddushin 30b (continued) Text 5—Kiddushin 30b–31aText Study #2: The Mitzvot Children Owe to ParentsText 6—Kiddushin 31b Text 7a—Shulḥan Arukh, Yoreh De’ah 240:21 Text 7b—Rashi on Lev. 19:3 Text 7c—Mishneh Torah, Laws of Rebellion 6:11 Text 8a—Shulḥan Arukh, Yoreh De’ah 240:4–5 Text 8b—Mishneh Torah, Laws of Rebellion 6:12 Text 8c—Golinkin, “Institutionalizing Parents with Alzheimer’s Disease” Text 9a—Kiddushin 31a–b Text 9b—Mishneh Torah, Laws of Rebellion 6:9 Text 9c—Mishneh Torah, Laws of Rebellion 6:10 Text 9d—Mishneh Torah, Laws of Rebellion 6:11 (continued) Text 10a—Midrash Tanhuma Eikev 3 Text 10b—Kiddushin 31b Text 11a—Dorff, Love Your Neighbor as Yourself Text 11b—Diamant, Choosing a Jewish LifeText Study #3: Parents’ Responsibilities to ChildrenText 12a—Kiddushin 29a Text 12b—Nevins, “Between Parents and Children” Text 13—Kiddushin 29a–bText Study #4: Problems in the Parent-Child RelationshipText 14—Shulḥan Arukh, Yoreh De’ah 240:18 Text 15—Dratch, “Honoring Abusive Parents” Text 16a—Jacob, “Responsibility of Children to Their Parents” Text 16b—Nevins, “Between Parents and Children”Conclusion 2. Honesty Case Study #1: Cheating on an Exam Case Study #2: Potential Plagiarism Case Study #3: Withholding Part of the Truth from a Prospective Employer Text Study #1: Truth Telling and Its LimitsText 1a—Exod. 20:13 Text 1b—Exod. 23:7 Text 1c—Lev. 19:11 Text 1d—Mecklenburg, HaKetav VeHaKabbalah on Exod. 23:7Text 2—Ketubot 16b–17a Text 3a—Yevamot 65b Text 3b—Bava Metzia 23b–24a Text 3c—Mishnah Nedarim 3:4Text Study #2: Whistleblowing and RebukeText 4—Tosefta Bava Kama 7:3 Text 5a—Leff, “Whistleblowing” Text 5b—Lev. 19:17 Text 5c—Mishneh Torah, Laws of Personal Qualities 6:7 Text 5d—Lev. 19:14 Text 5e—Sifra Kedoshim 2:14 Text 6—Shulḥan Arukh, Hoshen Mishpat 388:9Text 7—Mishneh Torah, Laws of Robbery and Lost Objects 11:3Text Study #3: Crediting Others for Use of Their Intellectual PropertyText 8—Tanhuma Bemidbar 22 Text 9a—Gittin 10b Text 9b—Berakhot 5b Text 9c—Tosefta Bava Kama 7:3 Text 10a—Deut. 19:14 Text 10b—Bava Batra 21b Text 11a—Shulḥan Arukh, Hoshen Mishpat 203:1 Text 11b—Arukh HaShulḥan, Hoshen Mishpat 212:3Text 11c—CCAR Responsum, “Copyright and the Internet”Conclusion 3. Social Media Case Study #1: Social Media Insults Case Study #2: Online Privacy Text Study #1: Permitted and Forbidden SpeechText 1a—Lev. 19:16 Text 1b—Rashi on Lev. 19:16 Text 2—Arakhin 15b Text 3a—Mishneh Torah, Laws of Personal Qualities 7:2 Text 3b—Hafetz Hayyim 1:8 Text 3c—Hafetz Hayyim 3:3 Text 4—Yoma 4b Text 5—Hafetz Hayyim 10:1 Text 6—Student, “A Torah Guide for the Digital Age”Text Study #2: PrivacyText 7—Mishnah Bava Batra 3:7; Bava Batra 60a Text 8a—Kurshan, Comments on Bava Batra 2a–b Text 8b—Dorff, Love Your Neighbor and Yourself Text 8c—Samlan, “The Ten Commandments of Social Media”Conclusion 4. Sex and Intimacy Case Study #1: Four Ideas about Jewish Sexual Ethics Case Study #2: LGBTQ Orientations Text Study #1: The Two InclinationsText 1a—Gen. 1:31 Text 1b—Ramban, Iggeret HaKodesh Text 2—Genesis Rabbah 9:7Text Study #2: Sex within MarriageText 3—Mishnah Ketubot 5:6; Ketubot 62b Text 4—Nedarim 20a–b Text 5a—Eiruvin 100b Text 5b—Shulḥan Arukh, Even HaEzer 25:2Text Study #3: The Power of Sexual DesireText 6—Kiddushin 81a Text 7a—Mishnah Kiddushin 1:1 Text 7b—Yevamot 61b Text 7c—Gittin 81b Text 7d—Mishneh Torah, Laws of Marriage 1:4Text Study #4: Sexual ValuesText 8a—Birkat Eirusin, Betrothal Blessing from the Wedding Ceremony Text 8b—Blessing Six of the Wedding Ceremony Text 9a—Novak Winer, Sacred Choices Text 9b—Salkowitz, “Reform Jewish Sexual Values” Text 10—Plaskow, Standing Again at SinaiText Study #5: LGBTQ SexualityText 11a—Lev. 18:22 Text 11b—Lev. 20:13 Text 12—Sanhedrin 54a–b Text 13a—Shulḥan Arukh, Even HaEzer 24:1 Text 13b—Bayyit Ḥadash on Even HaEzer 24:1 Text 14a—Nedarim 51a with Rashi’s commentary Text 14b—Torah Temimah on Lev. 18:22 Text 14c—Havrelock, “Acharei Mot: Boundaries of Rituals: The Sanctuary and the Body” Text 15—Mishneh Torah, Laws of Intercourse 21:8Text 16—Berakhot 19b Text 17—Dorff, Nevins, and Reisner, “Homosexuality, Human Dignity and Halakhah” Text 18—Reconstructionist Commission on Homosexuality, “Homosexuality and Judaism” Text 19—Litman, “‘Bisexual’ Identity: A Guide for the Perplexed”Conclusion 5. Medical Ethics at the Beginning of Life Case Study #1: Who Counts as a Parent? Case Study #2: Choosing Single Parenthood Case Study #3: Surrogate Motherhood Case Study #4: Parenthood through Cloning Text Study #1: The Mitzvah of ProcreationText 1—Gen. 1:27–28 Text 2—Yevamot 63b Text 3—Mishnah Yevamot 6:6 Text 4—Dorff, Matters of Life and Death Text 5a—Jacob, “Jewish Marriage without Children” Text 5b—Panitz, “Must a Jew Have Children? A Conservative Answer”Text Study #2: Assisted Reproductive TechnologiesText 6—Hagigah 14b–15a Text 7—Mishneh LaMelekh on Mishneh Torah, Laws of Matrimony 15:4 Text 8a—Ramban on Lev. 18:20 Text 8b—Waldenberg, Responsa Tzitz Eliezer Text 9—Broyde, “The Establishment of Paternity in Jewish and American Law” Text 10—Grossman, “Choosing Parenthood”Text Study #3: Surrogate MotherhoodText 11a—Gen. 16:1–4,15 Text 11b—Gen. 30:1–6 Text 11c—Spitz, “On the Use of Birth Surrogates” Text 12a—Gellman, “The Ethics of Surrogate Motherhood” Text 12b—Freundel, Contemporary Orthodox Judaism’s Response to Modernity Text 12c—Jakobovits, Jewish Medical Ethics Text 13a—Jacob, “Surrogate Mother” Text 13b—Spitz, “On the Use of Birth Surrogates” Text 13c—Loike and Tendler, “Gestational Surrogacy” Text 13d—State of Israel Ministry of Health, “Surrogacy in Israel”Text Study #4: Parenthood through CloningText 14—Sanhedrin 65b Text 15a—Menachem HaMeiri on Sanhedrin 67b Text 15b—Ashkenazi, Responsa Hakham Tzvi 93 Text 16—Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5 Text 17—Waldenberg, Responsa Tzitz Eliezer Text 18—Grazi and Wolowesky, Overcoming InfertilityConclusion 6. Abortion Case Study #1: Fetal Reduction of Twins Case Study #2: Abortion of a Fetus with a Deficit Case Study #3: When Contraception Fails Text Study #1: Halakhic Status of the FetusText 1a—Exod. 21:12 Text 1b—Exod. 21:22–23 Text 2—Mishnah Ohalot 7:6 Text 3a—Exod. 22:1–2 Text 3b—Rashi on Exod. 22:1–2 Text 3c—Sanhedrin 73b Text 4—Sanhedrin 72bText Study #2: Two Approaches to Abortion EthicsText 5a—Rashi on Sanhedrin 72b, s.v. “If its head came out” Text 5b—Mishneh Torah, Laws of Murder and Preservation of Life 1:9Text Study #3: Fetal PersonhoodText 6—Arachin 7a Text 7—Sanhedrin 84b Text 8a—Central Conference of American Rabbis, Resolution on Abortion Text 8b—Agudath Israel of America, National Public Policy Position Paper Text 9—Feldman, “Abortion: The Jewish View” Text 10—Bleich, Judaism and Healing Text 11—Meacham (leBeit Yoreh), Encyclopedia of Jewish Women Text 12—Waldenberg, Responsa Tzitz Eliezer Text 13—Feinstein, Responsa Iggrot Moshe Text 14—Jacob, “When Is Abortion Permitted?” Text 15—“Israel: Reproduction and Abortion: Law and Policy” Text 16—Alpert, “Sometimes the Law Is Cruel”Conclusion 7. Medical Ethics at the End of Life Case Study #1: Defining Death Case Study #2: Extending Life at What Cost? Case Study #3: Physician-Assisted Dying Text Study #1: Basic Principles of Jewish Medical EthicsText 1a—Ps. 24:1 Text 1b—Mishneh Torah, Laws of Proper Conduct 3:3 and 4:1 Text 2a—Mishnah Yoma 8:6–7 Text 2b—Yoma 85b Text 2c—Yoma 85a Text 3a—Exod. 21:18–19 Text 3b—Bava Kamma 85a Text 3c—Mishneh Torah, Laws of Murder and Preservation of Life 11:4–5Text Study #2: When Death Is InevitableText 4a—Semaḥot 1:1–1:4 Text 4b—Shulḥan Arukh, Yoreh De’ah 339:2 Text 5—Avodah Zarah 18a Text 6—Shulḥan Arukh, Yoreh De’ah 339:1 Text 7a—HaLevi, Natural and Artificial Life Text 7b—Waldenberg, Responsa Tzitz Eliezer Text 8a—Reisner, “A Halakhic Ethic of Care for the Terminally Ill” Text 8b—Sinclair, Tradition and the Biological Revolution Text 8c—Sherwin, Jewish Ethics for the Twenty-First Century Text 9a—Uniform Determination of Death Act (1980)Text 9b—Mishneh Torah, Laws of Shabbat 2:19 Text 9c—Mishnah Ohalot 1:6 Text 9d—Rosner, Biomedical Ethics and Jewish Law Text 9e—Waldenberg, Responsa Tzitz Eliezer Text 9f—Veatch, “The Evolution of Death and Dying Controversies”Text Study #3: SuicideText 10a—Semaḥot 2:1 Text 10b—1 Sam. 31:3–4 Text 11a—Lev. 19:14 Text 11b—Sifra Kedoshim 2:14 Text 12—Mishnah Gittin 5:9 Text 13—Cahana, “‘Who Shall Live . . . ’”Conclusion Notes Bibliography
£21.59
Jewish Publication Society Vayera Genesis 1812224 and Haftarah 2 Ki The JPS
Book SynopsisShows teens in their own language how Torah addresses the issues in their world. The conversational tone is inviting and dignified, concise and substantial, direct and informative. Each pamphlet includes a general introduction, two model divrei Torah on the weekly Torah portion, and one model davar Torah on the weekly Haftarah portion.Trade Review“This is a fantastic resource . . . clear, coherent, and easy to understand. It encourages readers to grapple with real issues in the Bible that are relevant to them. It will be incredibly valuable not only to teens preparing to become bar/bat mitzvah but also to adults in navigating, challenging, and connecting to the biblical text.”—Rabbi Danielle G. Eskow, co-founder of onlinejewishlearning.com“Rabbi Jeff Salkin has enabled b’nai mitzvah to learn and teach Torah with a commentary that is wise, helpful, and brilliantly clear.”—Rabbi David Wolpe, senior rabbi at Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, and author of David: The Divided Heart“This is fantastic! It’s a game-changer for b’nai mitzvah, their parents, and their teachers. Salkin’s fresh insights remind us how transformative this experience can be.”—Rabbi Aaron Miller, Washington Hebrew CongregationTable of ContentsGeneral Introduction Va-yera': Torah Commentary Va-yera': Haftarah Commentary
£7.39
Jewish Publication Society Hayyei Sarah Genesis 2312518 and Haftarah The
Book SynopsisShows teens in their own language how Torah addresses the issues in their world. The conversational tone is inviting and dignified, concise and substantial, direct and informative. Each pamphlet includes a general introduction, two model divrei Torah on the weekly Torah portion, and one model davar Torah on the weekly Haftarah portion.Trade Review“This is a fantastic resource . . . clear, coherent, and easy to understand. It encourages readers to grapple with real issues in the Bible that are relevant to them. It will be incredibly valuable not only to teens preparing to become bar/bat mitzvah but also to adults in navigating, challenging, and connecting to the biblical text.”—Rabbi Danielle G. Eskow, co-founder of onlinejewishlearning.com“Rabbi Jeff Salkin has enabled b’nai mitzvah to learn and teach Torah with a commentary that is wise, helpful, and brilliantly clear.”—Rabbi David Wolpe, senior rabbi at Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, and author of David: The Divided Heart“This is fantastic! It’s a game-changer for b’nai mitzvah, their parents, and their teachers. Salkin’s fresh insights remind us how transformative this experience can be.”—Rabbi Aaron Miller, Washington Hebrew CongregationTable of ContentsGeneral Introduction Hayyei Sarah: Torah Commentary Hayyei Sarah: Haftarah Commentary
£7.39
Jewish Publication Society Vayetse Genesis 2810323 and Haftarah Hos The JPS
Book SynopsisShows teens in their own language how Torah addresses the issues in their world. The conversational tone is inviting and dignified, concise and substantial, direct and informative. Each pamphlet includes a general introduction, two model divrei Torah on the weekly Torah portion, and one model davar Torah on the weekly Haftarah portion.Trade Review“This is a fantastic resource . . . clear, coherent, and easy to understand. It encourages readers to grapple with real issues in the Bible that are relevant to them. It will be incredibly valuable not only to teens preparing to become bar/bat mitzvah but also to adults in navigating, challenging, and connecting to the biblical text.”—Rabbi Danielle G. Eskow, co-founder of onlinejewishlearning.com“Rabbi Jeff Salkin has enabled b’nai mitzvah to learn and teach Torah with a commentary that is wise, helpful, and brilliantly clear.”—Rabbi David Wolpe, senior rabbi at Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, and author of David: The Divided Heart“This is fantastic! It’s a game-changer for b’nai mitzvah, their parents, and their teachers. Salkin’s fresh insights remind us how transformative this experience can be.”—Rabbi Aaron Miller, Washington Hebrew CongregationTable of ContentsGeneral Introduction Va-yetse': Torah Commentary Va-yetse': Haftarah Commentary
£7.39
Jewish Publication Society Vayeshev Genesis 3714023 and Haftarah Amo The
Book SynopsisShows teens in their own language how Torah addresses the issues in their world. The conversational tone is inviting and dignified, concise and substantial, direct and informative. Each pamphlet includes a general introduction, two model divrei Torah on the weekly Torah portion, and one model davar Torah on the weekly Haftarah portion.Trade Review“This is a fantastic resource . . . clear, coherent, and easy to understand. It encourages readers to grapple with real issues in the Bible that are relevant to them. It will be incredibly valuable not only to teens preparing to become bar/bat mitzvah but also to adults in navigating, challenging, and connecting to the biblical text.”—Rabbi Danielle G. Eskow, co-founder of onlinejewishlearning.com“Rabbi Jeff Salkin has enabled b’nai mitzvah to learn and teach Torah with a commentary that is wise, helpful, and brilliantly clear.”—Rabbi David Wolpe, senior rabbi at Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, and author of David: The Divided Heart“This is fantastic! It’s a game-changer for b’nai mitzvah, their parents, and their teachers. Salkin’s fresh insights remind us how transformative this experience can be.”—Rabbi Aaron Miller, Washington Hebrew CongregationTable of ContentsGeneral Introduction Va-yeshev: Torah Commentary Va-yeshev: Haftarah Commentary
£7.39
Jewish Publication Society Mikkets Genesis 4114417 and Haftarah 1 Kings
Book SynopsisShows teens in their own language how Torah addresses the issues in their world. The conversational tone is inviting and dignified, concise and substantial, direct and informative. Each pamphlet includes a general introduction, two model divrei Torah on the weekly Torah portion, and one model davar Torah on the weekly Haftarah portion.Trade Review“This is a fantastic resource . . . clear, coherent, and easy to understand. It encourages readers to grapple with real issues in the Bible that are relevant to them. It will be incredibly valuable not only to teens preparing to become bar/bat mitzvah but also to adults in navigating, challenging, and connecting to the biblical text.”—Rabbi Danielle G. Eskow, co-founder of onlinejewishlearning.com“Rabbi Jeff Salkin has enabled b’nai mitzvah to learn and teach Torah with a commentary that is wise, helpful, and brilliantly clear.”—Rabbi David Wolpe, senior rabbi at Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, and author of David: The Divided Heart“This is fantastic! It’s a game-changer for b’nai mitzvah, their parents, and their teachers. Salkin’s fresh insights remind us how transformative this experience can be.”—Rabbi Aaron Miller, Washington Hebrew CongregationTable of ContentsGeneral Introduction Mikkets: Torah Commentary Mikkets: Haftarah Commentary
£7.39
Jewish Publication Society Tetsavveh Exodus 27203010 and Haftarah Eze The
Book SynopsisShows teens in their own language how Torah addresses the issues in their world. The conversational tone is inviting and dignified, concise and substantial, direct and informative. Each pamphlet includes a general introduction, two model divrei Torah on the weekly Torah portion, and one model davar Torah on the weekly Haftarah portion.Trade Review“This is a fantastic resource . . . clear, coherent, and easy to understand. It encourages readers to grapple with real issues in the Bible that are relevant to them. It will be incredibly valuable not only to teens preparing to become bar/bat mitzvah but also to adults in navigating, challenging, and connecting to the biblical text.”—Rabbi Danielle G. Eskow, co-founder of onlinejewishlearning.com“Rabbi Jeff Salkin has enabled b’nai mitzvah to learn and teach Torah with a commentary that is wise, helpful, and brilliantly clear.”—Rabbi David Wolpe, senior rabbi at Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, and author of David: The Divided Heart“This is fantastic! It’s a game-changer for b’nai mitzvah, their parents, and their teachers. Salkin’s fresh insights remind us how transformative this experience can be.”—Rabbi Aaron Miller, Washington Hebrew CongregationTable of ContentsGeneral Introduction Tetsavveh: Torah Commentary Tetsavveh: Haftarah Commentary
£7.39
Jewish Publication Society Vayakhel Exodus 3513820 and Haftarah 1 Ki The
Book SynopsisShows teens in their own language how Torah addresses the issues in their world. The conversational tone is inviting and dignified, concise and substantial, direct and informative. Each pamphlet includes a general introduction, two model divrei Torah on the weekly Torah portion, and one model davar Torah on the weekly Haftarah portion.Trade Review“This is a fantastic resource . . . clear, coherent, and easy to understand. It encourages readers to grapple with real issues in the Bible that are relevant to them. It will be incredibly valuable not only to teens preparing to become bar/bat mitzvah but also to adults in navigating, challenging, and connecting to the biblical text.”—Rabbi Danielle G. Eskow, co-founder of onlinejewishlearning.com“Rabbi Jeff Salkin has enabled b’nai mitzvah to learn and teach Torah with a commentary that is wise, helpful, and brilliantly clear.”—Rabbi David Wolpe, senior rabbi at Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, and author of David: The Divided Heart“This is fantastic! It’s a game-changer for b’nai mitzvah, their parents, and their teachers. Salkin’s fresh insights remind us how transformative this experience can be.”—Rabbi Aaron Miller, Washington Hebrew CongregationTable of ContentsGeneral Introduction Va-yakhel: Torah Commentary Va-yakhel: Haftarah Commentary
£7.39
Jewish Publication Society Pekudei Exodus 38214038 and Haftarah 1 Kin The
Book SynopsisShows teens in their own language how Torah addresses the issues in their world. The conversational tone is inviting and dignified, concise and substantial, direct and informative. Each pamphlet includes a general introduction, two model divrei Torah on the weekly Torah portion, and one model davar Torah on the weekly Haftarah portion.Trade Review“This is a fantastic resource . . . clear, coherent, and easy to understand. It encourages readers to grapple with real issues in the Bible that are relevant to them. It will be incredibly valuable not only to teens preparing to become bar/bat mitzvah but also to adults in navigating, challenging, and connecting to the biblical text.”—Rabbi Danielle G. Eskow, co-founder of onlinejewishlearning.com“Rabbi Jeff Salkin has enabled b’nai mitzvah to learn and teach Torah with a commentary that is wise, helpful, and brilliantly clear.”—Rabbi David Wolpe, senior rabbi at Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, and author of David: The Divided Heart“This is fantastic! It’s a game-changer for b’nai mitzvah, their parents, and their teachers. Salkin’s fresh insights remind us how transformative this experience can be.”—Rabbi Aaron Miller, Washington Hebrew CongregationTable of ContentsGeneral Introduction Pekudei: Torah Commentary Pekudei: Haftarah Commentary
£7.39
Jewish Publication Society Tsav Leviticus 61836 and Haftarah Jeremiah The
Book SynopsisShows teens in their own language how Torah addresses the issues in their world. The conversational tone is inviting and dignified, concise and substantial, direct and informative. Each pamphlet includes a general introduction, two model divrei Torah on the weekly Torah portion, and one model davar Torah on the weekly Haftarah portion.Trade Review“This is a fantastic resource . . . clear, coherent, and easy to understand. It encourages readers to grapple with real issues in the Bible that are relevant to them. It will be incredibly valuable not only to teens preparing to become bar/bat mitzvah but also to adults in navigating, challenging, and connecting to the biblical text.”—Rabbi Danielle G. Eskow, co-founder of onlinejewishlearning.com“Rabbi Jeff Salkin has enabled b’nai mitzvah to learn and teach Torah with a commentary that is wise, helpful, and brilliantly clear.”—Rabbi David Wolpe, senior rabbi at Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, and author of David: The Divided Heart“This is fantastic! It’s a game-changer for b’nai mitzvah, their parents, and their teachers. Salkin’s fresh insights remind us how transformative this experience can be.”—Rabbi Aaron Miller, Washington Hebrew CongregationTable of ContentsGeneral Introduction Tsav: Torah Commentary Tsav: Haftarah Commentary
£7.39
Jewish Publication Society Kedoshim Leviticus 1912027 and Haftarah Amos 9715
Book SynopsisShows teens in their own language how Torah addresses the issues in their world. The conversational tone is inviting and dignified, concise and substantial, direct and informative. Each pamphlet includes a general introduction, two model divrei Torah on the weekly Torah portion, and one model davar Torah on the weekly Haftarah portion.Trade Review“This is a fantastic resource . . . clear, coherent, and easy to understand. It encourages readers to grapple with real issues in the Bible that are relevant to them. It will be incredibly valuable not only to teens preparing to become bar/bat mitzvah but also to adults in navigating, challenging, and connecting to the biblical text.”—Rabbi Danielle G. Eskow, co-founder of onlinejewishlearning.com“Rabbi Jeff Salkin has enabled b’nai mitzvah to learn and teach Torah with a commentary that is wise, helpful, and brilliantly clear.”—Rabbi David Wolpe, senior rabbi at Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, and author of David: The Divided Heart“This is fantastic! It’s a game-changer for b’nai mitzvah, their parents, and their teachers. Salkin’s fresh insights remind us how transformative this experience can be.”—Rabbi Aaron Miller, Washington Hebrew CongregationTable of ContentsGeneral Introduction Kedoshim: Torah Commentary Kedoshim: Haftarah Commentary
£7.39
Jewish Publication Society Behar Leviticus 251262 and Haftarah Jerem The
Book SynopsisShows teens in their own language how Torah addresses the issues in their world. The conversational tone is inviting and dignified, concise and substantial, direct and informative. Each pamphlet includes a general introduction, two model divrei Torah on the weekly Torah portion, and one model davar Torah on the weekly Haftarah portion.Trade Review“This is a fantastic resource . . . clear, coherent, and easy to understand. It encourages readers to grapple with real issues in the Bible that are relevant to them. It will be incredibly valuable not only to teens preparing to become bar/bat mitzvah but also to adults in navigating, challenging, and connecting to the biblical text.”—Rabbi Danielle G. Eskow, co-founder of onlinejewishlearning.com“Rabbi Jeff Salkin has enabled b’nai mitzvah to learn and teach Torah with a commentary that is wise, helpful, and brilliantly clear.”—Rabbi David Wolpe, senior rabbi at Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, and author of David: The Divided Heart“This is fantastic! It’s a game-changer for b’nai mitzvah, their parents, and their teachers. Salkin’s fresh insights remind us how transformative this experience can be.”—Rabbi Aaron Miller, Washington Hebrew CongregationTable of ContentsGeneral Introduction Be-har: Torah Commentary Be-har: Haftarah Commentary
£7.39
Jewish Publication Society Maseei Numbers 3313613 and Haftarah Jerem The
Book SynopsisShows teens in their own language how Torah addresses the issues in their world. The conversational tone is inviting and dignified, concise and substantial, direct and informative. Each pamphlet includes a general introduction, two model divrei Torah on the weekly Torah portion, and one model davar Torah on the weekly Haftarah portion.Trade Review“This is a fantastic resource . . . clear, coherent, and easy to understand. It encourages readers to grapple with real issues in the Bible that are relevant to them. It will be incredibly valuable not only to teens preparing to become bar/bat mitzvah but also to adults in navigating, challenging, and connecting to the biblical text.”—Rabbi Danielle G. Eskow, co-founder of onlinejewishlearning.com“Rabbi Jeff Salkin has enabled b’nai mitzvah to learn and teach Torah with a commentary that is wise, helpful, and brilliantly clear.”—Rabbi David Wolpe, senior rabbi at Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, and author of David: The Divided Heart“This is fantastic! It’s a game-changer for b’nai mitzvah, their parents, and their teachers. Salkin’s fresh insights remind us how transformative this experience can be.”—Rabbi Aaron Miller, Washington Hebrew CongregationTable of ContentsGeneral Introduction Mase'ei: Torah Commentary Mase'ei: Haftarah Commentary
£7.39
Jewish Publication Society Vaethannan Deuteronomy 323711 and Haftara The
Book SynopsisShows teens in their own language how Torah addresses the issues in their world. The conversational tone is inviting and dignified, concise and substantial, direct and informative. Each pamphlet includes a general introduction, two model divrei Torah on the weekly Torah portion, and one model davar Torah on the weekly Haftarah portion.Trade Review“This is a fantastic resource . . . clear, coherent, and easy to understand. It encourages readers to grapple with real issues in the Bible that are relevant to them. It will be incredibly valuable not only to teens preparing to become bar/bat mitzvah but also to adults in navigating, challenging, and connecting to the biblical text.”—Rabbi Danielle G. Eskow, co-founder of onlinejewishlearning.com“Rabbi Jeff Salkin has enabled b’nai mitzvah to learn and teach Torah with a commentary that is wise, helpful, and brilliantly clear.”—Rabbi David Wolpe, senior rabbi at Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, and author of David: The Divided Heart“This is fantastic! It’s a game-changer for b’nai mitzvah, their parents, and their teachers. Salkin’s fresh insights remind us how transformative this experience can be.”—Rabbi Aaron Miller, Washington Hebrew CongregationTable of ContentsGeneral Introduction Va-'ethannan: Torah Commentary Va-'ethannan: Haftarah Commentary
£7.39
Jewish Publication Society Reeh Deuteronomy 11261617 and Haftarah Is The
Book SynopsisShows teens in their own language how Torah addresses the issues in their world. The conversational tone is inviting and dignified, concise and substantial, direct and informative. Each pamphlet includes a general introduction, two model divrei Torah on the weekly Torah portion, and one model davar Torah on the weekly Haftarah portion.Table of ContentsGeneral Introduction Re'eh: Torah Commentary Re'eh: Haftarah Commentary
£7.39
Jewish Publication Society Shofetim Deuteronomy 1618219 and Haftarah The
Book SynopsisShows teens in their own language how Torah addresses the issues in their world. The conversational tone is inviting and dignified, concise and substantial, direct and informative. Each pamphlet includes a general introduction, two model divrei Torah on the weekly Torah portion, and one model davar Torah on the weekly Haftarah portion.Trade Review“This is a fantastic resource . . . clear, coherent, and easy to understand. It encourages readers to grapple with real issues in the Bible that are relevant to them. It will be incredibly valuable not only to teens preparing to become bar/bat mitzvah but also to adults in navigating, challenging, and connecting to the biblical text.”—Rabbi Danielle G. Eskow, co-founder of onlinejewishlearning.com“Rabbi Jeff Salkin has enabled b’nai mitzvah to learn and teach Torah with a commentary that is wise, helpful, and brilliantly clear.”—Rabbi David Wolpe, senior rabbi at Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, and author of David: The Divided Heart“This is fantastic! It’s a game-changer for b’nai mitzvah, their parents, and their teachers. Salkin’s fresh insights remind us how transformative this experience can be.”—Rabbi Aaron Miller, Washington Hebrew CongregationTable of ContentsGeneral Introduction Shofetim: Torah Commentary Shofetim: Haftarah Commentary
£7.39
Jewish Publication Society Ki Tavo Deuteronomy 261298 and Haftarah Isaiah
Book SynopsisShows teens in their own language how Torah addresses the issues in their world. The conversational tone is inviting and dignified, concise and substantial, direct and informative. Each pamphlet includes a general introduction, two model divrei Torah on the weekly Torah portion, and one model davar Torah on the weekly Haftarah portion.Trade Review“This is a fantastic resource . . . clear, coherent, and easy to understand. It encourages readers to grapple with real issues in the Bible that are relevant to them. It will be incredibly valuable not only to teens preparing to become bar/bat mitzvah but also to adults in navigating, challenging, and connecting to the biblical text.”—Rabbi Danielle G. Eskow, co-founder of onlinejewishlearning.com“Rabbi Jeff Salkin has enabled b’nai mitzvah to learn and teach Torah with a commentary that is wise, helpful, and brilliantly clear.”—Rabbi David Wolpe, senior rabbi at Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, and author of David: The Divided Heart“This is fantastic! It’s a game-changer for b’nai mitzvah, their parents, and their teachers. Salkin’s fresh insights remind us how transformative this experience can be.”—Rabbi Aaron Miller, Washington Hebrew CongregationTable of ContentsGeneral Introduction Ki Tavo': Torah Commentary Ki Tavo': Haftarah Commentary
£7.39
Jewish Publication Society Nitsavim Deuteronomy 2993020 and Haftarah The
Book SynopsisShows teens in their own language how Torah addresses the issues in their world. The conversational tone is inviting and dignified, concise and substantial, direct and informative. Each pamphlet includes a general introduction, two model divrei Torah on the weekly Torah portion, and one model davar Torah on the weekly Haftarah portion.Trade Review“This is a fantastic resource . . . clear, coherent, and easy to understand. It encourages readers to grapple with real issues in the Bible that are relevant to them. It will be incredibly valuable not only to teens preparing to become bar/bat mitzvah but also to adults in navigating, challenging, and connecting to the biblical text.”—Rabbi Danielle G. Eskow, co-founder of onlinejewishlearning.com“Rabbi Jeff Salkin has enabled b’nai mitzvah to learn and teach Torah with a commentary that is wise, helpful, and brilliantly clear.”—Rabbi David Wolpe, senior rabbi at Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, and author of David: The Divided Heart“This is fantastic! It’s a game-changer for b’nai mitzvah, their parents, and their teachers. Salkin’s fresh insights remind us how transformative this experience can be.”—Rabbi Aaron Miller, Washington Hebrew CongregationTable of ContentsGeneral Introduction Nitsavim: Torah Commentary Nitsavim: Haftarah Commentary
£7.39
Jewish Publication Society Haazinu Deuteronomy 32152 and Haftarah 2 S The
Book SynopsisShows teens in their own language how Torah addresses the issues in their world. The conversational tone is inviting and dignified, concise and substantial, direct and informative. Each pamphlet includes a general introduction, two model divrei Torah on the weekly Torah portion, and one model davar Torah on the weekly Haftarah portion.Trade Review“This is a fantastic resource . . . clear, coherent, and easy to understand. It encourages readers to grapple with real issues in the Bible that are relevant to them. It will be incredibly valuable not only to teens preparing to become bar/bat mitzvah but also to adults in navigating, challenging, and connecting to the biblical text.”—Rabbi Danielle G. Eskow, co-founder of onlinejewishlearning.com“Rabbi Jeff Salkin has enabled b’nai mitzvah to learn and teach Torah with a commentary that is wise, helpful, and brilliantly clear.”—Rabbi David Wolpe, senior rabbi at Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, and author of David: The Divided Heart“This is fantastic! It’s a game-changer for b’nai mitzvah, their parents, and their teachers. Salkin’s fresh insights remind us how transformative this experience can be.”—Rabbi Aaron Miller, Washington Hebrew CongregationTable of ContentsGeneral Introduction Ha'azinu: Torah Commentary Ha'azinu: Haftarah Commentary
£7.39
Jewish Publication Society Vezot haberakhah Simchat Torah Deuteronomy The
Book SynopsisShows teens in their own language how Torah addresses the issues in their world. The conversational tone is inviting and dignified, concise and substantial, direct and informative. Each pamphlet includes a general introduction, two model divrei Torah on the weekly Torah portion, and one model davar Torah on the weekly Haftarah portion.Trade Review“This is a fantastic resource . . . clear, coherent, and easy to understand. It encourages readers to grapple with real issues in the Bible that are relevant to them. It will be incredibly valuable not only to teens preparing to become bar/bat mitzvah but also to adults in navigating, challenging, and connecting to the biblical text.”—Rabbi Danielle G. Eskow, co-founder of onlinejewishlearning.com“Rabbi Jeff Salkin has enabled b’nai mitzvah to learn and teach Torah with a commentary that is wise, helpful, and brilliantly clear.”—Rabbi David Wolpe, senior rabbi at Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, and author of David: The Divided Heart“This is fantastic! It’s a game-changer for b’nai mitzvah, their parents, and their teachers. Salkin’s fresh insights remind us how transformative this experience can be.”—Rabbi Aaron Miller, Washington Hebrew CongregationTable of ContentsGeneral Introduction Ve-zo't ha-berakhah: Torah Commentary Ve-zo't ha-berakhah: Haftarah Commentary
£7.39
Stanford University Press With Us More Than Ever: Making the Absent Rebbe
Book SynopsisRabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson was the charismatic leader of the Chabad Hasidic movement and its designated Messiah. Yet when he died in 1994, the messianic fervor he inspired did not subside. Through traditional means and digital technologies, a group of radical Hasidim, the Meshichistim, still keep the Rebbe palpably close—engaging in ongoing dialogue, participating in specific rituals, and developing an ever-expanding visual culture of portraits and videos. With Us More Than Ever focuses on this group to explore how religious practice can sustain the belief that a messianic figure is both present and accessible. Yoram Bilu documents a unique religious experience that is distinctly modern. The rallying point of the Meshichistim—that the Rebbe is "with us more than ever"—is sustained through an elaborate system that creates the sense of his constant and pervasive presence in the lives of his followers. The virtual Rebbe that emerges is multiple, visible, accessible, and highly decentralized, the epicenter of a truly messianic movement in the twenty-first century. Combining ethnographic fieldwork and cognitive science with nuanced analysis, Bilu documents the birth and development of a new religious faith, describing the emergence of new spiritual horizons, a process common to various religious movements old and new.Trade Review"In this fascinating study, Yoram Bilu, Israel's foremost scholar of Jewish popular religion, has succeeded in penetrating the world of Chabad's messianic subculture. He offers a brilliant analysis of how these Hasidim use visual media, apparitions, and letters to their deceased leader to create an 'apotheosis' of the Rebbe." -- David Biale * University of California, Davis *"This ethnographic exploration of the religious imagination in Chabad demonstrates that there is no one better equipped than Yoram Bilu to provide a theoretically sophisticated and phenomenologically sensitive account of the movement's messianic devotion to its deceased yet ever-present Rebbe." -- Thomas J. Csordas * University of California, San Diego *"With Us More than Ever is an important book for readers interested in Chabad, Hasidism, and contemporary Judaism. Its focus on the 'messianic ecology' yields a nuanced and dispassionate image of the acute messianism of the Meshichists—a community, or, perhaps, a state of mind, that has been discussed, criticized, and ridiculed, but hardly ever researched either quantitatively or qualitatively." -- Wojciech Tworek * Association for Jewish Studies Review *Table of ContentsContents and AbstractsIntroduction: Introduction chapter abstractThe messianic surge that swept Chabad in the late 20th century has not subsided following the death in 1994 of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the last president of Chabad and the designated Messiah in the eyes of most Hasidim. Since then, the movement has been able to maintain its popularity and dominance despite the catastrophic loss. Focusing on the Meshichistim ("messianists"), the radical Hasidim who deny the Rebbe's death, the introduction documents the means they employ to fill the void of the Rebbe's "occlusion." The book makes use of a media-studies approach to examine how these means fill the critical role of making the absent Rebbe present. The data are based on interviews with Meshichists, participant observations in their gatherings, and meticulous perusal of messianic publications, primarily periodicals. The discussion includes a description of the charged interrelationships that developed between the author and the Hasidim during fieldwork. 1Chabad and the Messianic Idea chapter abstractThe chapter follows the vicissitudes of the messianic idea in Chabad from the movement's inception to the stormy years of the seventh and last leader, Menachem Mendel Schneerson. As shaped by its founder, Rabbi Schneur Zalman, Chabad was less prone to messianic tension than were other Hasidic sects. The fifth admor, Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber, resorted to messianic discourse in the late 19th century in order to battle the lure of secular ideologies such as communism and Zionism. His son and successor, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, viewed the horrors of the Holocaust as messianic tribulations. But it was Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson who generated acute messianic turbulence by advancing to his Hasidim the notion of imminent redemption. The Rebbe's messianic vision, kept alive by the Hasidim after his departure, forms the background for the means and practices that constitute the messianic ecology in contemporary Chabad. 2Meshichist Sociology chapter abstractThe chapter presents the major sociological features of the Meshichists. The Meshichists are more prevalent in the movement's periphery. Of Chabad's two main centers, they are more strongly represented in Israel than in the U.S. and more among the younger Hasidim in either place. –. In accord with the enthusiasm and high commitment typically displayed by religious immigrants and converts anywhere, new Chabadniks, coming from secular or other religious backgrounds, are overrepresented among the Meshichists. As a result of their outreach activities, Chabadniks anywhere tend to be more socially and politically involved in the wider society than are other ultraorthodox Jews, and the Meshichists all the more so. One indication of their assimilation into Israeli society is their use of military language in articulating their ideas and activities. 3Writing to the Rebbe: The Holy Letters Oracle chapter abstractThis chapter discusses the bibliomantic device the Hasidim developed to continue the dialogue with the absent Rebbe. The technique is based on inserting a petition randomly into one of the thirty-two volumes of the Rebbe's collected letters. Even though these letters were written to other people at other times, the petitioners maintain that the answers they receive are germane to their own pleas. The veridicality of the answers is redoubled when they play out in the real world. Following the miraculous stories associated with the Holy Letters Oracle, the chapter discusses its growing popularity and accounts for its success. The popularity and success of the technique seem to confirm the assertion of the Meshichistim that despite his occlusion, the invisible Rebbe is more accessible than ever. 4Sensing the Rebbe: Traces and Practices of Embodiment chapter abstractHow do the Hasidim perceive the absent Rebbe as close and involved? This chapter discusses a broad range of signs or "traces" of the Rebbe, such as the Rebbe's abode, his armchair, the dollar bills he distributed for charity, and the water from his ritual bath, which the Hasidim are adamant to keep intact and, where possible, to replicate. Primarily in Chabad headquarters in Crown Heights, but also in Chabad Houses all over the world and in the Meshichists' homes, these artifacts serve as focal points for ritual practices that involve the Rebbe as an active participant. The traces and practices interweave to produce a "messianic ecology" that actualizes the Rebbe among his followers. In the religion-media paradigm, these traces and practices are conductors of his presence. 5Seeing the Rebbe I: Chabad's Visual Culture chapter abstractChapter Five is devoted to Chabad's visual culture as evidenced by the widespread use of still photographs and film footage of the Rebbe, which bolster his visual salience to an unprecedented extent in Judaism. The elaborate cult that has been developing around the Rebbe's images borders on iconophilia. The pictures serve as focal points for this wide-ranging visual cult. They are used as amulets, thwarting threats and curing maladies; as magnets drawing and attaching passersby to the Rebbe; and as icons triggering the elaborate ritual encounters between the Rebbe and his devotees. The chapter discusses the Rebbe's iconic picture, in which he is shown waving his hand in encouragement, and how it has taken on a life on its own. 6Seeing the Rebbe II: Dream and Waking Apparitions chapter abstractChapter Six maps the Rebbe's apparitions in dreams and then moves to reports of apparitions in normal waking states. The author proposes a psychocultural model to account for these apparitions, deeming them evidence of contextual accomplishment rather than psychopathological deficit. Two distinct clusters of apparition experiences emerge, one associated with ritual and the other with mundane settings. In comparison to Christian visionary experiences, the Rebbe's apparitions are hyper-realistic, literal reinforcements of the claim that the Rebbe is alive. While this claim is audacious ontologically, it limits the epistemological horizons of the messianic imaginary and detracts from its significance as a "taste" of the redemption. 7Schneersoncentrism: The Rebbe Steers the World chapter abstractFor the Meshichistim, the invisible Rebbe is the center of the world. Chapter Seven conveys this conviction through the notion of "Schneersoncentrism," the belief that the Rebbe steers the world and navigates its events. It discusses two broad domains where the Rebbe's imprint on the world is indelible, according to the Hasidim: natural disasters, which the Rebbe is able to stop, and manmade political upheavals, which the Rebbe can rectify. According to his followers, the Rebbe's fingerprints are evident in key historical moments such as the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Exodus of its Jews, and the American victory in the second Gulf War. 8The Apotheosis of the Rebbe chapter abstractChapter Eight deals with the sensitive issue of the Rebbe's deification, a corollary of his centrality in the universe. While the Chabad mainstream argues that attempts to deify the Rebbe are limited to the movement's lunatic fringes, it shows that activists in the Meshichist camp are not hostile to these attempts and, under special circumstances, are even willing to give them a voice. The mystical doctrine of the tzadik in Hasidism, which views him as part of the divine system of emanations, and the messianic shturem in Chabad today help attenuate the deep-seated resistance in Judaism to glorifying a human being. 9"To Make Many More Menachem Mendels": Creation and Procreation in Messianic Chabad chapter abstractChapter Nine illustrates the divine role accorded to the Rebbe in the fantasy lives of some of his followers by zooming in on his alleged role in one domain of human misery: infertility and birth problems. Drawing on a small sample of dreaming and waking apparitions, the chapter shows how the childless Rebbe "reproduces" himself by providing childless couples with children in his image. In these reports the Rebbe appears as a creator no less than as a progenitor. 10Holy Place and Holy Time in Meshichist Chabad chapter abstractChapter Ten discusses the spatial and temporal dimensions of holiness in the messianic religion. For the Meshichists, who ordinarily refrain from frequenting the Rebbe's sanctuary in Old Montefiori Cemetery in Queens, the most sacred site is the Rebbe's abode on 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, dubbed "770." Viewed as the house of the Messiah and a wing of the future third Temple, 770 is the Meshichist hub, where the life routine with the Rebbe is kept intact. Replicas of 770 have been built in scores of places across the globe. The Meshichist emphasize two dates in Chabad's ritual calendar: Yod-Aleph (11) Nissan, the Rebbe's birthday, and Gimel Tammuz, the date of the Rabbi's disappearance, euphemistically called the Day of Redemption. 11The Omnipresence of Absence: Messianism in the Technological Age chapter abstractChapter Eleven discusses the present-absent virtual Rebbe, maintained in part by the magic of technology. In analyzing the properties of his virtuality, it is suggested that the Rebbe is multiple (reproduced), close and palpable, visible, accessible, and highly decentralized. The fact that the virtual Rebbe can be directly accessed and equally shared by all Hasidim poses a potential threat to Chabad's hierarchical structure and cohesion. 12Meshichists, Christians, Sabbateans, and Popular Culture Heroes chapter abstractThe dynamic common to past and present messianic movements is the focus of Chapter Twelve. It considers the struggles of Chabad's messianism in light of the Christian and Sabbatean precedents. It also poses a speculative comparison between the cult of the Rebbe that emerges from Chabad's visual culture and the adoration of charismatic entertainment and political celebrities in global popular culture. 13From Tzadik to Messiah: Comparing Chabad and Bratslav chapter abstractChapter Twelve proposes a systematic comparison of Chabad and Bratslav Hasidism. Both of these Hasidic movements lack the defining feature of a classic Hasidic sect, a serving tzadik-admor, yet they are enjoying unprecedented success. Can the flourishing of these two movements be attributed to the messianic expectations they both nurture? In support of this supposition, the chapter seeks to decipher the enigma of the growing popularity of these two "anomalous" Hasidic sects by dwelling on their propensity for border-crossing in various domains. Conclusion chapter abstractThe messianic surge that swept Chabad in the late 20th century has created the opportunity for studying the religious imagination at large, and as a subject in its own right. Messianic movements expand the boundaries of proper religious conduct and bring to the fore modes of action and experience the religious establishment shuns as extreme or subversive. The media and the practices that Meshichists employ to make the absent Rebbe present were born in this fertile, enabling ecology. More daring and pronounced than ordinary institutionalized religious beliefs and rites, they differ only in degree. The conclusion discusses the unprecedented extent to which the Rebbe-cum-Messiah is glorified, the boundless energy his elevated status generates in his followers, and their capacity to cope with the disappointment of his occlusion by sustaining a virtual Rebbe that is palpable and close.
£86.40
WW Norton & Co The Cook and the Rabbi: Recipes and Stories to
Book SynopsisFor many belonging to the Jewish diaspora, understanding the holidays means lighting a menorah for Chanukah, maybe hosting a seder during Passover. But, if celebrated with an understanding of the storied customs behind the festivities, these occasions can be so much more than candles and matzah. Following the lunisolar calendar, James Beard Award–winning author Susan Simon and Zoe B Zak devote a chapter to each of the fourteen holidays. From Selichot to Rosh Hashanah, Purim to Pesach, every holiday has history, interpretation and foods, with kosher recipes that reimagine traditional dishes with flair. More than a cookbook, The Cook and the Rabbi is a testament to the resilient versatility of the Jewish people and their traditions. With Zoe’s thoughtful insight and Susan’s inspired recipes, there’s no end to the ways you might celebrate the holidays and make your personal relationship with them uplifting, inspiring and deeply fulfilling. Chag Sameach!Trade Review"For someone like me, who has lived in fear of brisket, here is the book we have been waiting for. Drawing from the broad Jewish Diaspora, these recipes, like the illustrations, sparkle. I can’t wait to try a dozen of them. This is a book to keep." -- Mark Kurlansky, author"Meaningful gatherings. Delicious food. A deep understanding of the human condition. This book warms the heart." -- Maira Kalman, author and artist"A gentle and powerful book that reveals the magical and uplifting arc of the Jewish year through food and food for thought. What’s not to like?" -- Henry Sapoznik, author and producer"When the cook meets the rabbi, the holiday table becomes a feast for body and soul. This beautiful book, with its charming illustrations, is an invitation to celebrate Jewish holidays, not only deliciously, but also meaningfully." -- Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, author"There is so much in this charming, educational (for me) book, which Susan Simon with her recipes and folk art–style illustrations and Rabbi Zoe B Zak with her religious knowledge have created, that I am looking forward to exploring." -- John Derian, designer
£23.75
Liverpool University Press At Eden’s Door: The Habsburg Jewish Life of Leon
Book SynopsisLeon Kellner was part of the intellectual and cultural elite of imperial Austria. Engaged in politics, a member of his regional parliament, and an essayist of repute, he was also a Zionist leader and confidant of Theodor Herzl. He created an institution for Jews’ cultural, educational, and social advancement modelled on London’s Toynbee Hall, which spread across east-central Europe to great effect. He was also an internationally recognized Shakespeare scholar. Yet for all this, today he is little known.How did someone born into a lower-middle-class Orthodox Jewish family from the province of Galicia come to gain such prominence in the Habsburg empire? Kellner’s is a thoroughly Habsburg Jewish story, spanning east and west and shaped by the empire’s history, politics, and culture. He was a singular character: a Galician Jew at home in Vienna and in Czernowitz, eyes towards Zion, yet content also in London, and never more so than when absorbed in the minutiae of Shakespeare’s texts. Kellner’s world was destroyed twice over: Habsburg Austria came to an end in 1918, east-central European Jewry in 1945. This biography recovers at least part of what was lost.Trade Review‘A fascinating and innovative investigation of the situation of the Jews in the Habsburg monarchy, based on material from archives and libraries in Vienna, Jerusalem, and New York.’ Antony Polonsky, Professor Emeritus of Holocaust Studies at Brandeis University‘The lives of individuals whom Jewish historiography has ignored, like Leon Kellner, teach us much about how Jews experienced larger historical currents. His life reflected two of the most distinctive trends in Habsburg Jewish history: the movement of Galician Jews to the imperial capital, and their upward mobility via education and literature. So despite Kellner’s obscurity, his historical trajectory is well known. This biography makes it concrete and specific, and in so doing deepens our understanding of the Habsburg Jewish world.’ Todd Endelman, Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Michigan, Ann ArborTable of ContentsIntroduction1. The Education of Young Leon2. The Making of an Intellectual3. Herzl and Zionism4. The Jewish Toynbee Hall5. The Czernowitz Years6. Post-Habsburg TwilightConclusionBibliographyIndex
£38.30
Liverpool University Press Polin: Studies in Polish Jewry Volume 36: Jewish
Book SynopsisChanges in childhood and children’s roles in society, and in how children participate in determining their own lives, have long been of interest to historians. Recent years have seen the emergence of new perspectives on the study of childhood, both in historical scholarship and in literary and cultural studies. Children’s experiences are now scrutinized not only as a means of examining the lives and self-representation of young individuals and their families, but also to investigate how the early experiences of individuals can shed light on larger historical questions. This volume applies both approaches in the context of Jewish eastern Europe. Historian Gershon Hundert has argued that studying the experience of children and attitudes towards coming of age offers an important corrective to the way we think of the Jewish past. This volume proves the potential of this approach in exploring many areas of historical interest. Among the topics investigated here are changes in perceptions of childhood and family, progress in the medical treatment of children, and developments in education. The work of charitable institutions is also considered, along with studies of emotion, gender history, and Polish–Jewish relations. From the First World War until after the Holocaust and the Second World War, countless children experienced traumatizing events. A special section is dedicated to their fate.Table of ContentsIntroduction Natalia Aleksiun, François Guesnet, and Antony Polonsky 1. Childhood and Family Children and Childhood in Hasidic Courts before 1939 Gadi Sagiv Representations of Boyhood in Nineteenth-Century Hebrew Literature Roten Preger-Wagner The Beautiful Manor House: Glimpses of Jewish Childhood in the Galician Countryside Yehoshua Ecker Advocacy and Practice in CENTOS Journals Sean Martin 2. The Medical Treatment of Children The Child in Traditional Jewish Medicine around 1900 Marek Tuszewicki Newborn Care and Survival among Jews in Early Modern Poland Zvi Eckstein and Anat Vaturi Who Nursed the Jewish Babies? Wet-Nursing among Jews in the Late Russian Empire Ekaterina Oleshkevich TOZ Summer Camps: Modern Welfare for Weak and Exhausted Jewish Children in Poland, 1924–1939 Rakefet Zalashik 3. The Educational Experience What Kind of Self Can a Pupil’s Letter Reveal? The Tarbut School in Nowy Dwór, 1934–1935 David Assaf and Yael Darr State Schools as Polish–Jewish Contact Zones: The Case of Tarnów Agnieszka Wierzcholska Working Children and young People as Seen by Contributors to Mały Przegląd Anna Landau-Czajka Through Their Own Eyes: Jewish youngsters Describe Their Holidays in Interwar Poland Ula Madej-Krupitski Autograph Books of Polish Jewish Schoolgirls as Historical Documents Natalia Aleksiun From Relief to Emancipation: Cecylia Klaftenowa’s vision for Jewish Girls in Interwar Lwów Sarah Ellen Zarrow 4. Children and Trauma, 1914-1947 Zionist Care and Education for Galician Refugee Children in Austria during the First World War Jan Rybak Jewish Children Seeking Help from Catholic Institutions in Kraków during the Holocaust Joanna Sliwa It was easier with a child than without’: Creating and Caring for Polish Jewish Families in the Wartime Soviet Union, 1939–1946 Sarah A. Cramsey Voices of Soviet Jewish Children Documenting the Second World War Anna Shternshis Jewish Child Survivorsin the Aftermath of the Holocaust Joanna Michlic The Rehabilitation of Jewish Child Holocaust Survivors, Poland, 1944–1947 Boaz Cohen 5. Childhood in Post-1945 Poland Beyond Post-Holocaust Trauma: Polish Jewish Childhood in Dzierżoniów, Lower Silesia, 1945–1950 Kamil Kijek Blurred Spots of Revolution: Polish Communists of Jewish Origin and Their Early Political Socialization Łukasz Bertram Index
£75.00
Liverpool University Press Polin: Studies in Polish Jewry Volume 36: Jewish
Book SynopsisChanges in childhood and children’s roles in society, and in how children participate in determining their own lives, have long been of interest to historians. Recent years have seen the emergence of new perspectives on the study of childhood, both in historical scholarship and in literary and cultural studies. Children’s experiences are now scrutinized not only as a means of examining the lives and self-representation of young individuals and their families, but also to investigate how the early experiences of individuals can shed light on larger historical questions. This volume applies both approaches in the context of Jewish eastern Europe. Historian Gershon Hundert has argued that studying the experience of children and attitudes towards coming of age offers an important corrective to the way we think of the Jewish past. This volume proves the potential of this approach in exploring many areas of historical interest. Among the topics investigated here are changes in perceptions of childhood and family, progress in the medical treatment of children, and developments in education. The work of charitable institutions is also considered, along with studies of emotion, gender history, and Polish–Jewish relations. From the First World War until after the Holocaust and the Second World War, countless children experienced traumatizing events. A special section is dedicated to their fate.Table of ContentsIntroduction Natalia Aleksiun, François Guesnet, and Antony Polonsky 1. Childhood and Family Children and Childhood in Hasidic Courts before 1939 Gadi Sagiv Representations of Boyhood in Nineteenth-Century Hebrew Literature Roten Preger-Wagner The Beautiful Manor House: Glimpses of Jewish Childhood in the Galician Countryside Yehoshua Ecker Advocacy and Practice in CENTOS Journals Sean Martin 2. The Medical Treatment of Children The Child in Traditional Jewish Medicine around 1900 Marek Tuszewicki Newborn Care and Survival among Jews in Early Modern Poland Zvi Eckstein and Anat Vaturi Who Nursed the Jewish Babies? Wet-Nursing among Jews in the Late Russian Empire Ekaterina Oleshkevich TOZ Summer Camps: Modern Welfare for Weak and Exhausted Jewish Children in Poland, 1924–1939 Rakefet Zalashik 3. The Educational Experience What Kind of Self Can a Pupil’s Letter Reveal? The Tarbut School in Nowy Dwór, 1934–1935 David Assaf and Yael Darr State Schools as Polish–Jewish Contact Zones: The Case of Tarnów Agnieszka Wierzcholska Working Children and young People as Seen by Contributors to Mały Przegląd Anna Landau-Czajka Through Their Own Eyes: Jewish youngsters Describe Their Holidays in Interwar Poland Ula Madej-Krupitski Autograph Books of Polish Jewish Schoolgirls as Historical Documents Natalia Aleksiun From Relief to Emancipation: Cecylia Klaftenowa’s vision for Jewish Girls in Interwar Lwów Sarah Ellen Zarrow 4. Children and Trauma, 1914-1947 Zionist Care and Education for Galician Refugee Children in Austria during the First World War Jan Rybak Jewish Children Seeking Help from Catholic Institutions in Kraków during the Holocaust Joanna Sliwa It was easier with a child than without’: Creating and Caring for Polish Jewish Families in the Wartime Soviet Union, 1939–1946 Sarah A. Cramsey Voices of Soviet Jewish Children Documenting the Second World War Anna Shternshis Jewish Child Survivorsin the Aftermath of the Holocaust Joanna Michlic The Rehabilitation of Jewish Child Holocaust Survivors, Poland, 1944–1947 Boaz Cohen 5. Childhood in Post-1945 Poland Beyond Post-Holocaust Trauma: Polish Jewish Childhood in Dzierżoniów, Lower Silesia, 1945–1950 Kamil Kijek Blurred Spots of Revolution: Polish Communists of Jewish Origin and Their Early Political Socialization Łukasz Bertram Index
£35.00
Liverpool University Press Torah from Heaven: The Reconstruction of Faith
Book SynopsisTraditional Jewish religious belief speaks of a divinely revealed, perfect text, authoritatively expounded. The question this book addresses is one with which the author has struggled all his life: in the light of historical criticism, advances in knowledge, and changing moral attitudes, is the traditional notion of divine revelation and authoritative interpretation still valid? The focus is on Judaism and the examples are mostly drawn from that tradition, but the arguments are easy to transpose to other religions. Norman Solomon's discussion will appeal to those who seek to identify with a religious community but who are troubled by the claim of divine authority made for the scriptures of that community. Ranging across several academic disciplines, it is addressed to people of all religions who find their heads and their hearts are not in accord with each other. It is accessible to a general readership interested in the relationship of scripture, interpretation, and religious authority, though scholars will find original observations and historical interpretations in many areas. It should find a ready place in university and popular programmes in Jewish studies, general theology, and philosophy of religion.Trade ReviewReviews 'Solomon intends that his book appeal to both popular and academic readership, a task he rather successfully fulfils. His literary style is characterized by the art of brevity . . . Footnotes are concise and not burdened with endless bibliographic citations. For the interested reader, references throughout the book lead to further reading . . . Theologians will benefit from a plentitude of thought-provoking critique and insight. It is for these reasons that I recommend the book . . . interesting and successful in giving a broad historical perspective as well as provoking thought.' Dan Baras, Academia.edu'An excellent resource for researching Jewish intellectual discussion about the Bible.' Zvi Grumet, Bookjed'A courageous new book . . . has an impressive range, from scholarship about biblical times to twenty-first century theology and almost all periods in between . . . despite all the detail in the book, it is very readable and comprehensible even for the beginner. It should be required reading for any modern woman or man who thinks seriously about Jewish theology in general and the question of Torah from heaven in particular.'Martin Lockshin, Canadian Jewish News'An important book for anyone grappling with traditional Judaism . . . stands with Marc Shapiro's The Limits of Orthodox Theology as a seminal work that delves into the richness of our heritage to show that there is more than one way of looking at core religious ideas . . . This book gives us a history of the issues and how different thinkers over the centuries have dealt with the challenges of the Torah. It is a major contribution.' Jeremy Rosen's blog'Judicious and erudite.' Lawrence Grossman, Jerusalem Post'A scholarly book, it is not written in a difficult style. And for a hardback of this print quality, it is a bargain. On one level, it is an invaluable source book on what he calls the “central doctrine” of Judaism.' Simon Rocker, Jewish Chronicle'In this refreshingly fair, sophisticated, and engaging analysis of the doctrine of Torah from Heaven (the Jewish belief in the inerrancy and divinity of scripture), Solomon surveys the history of Jewish biblical interpretation, and concludes that every prior conception of this doctrine is lacking in either intellectual honesty or in its capacity to foster religious conviction. [He] concludes that the only religiously meaningful and intellectually coherent conception of this notion is that of myth . . . can be read by members of any religion whose faith in scripture is challenged by modern archaeological, literary, and scientific evidence . . . The book is sorely needed in Orthodox circles; it should be required reading for all Jewish seminary students, and is highly recommended for any religious individual seeking to establish intellectually stable grounds for belief in the sanctity of scripture.' Daniel Goodman, Religious Studies ReviewTable of ContentsNote on Transliteration Introduction Orientation Orientation Where I Come From - The Seduction of ‘True Belief’ - What Does It All Mean? - Philosophical Beginnings - Facing the Questions - Pulpit and Prejudice - Interfaith Dialogue - Academic Detachment? Part I Revelation Torah from Heaven: Growth of a Tradition 1 Holy Books What is ‘Torah’? - The ‘Sacred Canon’ - Why the Five Books are Special - Philo on Moses and the Ancestral Books - Conclusion 2 Two Torahs? Scripture and the Rabbis Divine Revelation: The Story - Mythic accounts of Torah - The Written Torah and the Oral Torah - Rules of Interpretation - Interpretation Against the Plain Meaning - Conclusion 3 Mystics and Kabbalists Pythagoras, Numerology, and the Book of Creation - Mystical Significance of the Mitzvot - Prophets after the Bible - Nahmanides (Ramban) the Mystic - Conclusion 4 The Great Chain of Being: Philosophers and Kabbalists Platonists and Aristotelians - The Ascent of the Soul - The Descent and the ‘Shells’ - Reasons for the Mitzvot - Conclusion 5 Maimonides: The ‘Classical’ Position Revelation as History - The Oral Torah - Torah and Dogma - Conclusion: Maimonides the Minimalist 6 Oral Torah: What Does It Contain? Does the Torah Teach Science? - The Torah of Kabbalists and Rationalists - Conclusion Summary of Part I Part II Attack The Counter-Tradition: Hard Questions 7 The Counter-Tradition The Alexandrians - Sadducees and Pharisees - Pagan Philosophical Critiques - Gnosticism - Later Developments - Conclusion 8 The Original Torah How Texts Were Written - Evidence of the Scrolls and the Ancient Versions - The Severus Scroll - Can the Original Text be Recovered? - The Masoretes - Rabbinic Responses to Textual Variation - Modern Editions of the Bible - Conclusion 9 Contradictions, Moral Problems, Factual Errors The Reconciling Hermeneutic - Interpreting Aggadah - Historical and Archaeological Problems - Moral Issues - Scientific Inaccuracy - Fantasy, Arbitrariness, Superstition - Conclusion 10 The Rise of Historical Criticism The Beginnings of Biblical Criticism - Deists and Sceptics - The Bible as Literature - From History to Myth - Source Theory - Archaeology - Higher Criticism = Higher Antisemitism? - Conclusion Summary of Part II Part III Defenders of the Faith Repairing the Breach: In Defence of Tradition 11 Defenders of the Faith What Must Be Defended - Ancient Wisdom Restored: The Renaissance - Jewish Bible Commentary Rekindled - Conclusion 12 The Transformation of Judaism: Interpretation, Interpretation, Interpretation Elijah, the ‘Vilna Gaon’ (1720–1799) - Moses Mendelssohn (1729–1786) - Torah— Mystical Code, or Source of Values? 13 Mendelssohn’s Influence I. S. Reggio (1784–1855) - S. D. Luzzatto (1800–1865) - Heinrich Graetz (1817–1891) - Umberto Cassuto (1883–1951) 14 Independents Jacob Zevi Mecklenburg (1785–1865) - Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808–1888) - Meir Loeb ben Yehiel Michael Malbim (1809–1879) 15 In the Steps of the Gaon: Written and Oral Torah Are One N. Z. Y. Berlin (1816–1893) - Meir Simha Ha-Kohen of Dvinsk (1843–1926) - Barukh Ha-Levi Epstein (1860–1942) 16 Hoffman and German Orthodoxy David Hoffman (1843–1921) - Hayyim Hirschenson (1857–1935) - Benno Jacob (1862–1945) and A. S. Yahuda (1877–1951) - Isaac Breuer (1883–1946) - Yehiel Jacob Weinberg (1885–1966) - J. H. Hertz (1872–1946) Summary of Part III Part IV New Foundations Torah from Heaven: The Reconstruction of Belief 17 Non-Orthodox Reconstructions Moses Mendelssohn (1729–86): Revealed Legislation - S. L. Steinheim (1789–1866): Empiricist of Revelation - Samuel Holdheim (1806–1860) - Progressive Revelation: Krochmal, Formstecher, Hirsch, Cohen - Leo Baeck (1873–1956) - Martin Buber (1878–1965) - Franz Rosenzweig (1886–1929) - A. J. Heschel (1907–1972) - Emmanuel Levinas (1905/6-1995) - Review 18 Joseph Dov Soloveitchik and the a priori Torah The Hermeneutics of ‘Torah’ - Historical Criticism - The Oral Torah Problem - Conclusion 19 Feminist Critiques The Sinai Covenant - Language and Gender - Images of God - Equality before the Law - The Need for Change 20 Four Defences of Traditional Belief Halivni: The Maculate Torah - Jacobs: Liberal Supernaturalism - Kellner: Rejection of the Dogmatic Approach - Ross: Cumulative Revelation - Strengths of the Four Approaches 21 Divided by a Common Scripture The Reform Torah - The Orthodox Torah - The Conservative Torah - Go Compare Denominations Summary of Part IV Part V Torah from Heaven 22 Options Justifications - The Community: Costs and Benefits of Belief - The Individual: Costs and Benefits of Belief 23 What Is Truth? What Is Truth? - Excursus: Consistency and ‘Double Truth’ - In What Sense Is ‘Torah from Heaven’ True? - On ‘Narrative Theology’ - Conclusion. ‘Torah from Heaven’: A Myth of Origin 24 Myth of Origin: Opportunities and Dangers What ‘Torah from Heaven’ May Signify - History and Myth Do Not Conflict - ‘Torah from Heaven’: Uses and Abuses - Benefits of Understanding ‘Torah from Heaven’ as Mythos Rather than Logos - Dangers from Understanding ‘Torah from Heaven’ as Logos Rather than Mythos - Things That Worry People 25 Demography versus Reason: The Future of Jewish Religion Does Reason Matter? - ‘Authentic Judaism’ - Survival of the Fittest - Conclusion 26 Confronting Change A Meditation at the Mountains of Fire (January 2004) - Coming to Terms with Modernity - Intellectual Violence - Who Decides? - What I Have Dealt With - What I Have Not Dealt With Bibliography Index
£44.53
Liverpool University Press The Carved Wooden Torah Arks of Eastern Europe
Book SynopsisNational Jewish Book Awards Finalist for the Visual Arts Award, 2017. The carved wooden Torah arks found in eastern Europe from the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries were magnificent structures, unparalleled in their beauty and mystical significance. The work of Jewish artisans, they dominated the synagogues of numerous towns both large and small throughout the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, inspiring worshippers with their monumental scale and intricate motifs. Virtually none of these superb pieces survived the devastation of the two world wars. Bracha Yaniv’s pioneering work therefore breathes new life into a lost genre, making it accessible to scholars and students of Jewish art, Jewish heritage, and religious art more generally. Making use of hundreds of pre-war photographs housed in local archives, she develops a vivid portrait of the history and artistic development of these arks, the scope and depth of her meticulous research successfully compensating for the absence of physical remains. In this way she has succeeded in producing a richly illustrated and comprehensive overview of a classic Jewish religious art form. Professor Yaniv’s analysis of the historical context in which these arks emerged includes a broad survey of the traditions that characterized the local workshops of Lithuania, Belarus, and Ukraine. She also provides a detailed analysis of the motifs carved into the Torah arks and explains their mystical significance, among them representations of Temple imagery and messianic themes—and even daring visual metaphors for God. Fourteen arks are discussed in particular detail, with full supporting documentation; appendices relating to the inscriptions on the arks and to the artisans’ names will further facilitate future research. This seminal work throws new light on long-forgotten traditions of Jewish craftsmanship and religious understanding.Trade Review'Bracha Yaniv has made a meticulous study of lost arks and of the lost Jewish crafts of joinery, woodcarving, painting and gilding that made them possible. She demonstrates that these arks cannot be dismissed as mere folk art. They exhibit a high level of artistic accomplishment.’Sharman Kadish, Jewish Chronicle'Bracha Yaniv’s book addresses a wide audience; for scholars it is an excellent source book, a cradle of new ideas, but it is accessible to readers who are less familiar with Judaism and Jewish visual culture... This book is not only a pleasure to hold, see, and read, but it opens new horizons for many professionals who research Jewish visual culture.'Prof. Rudolf Klein, BRILL'Bracha Yaniv’s book addresses a wide audience; for scholars it is an excellent source book, a cradle of new ideas, but it is accessible to readers who are less familiar with Judaism and Jewish visual culture. The large-format book is graphically coherent, with only historic photographs that were edited to be similar in tonal gamut and micro-contrast, all black and white. On pages without illustrations beautiful portrayals of the Torah arks adorn the pages, in abstracted form, enriching the aesthetically pleasing layout and well chosen typography. This book is not only a pleasure to hold, see, and read, but it opens new horizons for many professionals who research Jewish visual culture.'Prof. Rudolf Klein, IMAGESTable of ContentsNote on TransliterationIntroductionPART I HISTORY AND CULTURE, FUNCTION AND DESIGN1. The Emergence of the Torah Ark from Antiquity to the Seventeenth Century2. Historical and Cultural BackgroundThe Polish–Lithuanian CommonwealthThe Rise of Hasidism and the Influence of Kabbalah3. Construction and DesignCrafts, Artisans, and Workshops The Lithuanian Workshop of Jacob ben Solomon of Raseinai The Workshop of the Vase in a Niche The Rococo-Style Workshop The Belarusian Workshop The Ukrainian WorkshopConstructing the Ark Building Materials and Techniques Style and DesignPART II FORM AND CONTENTIntroduction: The Architectural Structure of the Torah Ark4. The Kingdom of God in the Little SanctuaryThe Throne of GloryThe Eagle as a Metaphor for GodThe Three CrownsPraise of God Perek shirahMusic in the Temple5. The TempleThe Gateway to Heaven The Passageway The Inscription Avinu Malkenu Yakhin and BoazThe Ark of the Covenant and the Temple Appurtenances The Kaporet and the Cherubim The Tree of Life: Symbol of the TorahThe Seven-Branched Menorah Introduction The Menorah and the Showbread Table The Menorah as a Solitary Motif The Menorah in Zechariah’s Vision The Menorah as a Mystical SymbolThe Temple Rituals: Avodat Hakodesh The Sacrificial Offerings The Priestly Blessing Offering of the First Fruits6. Messianic ExpectationsPersonal Redemption: The Leviathan and the OxNational Redemption Aaron’s Rod, the Manna Jar, and the Jug of Anointing Oil The Four Species and the ShofarPART III APPENDICESI. Fourteen Torah Arks: Comprehensive Description, Technical Data, and Supporting DocumentationIntroduction1. Kamyanka-Buzka, Western Ukraine, c.17752. Vyzˇuonos, Central Lithuania, 17843. Zabłudów, North-East Poland, 17654. Druya, Northern Belarus, 1774/55. Zelva, Western Belarus, 1849/506. Lukiv, Western Ukraine, c.17817. Hrodna, Western Belarus, Late Eighteenth Century8. Nowe Miasto nad Pilica˛, East-Central Poland, after 18009. Sˇauke˙nai, Central Lithuania, 1885/610. Przedbórz, Central Poland, c.177511. Valkininkai, South-East Lithuania, 180412. Ke˛pno, West-Central Poland, 1816/1713. Vowpa, Western Belarus, 178114. Unidentified Ark, Ukraine, Nineteenth CenturyII. Biblical Quotations and Liturgical Phrases Adorning the ArksIII. Carpenters and Woodcarvers of ArksIV. Alphabetical List of the Arks Comprising the Visual Database for This StudyList of IllustrationsList of InstitutionsBibliographyIndex
£55.00
Liverpool University Press Ars Judaica: The Bar-Ilan Journal of Jewish Art, Volume 13: The Michael J. Floersheim Memorial for Jewish Art
Book SynopsisFollowing current developments in contemporary art history, historians of Jewish art increasingly redefine themselves as studying Jewish visual culture and also distance themselves from any single definition of ‘Jewish’. Focusing instead on the range and flexibility of both individual and collective Jewish self-identification, the trend today is to consider artistic creativity, messages, and reception in multiple intracultural settings. Reflecting this trend, the volume presents a round-table discussion and selected papers from Constructing and Deconstructing Jewish Art, an international symposium held at Bar-Ilan University in 2015. Accordingly, Steven Fine questions the role of ideologies and the limits of semantic analysis in contemporary readings of ancient Jewish art. Sergey Kravtsov traces the transmission of legends about the Jewish past through cultures and artistic practices. Larry Silver proposes that in modern societies, all artists of Jewish origin are marked by their Jewishness and develop a minority self-consciousness. Ben Schachter notes how criticism of religious art has neglected the material and artistic process and focused only on spirituality and theology. Kathrin Pieren discusses the role of public displays in negotiating the relationship between art and identities. The volume also includes two articles on the effects of displacement on the art of twentieth-century Jewish artists of Russian origin; description of a forgotten masterpiece by Hermann Struck; and book reviews. Ars Judaica is an annual publication of the Department of Jewish Art at Bar-Ilan University. It showcases the Jewish contribution to the visual arts and architecture from antiquity to the present from a variety of perspectives, including history, iconography, semiotics, psychology, sociology, and folklore. As such it is a valuable resource for art historians, collectors, curators, and all those interested in the visual arts.Contributors: Ziva Amishai-Maisels, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Maya Balakirsky Katz, Touro College, New York, Samantha Baskind, Cleveland State University, Asher Biemann, University of Virginia, Monika Czekanowska-Gutman, University of Warsaw, Marina Dmitrieva, Leibniz-Institut für Geschichte und Kultur des Östlichen Europa, Leipzig, Steven Fine, Yeshiva University, New York, Eva Frojmovich, University of Leeds, Batsheva Goldman-Ida, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, William L. Gross, collector, Tel Aviv, Felicitas Heiman-Jelinek, independent scholar and curator, Vienna, Ahuva Klein, independent researcher, Tel Aviv, Rudolf Klein, Szent István University, Budapest, Lola Kantor Kazovsky, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Katrin Kogman-Appel, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Sergey R. Kravtsov, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Shulamit Laderman, Schechter Institute for Jewish Studies, Jerusalem, Irit Miller, University of Haifa, Kathrin Pieren, University of Southampton, Mirjam Rajner, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Ilia Rodov, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Ben Schachter, Saint Vincent College, Pennsylvania, Larry Silver, University of Pennsylvania, Daniel Sperber, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Annette Weber, Hochschule für Jüdische Studien, Heidelberg, Gil Weissblei, National Library of Israel, Jerusalem, Bracha Yaniv, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-GanVolumes of Ars Judaica are distributed by the Littman Library of Jewish Civilization throughout the world, except Israel. Orders and enquiries from Israeli customers should be directed to:Ars JudaicaDepartment of Jewish ArtBar-Ilan UniversityRamat-Gan 52900telephone 03 5318413fax 03 6359241 email ajudaica@mail.biu.ac.ilTable of ContentsSymposium: Constructing and Deconstructing Jewish Art 1. The Round Table Discussion 2. From Synagogue Furnishing to Media Event: The Magdala Ashlar Steven Fine 3. Polish-Jewish Discourse in Art History: Standpoints, Objectives, Methodologies Sergey R. Kravtsov 4. Jewish Art and Modernity 5. Contemporary Jewish Art Criticism Ben Schachter The Role of Exhibitions in the Definition of Jewish Art and the Discourse on Jewish Identity Kathrin Pieren Articles 6. In Search for a New Jewish Art: Leonid Pasternak in Jerusalem Gil Weissblei 7. Evacuation Amination: Jewish Geographies and Sindbad the Sailor in Crimea Maya Balakirsky Katz Special Item The Wanderings of Hermann Struck's 'Ahasver' Mirjam Rajner and Ahuva Klein Book Reviews Elana Shapira, Style and Seduction: Jewish Patrons, Architecture, and Design in Fin de Siècle Vienna Asher Biemann Carol Zemel, Looking Jewish Samantha Baskind Lola Kantor-Kazobsky, Grobman (in Russian) Marina Dmitrieva PRIZES REVIEWS
£52.25
Liverpool University Press Mothers in the Jewish Cultural Imagination:
Book SynopsisNational Jewish Book Awards Finalist for the Barbara Dobkin Award for Women’s Studies, 2017.The ‘Jewish mother’ figure is a hallmark of Jewish culture, one which appears in the works of rabbis, artists, poets, and activists across time and place. While depictions of mothers and motherhood abound in Jewish writings, they vary significantly according to social context. These representations therefore offer important insights into the Jewish cultural imagination, and the ways in which writers resort to the figure of the Jewish mother to comprehend and construct their world. The contributors to this volume highlight the complex network of symbols and images associated with Jewish mothers and motherhood as well as the vast array of social, historical, and cultural patterns that characterizations of mothers reflect. Each essay treats the topic from a specific perspective, spanning from mother--daughter relationships in the Talmud to depictions of mothers in twentieth-century American Jewish children’s literature. Collectively, they present a provocative examination of the ways mothers shape and problematize Jewish identity. This volume seeks to give the figure of the mother a new and enhanced place at the heart of Judaism: not only as a central figure in family life, but also as a key agent in the transmission of Jewish religion and culture.Table of ContentsNote on TransliterationIntroduction: Reimagining Jewish Mothers Marjorie Lehman, Jane L. Kanarek, and Simon J. BronnerPART I . IDEALIZED MOTHERS1 Cooking, Cuddling, and Candle-Lighting: Motherhood in Award-Winning Jewish Children’s Literature Emily Sigalow2 The Jewish Mother’s Prayer: Mothers in Late Nineteenth-Century Hungarian Jewish Women’s Prayer Books Krisztina Frauhammer3 Nene Mesl-e Na¯n—‘Mother is Like Bread’: The Perception of Motherhood and Folklore Expressions among the Jews of Afghanistan Tsila Zan-Bar Tsur4 Mothers and Children in Ottoman Jewish Society as Reflected in Hebrew Sources of the Sixteenth to Eighteenth Centuries Ruth LamdanPART II . CONSTRUCTIONS AND CONTESTATIONS OF MOTHERS5 Like Mother Like Daughter: Mother–Daughter Relations in Babylonian Talmudic Stories Moshe Lavee6 The (Re)production of a Maskilah: The Mother–Daughter Bond between Menuhah and Hava Shapiro Carole B. Balin and Wendy I. Zierler7 Maurice Sendak’s Jewish Mother(s) Jodi Eichler-Levine8 The Jewish Mother as Metonym for Community in Postwar America Josh LambertPART III . ACTIVIST MOTHERS9 The ‘Mothers’ Who Were Not: Motherhood Imagery and Childless Women Warriors in Early Jewish Literature Caryn Tamber-Rosenau10 Motherhood as Motivation: American Jewish Women in Action, 1890–1940 Melissa R. Klapper11 ‘Two Voices Heard in Castile’: Rachel and Mary Weep for Their Children in the Age of the Zohar Sharon Koren12 ‘Where Was Sarah?’ Depictions of Mothers and Motherhood in Modern Israeli Poetry on the Binding of Isaac Dalia MarxPART IV . RE-EMBODYING MOTHERS13 Depictions of Childbirth in Rabbinic Literature: The Innovation of a Genizah Midrashic Text Shana Strauch Schick14 Upending the Curse of Eve: A Reframing of Maternal Breastfeeding in BT Ketubot Miriam-Simma Walfish15 The Biblical Root ’mn: Retrieval of a Term and Its Household Context Deena AranoffPART V . RECASTING MOTHERS16 Mothers and Ma’asim: Maternal Roles in Medieval Hebrew Tales Elisheva Baumgarten17 On Teachers, Rabbinic and Maternal Mara H. BenjaminContributorsIndex
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Liverpool University Press Polin: Studies in Polish Jewry Volume 32: Jews
Book SynopsisWith its five thematic sections covering genres from cantorial to classical to klezmer, this pioneering multi-disciplinary volume presents rich coverage of the work of musicians of Jewish origin in the Polish lands. It opens with the musical consequences of developments in Jewish religious practice: the spread of hasidism in the eighteenth century meant that popular melodies replaced traditional cantorial music, while the greater acculturation of Jews in the nineteenth century brought with it synagogue choirs. Jewish involvement in popular culture included performances for the wider public, Yiddish songs and the Yiddish theatre, and contributions of many different sorts---technical and commercial as well as creative---in the interwar years. Chapters on the classical music scene cover Jewish musical institutions, organizations, and education; individual composers and musicians; and a consideration of music and Jewish national identity. One section is devoted to the Holocaust as reflected in Jewish music, and the final section deals with the afterlife of Jewish musical creativity in Poland, particularly the resurgence of interest in klezmer music. The essays in this collection do not attempt to to define what may well be undefinable---what ‘Jewish music’ is. Rather, they provide an original and much-needed exploration of the activities and creativity of ‘musicians of the Jewish faith’.CONTRIBUTORS: Eliyana R. Adler, Michael Aylward, Sławomir Dobrzański, Paula Eisenstein-Baker, Beth Holmgren, Sylwia Jakubczyk-Ślęczka, Daniel Katz, James Loeffler, Michael Lukin, Filip Mazurczak, Bożena Muszkalska, Julia Riegel, Ronald Robboy, Robert Rothstein, Joel E. Rubin, Adam J. Sacks, Amanda (Miryem-Khaye) Seigel, Eleanor Shapiro, Carla Shapreau, Tamara Sztyma, Bella Szwarcman-Czarnota, Joseph Toltz, Maja Trochimczyk, Magdalena Waligórska, Bret Werb, Akiva Zimmerman Trade Review"The essays in Jews and Music-Making in the Polish Lands offer rich examinations of a vast and under-studied scholarly terrain. [...] Future scholarship that embraces both the particularity of the Polish-Jewish context and the broad resonance of its themes will best advance the admirable work of this volume’s editors and contributors."J. Mackenzie Pierce, Music and LettersReviews"This is an essential contribution to the fields of musicology, ethnomusicology, Jewish studies, cultural studies, and European studies. The publication indeed explores Jews and music-making in Poland that is engaging and accessible."Mark Kligman, Yearbook of Traditional MusicTable of ContentsIntroduction François Guesnet, Benjamin Matis, and Antony Polonsky PART I. CANTORIAL AND RELIGIOUS MUSIC A Chestnut, a Grape, and a Pack of Lions: A Shabbos in Płock with a Popular Synagogue Singer in the Early Nineteenth Century Daniel Katz Moshe Koussevitzky (1899–1966) in Vilna, Warsaw, and Russia Akiva Zimmerman The Art of Cantorial Singing in the Polish Territories Bożena Muszkalska PART II. JEWS IN POPULAR MUSICAL CULTURE IN POLAND Musical Afterthoughts on Shmeruk’s Mayufes Bret Werb Servant Romances: Eighteenth-Century Yiddish Lyric and Narrative Folk Songs Michael Lukin Broder Singers: Forerunners of the Yiddish Theatre Amanda (Miryem-Khaye) Seigel Gimpel’s Theatre, Lwów: The Sounds of a Popular Yiddish Theatre Preserved on Gramophone Records, 1904–1913 Michael Aylward The Polish Tin Pan Alley—A Jewish Street Robert Rothstein On the Dance Floor, on the Screen, on the Stage. Popular Music in the Interwar Period: Polish, Jewish, Shared Tamara Sztyma The Jews in the Band: Anders Army’s Special Troupes Beth Holmgren Szpilman, Bajgelman, and Barsht: The Legacy of an Extended Polish Jewish Klezmer Family Joel E. Rubin Władysław Szpilman’s Post-War Career in Poland Filip Mazurczak Abraham Ellstein’s Film Scores: Some Less Obvious Sources Ronald Robboy PART III. JEWS IN THE POLISH CLASSICAL MUSIC SCENE The ‘Lust Machine’: Recording and Selling the Jewish Nation in the Late Russian Empire James Loeffler Leo Zeitlin and the Flourishing of Jewish Art Music in Early 1920s Vilna Paula Eisenstein-Baker ‘Jewish musicians are the crowning achievements of foreign nations’: Jewish Identity and Yiddish Nationalism in the Writings of Menachem Kipnis Julia Riegel Ostbahnhof Berlin: Jewish Music Students of East European Origin at the Berlin Conservatory, 1918–1933 Adam J. Sacks Jewish Music Institutions and Organizations in Interwar Galicia Sylwia Jakubczyk-Ślęczka Jewish Composers of Polish Music after 1939: A Story in Lists and Numbers Maja Trochimczyk Tadeusz Zygfryd Kassern’s American Years Sławomir Dobrzański PART IV. THE HOLOCAUST REFLECTED IN JEWISH MUSIC ‘My song, you are my strength’: Personal Repertories of Polish and Yiddish Songs from Young Survivors of the Łódź Ghetto Joseph Toltz Singing Their Way Home Eliyana R. Adler The Nazi-Era Confiscation of Wanda Landowska’s Musical Collection and Its Aftermath Carla Shapreau Music as a ‘Paper Bridge’ between Generations before and after the Holocaust Bella Szwarcman-Czarnota PART V. KLEZMER IN POLAND TODAY The Klezmer Revival in Poland as a Contact Zone Magdalena Waligórska The Sound of Change: Performing ‘Jewishness’ in Small Polish Towns Ellie Shapiro
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Liverpool University Press Hasidic Studies: Essays in History and Gender
Book SynopsisAda Rapoport-Albert has been a key player in the profound transformation of the history of hasidism that has taken shape since the 1970s. She has never lacked the courage to question conventional wisdom, but neither has she overturned it lightly. The essays in this volume show the erudition and creativity of her contribution to rewriting the master-narrative of hasidic history. Thanks to her we now know that eighteenth-century hasidism evolved in a context of intense spirituality rather than political, social, economic, or religious crisis. It did not represent the movement’s ‘classic period’ and was not a project of democratization, ameliorating the hierarchical structuring of religion and spirituality. Eighteenth-century hasidism is more accurately described as the formative and creative prelude to the mature movement of the nineteenth century: initially neither institutionalized nor centralized, it developed through a process of differentiation from traditional ascetic-mystical hasidism. Its elite leaders only became conscious of a distinctive group identity after the Ba’al Shem Tov’s death, and they subsequently spent the period from the late eighteenth to the early nineteenth century experimenting with various forms of doctrine, literature, organization, leadership, and transfer of authority. Somewhat surprisingly there was no attempt to introduce any revision of women’s status and role; in the examination of this area of hasidism Rapoport-Albert’s contribution has been singularly revealing. Her work has emphasized that, contrary to hasidism’s thrust towards spiritualization of the physical, the movement persisted in identifying women with an irredeemable materiality: women could never escape their inherent sexuality and attain the spiritual heights. Gender hierarchy therefore persisted and, formally speaking, for the first 150 years or so of hasidism’s existence women were not counted as members of the group. Twentieth-century Habad hasidim responded to modernist feminism by re-evaluating the role of women, but just as Habad appropriated modern rhetorical strategies to defend tradition, so it adopted certain feminist postulates in order to create a counter-feminism that would empower women without destabilizing traditional gender roles. The essays in this volume are a fitting statement of Professor Rapoport-Albert’s importance to the study of hasidism, to Jewish studies as a whole, and to the academic scrutiny of religion. Written over a period of forty years, they have been updated for this volume with regard to significant detail and to take account of important works of scholarship written after they were originally published.Trade Review'Ada Rapoport-Albert is one of the most striking figures on the field of modern Judaic studies.'Galina Zelenina, Judaic-Slavic Journal Table of ContentsNote on Transliteration and Conventions Used in the Text Introduction Moshe Rosman PART I HISTORY Becoming a Movement 1. Hasidism After 1772: Structural Continuity and Change Conceptualizing Leadership 2. God and the Tsadik as the Two Focal Points of Hasidic Worship 3. Confession in the Circle of R. Nahman of Braslav Fashioning the Past 4 Hagiography with Footnotes: Edifying Tales and the Writing of History in Hasidism PART II GENDER Women Out? 5. From Prophetess to Madwoman: The Displacement of Female Spirituality in the Post-Sabbatian Era 6. On Women in Hasidism: S. A. Horodecky and the Maid of Ludmir Tradition Women In? 7. The Emergence of a Female Constituency in Twentieth-Century Habad Hasidism 8. From Woman as Hasid to Woman as ‘Tsadik’ in the Teachings of the Last Two Lubavitcher Rebbes Bibliography Index
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