Judaism: sacred texts and revered writings Books

Book SynopsisWith a range of styles including commentary, parables, proverbs and anecdotes, this title provides guidance on various aspects of everyday life from ownership to commerce to relationships. It includes a selection of passages that make accessible the centuries of Jewish thought.Table of ContentsThe TalmudList of IllustrationsPrefaceIntroductionHow to Read the TalmudStructure—The Framework of the TalmudThe Reception of the Mishna—Bavli and YerushalmiHow the Talmud StartedBabylonia of the Talmud—Social and Religious BackgroundThe Men Who Made Mishna and TalmudStyle of the TalmudTitles and NamesTheologyThe Talmud and ChristianityTransmission of the TextA Note On This TranslationBible Translation'Israel', 'Jew', 'Palestine'Page LayoutReferencesFurther ReadingTHE TALMUD: SELECTIONSFirst Order Zeraim (Seeds)IntroductionFirst Tractate Berakhot (Blessings)Second Tractate Pe'ah (Corner of the Field)Third Tractate Demai (Doubtfully Tithed Produce)Fourth Tractate Kil'ayim (Mixtures)Fifth Tractate Shevi'it (The Seventh Year)Sixth Tractate Terumot (Heave Offerings)Seventh Tractate Ma'aserot (Tithes)Eighth Tractate Ma'aser Sheni (Second Tithe)Ninth Tractate Halla (Dough Offering)Tenth Tractate 'Orla (Fruit of First Three Years)Eleventh Tractate Bikkurim (First-fruits)Second Order Mo'ed (Appointed Times)IntroductionFirst Tractate Shabbat (The Sabbath)Second Tractate Eruvin (Boundaries)Third Tractate Pesahim (The Passover)Fourth Tractate Sheqalim (The Annual Temple Tax)Fifth Tractate Yoma (The Day)Sixth Tractate Sukka (Tabernacles)Seventh Tractate Betza (Festival Laws)Eighth Tractate Rosh Hashana (The New Year)Ninth Tractate Ta'anit (Public Fasts)Tenth Tractate Megilla (Purim)Eleventh Tractate Mo'ed Qatan (Middle Days of Festivals)Twelfth Tractate Hagiga (The Festival Sacrifice)Third Order Nashim (Women)IntroductionFirst Tractate Yevamot (Sisters-in-law)Second Tractate Ketubot (Marriage Entitlements)Third Tractate Nedarim (Vows)Fourth Tractate Nazir (The Nazirite)Fifth Tractate Sota (The Wayward Wife)Sixth Tractate Gittin (Divorce)Seventh Tractate Qiddushin (Betrothal)Fourth Order Nesiqin (Damages)IntroductionFirst Tractate Bava Qama (The First Gate)Second Tractate Bava Metzi'a (The Middle Gate)Third Tractate Bava Batra (The Last Gate)Fourth Tractate Sanhedrin (The Court)Fifth Tractate Makkot (Flogging)Sixth Tractate Shavuot (Oaths)Seventh Tractate Eduyot (Testimonies—Legal Precedents)Eighth Tractate Avoda Zara (Idolatry)Ninth Tractate Avot (Wisdom of the Fathers)Tenth Tractate Horayot (Decisions)Fifth Order Qodashim (Holy Things)IntroductionFirst Tractate Zevahim (Sacrifices)Second Tractate Menahot (Grain Offerings)Third Tractate Hullin (Unconsecrated Meat)Fourth Tractate Bekhorot (First-born)Fifth Tractate Arakhin (Valuations)Sixth Tractate Temura (Substitutes)Seventh Tractate Keritot (Exclusions)Eighth Tractate Me'ila (Sacrilege)Ninth Tractate Qinnim (Bird Pairs)Tenth Tractate Tamid (Regular Temple Procedure)Eleventh Tractate Middot (Temple Measurements)Sixth Order Tohorot (Purities)IntroductionFirst Tractate Kelim (Artefacts)Second Tractate Ohalot (Tents)Third Tractate Nega'im (Plagues)Fourth Tractate Parah (The Red Heifer)Fifth Tractate Tohorot (Purities)Sixth Tractate Miqva'ot (Pools)Seventh Tractate Nidda (Menstruant)Eighth Tractate Makhshirin (Enablers of Impurity)Ninth Tractate Zavim (Discharges)Tenth Tractate T'vul Yom (Immersed That Day)Eleventh Tractate Yadayim (Hands)Twelfth Tractate 'Uqtzin (Stalks)TimelineGlossaryAppendixesI. The Jewish CalendarII. Tithes and Sabbatical YearsIII. Coins, Weights and MeasuresIV. Books of the BibleV. Tractates of the Mishna in Alphabetical OrderVI. Hebrew Names and TransliterationBibliographyPrimary TextsEnglish TranslationsSecondary WorksMapsSacred Writings IndexGeneral Index

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Book SynopsisThere is no question that the Torah is one of the most influential documents in Western civilization. It is the source of widely known characters like Joseph, Moses, and Noah, and timeless stories such as the Garden of Eden and the Exodus. Jointly authored by professors of Judaism and Christianity, The Torah: A Beginner's Guide takes a unique approach, exploring the interplay and dynamics of how these two religions share this common scripture. Drawing on both scholarly and popular sources, Kaminsky and Lohr examine the key debates, while simultaneously illustrating the importance of the Torah in western jurisprudence, ethics, and contemporary conceptions of the family, morality, and even politics.

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Book SynopsisThis workbook accompanies Gary Edward Schnittjer''s Torah Story. Following the textbook''s structure, it offers chapter-by-chapter guided exercises designed to support the students learning experience and enhance their comprehension of the Pentateuch.Working knowledge of the Bible''s first five books is essential for every serious student of the Scriptures. Torah Story by Gary Edward Schnittjer emphasizes the content of the text itself, moving beyond debating dates and theories of authorship into understanding how these key books of the Bible help us understand the story of salvation.

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Book SynopsisErnest Lucas is Vice Principal Emeritus of Bristol Baptist College and an Associate Research Fellow of Spurgeon's College, London, UK.Trade ReviewWith clarity and insight, Ernest Lucas guides readers through the key issues involved in the interpretation of Daniel. Lucas’ deep awareness of the sources shines through, as does his judicious assessment of the main debates. A real strength of this study guide is that he not only tells readers about the book of Daniel, he provides a path for them to read and engage with it themselves, making this a vital resource for those who study and teach Daniel. * David G. Firth, Trinity College Bristol, UK and University of the Free State, South Africa *I doubt if there is a book in the Old Testament that is more confusing than Daniel, and when scholars seek to explain the book, they can easily make the situation worse. Dr Lucas is the exception. He cannot alter the fact that studying Daniel is a challenge. He does introduce Daniel as straightforwardly, intelligibly, and reliably as anyone could.’ * John Goldingay, Fuller Theological Seminary, USA *With clarity and insight, Ernest Lucas guides readers through the key issues involved in the interpretation of Daniel. Lucas’ deep awareness of the sources shines through, as does his judicious assessment of the main debates. A real strength of this study guide is that he not only tells readers about the book of Daniel, he provides a path for them to read and engage with it themselves, making this a vital resource for those who study and teach Daniel. * David G. Firth, Trinity College Bristol, UK and University of the Free State, South Africa *I doubt if there is a book in the Old Testament that is more confusing than Daniel, and when scholars seek to explain the book, they can easily make the situation worse. Dr Lucas is the exception. He cannot alter the fact that studying Daniel is a challenge. He does introduce Daniel as straightforwardly, intelligibly, and reliably as anyone could.’ * John Goldingay, Fuller Theological Seminary, USA *Table of Contents1. Daniel: The Book 2. Prophecy and Apocalyptic 3. The Sage 4. Resistance Literature 5. Who, When and Where? 6. The Additions Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisExplores ancient Jewish beliefs in life after death as well as contemporary spiritual experiences. Exploring afterlife theories from the ancient world as well as contemporary afterlife encounters, Carla Wills-Brandon, Ph.D., reveals references to Jewish mysticism and afterlife encounters in ancient Hebrew texts, including the Torah, the Talmud, the Zohar, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the writings of the early Kabbalists. She shows how these works describe not only the realms of heaven but also near-death experiences (NDEs), after-death contact, reincarnation, and deathbed visions of crossed-over loved ones. Drawing on her background in psychology and her experience as a licensed therapist, she explains how acknowledging an afterlife as well as spiritual encounters can help you find peace after loss, discover inner spiritual light, and heal from destructive emotional patterns and ancestral trauma, including intergenerational wounds such as those from the Holocaust. Sharing profound accounts of modern-day premonitions, spirit visitations, dream encounters with the dying, NDEs, and other psychic manifestations, the author shows how similar our contemporary mystical experiences are to those of our ancestors. Looking at the strong emotional resonances created by unresolved trauma, she explains how many survivors of World War II developed PTSD, which has been passed down from one generation to the next. She shows how believing in life after death and speaking about spiritual experiences can help heal emotional trauma and release difficult memories stuck psychically in our personal and ancestral past. Revealing how spiritual seekers can benefit not only from a belief in the afterlife but also from expressing their visions of the unseen, the author shows how knowing that physical death is not final fosters a healthier preparation for one’s own death and the deaths of those we cherish as well as a more fulfilling life.Trade Review“Profound, well-researched, and elegantly written. In this riveting narrative, Wills-Brandon shares stories of holocaust survivors, which must be told, and through these compelling stories she dispels the misconception that Judaism does not embrace the concept of an afterlife. Rather, Seven Heavens demonstrates how Judaism has actually chronicled near-death experiences and after-death communication for thousands of years. It is destined to become an authoritative classic in the realm of near-death-experience literature.” * Mark Anthony, ”The Psychic Lawyer” and author of The Afterlife Frequency, Evidence of Et *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Foreword by Bruce Greyson, M.D. Preface: Why Seven Heavens? Introduction: Secrets We Keep ONEWhere to StartTWO The Afterlife in the Jewish Tradition THREE An Angel Named Damus FOURExperiencing Auschwitz with Nuinui FIVEWhere Was God? SIX The Effect of PTSD on Faith in the Jewish Community SEVEN Facing Our Ancestral Past to Heal Future Generations EIGHTWhat Is an NDE or Near-Death Experience? NINE Reincarnation in Judaism TEN Afterlife Experience as a Conduit to the Divine: Beyond Religious AbuseELEVEN We Are Not Alone . . . And It’s a Good Thing APPENDIX A Self-Awareness Inventory: Reviewing Your Own Life Book References Index

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Book SynopsisA newly updated edition of the landmark translation by one of our greatest religious scholarsSince its publication in 1962, esteemed biblical expert Géza Vermes's translation of the Dead Sea Scrolls has established itself as the authoritative standard. The original manuscripts, discovered in the Judean Desert between 1947 and 1956, completely transformed our understanding of the Hebrew Bible, early Judaism, and the origin of Christianity. Now in its seventh edition, The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English has been updated with a number of previously unpublished texts, as well as extensive new introductory material and notes. Some sixty years after the Scrolls' discovery, this revised and expanded volume crowns a lifetime of research by Vermes.For more than sixty-five years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,500 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookTrade ReviewNo translation of the Scrolls is either more readable or more authoritative than that of Vermes -- John J. Collins * The Times Higher Education Supplement *Fascinating, not least because of Geza Vermes' wonderful introduction and translation -- Justin Cartwright * Daily Telegraph, Books of the Year *

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Book SynopsisThe gospel story begins in Torah. What culminates at Golgotha starts with the rebellion in the garden. The Torah''s story can be framed as a question: How will the word of God overcome the human revolution?Torah Story offers a student-friendly introduction to the redemptive narrative housed in the first five books of the Bible. Every main chapter introduces a section of Torah with attention to its basic structure.This is followed by another look at how this portion of Torah connects to the rest of the Christian Bible.The dynamic design includes opportunities in every chapter to make the most of Torah study including: Helps for getting started (focus questions, key terms, outline) An interactive workshop with challenge questions and advanced questions Suggestions for research projects Next steps for further study A refreshingly new approach to the Torah--neither an introduction nor a commentary--Torah StTrade Review'Gary Schnittjer has distinguished himself as an especially perceptive reader of biblical narrative, which makes him an ideal guide for students of the Torah. In this textbook and companion Workbook, he draws from his deep well of insights on the biblical text and his years of classroom experience. My students genuinely thanked me for assigning the first edition. I'm delighted that Schnittjer has taken the time to refresh and shorten the book to communicate even more effectively to future students. I make it a practice not to assign any book that I wouldn't want to reread myself. Torah Story remains an excellent choice!' * Carmen Joy Imes, associate professor of Old Testament Biola University *'Gary Schnittjer skillfully expounds the Pentateuch from a Christian perspective, illuminating its argument, structure, unity, and trajectory. He excels at explaining intertextual connections and literary techniques. This second edition will enrich the next generation for years to come.' * Mark A. Hassler, professor of Old Testament Virginia Beach Theological Seminary *'Gary Schnittjer's careful and close read of the Torah effectively captures the big picture supplemented with attention to the priorities of each narrative segment. Gary's exceptional scholarship is complemented by an aesthetically pleasing format that is user-friendly. Content, formatting, and teaching aids combine to make the second edition of the Torah Story an easy choice for classroom and personal study.' * John F. Klem, dean, Center for Biblical Studies Seminary Antipolo City, Philippines *'Gary Schnittjer's Torah Story is a rich resource for studying the Pentateuch, not only in surveying its content and major themes or in providing helpful charts and illustrations, but by teaching readers how to read and enjoy the Torah for themselves. Torah Story is a superb guide to the abiding message, composition, and literary beauty of the Pentateuch, which I highly recommend for both classroom and personal study.' * L. Michael Morales, professor of biblical studies Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary *'I have assigned Torah Story in my Pentateuch course for many years because of Gary Schnittjer's engaging approach to Pentateuch studies. What I love most are his insightful Readings, attending to theological interpretation and narrative artistry, and his Another Look brimming with fresh observations about interconnections within and between biblical books. Augmenting these strengths, the second edition of Torah Story is enhanced throughout with updated research, tables, images, and interactive workshops that make an effective textbook even better for anyone seeking an apprenticeship on the Torah.' * Kenneth C. Way, professor of Old Testament and Semitics Talbot School of Theology, Biola University *'If only this book had been available twenty years ago when I was first asked to teach a survey of the Torah course in a discipleship program for young Israeli believers. Schnittjer's apprenticeship approach to the Torah will be a blessing for teacher and student alike. Every page is filled with gems of learning opportunities--not only in terms of its insights about the Torah but also in its insights about how to teach the Torah. It is my sincerest hope that Schnittjer's approach will be applied to every other book in the Bible in future publications as well!' * Seth D. Postell, academic dean Israel College of the Bible, Netanya Israel *'It is difficult to improve on an already superb work, but Gary Schnittjer has done just this in the second edition of Torah Story. The introductory chapter, which has been substantially revised and is now even more helpful to the student, explains how to read the Torah in light of how biblical narrative works. Then in the remaining chapters Schnittjer masterfully models his approach to narrative by offering an astute theological reading of the Torah. Throughout the reader finds many invaluable insights into the Torah's literary features and intertextual allusions, which is exactly what we would expect given Schnittjer's expertise in these areas. I cannot recommend Torah Story highly enough!' * Benjamin J. Noonan, associate professor of Old Testament and Hebrew Columbia International University *'Kudos to Gary Schnittjer on the Second Edition of Torah Story! Schnittjer has taken one of the best textbooks on the Pentateuch and made it even better. I love the new, beautiful look and layout of the book, as well as the continued student friendly interaction. Likewise, in Chapter 1, I find his guidelines on how to read biblical narrative to be extremely helpful. Indeed, here and throughout the book Schnittjer has incorporated the latest in Old Testamament scholarship into his discussions. As a professor I appreciate the additional resources available through Zondervan's TextbookPlus program, as well as the helpful Workbook that is available. All in all, this is a great textbook and I highly recommend it!' * J. Daniel Hays, professor emeritus at Ouachita Baptist University and senior professor of Old Testament at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary *'Schnittjer's Torah Story is a refreshingly unique textbook on the Pentateuch that moves beyond summarizing the content of these books to tracing their literary strategies, intertextual connections, and enduring significance as Christian Scripture. This volume--especially the second edition--offers a new generation of readers a sophisticated, accessible, and indispensable introduction to Scripture's foundational narratives.' * Michelle Knight, assistant professor of Old Testament and Semitic languages Trinity Evangelical Divinity School *'The first edition of Torah Story has always been my go-to recommendation for textbooks on the Pentateuch. I did not agree with every detail, but it combined clarity and organization with deep research, careful exegesis, and useful application. Over the years I had the privilege of closely observing hundreds of students using this textbook and coming to a deeper understanding of God's Word. Now Gary Schnittjer has made a good textbook even better with updated research, expanded illustrations, and extensive resources for teachers. I look forward to seeing how this new edition will build on the substantial legacy of the first, cultivating sincere love for Christ in those who give themselves wholeheartedly to the study of the Torah.' * Jonathan L. Master, president Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary *'The key word to take away from this book is the word apprentice. The reader is treated to the work of someone who truly believes that all Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for Christians. Yes, even the Pentateuch. The first edition guided readers faithfully through the Torah, both to understand its message and its relevance for life and godliness. This new edition brings nearly two decades of additional experience and insight from Schnittjer's own apprenticeship in the Bible. It is improved in every way, offering additional insights and reflections while maintaining the character that made the first edition such a valuable guide. One encounters not merely a fresh coat of paint but a thoroughly restored model. The introductory chapters prepare the apprentices for their tour of the Pentateuch, and in the rest of the book, Schnittjer guides readers through each book of the Torah. Like the best kind of tour guide, he has clearly retained his love and wonder of the Pentateuch, and his intent is for the apprentice to be shaped by it.' * Ryan C. Hanley, department chair and assistant professor of biblical studies University of the Cumberlands *'The second edition of Torah Story offers an invitation to the reader to become an apprentice of the Pentateuch. As a skilled guide with decades of experience in the classroom, Schnittjer knows how to lead students down the path of discovery through the inductive study of Scripture and shows us how he does it. This volume is ideally suited for professors who want to turn their course into an interactive workshop. Students will enjoy its thought-provoking questions and suggestions for research projects. Highly recommended!' * Gordon Johnston, professor of Old Testament Dallas Theological Seminary *'This book is brilliant. As someone who loves the Torah and who cares about effective pedagogy, I am so impressed with Torah Story. Gary Schnittjer is clearly a master of the subject and treats it faithfully, thoughtfully, and thoroughly, as a Christian who reveres the Hebrew Bible. But he is also clearly a great teacher, who understands how people learn, and he has tailored the book to maximally help students do just that. Beyond that, he has made it superbly flexible for professors to use in whatever way suits them. If you are going to teach or learn about the Torah, this book is absolutely a must-have.' * Elizabeth W. D. Groves, lecturer in Biblical Hebrew Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia *'This second edition of Torah Story retains all the best features of the first edition and makes them better. I value this textbook for how it trains students to read biblical narrative in all of its rich design and intertextuality. The second edition enhances this key characteristic through updated and clarified discussion and bibliographic entries. The additional and higher quality pictures enrich the reading experience, and students will appreciate the slightly shorter text, editing that made the writing clearer without losing any necessary content. Students will find Torah Story to be a beneficial resource for study long after their course is over.' * Dr. Megan C. Roberts, assistant professor of Old Testament Prairie College *'This substantially reworked second edition of Torah Story brings students to the cutting edge of Schnittjer's research on how biblical writers converse with each other and draws readers effortlessly into the strange but compelling story that stretches from creation to the edge of the land. Students will experience that story in all its varied plot twists and turns and learn how to read the Old Testament with literary, historical, and theological sensitivity. Having engaged this Torah territory, they won't want to leave.' * Matthew Lynch, associate professor of Old Testament Regent College, Vancouver *'Torah is foundational for God's revelation and understanding it accurately provides a crucial basis for understanding and living out the implications of the rest of Christian Scripture. Gary Schnittjer has given the church and the academy a tool that encourages students of all ages and backgrounds to gain greater access and facility in God's Word. With a high view of Scripture, his work provides believers of all times help in grasping Torah. It is readable and relatable to the newer generation of students that need to be challenged and enticed to see the relevance and excitement of building a firm foundation for a life of study of God's Word and the relevance of the Torah for the whole of God's revelation. With that goal, Torah Story provides helpful tools to not only understand the broad strokes but also to dig in deeper with some helpful guidance and direction. It introduces the reader to issues, topics, controversies, and how to read the text for what it intends to teach--all concerns that students new to Torah studies and Scripture in general need to recognize and begin to understand. I look forward to using this even more helpful edition in the classroom as I continue to introduce my students to Torah.' * John Soden, professor, Bible and theology Lancaster Bible College, Capital Seminary and Graduate School *'With superb literary sensitivity and elegant prose, Gary Schnittjer guides readers through the Pentateuch. His keen insights into the Torah's macrostructure and intertextual connections offer a refreshing alternative to standard introductions and surveys. Torah Story is a masterful textbook--clear and engaging for both students and scholars. Its abundant sidebars, illustrations, and questions elevate the book's usefulness and application for learners at all stages.' * Jillian L. Ross, associate professor of biblical studies Liberty University *

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Book SynopsisAn essential guide to understanding the intersection of queerness and JewishnessTrade ReviewGives engaged, pertinent, GLBT-focused meaning to the Tanach. The analyses offered here work to break boundaries, queer-ing, celebrating, and re-creating our Jewish texts and traditions in meaningful ways. These acts of reading become the radical movement of making a space for GLBT Jews that is clever, humorous, loving, and thought-provoking. -- Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum,Congregation Beth Simchat Torah, New YorkProvides a challenge to readers and preachers who are single-mindedly devoted to the straight and narrow. -- Daniel Boyarin,author of Carnal Israel: Reading Sex in Talmudic CultureThis unique and lively work blends the traditional Jewish format of dividing Torah into weekly portions with specifically queer perspectives on them. Torah Queeries unveils a new queer Jewish way to understand this most sacred and central text that will surely stimulate and challenge the reader. -- Rabbi Rebecca T. Alpert,author of Whose Torah? A Concise Guide to Progressive JudaismRabbi Joshua Lesser . . . believes it is time for LGBT people to move beyond simply defending their identities from biblically based attacks. As one of the three editors of Torah Queeries: Weekly Commentaries on the Hebrew Bible, he hopes to push such discussions to a new, more complex level. * Southern Voice *With Torah Queeries, no longer is the LGBT community an outsider in the Bible...[This volume is] a must for the Jewish bookshelf. * The Jerusalem Post *The point of all these essays is to make us question ourselves and our assumptions and in this purpose, they succeed. . .these authors offer insights into the Torah text that can speak to everyone, regardless of their gender identity. * The Reporter *The tone of the commentaries varies greatly: some are scholarly treatises drawing heavily on rabbinic sources, some are sociological or biological studies, while others are deeply moving personal essays. The book includes bibliographical references and an index. Highly recommended for all libraries. * Association of Jewish Libraries Newsletters *The Rabbinic oft-name for Torah (Learning) is (Reading) which carries the root (call), thus seeding the scriputural charge, (interpret me). Sixty briskly written, argumentative, apologetic, slightly political commentaries successfully do so in the spirit of religious freedom and equalitarian (sic)tolerance. * Choice *The goal of the book is to bring a new set of voices to Torah. * New Jersey Jewish News *While the CJM invites artists to interpret the weeks Torah portions, Torah Queeries invites LGBT individuals and allies to do so. Both should be celebrated and embraced for their creativity, innovation, and depth. * Jewish News Weekly of Northern California *This book, an indispensable resource for all teachers and learners of Torah, in the best way possible makes queers of us all. * Jewish Currents *Torah Queeries attempts to be a broader study of the Five Books of Moses, with discussion of every Torah portion, rather than just those that might be particularly difficult or inspiring to LGBT Jews. * Jewish Exponent *Table of ContentsForeword Judith Plaskow Introduction: Interpreting the Bible through a Bent Lens David ShneerPart I Bereshit, The Book of GenesisPart II Shemot, The Book of ExodusPart III Vayikra, The Book of LeviticusPart IV Bemidbar, The Book of NumbersPart V Devarim, The Book of DeuteronomyPart VI Holiday Portions The New Rabbis: A Postscript Benay LappeContributors Index

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Book SynopsisRabbinic tradition has it that 613 commandments were given to Moses on Mount Sinai, but it does not specify those included in the enumeration. Maimonides methodically and artfully crafts a list of 613 commandments in a work that serves as a prolegemenon to the Mishneh Torah, his monumental code of law. This book explores the surprising way Maimonides put this tradition to use and his possible rationale for using such a tradition. It also explores many of the philosophical and ethical ideas animating the composition of such a list. In the book's second half, Friedberg examines the manner by which Maimonides formulated positive commandments in the Mishneh Torah, leading him to suggest new dimensions in Maimonides' legal theory.Trade Review“Crafting the 613 Commandments is an extraordinary and seminal work that is a critically important and highly recommended contribution to academic library Judaic Studies reference collection and supplemental reading lists.” -- The Midwest Book Review 2014)“With citation index, extensive bibliography, and informative notes, this book is an invaluable discussion of the objectives and motivations behind Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah. It provides an important contribution to the study of Jewish legal theory.” -- Randall C. Belinfante, Director of Library and Archives, American Sephardi Federation * AJL Reviews *

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Book SynopsisNo longer confined to traditional institutions devoted to Talmudic studies, havruta work, or the practice of students studying materials in pairs, has become a relatively widespread phenomenon across denominational and educational settings of Jewish learning. However, until now there has been little discussion of what havruta text study entails and how it might be conceptualised and taught. This book breaks new ground from two perspectives: by offering a model of havruta text study situated in broader theories of interpretation and learning, and by treating havruta text study as composed of textual, interpersonal and intra-personal practices which can be taught and learned. We lay out the conceptual foundations of our approach and provide examples of their pedagogical implementation for the teaching of havruta text study. Included are illustrative lesson plans, teachers' notes and student reflections, exercises for students, and other instructional materials for teaching core concepts and practices.

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Book SynopsisRabbinic tradition has it that 613 commandments were given to Moses on Mount Sinai, but it does not specify those included in the enumeration. Maimonides methodically and artfully crafts a list of 613 commandments in a work that serves as a prolegomenon to the Mishneh Torah, his monumental code of law.This book explores the surprising way Maimonides put this tradition to use and his possible rationale for using such a tradition. It also explores many of the philosophical and ethical ideas animating the composition of such a list. In the book's second half, Friedberg examines the manner by which Maimonides formulated positive commandments in the Mishneh Torah, leading him to suggest new dimensions in Maimonides' legal theory.Trade Review“Crafting the 613 Commandments is an extraordinary and seminal work that is a critically important and highly recommended contribution to academic library Judaic Studies reference collection and supplemental reading lists.” -- The Midwest Book Review 2014)“With citation index, extensive bibliography, and informative notes, this book is an invaluable discussion of the objectives and motivations behind Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah. It provides an important contribution to the study of Jewish legal theory.” -- Randall C. Belinfante, Director of Library and Archives, American Sephardi Federation * AJL Reviews *

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Book SynopsisRabbi Abraham ibn Ezra's commentary is one of the great biblical exegeses produced by medieval Jewry. His commentary accompanies almost every version of the Rabbinic Bible, and his influence on biblical studies continues to this very day. Ibn Ezra sought to provide the literal meaning of the biblical text. However, he did more than that. His commentary is saturated with insights into Hebrew grammar, medieval philosophy, and astrology. Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra's Commentary on Books 3-5 of Psalms: Chapters 73-150 completes the publication of the translation and annotation of Ibn Ezra's commentary to Psalms, making it available to both scholars and general readers.

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Book SynopsisGroundbreaking interpretations of classical rabbinic texts lead the reader through an exploration of ""attuned learning"" an emerging paradigm of mindfulness that emphasizes alertness to ones own mental, emotional, and physical workings as well as awareness of others within the complexities of learning interactions. The pedagogical is integrated with the ethical in transformative teaching and learning; repair of educational disruptions; the role of the human visage; and the dynamics of argumentative and collaborative learning. Textual analyses reveal how deliberate self-cultivation not only infuses ethics and spirituality into the growth of teachers, learners, and co-learners, but also offers a potential corrective for calculative modalities in contemporary educational thinking. The author speaks to the existential, humanizing art of education, enabling readers to examine, expand, or revisit their beliefs and practices.Trade Review"This highly original book offers readers an opportunity to study rabbinic texts on education with a gifted teacher and to experience a process of learning which touches the mind and heart. To help readers grow into attuned learners, Holzer presents a way of studying ancient texts that cultivates the ethical dimensions of learning. Anyone interested in dialogical approaches to education and empowering text study will benefit greatly from reading this book." -- Sharon Feiman-Nemser, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Professor of Jewish Education, Brandeis UniversityTable of ContentsAttuned Acknowledgments Part One: Conceptual Frameworks Chapter One: The Concept of Attuned Learning Chapter Two: Reading Rabbinic Texts for Education Part Two: Co-Learners’ Attuned Learning Introduction:Collaborative Learning in Rabbinic Literature Chapter Three: Self-Refinement in Argumentative Learning Chapter Four: Study Partners’ Learning Part Three: Teachers and Students’ Attuned Learning Introduction: Teaching in Rabbinic Literature Chapter Five: Learning Transformations Chapter Six: Disruptions and Repairs Chapter Seven: The Visages of Learning Interactions Part Four: Attuned Learning and Educational Thought Chapter Eight: Attuned Learning in Contemporary Contexts Glossary of Technical and Foreign Terms and Language Usage Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisLearning to Read Talmud is the first book-length study of how teachers teach and how students learn to read Talmud. Through a series of studies conducted by scholars of Talmud in classrooms that range from seminaries to secular universities and with students from novice to advanced, this book elucidates a broad range of ideas about what it means to learn to read Talmud and tools for how to achieve that goal. Bridging the study of Talmud and the study of pedagogy, this book is an essential resource for scholars, curriculum writers, and classroom teachers of Talmud.Trade Review"The volume...contains valuable, practical ideas. It should be in academic libraries where Jewish Studies are taught, and in research centers that seek to enhance the value of creative thought."—Fred Isaac, Temple Sinai, Oakland, CA, AJL Reviews (May/June 2017)"Learning to Read Talmud: What it Looks Like and How it Happens is an invaluable resource for teachers, scholars, and laypeople wishing to experience at close range a rich variety of approaches to the study and teaching of the Talmud, Judaism's foundational text. Jane Kanarek and Marjorie Lehman have gathered together an impressive group of distinguished scholars and master pedagogues who invite readers inside their classrooms. Readers can peer over their shoulders and observe their teaching methods first hand. Each chapter is a delight to read and is full to the brim with original insight. Nothing quite like this has ever before been attempted." —Richard Kalmin, Theodore R. Racoosin Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics, Jewish Theological Seminary"This book is an invaluable treasure of experiences and insights about the teaching of Talmud in a variety of higher education settings, from the secular university to the yeshivah. The scholars in this volume reveal the intricacies of teaching newcomers and seasoned learners alike how to read Talmud. In this exciting and enlightening volume, we witness the future of Talmud pedagogy." —Lee Shulman, Emeritus Professor of Education, Standford University"This book makes a significant and exciting contribution to the field of teaching Talmud. Each of the articles is well written, thoughtful, and engaging. The authors ground their work in a rich body of scholarship on reflective practice in teaching and learning in general, as well as more specific literatures on the teaching of historical and rabbinic texts. this is a strong collection of articles that uncover the power of reflective practice in teaching. Indeed, as Jon Levisohn writes in his summation, the variety of pedagogies these instructors practice reveal a shared “culture of metacognition” that is relevant to teachers of Talmud and those engaged in the teaching of primary texts in any field." —Lisa D. Grant, Professor of Jewish Education, Hebrew Union CollegeTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction. Learning to Read Talmud: What It Looks Like and How It Happens Jane L. Kanarek and Marjorie Lehman Chapter 1. Stop Making Sense: Using Text Guides to Help Students Learn to Read Talmud Beth A. Berkowitz Chapter 2. Looking for Problems: A Pedagogic Quest for Difficulties Ethan M. Tucker Chapter 3. What Others Have to Say: Secondary Readings in Learning to Read Talmud Jane L. Kanarek Chapter 4. And No One Gave the Torah to the Priests: Reading the Mishnah’s References to the Priests and the Temple Marjorie Lehman Chapter 5. Talmud for Non-Rabbis: Teaching Graduate Students in the Academy Gregg E. Gardner Chapter 6. When Cultural Assumptions about Texts and Reading Fail: Teaching Talmud as Liberal Arts Elizabeth Shanks Alexander Chapter 7. Talmud in the Mouth: Oral Recitation and Repetition through the Ages and in Today’s Classroom Jonathan S. Milgram Chapter 8. Talmud that Works Your Heart: New Approaches to Reading Sarra Lev Postscript. What We Have Learned About Learning to Read Talmud Jon A. Levisohn Contributors

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Book SynopsisPublicly or secretly, traditional Jews increasingly doubt the historical reliability of the Torah. Here, Gellman provides an ""old-fashioned"" Jewish theology for accepting the contemporary critique of Torah and history. Gellman presents an outline of the scholarly conclusions, and then examines faith responses and rejects apologetic attempts to evade the challenge. The book elucidates the notions of Divine Providence and Divine Accommodation that then provide a basis for the thesis that for centuries Divine Providence has been guiding toward a non-historical, non-literal understanding of the Torah. This was from God. Gellman advocates Hasidic-type non-literal approaches as most fitting for our times. Then, in light of the book's thesis, Gellman offers his understanding of Torah from Heaven, prayer, and the continuing validity of the commandments, for present-day traditional Judaism.Trade Review“This Was from God deftly combines intellectual honesty, philosophical rigor, and piety—a piety that is, in the deepest and most admirable sense of the term, a simple one. Gellman’s bold proposals regarding the true nature of the information scripture provides will, paradoxically, strike some liberal theologians as rather too liberal and some traditionalists as too traditional. Thus Gellman challenges many readers in ways that they are not expecting to be challenged. Many of us will find that both our faith and our critical outlook grow deeper as a result of this book. The breadth of material Gellman synthesizes is remarkable: western philosophy, biblical scholarship, rabbinic texts, kabbalah, and medieval and modern Jewish philosophy. And yet Gellman wears this learning lightly in a book that is surprisingly well written and accessible.” -- Benjamin D. Sommer, Professor of Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages, Jewish Theological Seminary“There are many Jews who are committed to full Jewish observance but deeply troubled by the sorts of questions Professor Gellman sets out in so compelling a fashion in his first chapter. This book will help many overcome the split personality which characterizes so many Jews (and, I might add, Christians and Muslims) who seek to live simultaneously in the world of tradition and in the contemporary world around us. This Was from God is both a work of constructive theology (all too rare in the world of Orthodox Judaism) and a work of careful scholarship. Even those who will not be able to accept the theological position set forth here, will appreciate the fairness, sensitivity, and sophistication with which the arguments are presented.” -- Menachem Kellner, Shalem College, Jerusalem; University of Haifa (Emeritus), author of Science in the Bet Midrash: Studies in Maimonides and Torah in the Observatory: Gersonides, Maimonides, Song of SongsTable of ContentsPreface Introduction Part I: Challenge and Response Chapter 1: The Challenge Chapter 2: Faith-Responses Chapter 3: Apologetics Chapter Four: A Counterproof Part II: My Theological Toolbox Chapter 5: Divine Providence Chapter 6: Divine Accommodation Part III: This Was from God Chapter 7: This Was from God Chapter 8: Torah from Heaven Part IV: Torah Today Chapter 9: Reading Torah with the Hasidim Chapter 10: Prayer and Observing Commandments

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Book SynopsisIn recent decades, there has been a resurgence of interest among both secular and religious Israelis in Talmudic stories. This growing fascination with Talmudic stories has been inspired by contemporary Israeli writers who have sought to make readers aware of the special qualities of these well-crafted narratives that portray universal human situations, including marriages, relationships between parents and children, power struggles between people, and the challenge of trying to live a good life. The Charm of Wise Hesitancy explores the resurgence of interest in Talmudic stories in Israel and presents some of the most popular Talmudic stories in contemporary Israeli culture, as well as creative interpretations of those stories by Israeli writers, thereby providing readers with an opportunity to consider how these stories may be relevant to their own lives.Trade Review“In his book, David Jacobson offers a wide range of Israeli contemporary commentaries to Talmudic legends. With love, knowledge, and profound commitment, Jacobson explores one of the most fascinating revolutions in Jewish culture in recent decades: the rediscovery of rabbinic literature by Israeli culture.” -- Ruhama Weiss, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Jerusalem“The Zionist revolution and mainstream Israeli culture tried to vault from the world of the Bible to a revolutionary present, leaving the rabbis and their texts behind. Yet the break was never that clean, and dogmatic secularism has come on hard times. Recent years have seen the recovery and creative reinterpretation of classic rabbinic texts by secular and religious readers, making for one of the most fascinating currents in contemporary Israeli culture. This pioneering study not only judiciously gathers and synthesizes these new voices for scholarly readers while carefully attending to the differences among them, but also places them in the context of important but insufficiently-understood currents of cultural and intellectual history. David Jacobson has, with his customary learning, discernment, and deft literary taste, done a great service to students of Israel, Talmud, literature, education, and religion.” -- Yehudah Mirsky, Brandeis UniversityTable of ContentsPrefaceIntroduction: Recovering a Repressed PastChapter One: The Rediscovery of Talmudic StoriesChapter Two: Authority, Autonomy, and Interpersonal Relations: The Oven of Akhnai Chapter Three: When Opposites Attract: Rabbi Yohanan and Resh Lakish Chapter Four: Women and Torah Study: BeruriaChapter Five: Eros Repressed and Restored: Rabbi Hiya Bar Ashi and HerutaChapter Six: An Ideal Marriage: Rabbi Akiva and the Daughter of Ben Calba SavuaChapter Seven: Human Failings and National Destruction: Kamtza and Bar Kamtza

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Book SynopsisThis volume deals with the female dynasty of the House of David and its influence on the Jewish Messianic Myth. It provides a missing link in the chain of research on the topic of messianism and contributes to the understanding of the connection between female transgression and redemption, from the Bible through Rabbinic literature until the Zohar. The discussion of the centrality of the mother image in Judeo-Christian culture and the parallels between the appearance of Mary in the Gospels and the Davidic Mothers in the Hebrew Bible, stresses mutual representations of ""the mother of the messiah"" in Christian and Jewish imaginaire. Through the prism of gender studies and by stressing questions of femininity, motherhood and sexuality, the subject appears in a new light. This research highlights the importance of intertwining Jewish literary study with comparative religion and gender theories, enabling the process of filling in the ‘mythic gaps’ in classical Jewish sources. The book won the Pines, Lakritz and Warburg awards.Trade Review"Ruth Kara-Ivanov Kaniel's careful handling of discussions spanning nearly two thousand years of Jewish literary output is highly original and is accomplished by excellent knowledge of the relevant texts and of the research literature, Gender Studies and Myth Theory. The overall picture that emerged from this book is an innovation within the field of Jewish Thought … a major contribution to the understanding of the Messianic idea and its development in certain branches of the Jewish world, as well as to the understanding of the importance of the role of women in the history of the Messiah." -- Moshe Idel, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem“This is a fascinating history of women’s transgressive sexuality, which features time and again in the biblical, rabbinic and kabbalistic sources, where it is construed as the crucial and most productive element of the redemptive process, giving rise to the famously irregular maternal genealogy of the Jewish Messiah in each one of his incarnations, right up to and including Jesus Christ.” -- Ada Rapoport-Albert, Professor of Hebrew and Jewish Studies, University College LondonTable of ContentsAcknowledgementsIntroductionPart One: Messianic Mothers in the BibleRuth, Tamar, and Lot’s Daughters Chapter One: Feminine Genealogy and the Lineage of the House of David Two Genealogical Lists at the Conclusion of the Book of RuthThe Feminine Genealogical List—Exclusion or Redundancy? The Blessing at the GateLike Rachel and Like Leah The Mothers of the Davidic Dynasty in Chronicles The Foreign Women of the House of David Dynasticism, Eros, and MessianismFeminine Dominance and Antinomianism in the “J” Source Chapter Two: The Type-Scene of “The Birth of the Messianic Hero” 1. The Background: The Appearance of the Foreign Woman 2. The Crisis—Human and Cosmic Traumatizing Circumstances 3. The Obstacle—The Sexual Prohibition: Incest, Harlotry, and Seduction4. The Messianic Fathers—The Symbolism of the Father Figure5. The Secret and Seductive Means—Wine, Masquerading, and Concealment6. The Danger—The Men’s Unawareness and the Woman’s Endangerment Post-Seduction 7. The Birth—From Virginity to Motherhood 8. The Human Condemnation—Breaking of Ties and the Disappearance of Mother and Father Figures 9. The Divine Vindication—The “Providential Type-Scene” and Genealogical Seal The Motif of Doubleness in the Stories of the Davidic Mothers Sexuality and Messianism The Development and Tempering of the Type-Scene—What Do the Foremothers Bequeath to Their Daughters? Part Two: The Messianic Mother in Rabbinic Literature—Sororal Love and “Ethics of Redemption” Chapter Three: David’s Mother(s) in Yalkut ha-Makhiri Son of the Hated and Son of the Loved—The Holy DeceptionThe Absent Mother and the Excessive MotherConnected Midrashim between Davidic MothersChapter Four: Gedolah Aveirah Lishmah—From Rabbinic Literature to the Messianic Teachings of R. Moses Ḥayyim Luzzatto The Background of the Sugiyah—Ḥeruta’s Story and “The Revolution of Intention” Aveirah Lishmah and Devar MitzvahAveirah Lishmah according to R. Moses Ḥayyim LuzzattoWomen as the Other: Gender, Language, and Politics Part Three: The Messianic Mother in the Zoharic LiteratureThe Mystery of the Composition of the Zohar and its Character The Messianic Idea in the Zoharic Literature Chapter Five: Lot’s Daughters and the Zoharic “Ṭiqla” The Paradoxicality of Incestuous Relations in Cultural and Psychoanalytic Studies Incestual Relations in a Gender Perspective The Primal Story and “Primal Scene” Ammon and Moab—Split Attitudes The First Appearance of the Ṭiqla: Spain of the Thirteenth Century Zohar Parashat Va-Yera—the Story of Lot’s Daughters The Origins of the Ṭiqla in the Greek Water-Wheel of “Antiliya” Ṭiqla in the Zohar—Five Axes of Meaning Conclusion Chapter Six: The Burning Face of the Shekhinah—Tamar in Zohar Aḥrei Mot The Passage’s Framework—An Opening to Supernal Mysteries The Burning Image—The Smoldering Shekhinah Petaḥ Einayim—From Rabbinic Midrash to Zoharic Exegesis Tamar’s story and the Motif of Fire in Zohar Aḥrei Mot—A Mirror to the World of the KabbalistsChapter Seven: “And She Uncovered His Feet”—The Exilic and Redemptive Journey of the Shekhinah The Book of Ruth and the Threshing Floor Scene—From the Bible to Second Temple Literature Ruth in the Zohar—“And She Uncovered His Feet” The Personal Stance—Ruth as the Messiah’s Mother and an Actual and Active Character in the Zohar Ruth and Tamar—The Shared ModelThe Allegorical Position—Zohar Ruth and Tiqqunei Zohar The Distant Redeemer, The Close Redeemer—Tiqqunei Zohar in Contrast to Zohar Ruth Naomi and Ruth as Binah and Malkhut An Existentialist Reading—The Shekhinah is the Soul The Zohar in Contrast to the Tiqqunim and Zohar Ruth—The Personalistic Model and the Allegorical Model Conclusion—Gender Reversal and Redemption Poetics Epilogue: The Messianic Mother in Judaism and Christianity The Mother of the Messiah in the Bible and in Early Christianity A Messiah by Virtue of His MothersChristian Traditions and Jewish Rabbinic Literature A) Miraculous Conception: “A Seed That Comes from Another Place” B) Sexuality and Virginity: “All Those Women of the House of Rabbi Who Crushed with Their Finger” D) Seduction, Trauma and Relationships E) Late Subversion in a Medieval Midrash F) The Messianic Mother as a Virgin and Harlot—Influences on the Perception of the Shekhinah in the Zohar Bibliography

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Book SynopsisThe notion that the God of the Hebrew Bible and rabbinic literature, "the God of the Jews," is perfectly good is challenged by apparently immoral acts—by contemporary standards—of that God, as well as by the classic problem of evil.In this book, Jerome Gellman provides ways to question and overcome these challenges, addresses the faithful who are tested by these two problems, and aims to lighten the challenges for them while preserving God's perfect goodness. He recommends replacing a God of the Jews with a different God, a "Jewish God," one in whom many traditional Jews have come to believe. Gellman also offers the traditional believer a possible theodicy explaining much evil.The book is at once analytic in style and Hasidic in broad orientation.Trade Review"This book is highly recommended mainly for academic libraries with collections that seek to collect books on Jewish theology, philosophy and ethics. - AJL ReviewsTable of Contents Acknowledgements Forward Introduction My Theological Method A Perfectly Good Being The God of the Jews The Ideological Critique The Argument from Evil The Humility Response Response to the Present-Day Ideological Critique Hasidic Panpsychism: "A Portion of God from Above" The Multiverse: A Possible Theodicy Backward Bibliography

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Book SynopsisWhen Maimonides' Mishneh Torah (Code of Jewish Law) reached Lunel, France, a group of scholars composed twenty-four objections to his positions. Surprisingly, Maimonides' rejoinder opened with an unusual rhymed prose epistle with effusive praise for his correspondents and artistic and complex language. In this book, Charles Sheer offers the first annotated translation of the entire epistle: he uncovers the biblical and midrashic passages modified by Maimonides that became the language of his Iggeret, and explicates its ideas in the context of Maimonides' other works and compositions of the late Middle Ages. He illustrates how Maimonides, in a most personal fashion, shared with these scholars his ideological struggle between his love for Torah study and ""hokhmah"" (philosophy, wisdom). This Grand Epistle reveals much about this towering figure and provides a moving portrait of him during his last decade.Trade Review“This short volume is most certainly for a niche of scholars who specialize in the study of Maimonides. And though it is written in scholarly fashion with copious endnotes, I believe it is accessible to any careful reader desiring a better understanding of the man. And this is very appropriate since Maimonides, at the time of the writing of this letter, was heavily involved in the day-to-day care of masses of people.”— Tom Edmondson, senior pastor at First Christian Church of Atlanta, Reading Religion“Sheer’s book makes a significant contribution to the study of Maimonides’ correspondence with the sages of southern France. It is based on up-to-date research and excellent footnotes.” —Mitchell First, Jewish Link of New Jersey -- Mitchell First * Jewish Link of New Jersey *“While Maimonides, like Aristotle, insists that poetry is below history, and history is below the sciences, of which ma’aseh Merkavah (metaphysics) is the highest of the sciences, Sheer reveals, in this first annotated translation, the highly literary aspect of Maimonides’ elegantly rhymed epistle to the scholars of Lunel. … Sheer unpacks the complex allusions to Biblical and Midrashic sources in Rambam’s rhymed letter, and its ideas in the context of Maimonides’ oeuvre, so we not only gain a better appreciation of Rambam’s genius, but the tensions in Rambam’s mind between Torah study and the hokmah (sciences). … Sheer provides a careful, detailed, in-depth textual analysis of the 59-line poetic letter. Sheer’s thoughtful insights reveal what is at stake for the Rambam with regards to the dialectic between Torah and science, philosophy and poetry, supernatural divine revelation [beyond the mind’s limits] and reason. Recommended for all libraries.” —AJL Reviews"This short volume is most certainly for a niche of scholars who specialize in the study of Maimonides. And though it is written in scholarly fashion with copious endnotes, I believe it is accessible to any careful reader desiring a better understanding of the man. And this is very appropriate since Maimonides, at the time of the writing of this letter, was heavily involved in the day-to-day care of masses of people." —Tom Edmondson, Senior Pastor, First Christian Church of Atlanta, Reading ReligionTable of Contents Preface Introduction Maimonides and the Lunel Scholars The Correspondence between Maimonides and French Scholars 1) Maimonides’ Grand Iggeret to R. Jonathan of Lunel 2) The First Half of the Iggeret in Rhymed Prose 3) Maimonides’ Unanticipated and Problematic Style Reversal 4) Maimonides’ Letter to Judge Anatoli 5) The Letters from R. Jonathan of Lunel 6) The Second Half of the Iggeret in Unadorned Prose 7) Maimonides and the Lunel Scholars—Reconsidered Appendix Endnotes

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Book SynopsisOne of the most basic questions for any legal system is that of methodology: how one interprets, analyzes, weighs, and applies a mass of often competing legal rules, precedents, practices, customs, and traditions to reach final determinations and practical guidance about the correct legal-prescribed course of action in any given situation. Questions of legal methodology raise not only practical concerns, but theoretical and philosophical ones as well. We expect law to be more than the arbitrary result of a given decision maker's personal preferences, and so we demand that legal methodologies be principled as well as practical. These issues are especially acute in religious legal systems, where the stakes are raised by concerns for respecting not just human, but divine law. Despite this, the major scholars and codifiers of halakhah, or Jewish law, have only rarely explicated their own methods for reaching principled legal decisions. This book explains the major jurisprudential factors driving the halakhic jurisprudence of Rabbi Yehiel Mikhel Epstein, twentieth-century author of the Arukh Hashulchan-the most comprehensive, seminal, and original modern restatement of Jewish law since Maimonides. Reasoning inductively from a broad review of hundreds of rulings from the Orach Chaim section of the Arukh Hashulchan, the book teases out and explicates ten core halakhic principles that animate Rabbi Epstein's halakhic decision-making. Along the way, it compares the Arukh Hashulchan methodology to that of the Mishna Berura. This book will help any reader understand important methodological issues in both Jewish and general jurisprudence.Trade Review“Broyde and Pill’s book is an immensely informative and illuminating read. By taking a traditional jurist seriously as a legal writer and thinker, they have done a real service, especially to the academic communities of Jewish studies and jurisprudence. If it can help bring these, and other similarly inclined constituencies, into conversation, their work has done more than enough.”— Joshua Schwartz, University of Toronto Faculty of Law, Reading Religion“Since the Bible, there are three codes that can lay claim to covering the gamut of Jewish law, including laws whose relevance is dependent on the existence of a Temple in Jerusalem: The third-century redaction of the oral tradition Mishna, Maimonides’s twelfth-century magnum opus Mishne torah, and the comprehensive code penned by Rabbi Yehiel Mikhel Halevi Epstein (1829–1908). … Of the three codes, Epstein’s writings have attracted the least attention… In light of the paucity of research on Epstein’s code, Michael J. Broyde and Shlomo C. Pill have made a significant contribution with their volume Setting the Table. Setting the Table complements other recent efforts to recount Epstein’s biography, explore his literary oeuvre, and plumb his legal writings.”— Levi Cooper, Journal of Law and Religion“In this fascinating work, Broyde and Pill … bring to life the intellectual choices made by the Arukh Hashulkhan, situating their work within the long history of attempts to codify Jewish law. … This is an invaluable contribution to our understanding of rabbinic jurisprudence.”—Suzanne Last Stone, Professor of Law, Cardozo Law School, University Professor of Jewish Law and Contemporary Civilization, Yeshiva University“Rabbis Broyde and Pill not only analyze the principles used by the author, but they systematically demonstrate how they were applied to specific laws. This work is … valuable both to the outsider and the Talmudic scholar.”—Rabbi Yosef Blau, Senior Mashgiach Ruchani and Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary“Too often, discussions of halakhic methodology proceed from a few high-profile examples. In this exciting new book, Rabbis Broyde and Pill offer an account of how one of the most important poskim of our era functioned both when the social and religious stakes were high and when they were not. This book not only presents a data-based analysis of the Arukh Hashulchan’s decision making, but a set of tools that can be applied to other works to enhance our understanding of the formation of p’sak more broadly.”—Chaim Saiman, Professor of Law, Villanova University School of Law & author of Halakha: The Rabbnic Idea of Law (2018)Table of Contents Introduction Part One: Setting the Table: The Codification of Jewish Law 1. Codifying Jewish Law 2. Rabbi Yechiel Mikhel Epstein's Arukh HaShulhan 3. Competing Models: The Arukh HaShulhan and Mishnah Berurah Part Two: The Methodological Principles of the Arukh HaShulhan Introduction 4. The Rule of the Talmud 5. Rabbinic Consensus 6. Resolving Doubtful Cases 7. Non-Normative Opinions 8. Superogatory Religious Conduct 9. Law and Mysticism 10. Law and Custom 11. Temporal Rationalization of Halakhic Rules 12. Law and Pragmatism Conclusion Part Three: Illustrative Examples from the Arukh HaShulhan The Arukh HaShulhan's Methodological Principles for Reaching Halakhic Conclusions Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThis volume collects several articles by scholar Uri Zur on various areas in the field of Jewish studies. Topics discussed include different types of structure in Talmudic texts from a literary point of view, the study of the Aramaic language utilized in the Bible and the Talmud from a linguistic and interpretive perspective, the redaction of sugyot in the Talmud Bavli analyzed from a textual point of view, and matters of halakha and halakhic rules. The author also examines contemporary topics such as modern Judaism in Israel and peacemaking efforts grounded in the Pentateuch and Jewish tradition.Table of Contents Preface Part One. Structure 1. Chaining as a Shaping Feature of Tannaitic Source Text 2. Chaining as a Structuring Means of the Sugya in the Talmud Bavli 3. The Tripartite Structure in Sugyot from Tractate Eruvin of the Talmud Bavli Part Two. Language 4. Different Readings, Different Meanings: A Dialogue between R. Jose the Galilean and Beruriah the Leader 5. Ancient Aramaic and Its Use in the Biblical Translation, Targum Onqelos 6. Towards a Talmudic Lexicon: The Aramaic Root ק.פ.י / q.f.y in the Light of a Story from the Talmud Bavli Part Three. Redaction 7. An Opposing School of Redaction in the Talmud Bavli Suggested 8. Objectives of Sugyot—A Study of the Redaction of the Talmud Bavli as Reflected in Three Sugyot of Tractate Eruvin 9. The Methodology Utilized in the Redaction of the Tripartite Structure of Sugyot from Tractate Eruvin in the Talmud Bavli Part Four. Halakha 10. Land Surveying Tube in Early Judaism 11. Applying General Rules of Halakha in Halakhic Exegesis 12. R. Joḥanan's Attitude towards His Principles of Halakhic Arbitration Part Five. Appendix: Peace and Judaism 13. Revisiting Contemporary Judaism in Modern Israel 14. The Argumentation for Contemporary Peacemaking Efforts According to Jewish Tradition 15. The Concept of Peace in the Pentateuch Selected Bibliography Subject Index Source Index List of First Publication

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Book SynopsisThis book is dedicated to an analysis of the writings of modern religious Jewish thinkers who adopted a neo-fundamentalist, illusionary, apologetic approach, opposing the notion that there may sometimes be a contradiction between reason and revelation. The book deals with the thought of Eliezer Goldman, Norman Lamm, David Hartman, Aharon Lichtenstein, Jonathan Sacks, and Michael Abraham. According to these thinkers, it is possible to resolve all of the difficulties that arise from the encounter between religion and science, between reason and revelation, between the morality of halakhah and Western morality, between academic scholarship and tradition, and between scientific discoveries and statements found in the Torah. This position runs counter to the stance of other Jewish thinkers who espouse a different, more daring approach. According to the latter view, irresolvable contradictions between reason and faith sometimes face the modern Jewish believer, who must reconcile himself to these two conflicting truths and learn to live with them. This dialectic position was discussed in Between Religion and Reason, Part I (Academic Studies Press, 2020). The present volume, Part II, completes the discussion of this topic. This book concludes a trilogy of works by the author dealing with modern Jewish thought that attempts to integrate tradition and modernity. The first in the series was The Middle Way (Academic Studies Press, 2014), followed by The Dual Truth (Academic Studies Press, 2018).Trade Review“Chamiel’s offers in-depth, often opinionated comparative analysis.”— Zev Garber, Reading Religion“In his fascinating two-part series Between Religion and Reason, Dr. Ephraim Chamiel has written a mesmerizing work that details the never-ending tension between science and reason on one side and revelation and religion on the other. (...) Chamiel should be commended for putting this extraordinary work together. This is a brilliant survey of some of the brightest philosophical minds of the last 100 years. While this is an extremely challenging and profound book, it is also quite intellectually rewarding.”— Ben Rothke, The Jewish LinkTable of Contents Translator's Note 1. Introduction 2. Eliezer Goldman 3. Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm 4. Rabbi Prof. David Hartman 5. Rabbi Dr. Aharon Lichtenstein 6. Rabbi Prof. Lord Jonathan Sacks 7. Rabbi Dr. Michael Abraham 8. Summary and Conclusions Epilogue Bibliography Index of Subjects Index of Names

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Book SynopsisIn the sixteenth century, the famous kabbalist Isaac Luria transmitted a secret trove of highly complex mystical practices to a select groups of students. These meditations were designed to capitalize on sleep and death states in order to effectively split one's soul into multiple parts, and which, when properly performed, permitted the adept to free oneself from the cycle of rebirth. Through an in-depth analysis of these contemplative practices within the broader context of Lurianic literature, Zvi Ish-Shalom guides us on a penetrating scholarly journey into a realm of mystical teachings and practices never before available in English, illuminating a radically monistic vision of reality at the heart of Kabbalistic metaphysics and practice.Table of Contents Introduction Part One: Sleep and Rebirth 1. The Metaphysics of Sleep 2. Anatomical Development of Nuqvah and Zeir 3. Sleep and Dismemberment 4. Sleep and Dreams 5. Soul Rupture and Cosmic Union 6. Kavvanot for Bedtime Shema 7. The Female Waters 8. Swapping Soul-Parts 9. Concluding Remarks Part Two: Death and Resurrection 10. The Metaphysics of Death 11. Death and Rebirth 12. Anatomical Embodiment 13. The Radical Unity of Body and Soul 14. Human Sacrifice and Integral Monism 15. Resurrection and the Nullification of Hierarchy 16. Lurianic Kabbalah and Eastern Mysticism Conclusion Appendix: The Complete Kavannah Required for Expedite Rebirth Selected Bibliography

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Book SynopsisThe Ḥayei Adam, an abridged code of Jewish law, was written by Rabbi Avraham Danzig (1748-1820) and was first published in 1810. This code spread quickly throughout Europe, and the demand for it required a second publishing which the author printed in 1818. Beyond a Code of Jewish Law attempts to understand the implicit message of its author and discuss various approaches of its writer to both Judaism and Jewish law. While the Ḥayei Adam without any doubt unveils Rabbi Danzig to be a brilliant rabbinic scholar, with a comprehensive knowledge of Jewish law as well as a coherent and concise system of presentation, it also expresses his great concern for the Jewish community and each individual Jew. Aspects of this concern such as Hasidism, musar, kabbalah, are explored.Table of ContentsTable of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgments 1. Introduction 2. Preambles: An Insight into Rabbi Avraham Danzig’s Ḥayei Adam 3. Minhag in the Ḥayei Adam—The Case of Kitniyot on Passover 4. Esoteric Halakhah and the Ḥayei Adam 5. Rabbi Avraham Danzig’s Polemic against Hasidism 6. The Democratization of Halakhah: The Ḥayei Adam and Musar 7. A New Role and Status: The Ḥayei Adam and the Mishnah Berurah 8. Jewish Pride in Rabbi Avraham Danzig’s Ḥayei Adam as Instantiated in the Aleinu Appendix 1 The Life of the Man: The Life and Times of Avraham Danzig, by Dashiell Ferguson Appendix 2 Rabbinic Texts and Authors Referred to in This Volume Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe best-selling author of The Essential Kabbalah now offers readers the best introduction to the Zohar. The splendor and enigmatic appeal of the Zohar, the major text of the Jewish mystical tradition, has never intrigued readers of all faiths more than it does today. But how can we truly understand it? Daniel C. Matt brings together in one place the most important teachings from the Zohar, the cornerstone of Kabbalah—described as a mixture of theology, mystical psychology, anthropology, myth, and poetry—alongside facing-page stories, notes, and historical background that illuminate and explain the text. Ideal for the first-time reader with no prior knowledge of Jewish mysticism. Guides readers step-by-step through the texts that make up the Zohar—midrash, mystical fantasy, commentary, and Hebrew scripture—and explains the inner meanings of this sacred text, recognized by kabbalists as the most important work of mystical teaching, in a way that is both spiritually enlightening and intellectually fascinating.Table of ContentsForeword ix Preface xix Introduction to the Zohar xxi About the Translation and Annotation xxxi Notes to the Introduction to the Zohar xxxiii 1. The Essence of Torah 3 2. How to Look at Torah 5 3. The Creation of God 11 4. The Hidden Light 15 5. Adam's Sin 19 6. Male and Female 21 7. Openings 25 8. The Binding of Abraham and Isaac 31 9. Joseph's Dream 37 10. Jacob's Garment of Days 45 11. All of Israel Saw the Letters 55 12. The Old Man and the Ravishing Maiden 59 13. The Gift of Dwelling 73 14. The Secret of Sabbath 83 15. The Aroma of Infinity 87 16. God, Israel, and Shekhinah 91 17. The Wedding Celebration 111 Notes 126 Glossary 130 Suggested Readings 133 Index of Zohar Passages 135 About SkyLight Paths 136

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Book SynopsisRabbi Shimon ben Zemach Duran (1361-1444) was a colourful rabbinic authority in Algiers. In his book, Zohar Harakia, on methods of enumerating the 613 commandments, he summarises the work of previous authorities on this subject, especially Maimonides and Nachmanides. He also presents his own system of enumeration. Thus, his work is a compact introduction to this fundamental subject. The text, first printed in 1515, is written clearly and arranged as a commentary on ibn Gabirol's poetic version of the 613 commandments, which is chanted on Shavuot. This English translation and notes make it accessible to lay readers as well as students of Jewish law, liturgy, and medieval Jewish history.Trade ReviewPhilip Caplan's translation of Zohar Harakia by Shimon ben Zemach Duran is a learned and faithful rendition of an important Jewish religious classic. The work consists of a commentary by a major medieval rabbi on a major liturgical poem by the great Solomon ibn Gabirol dealing with the 613 commandments. Mr. Caplan's translation will be studied and appreciated by anyone who is interested in medieval Jewish halakha, poetry, and liturgy.

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Book SynopsisThe study of classical Jewish texts is flourishing in day schools and adult education, synagogues and summer camps, universities and yeshivot. But serious inquiry into the practices and purposes of such study is far rarer. In this book, a diverse collection of empirical and conceptual studies illuminates particular aspects of the teaching of Bible and rabbinic literature to, and the learning of, children and adults. In addition to providing specific insights into the pedagogy of Jewish texts, these studies serve as models of what the disciplined study of pedagogy can look like. The book will be of interest to teachers of Jewish texts in all contexts, and will be particularly valuable for the professional development of Jewish educators.Trade ReviewWith the rise of interest in classical Jewish texts across the spectrum of the Jewish community, this book is a welcome and important addition to the Jewish library. The separate contributions by pedagogues and scholars of various ilks and backgrounds create a diverse and stimulating conversation about the teaching of Jewish texts, its challenges, and promises. The result is an almost Talmudic diversity of visions and statements that scholars, educators, and interested lay persons will all find valuable. —David M. Stern, Moritz and Josephine Berg Professor of Classical Hebrew Literature, University of Pennsylvania|Turn it and Turn it Again is, in the words of one of the editors, 'a plea for purpose,' a call to make our subconscious and instinctive modes of teaching a conscious craft. Each offering in this wonderful book is valuable on its own, though it is the combined picture that creates a true kaleidoscope of orientations for teaching classical Jewish texts. Both the substantive studies here and the frame that stands behind them will help sharpen our focus, whether about the inner workings of learning minds or about the electricity and passion of a successful beit midrash. This volume is a must-read for all teachers, since the success of our teaching is unavoidably bound up with how well we teach. —Rabbi Ethan Tucker, Rosh Yeshiva, Mechon Hadar|This book inspires me to turn its pages and return to them again. Levisohn and Fendrick have written, collected and organized significant contributions to the pedagogies of sacred texts. They are coherent, illuminating and a joy to read. These essays connect modern analytic scholarship on classical texts with the most current bodies of theory and practice in the study of teaching and learning. The book deserves a place on the desk of every serious Jewish educator. —Lee S. Shulman, President Emeritus, The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education Emeritus, Stanford University

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Book SynopsisThis volume contains fifteen articles, many in Hebrew, by leading scholars. The articles cover a broad range of subjects, from an analysis of biblical narratives as expounded in the midrash and by medieval commentators, through a discussion of Maimonides’ attitude towards midrash and an analysis of talmudic aggadah as expounded by oriental scholars, to polemics concerning the attitude to aggadah in the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries, and culminating with an analysis of interpretation of aggadah by latter-day talmudic scholars. There are also articles about the essence of aggadah, its literary conventions and its relation to law, and two articles which deal with a passage in the Passover Haggadah. The participants include: E. Eizenman, N. Ilan, G. Blidstein, Y. Blau, M. Bregman, A. Grossman, H. Davidson, C. Horowitz, O. Viskind-Elper, H. Mak, A. Atzmon, A. Kadari, A. Rozenak, M. Shmidman, and J. Tabory.

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Book SynopsisFirst published in 2004, The Jewish Study Bible is a landmark, one-volume resource tailored especially for the needs of students of the Hebrew Bible. It has won acclaim from readers in all religious traditions.The Jewish Study Bible combines the entire Hebrew Bible--in the celebrated Jewish Publication Society TANAKH Translation--with explanatory notes, introductory materials, and essays by leading biblical scholars on virtually every aspect of the text, the world in which it was written, its interpretation, and its role in Jewish life. The quality of scholarship, easy-to-navigate format, and vibrant supplementary features bring the ancient text to life. This second edition includes revised annotations for nearly the entire Bible, as well as forty new and updated essays on many of the issues in Jewish interpretation, Jewish worship in the biblical and post-biblical periods, and the growing influence of the Hebrew Bible in the ancient world.The Jewish Study Bible, Second Edition, is an essential resource for anyone interested in the Hebrew Bible.Trade ReviewEach essay is informed, informative, and written by an authority on the subject being analyzed ... An extremely useful resource. * CHOICE *The Jewish Study Bible encompasses a monumental assembly of critical learning and acumen, representing the achievement of an entire generation of Jewish scholars. The commentaries are not only erudite but purposeful and theologically alert. A heroic undertaking, brilliantly conceived and executed with panache.' * Jacob Neusner *Serious students of Judaism will want to have a copy of this outstanding and surprisingly affordable study Bible, which stands in the tradition of Oxford's great study Bibles. * Publishers Weekly, Religion Bookline *Another superb holiday gift, especially appropriate for non-Orthodox Jews, is The Jewish Study Bible from Oxford University Press, which finally stands alongside the many verse-by-verse commentaries for Christians. This work also is recommended for serious-minded Christian readers. * Associated Press *This is an essential acquisition for every library and an indispensable addition for every Jewish home. It has been needed for a long time. * Nahum M. Sarna, Judaica, Florida Atlantic University *The Jewish Study Bible is a major accomplishment. It provides accessible essays from the full gamut of Jewish scholarship, and a running commentary that draws liberally from both traditional and scientific perspectives.'' * Lawrence A. Hoffman, Liturgy, Worship and Ritual, Hebrew Union College *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; Maps and Diagrams ; Preface to the 1985 JPS Edition ; Alphabetical Listing of the Books of the Bible ; Hebrew Transliteration ; Guide to Abbreviations and Terms ; Abbreviations Used for the Books of the Bible ; Abbreviations and Terms Used in the Footnotes to the Translation ; Abbreviations Used in the Annotations, Introductions, and Essays ; Torah ; Introduction by Marc Zvi Brettler ; Genesis by Jon D. Levenson ; Exodus by Jeffrey H. Tigay ; Leviticus by Baruch J. Schwartz ; Numbers by Nili S. Fox ; Deuteronomy by Bernard M. Levinson ; Nevi'im ; Introduction by Marc Zvi Brettler ; Joshua by Nili Wazana ; Judges by Yairah Amit ; 1 & 2 Samuel by Shimon bar-Efrat, by Marc Zvi Brettler ; 1 & 2 Kings by Ziony Zevit ; Isaiah by Benjamin D. Sommer ; Jeremiah by Dalit Rom Shiloni ; Ezekiel by Tova Ganzel ; The Twelve by Ehud Ben Zvi ; Ketuvim ; Introduction by Marc Zvi Brettler ; Psalms by Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler ; Proverbs by Michael V. Fox ; Job by Edward Greenstein ; Megillot (The Scrolls) Introduction by Marc Zvi Brettler ; The Song of Songs by Elsie Stern ; Ruth by Adele Reinhartz ; Lamentations by Adele Berlin ; Ecclesiastes by Peter Machinist ; Esther by Adele Berlin ; Daniel by Lawrence M. Wills ; Ezra-Nehemiah by Hindy Najman ; 1 & 2 Chronicles by David Rothstein ; ESSAYS ; Introduction by Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler ; Jewish Interpretation of the Bible ; Inner-biblical Interpretation by Benjamin D. Sommer ; Early Nonrabbinic Interpretation by Hindy Najman ; The Bible in the Dead Sea Scrolls by Esther Eshel ; Classical Rabbinic Interpretation by Yaakov Elman ; Midrash and Midrashic Interpretation by David Stern ; Medieval Jewish Interpretation by Barry D. Walfish ; The Bible in the Jewish Philosophical Tradition by Hava Tirosh-Samuelson ; The Bible in the Jewish Mystical Tradition by Michael Fishbane ; 17th-19th C. Jewish Interpretation by Edward Breuer ; Modern Jewish Interpretation by Marc Zvi Brettler ; Biblical Ideas and Institutions ; The Religion of the Bible by Stephen A. Geller ; Concepts of Purity in the Bible by Jonathan Klawans ; Daily Life in Biblical Times by Oded Borowski ; The Temple by Victor Avigdor Hurowitz ; Biblical Calendars by Sasha Stern ; Biblical Festivals and Fast Days by Baruch Levine ; Historical and Ideal Davidic Kingship by Marvin Sweeney ; War and Peace in the Bible by Jacob Wright ; The Bible in Jewish Life ; The Bible in the Synagogue by Avigdor Shinan ; The Bible in the Liturgy by Ruth Langer ; The Bible and Jewish Custom by Daniel Sperber ; The Bible in Israeli Life by Uriel Simon ; The Jewish Bible in America by Jonathan Sarna ; Jewish Women's Writings on the Bible by Adele Reinhartz ; Jewish Translations of the Bible by Leonard J. Greenspoon ; Backgrounds for Reading the Bible ; The History of Israel in the Biblical Period by Oded Lipschits ; The Geography of the Land of Israel by Amitai Baruchi-Unna ; The Archeology of the Land of Israel in the Biblical Period by Aren Maeir ; The Ancient Near Eastern Background of the Bible by Jack Sasson ; Languages of the Bible by Steven E. Fassberg ; Textual Criticism of the Bible by Emanuel Tov ; The Canonization of the Bible by Marc Zvi Brettler ; The Development of the Masoretic Bible by Jordan S. Penkower ; The Modern Study of the Bible by Marvin Sweeney ; Gender in the Bible by Marc Zvi Brettler ; Reading Biblical Poetry by Adele Berlin ; Reading Biblical Prose by Yair Zakovitch ; Reading Biblical Law by Shalom Holtz ; The Hebrew Bible in Other Scriptures ; The Hebrew Bible in the New Testament by A.-J. Levine ; The Hebrew Bible in the Qur'an by Jack Lassner ; Tables and Charts ; Weights and Measures ; Timeline ; Chronological Table of Rulers ; Calendar ; Table of Biblical Readings ; Chapter and Verse Differences ; Translations of Primary Sources ; Glossary ; Index

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Book SynopsisThe foundation stone of Jewish and Christian scriptures, the power of the Book of Genesis lies in its stories - Creation, the Fall, Cain and Abel, Noah, Abraham, Jacob and Joseph. These ancient tales illuminate some of our most enduring and profound problems: cowardice, the struggle with evil, the difficulty of facing past mistakes, achieving a true understanding of our innermost selves. Karen Armstrong traces the themes and meanings of these stories, examining what they can still tell us about the human quest for meaning.Trade ReviewBoth humble and generous, Karen Armstrong rescues Genesis from purely literary criticism by seeing it as a collection of rather baffling teaching stories, and argues forcefully that we have to struggle for the meanings embedded in the often mysterious text, much as Jacob wrestled all night with God in the shape of an angel. * Independent *Superb...a jewel of a study... The entire book is written with the same level of passion and insight...Ms Armstrong has taken a familiar biblical story and made it relevant to our deepest and darkest concerns...a little masterpiece worthy of being a long-treasured companion to the ancient classic she celebrates * Washington Post *Armstrong reveals much about this ostensibly familiar work -- Christopher Hirst * Independent *Armstrong wants to restore the philosophical to the question of faith, and she does so in an approachable manner -- Lesley McDowell * Herald *

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Book SynopsisBuilding on the success of the Jewish Annotated New Testament (JANT) and the Jewish Study Bible (JSB), Oxford University Press now proceeds to complete the trilogy with the Jewish Annotated Apocrypha (JAA). The books of the Apocrypha were virtually all composed by Jewish writers in the Second Temple period. Excluded from the Hebrew Bible, these works were preserved by Christians. Yet no complete, standalone edition of these works has been produced in English with an emphasis on Jewish tradition or with an educated Jewish audience in mind. The JAA meets this need.The JAA differs from prior editions of the Apocrypha in a number of ways. First, as befits a Jewish Annotated Apocrypha, the volume excludes certain texts that are widely agreed to be of Christian origin. Second, it expands the scope of the volume to include Jubilees, an essential text for understanding ancient Judaism, and a book that merits inclusion in the volume by virtue of the fact that it was long considered part of theTrade ReviewIt deserves to be part of the library of all scholars of Second Temple Judaism. It will also be particularly helpful in the classroom, presenting as it does a nonChristian interpretation of what most students know as Christian scripture. In that regard, it fulfills its mission admirably, as did the other volumes in this outstanding trilogy. * Sidnie White Crawford, Department of Classics and Religious Studies, University of NebraskaLincoln, Dead Sea Discoveries *It deserves to be part of the library of all scholars of Second Temple Judaism. It will also be particularly helpful in the classroom, presenting as it does a non-Christian interpretation of what most students know as Christian scripture. In that regard, it fulfills its mission admirably, as did the other volumes in this outstanding trilogy. * Sidnie White Crawford, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, Dead Sea Discoveries 29 *Overall, this volume is an excellent reference book. It targets a Jewish audience, offering guidance for learning the Second Temple heritage which shaped later Judaism. But it would also be a valuable book for Christian students of the bible, not only because the so-called apocryphal texts are part of Scripture in Church tradition, but also because it is important to know the Judaic heritage that formed the foundation of Christianity. * Lydia Gore-Jones, Phronema *...excellent essays... * Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern, The Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought *Klawans and Wills have furnished a unique reference tool for readers that is clearly presented and astutely informed by established scholars and experts in the field that is sure to benefit a wide range of readers. * Daniel M. Gurtner, Gateway Seminary, Religious Studies Review *Table of ContentsContributors Contents Maps, Charts, and Diagrams Alphabetical Listing of the Books of the Apocrypha List of Abbreviations The Editors' Preface To the Reader Introduction Law Jubilees Histories and Stories 1 Esdras Expanded Tobit Judith 1 Maccabees 2 Maccabees 3 Maccabees Prophecies Letter of Jeremiah Baruch Additions to Daniel [3 Pieces] Prayer of Azariah/Song of the Three Susanna Bel and the Dragon 4 Ezra Poetry and Wisdom Psalm 151 Prayer of Manasseh Wisdom of Solomon Ben Sira 4 Maccabees ESSAYS Social Contexts The Babylonian and Persian Period: History and Culture The Hellenistic Period: History and Culture The Roman Period Ancient Jewish Sectarianism The Archaeology of Second Temple Judaism The Hasmonean State and Ancient Jewish Nationalism The Apocrypha, Canon, and Literary Contexts Canon The Septuagint Dead Sea Scrolls The Peshitta and the Syriac Biblical Context The Apocrypha in Rabbinic Literature Apocrypha in Medieval Hebrew Literature Wisdom in the Apocrypha Literary Approaches to the Apocrypha The Incredible Expanding Bible: From the Dead Sea Scrolls to Haile Selassie The Apocrypha and Jewish Life Torah, Law, and Commandments Prayer in the Apocrypha Hanukkah in the Apocrypha Jewish Heroes and the Apocrypha Gender Jewish Theology and the Apocrypha Evil and Sin Jewish Identity in the Apocrypha Truth and Lies in Apocryphal Tales TIMELINE CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF RULERS TRANSLATIONS OF ANCIENT TEXTS GLOSSARY INDEX

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewIn a riveting work, Michah Gottlieb tells the story of the Jewish Reformation-namely, the endeavor to reconstruct a new form of Judaism grounded in German middle-class modernity. Gottlieb both unsettles and reconstitutes the boundaries between Protestantism and Judaism, and redefines, in original ways, such terms as Orthodoxy and Reform. This excellent work raises fascinating questions about how we read religious texts; what is specific about such readings and what is universal about them; and how translation, education, and novel understandings of culture and cultural production generate new exegetical practices. * Perspectives in History *In The Jewish Reformation, Michah Gottlieb skillfully restores the Bible to center stage in the process of German Jewry's emancipation, its endeavor to gain equal rights and acceptance in German society and culture. He significantly highlights the role of Bible translation in the ambitious effort to identify with the surrounding culture and fashion an appropriate version of 'bourgeois' piety while concomitantly maintaining Judaism's foundational distinctiveness. * David Sorkin, author of Jewish Emancipation: A History Across Five Centuries *Why were German Jews so preoccupied with Bible translation? From 1783 to 1961 there were fifteen Jewish translations of the Pentateuch into German. Among the translators were Moses Mendelssohn, Leopold Zunz, Samson Raphael Hirsch, Martin Buber, and Franz Rosenzweig. Michah Gottlieb, a leading interpreter of German-Jewish thought, explores this question and gives surprising answers. His important book tells the heroic story of German-Jewish piety, erudition, controversy, and bourgeois integrity. * Warren Zev Harvey, Professor Emeritus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem *In The Jewish Reformation: Bible Translation and Middle-Class German Judaism as Spiritual Enterprise, Michah Gottlieb has brilliantly employed the biblical translations of Mendelssohn, Zunz, and S.R. Hirsch as gauges to measure the cultural transition of German Judaism and German Jews to the bourgeois world of modern Germany. Gottlieb provides a remarkably detailed and insightful exposition of these works and provides a delightfully rich historical and intellectual contextualization of his subjects. The Jewish Reformation constitutes an invaluable contribution to our understanding of modern Judaism! * David Ellenson, Chancellor Emeritus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and Professor Emeritus of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies at Brandeis University *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction: The Jewish Reformation Part I: Haskalah: Moses Mendelssohn's Conservative Reformation Chapter One: The Bible as Cultural Translation Chapter Two: Biblical Education and the Power of Conversation Part II: Wissenschaft and Reform: Leopold Zunz between Scholarship and Synagogue Chapter Three: Translation vs. Midrash Chapter Four: Bible Translation and the Centrality of the Synagogue Part III: Neo-Orthodoxy: The Samson Raphael Hirsch Enigma Chapter Five: A Man of No Party: The Neunzehn Briefe as Bible Translation Chapter Six: The Road to Orthodoxy: Hirsch in Battle Chapter Seven: The Innovative Orthodoxy of Hirsch's Der Pentateuch Chapter Eight: The Fracturing of German Judaism: Ludwig Philippson's Israelitische Bibel and Hirsch's Sectarian Orthodoxy Conclusion: The Jewish Counter Reformation Appendix: Mendelssohn on the Decalogue Bibliography

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Book SynopsisExplores the practice and conception of multilingualism and translation in ancient Judaism, and the deep and dialectical relationship between them. It present ancient texts, in Hebrew and Aramaic, but also Greek, that profoundly plumb the inner dynamics and pedagogical-social implications of this fundamental and generative pairing.Table of Contents1. Introduction: multilingualism in the neighborhood; 2. Before Babel; 3. Seventy languages (and translations) for seventy nations; 4. Ezra the scribe and the origins of Targum; 5. Out of the fire and into the wall; 6. 'Reading leads to translation' whether public or private; 7. Be careful what you wish for; 8. Afterword.

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Book SynopsisPractice-oriented educational philosopher Elie Holzer invites readers to grow as teachers, students, or co-learners through “attuned learning,” a new paradigm of mindfulness. Groundbreaking interpretations of classical rabbinic texts sharpen attention to our own mental, emotional, and physical workings as well as awareness of others within the complexities of learning interactions. Holzer integrates pedagogical pathways with ethical elements of transformative teaching and learning, the repair of educational disruptions, the role of the human visage, and the dynamics of argumentative and collaborative learning. Literary analyses reveal that deliberate self-cultivation not only leads to ethical and spiritual growth, but also offers a corrective for the pitfalls of the contemporary calculative modalities in educational thinking. The author speaks to the existential, humanizing art of learning and of teaching. This book can serve as a companion volume for A Philosophy of Havruta: Understanding and Teaching the Art of Text Study in Pairs, adding a new dimension of its model of joint learning.Trade Review"This highly original book offers readers an opportunity to study rabbinic texts on education with a gifted teacher and to experience a process of learning which touches the mind and heart. To help readers grow into attuned learners, Holzer presents a way of studying ancient texts that cultivates the ethical dimensions of learning. Anyone interested in dialogical approaches to education and empowering text study will benefit greatly from reading this book." -- Sharon Feiman-Nemser, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Professor of Jewish Education, Brandeis UniversityTable of Contents Attuned Acknowledgments Part One: Conceptual Frameworks Chapter One: The Concept of Attuned Learning Chapter Two: Reading Rabbinic Texts for Education Part Two: Co-Learners’ Attuned Learning Introduction:Collaborative Learning in Rabbinic Literature Chapter Three: Self-Refinement in Argumentative Learning Chapter Four: Study Partners’ Learning Part Three: Teachers and Students’ Attuned Learning Introduction: Teaching in Rabbinic Literature Chapter Five: Learning Transformations Chapter Six: Disruptions and Repairs Chapter Seven: The Visages of Learning Interactions Part Four: Attuned Learning and Educational Thought Chapter Eight: Attuned Learning in Contemporary Contexts Glossary of Technical and Foreign Terms and Language Usage Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisWhen Maimonides' Mishneh Torah (Code of Jewish Law) reached Lunel, France, a group of scholars composed twenty-four objections to his positions. Surprisingly, Maimonides' rejoinder opened with an unusual rhymed prose epistle with effusive praise for his correspondents and artistic and complex language. In this book, Charles Sheer offers the first annotated translation of the entire epistle: he uncovers the biblical and midrashic passages modified by Maimonides that became the language of his Iggeret, and explicates its ideas in the context of Maimonides' other works and compositions of the late Middle Ages. He illustrates how Maimonides, in a most personal fashion, shared with these scholars his ideological struggle between his love for Torah study and ""hokhmah"" (philosophy, wisdom). This Grand Epistle reveals much about this towering figure and provides a moving portrait of him during his last decade.Trade Review“This short volume is most certainly for a niche of scholars who specialize in the study of Maimonides. And though it is written in scholarly fashion with copious endnotes, I believe it is accessible to any careful reader desiring a better understanding of the man. And this is very appropriate since Maimonides, at the time of the writing of this letter, was heavily involved in the day-to-day care of masses of people.”— Tom Edmondson, senior pastor at First Christian Church of Atlanta, Reading Religion“Sheer’s book makes a significant contribution to the study of Maimonides’ correspondence with the sages of southern France. It is based on up-to-date research and excellent footnotes.” —Mitchell First, Jewish Link of New Jersey -- Mitchell First * Jewish Link of New Jersey *“While Maimonides, like Aristotle, insists that poetry is below history, and history is below the sciences, of which ma’aseh Merkavah (metaphysics) is the highest of the sciences, Sheer reveals, in this first annotated translation, the highly literary aspect of Maimonides’ elegantly rhymed epistle to the scholars of Lunel. … Sheer unpacks the complex allusions to Biblical and Midrashic sources in Rambam’s rhymed letter, and its ideas in the context of Maimonides’ oeuvre, so we not only gain a better appreciation of Rambam’s genius, but the tensions in Rambam’s mind between Torah study and the hokmah (sciences). … Sheer provides a careful, detailed, in-depth textual analysis of the 59-line poetic letter. Sheer’s thoughtful insights reveal what is at stake for the Rambam with regards to the dialectic between Torah and science, philosophy and poetry, supernatural divine revelation [beyond the mind’s limits] and reason. Recommended for all libraries.” —AJL Reviews"This short volume is most certainly for a niche of scholars who specialize in the study of Maimonides. And though it is written in scholarly fashion with copious endnotes, I believe it is accessible to any careful reader desiring a better understanding of the man. And this is very appropriate since Maimonides, at the time of the writing of this letter, was heavily involved in the day-to-day care of masses of people." —Tom Edmondson, Senior Pastor, First Christian Church of Atlanta, Reading ReligionTable of Contents Preface Introduction Maimonides and the Lunel Scholars The Correspondence between Maimonides and French Scholars 1) Maimonides’ Grand Iggeret to R. Jonathan of Lunel 2) The First Half of the Iggeret in Rhymed Prose 3) Maimonides’ Unanticipated and Problematic Style Reversal 4) Maimonides’ Letter to Judge Anatoli 5) The Letters from R. Jonathan of Lunel 6) The Second Half of the Iggeret in Unadorned Prose 7) Maimonides and the Lunel Scholars—Reconsidered Appendix Endnotes

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Book SynopsisIs Judaism essentially a religion of laws and commandments? Or do its sources reflect significant attempts at addressing the individual's inner life, existential crises and spiritual experiences?Inner Religion in Jewish Sources offers a comprehensive exploration of inner life in the Jewish sources from the Bible to rabbinic literature, from Medieval Jewish philosophy to Kabbalistic writings and the Hasidic world, where it gained particularly potent expressions. Addressing the issue from the perspective of comparative religion, it seeks to emphasize the commonality of processes of interiorization in various religious traditions, suggesting an innovative angle both in the study of religion and of religious thought. In doing so, it sheds new light on the inner aspect of Jewish religious life, which is all too often hidden behind the external and institutional aspects of the Jewish religion.Table of Contents Introduction Part One: Ritual and Custom Ritual Interiorization and Intent for Commandments Part Two: Emotion, Sensation, and Experience Introduction: The Meaning of Ecstatic Experience and Mystical Experience in the Study of Religion Prophecy, Dreams, and Other Paranormal Experiences Introspective Contemplation and Inward Focusing Part Three: Thinking about the Inner Introduction: Interiorization in Religious Thought The Conceptual Interiorization of Myth and Law Existential Aspects of Inner Religious Life Epistemological Interiorization Afterword: The Immanent Testimony to the Transcendental BibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThe Damascus document is one of the most important texts from the Qumran caves. Part One of this Companion offers a lucid and up-to-date introduction to all the manuscripts, including the eight recently published from Qumran Cave 4. It also provides a review of the key areas of scholarly research on this important Qumran text. Part Two is devoted to the recently published text 4QMiscellaneous Rules (4Q265; olim Serekh Damascus). This text has already become the subject of intense interest among students of the Dead Sea Scrolls because of its unique relationship to both the Community Rule and the Damascus Document.Trade Review"This is a thorough survey of one of the more important texts of the Dead Sea Scrolls." --William M. Schniedewind, Religious Studies Review, January 2003

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Book SynopsisContinuing the author’s commitment to neo-traditional constructive Jewish theology, this book is a sequel to Gellman’s trilogy of constructive Jewish theology with Academic Studies Press. The book treats three topics which revise and clarify the author’s views in light of critics and further thought. The book includes a new concept of the Jews as God’s Chosen People for our times; a reply to an argument for the reliability of Torah history; and an approach, not a solution, to the problem of evil for troubled believers and want to be believers. Trade ReviewIn this book we have a masterful Jewish theology for the twenty-first century written by one of the foremost Jewish theologians in the world. Gellman’s knowledge of Judaism is vast from Bible to Talmud, Medieval philosophy to Hasidism. This is combined with an excellent philosophical mind, trained in the best of the analytic philosophical tradition, and a rich spiritual and moral sensibility. The book reworks the traditional theological triad of the people Israel, Torah, and God in accordance with the latest scholarship and attention to the most compelling contemporary issues. The book is a theological feast and a necessary read for all traditionally minded Jews who desire a philosophically rigorous, ethical, and spiritually rewarding Judaism.”— Steven Kepnes, Professor of Religion and Jewish Studies, Colgate University“The People, The Torah, The God is a welcome and important extension of Yehuda Gellman’s recent trilogy in constructive Jewish theology, each volume of which is a monumental contribution to the field. Seeking to refine his own positions and in response to critics, Gellman clarifies and strengthens his arguments on Israel’s election, the challenges of historical and moral criticism of the Torah, and the problem of evil. While The People, The Torah, The God can serve as an overview of Gellman’s theology, it is also more than that. The book is a much-needed reminder that Jewish theology is best understood as a communal enterprise that seeks to disclose God’s will and presence. Gellman argues that divine providence is bringing us to a better understanding of God and Torah. He invites his reader to participate in that process as he responds to his interlocutors with humility and insight with the goal of preserving the holiness of Torah and our relationship to God.”— Cass Fisher, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, University of South Florida“Prof. Yehuda Gellman's brilliant and thought-provoking book builds on themes from his previous works, fearlessly grappling with pressing issues in Jewish thought. With mature philosophical skill, he delves into key concepts such as Jews as God's chosen people, the divine origin of the Torah, and God's perfect goodness. Gellman presents and addresses familiar arguments that challenge these ideas, offering a comprehensive overview of the attacks against them. He takes a bird's eye view, summarizing these challenges and providing a sharp philosophical analysis on how a person of faith can engage with these complex ideas while being sensitive to research, cultural, and political criticism. This essay is a fascinating example of how a believing, reflective, critical, and profound individual approaches the Jewish tradition in the contemporary era.Gellman's book is a mature, in-depth, and tremendously significant contribution to the challenges faced by Jewish education today. His insights are timely and relevant, offering valuable perspectives for scholars, theologians, and those interested in the intersection of faith, philosophy, and tradition. It is a must-read for anyone seeking intellectual rigor and a nuanced understanding of the complexities of Jewish thought in our time.”— Avinoam Rosenak, senior lecturer at the Department of Jewish Thought, Hebrew University of JerusalemTable of ContentsIntroductionPart 1: The People1. A Designated People I: A Figurational View2. A Designated People II: Figuration and Racism3. A Designated People III: Michael WyschogrodPart 2: The Torah4. A Critique of Torah History5. On a Failed Argument for Torah History6. Moderate Divine ProvidencePart 3: The God 7. The Autobiographical Problem Of Evil8. A Perfectly Good God9. A Conceivable, Partial, Soul-Making Theodicy for the Autobiographical Problem of EvilBibliography

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Book SynopsisFrom major seminal works like the Mishnah or the Palestinian and Babylonian Talmuds, to Biblical commentaries, translations of Biblical books into Aramaic or relatively little-known mystical, liturgical or apocalyptic writings, here is a complete guide to the rich tradition of Jewish literature in the second to seventh centuries of the Common Era.Each work is described in a succinct and clearly structured entry which covers its contents, dating, language and accessibility (or otherwise) in print or online.The aim throughout is to cover all of this literature and to answer the following questions. What Jewish literature, written either in Hebrew or Aramaic, has survived? What different genres of such literature are there? What printed texts, or translations into any modern language, or commentaries (either in Hebrew or a European language) are there? And, for those who want to enquire further, what are the manuscripts on which modern editions are based? This handbook will be of value toTrade Reviewthe book can be recommended to first-year students and ancient historians as a first step towards learning Hebrew, studying the texts themselves, and engaging in a more serious study of ancient Jewish history and literature. * Catherine Hezser, Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies *A small masterpiece of breadth, concision and clarity; it is one of those select books which every library should have, and which a great many individual readers will want to buy for themselves. * William Horbury, Journal of Jewish Studies *Table of Contents1. Historical Introduction ; 2. Talmudic Texts ; 3. Midrashic Texts ; 4. Mystical (Hekhalot) and Magical Literature ; 5. Targumim ; 6. Liturgical Texts ; 7. Historiography ; 8. Apocalyptic ; 9. Contemporary Documents in Hebrew or Aramaic

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