Orthodox Judaism Books
Brandeis University Press Expanding the Palace of Torah – Orthodoxy and
Book SynopsisExpanding the Palace of Torah offers a broad philosophical overview of the challenges the women’s revolution poses to Orthodox Judaism, as well as Orthodox Judaism’s response to those challenges. Writing as an insider—herself an Orthodox Jew—Tamar Ross confronts the radical feminist critique of Judaism as a religion deeply entrenched in patriarchy. Surprisingly, very little work has been done in this area, beyond exploring the leeway for ad hoc solutions to practical problems as they arise on the halakhic plane. In exposing the largely male-focused thrust of the rabbinic tradition and its biblical grounding, she sees this critique as posing a potential threat to the theological heart of traditional Judaism—the belief in divine revelation. This new edition brings this acclaimed and classic text back into print with a new essay by Tamar Ross which examines new developments in feminist thought since the book was first published in 2004.Trade ReviewAddressing the practical and the theological challenges that feminism poses to halakah, Ross offers a brilliant study, informed not only by ancient, medieval, and modern Jewish sources, but also by postmodernism, the history of feminism, process theology, mysticism, and legal theory . . . She finds the key to change in women's increasing knowledge of halakah, whose meaning women can transform by weaving a different narrative . . . Highly recommended.”—CHOICE“[Expanding the Palace of Torah is] a brave, in many ways radical and essential, attempt to deal with the problem seriously, and is a model of erudition and scholarship… Her book offers a powerful alternate theological vision that challenges some of the basic assumptions of the Orthodox Jewish world, and gives a glimpse of just how revolutionary feminism could be to Orthodoxy.”—Forward"Ross' conjoining of the patriarchal past with a feminist future in the single unfolding process of divine revelation is an unprecedented, and I would suggest brilliant, move in the world of Jewish feminism... this book is ground-breaking in the field of theology (Jewish, feminist and otherwise). It is beautifully written, masterfully insightful in its analysis of earlier feminist attempts to resolve a similar set of challenges and subtly brilliant in the presentation of its own solutions. I simply cannot say enough positive things about it. It is thought-provoking and sophisticated. I have no doubt that this book will become a standard textbook for courses on Jewish feminism.”—Nashim: A Journal of Jewish Women's Studies and Gender Issues"In this exceptional book, Ross brings together philosophical, theological, legal, and feminist writings, presenting a many faceted critique of Jewish legal developments and an account of the latest thinking on problematic issues. Writing as a passionately engaged Orthodox Jew, her approach is a refreshing combination of the critical and the respectful, and her solutions to the problems she raises are both provocative and eloquent. Writing in a postmodernist vein, she offers a quantum leap in her complex yet trenchant perspective on the challenge posed by feminism to the concept of Revelation.”—Aviva Gottlieb Zornberg, author of Genesis: the Beginning of Desire, winner of the National Jewish Book Award for nonfiction"This may be one of the most important works to date in tracking the changes in Judaism over the past 2000 years." --Jewish Book World"This may be one of the most important works to date in tracking the changes in Judaism over the past 2000 years." * Jewish Book World *"[Expanding the Palace of Torah] is a brave, in many ways radical and essential, attempt to deal with the problem seriously, and is a model of erudition and scholarship. . . . Her book offers a powerful alternate theological vision that challenges some of the basic assumptions of the Orthodox Jewish world and gives a glimpse of just how revolutionary feminism could be to Orthodoxy." * Forward *"Addressing the practical and the theological challenges that feminism poses to halakah, Ross offers a brilliant study, informed not only by ancient, medieval, and modern Jewish sources, but also by postmodernism, the history of feminism, process theology, mysticism, and legal theory. . . . She finds the key to change in women's increasing knowledge of halakah, whose meaning women can transform by weaving a different narrative . . . Highly recommended." * Choice *Table of ContentsPreface, Acknowledgments, Part I: The First Stage: Acknowledging the Problem, Chapter 1 Feminism and the Halakhic Tradition, Chapter 2 Sources of Discontent and the Conservative Response, Part II: The Second Stage: Working Within the System, Chapter 3 Exploring Halakhic Malleability and Its Limits, Chapter 4 The Meta-Halakhic Solutions of Modern Orthodoxy, Chapter 5 Does Positivism Work?, Part III: The Third Stage: Revamping the System, Chapter 6 Sociological and Historical Revisionism, Chapter 7 Evaluating Revisionism, Chapter 8 Halakhic Proactivism, Part IV: Beyond the Third Stage: Expanding the Palace of Torah, Chapter 9 Halakhah Contextualized: Nonfoundationalism and the Role of Interpretive Traditions, Chapter 10 The Word of God Contextualized: Successive Hearings and the Decree of History, Chapter 11 Some Theological Remarks for the More Philosophically Inclined, Part V: Epilogue, Chapter 12 Visions for the Future, Afterword by Tamar Ross, Notes, Index
£30.40
Academic Studies Press The Dual Truth, Volumes I & II: Studies on
Book SynopsisThis book explores three schools of fascinating, talented, and gifted scholars whose philosophies assimilated the Jewish and secular cultures of their respective homelands: they include halakhists from Rabbi Ettlinger to Rabbi Eliezer Berkowitz; Jewish philosophers from Isaac Bernays to Yeshayau Leibowitz; and biblical commentators such as Samuel David Luzzatto and Rabbi Umberto Cassuto.Running like a thread through their philosophies is the attempt to reconcile the Jewish belief in revelation with Western culture, Western philosophy, and the conclusions of scientific research. Among these attempts is Luzzatto's "dual truth" approach.The Dual Truth is the sequel to the Ephraim Chamiel's previous book The Middle Way, which focused on the challenges faced by members of the "Middle Trend" in nineteenth-century Jewish thought.Table of ContentsVolume ITranslator’s NoteForeword to the English EditionIntroductionChapter One:Samson Raphael Hirsch: The Neo-Orthodox, Neo-Romantic Educator, and his Approach of Neo-Fundamentalist IdenticalityChapter Two:Interpretations of Hirsch’s Thought from the Right and the LeftChapter Three:“Heavenly Reward”—Samuel David Luzzatto’s Doctrine of Divine Providence—between Revelation and PhilosophyChapter Four:Development of Halakhah: Luzzatto’s Evolving ViewsChapter Five:The Peshat is One, Because the Truth is One: Luzzatto between Interpretation and ThoughtChapter Six:Luzzatto and Maimonides: “Accept Truth from Whoever Speaks It”Chapter Seven:Luzzatto on Theosophical Kabbalah: Harmful Invention with Worthy IntentionsChapter Eight:Between Reason and Revelation: The Encounter between Rabbi Tsvi Hirsch Chajes and Nahman KrochmalVolume IIChapter Nine:Hirsch’s Influence on Religious Jewish Philosophy in the Twentieth CenturyChapter Ten:Hirsch’s Influence on Rabbi David Tsvi Hoffmann’s Commentary on the PentateuchChapter Eleven:Hirsch’s Influence on Twentieth-Century Halakhic DecisorsChapter Twelve:The Influence of German Neo-Orthodoxy on the Young Rav KookChapter Thirteen:Luzzatto’s Influence on Umberto Cassuto’s Method of Biblical InterpretationChapter Fourteen:Tolerance, Pluralism, and Postmodernism—A Dialectic of Opposites in Jewish Thought in the Modern Era
£28.49
Liverpool University Press Challenge and Conformity: The Religious Lives of
Book SynopsisOrthodox Jewish women are increasingly seeking new ways to express themselves religiously, and important changes have occurred in consequence in their self-definition and the part they play in the religious life of their communities. Drawing on surveys and interviews across different Orthodox groups in London, as well as on the author’s own experience of active participation over many years, this is a thoroughly researched study that analyses its findings in the context of related developments in Israel and the USA. Sympathetic attention is given to women’s creativity and sophistication as they struggle to develop new modes of expression that will let their voices be heard; at the same time, the inevitable points of conflict with the male-dominated religious establishment are examined and explained. There is a focus, too, on the impact of innovations in ritual: these include not only the creation of women-only spaces and women’s participation in public practices traditionally reserved for men, but also new personal practices often acquired on study visits to Israel which are replacing traditions learned from family members. This is a much-needed study of how new norms of lived religion have emerged in London, influenced by both the rise of feminism and the backlash against it, and also by women’s new understanding of their religious roles.Trade Review'Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz's in-depth study of the religious experience of Orthodox women raises questions for the rabbinic establishment... an important new book.'Simon Rocker, The Jewish Chronicle'Taylor-Guthartz's precise academic writing, interwoven with her own personal knowledge and experience of the community, gives the women represented here agency and authority, exemplifying how traditional groups and practices do not exist at odds with the modern world, or even in parallel, but rather as an integral part of it, adding rich diversity and colour to the pattern of Jewish life today. This is a timely and important treatise, reflecting modern feminist values and shining a light on a previously unexamined segment of the community.'Noa Gendler, Jewish Renaissance'Challenge and Conformity opens up for our understanding a subject of immense importance to Judaism and the Jewish community. The religious lives of Orthodox women is a topic that has previously attracted little research. Taylor-Guthartz approaches it with academic skill and real empathy for the women she interviews and their communities. We learn of the great variety of women’s beliefs, customs and practices that are spread across the Orthodox Jewish world and, through Taylor-Guthartz’s eyes, we gain a greater understanding and appreciation of Jewish life that might otherwise have remained hidden.'Neville Teller, The Jerusalem Post‘Challenge and Conformity serves as a rich chronicle of Orthodox British womanhood and the challenge of creating uniquely female Jewish spaces. It is well rooted in history, community context, and robust ethnographic data and will be helpful to bridge the lacuna on British scholarship of religious practices of Jewish women.’ Ilana C. Spencer, Religious Studies ReviewTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. Studying Jewish WomenThe Double Invisibility of Orthodox Jewish WomenThe Scope of Women’s Religious LivesOverlapping Worlds I: The Intersection of Men’s and Women’s Religious LivesOverlapping Worlds II: Living in Jewish and Western ContextsPower and Patriarchy: Do Orthodox Women Have Agency? 2. Setting the Scene: The Jewish LandscapeJews in London: Historical BackgroundCommunity, Communities, Networks, and IdentityThe Development of British Orthodoxy and the British Jewish LandscapeJewish Religious Topography TodayChanging Moods among British Jewish WomenDefining Terms: Talking about the Anglo-Jewish CommunityPrevious Research on British Orthodox Women 3. The View from the Ladies’ Gallery: Women’s ‘Official’ Life in the CommunityWomen and the SynagogueThe Changing Place of Women in Other Communal Arenas 4. Contested Prayers and Powerful Blessings: Women’s ‘Unofficial’ Life in the CommunityCreating Sacred SpacesNuturing the CommunityNew Developments: Sharing the Sacred with Men 5. Women’s ‘Official’ Life in the FamilyThe SabbathFood and KashrutPassoverMikveh and ‘Family Purity’ModestyVisiting the DeadPrayer and Relationship with God 6. Red Threads and Amulets: Women’s ‘Unofficial’ Life in the FamilyQuestioning the Community: Limitations and CaveatsDefinitions and Status of PracticesTesting Stereotypes and AssumptionsWhat Customs Are Practised?Who Practises These Customs?Age as a Factor in Knowledge and Performance of CustomsOrigins and DevelopmentThe Question of ‘Magic’Women’s Understanding of Customs and Practices Conclusion Appendices: Background Data Bibliography Index
£39.88
MH - Indiana University Press Orthodox Jews in America
Book SynopsisTells the history of Orthodox Jews in America, from the 17th century onwards, and examines how Orthodox Jewish men and women coped with the personal, familial, and communal challenges of religious freedom, economic opportunity, and social integration. This title is suitable for those seeking to understand the American Jewish experience.Trade ReviewGurock's work is a densely packed, deeply researched, and rich amalgam of history, speculation, and mediation between contending poisitions that is written . . . from within the tradition of Jewish worship he seeks to analyze. * Journal of American Ethnic History *The author has penned the first social history of Orthodox Jews in America from the first arrivals in the 17th century to the present. . . [He] illuminates controversies about the compatibility of modern culture with a truly pious life, thus providing a nuanced view of the most intriguing present-day intra-Orthodox struggle – the relationship of feminism to traditional faith.73 Summer/Fall 2010 * Menorah Review *Jeffrey Gurock is positioned more propitiously than any other historian to take on an overall social history of American Jewish Orthodoxy. -- Karla GoldmanA great storyteller, Professor Gurock masterfully weaves together personal narrative, sermons, and social observations to create gripping narratives of Orthodox Jewry in America. . . . [Orthodox Jews in America] brings together several decades of Gurock's incisive research and thinking on American Orthodoxy while offering a still deeper and more nuanced analysis of its overall development. -- Shuly Rubin SchwartzAlthough there are many good books on the history of Jews in America and a smaller subset that focuses on aspects of Orthodox Judaism in contemporary times, no one, until now, has written an overview of how Orthodoxy in America has evolved over the centuries from the first arrivals in the 17th century to the present. This broad overview by Gurock (Libby M. Klaperman Professor of Jewish History, Yeshiva Univ.; Judaism's Encounter with American Sports) is distinctive in examining how Orthodox Jews have coped with the personal, familial, and communal challenges of religious freedom, economic opportunity, and social integration, as well as uncovering historical reactionary tensions to alternative Jewish movements in multicultural and pluralistic America. Gurock raises penetrating questions about the compatibility of modern culture with pious practices and sensitively explores the relationship of feminism to traditional Orthodox Judaism. There are several excellent reference sources on Orthodox Jews in America, e.g., Rabbi Moshe D. Sherman's outstanding Orthodox Judaism in America: A Biographical Dictionary and Sourcebook, to which this is an accessible and illuminating companion; recommended not only for serious readers on the topic but for general readers as well.May 15, 2009 -- David B. Levy * Touro College, Women's Seminary Library *Gurock systematically describes how the devout built the communal infrastructure and developed a cadre of skilled functionaries to meet the requirements of ritual observance... * Jewish Book World *Gurock's new book is full of interesting details and analysis about how Orthodox Judaism has evolved in America, and how Orthodox Jews have made managed the challenges of American life. This is a well-written social history, illustrated with intriguing photographs. December 4, 2009 * The Jewish Week *Gurock is the unrivaled expert on Orthodox Jews and Judaism in the United States, something he proves ably with this book.February 2010 -- Lila Corwin Berman * Temple University *This volume, superbly written and referenced and the product of dense scholarly research, is well worth the read. Volume LXI, no. 2, 2009 * American Jewish Archives Journal *[T]his is a very good historical and social introduction to the history of Orthodox Judaism and it will certainly find an important place in any collection that deals with American Jewry. The author has a pleasant writing style and provides rich documentation in the notes. Vol. 37, No. 1, March 2011 * Religious Studies Review *Table of ContentsContentsAcknowledgmentsPrologue: Within the Wide Tent of a Bronx Orthodox Congregation, Circa 19601. All Alone and Out of Control2. American Challenges and Jewish Challengers3. Religious Dilemmas of a Treif Land4. Strategies of New York's Orthodox Activists5. Crisis and Compromise6. Brooklyn's Committed Communities7. A More Faithful Following8. Comfortable and Courted9. Orthodox vs. Orthodox10. Open and Closed to FeminismEpilogue: The Tentative Orthodox of the Twenty-First CenturyNotesIndex
£18.89
Princeton University Press American Shtetl
Book SynopsisA compelling account of how a group of Hasidic Jews established its own local government on American soilSettled in the mid-1970s by a small contingent of Hasidic families, Kiryas Joel is an American town with few parallels in Jewish historybut many precedents among religious communities in the United States. This book tells the story of how this group of pious, Yiddish-speaking Jews has grown to become a thriving insular enclave and a powerful local government in upstate New York. While rejecting the norms of mainstream American society, Kiryas Joel has been stunningly successful in creating a world apart by using the very instruments of secular political and legal power that it disavows. Nomi Stolzenberg and David Myers paint a richly textured portrait of daily life in Kiryas Joel, exploring the community's guiding religious, social, and economic norms. They delve into the roots of Satmar Hasidism and its charismatic founder, Rebbe Joel Teitelbaum, following his journey from nineteTrade Review"A New Yorker Best Book of the Year""Honorable mention for the Saul Veiner Book Prize, American Jewish Historical Society""Extraordinary and riveting."---Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker"An extraordinarily detailed and fascinating analysis."---Glenn C. Altschuler, Jerusalem Post"A brilliant, eye-opening, thought provoking, easy to read and enjoyable book."---Israel Drazin, Times of Israel"An impressive charting of the legal, cultural, and political machinery set in motion by the creation of a new religious settlement, which eventually became a bona fide municipality. . . . Stolzenberg and Myers provide a fluidly written, lively account of what happens when game but untested religious pioneers encounter the very different challenges of the suburbanized countryside."---Lis Harris, New York Review of Books"Anyone interested in the future of Jews in diaspora (not only Hasidic Jews) should be grateful to [Stolzenberg and Myers] for what they’ve accomplished. . . . Fine-grained in their narrative, offering impressively detailed documentation, leaving plenty of room for the interplay of contingency, strong and often clashing personalities, and the larger structural issues of capital, territory, and state law."---Jonathan Boyarin, Marginalia"[American Shtetl] describes in arresting detail the trajectory and triumph of arguably one of the most paradoxical villages in the United States. But the fact-intensive story Myers and Stolzenberg captivatingly tell also permits the astute observer to extract an important insight of constitutional significance: religious minorities do not always lack the political power to protect their interests, as is often assumed. Kiryas Joel may not be rich, but it has clout."---Zalman Rothschild, Los Angeles Review of Books"I. . . recommend [American Shtetl] to anyone seriously interested not only in the central topic of religious diversity, whether in the United States or elsewhere, but also the various uses (and abuses) of litigation. . . . American Shtetl is a "must-read" book for anyone interested in the realities of religious pluralism in America."---Sandy Levinson, Balkinization"[American Shtetl is] a tale of religion, race, real estate, identity politics and so much more. An important read for anyone looking to understand American Hasidic Jewishness."---Emily Burack, Hey Alma"Some of the things that make American Shtetl so special is the attention to detail, the fresh perspective, and the respect for the subject matter. Myers and Stolzenberg meticulously describe the major events and lawsuits that defined the early history of [Kiryas Joel], and the personalities that shaped each one."---Joel Petlin, The Monsey Mevaser"Fascinating. . . . This is an American story as well as a Jewish one."---Dominic Green, Jewish Chronicle"Nomi M. Stolzenberg and David N. Myers make a compelling case that the village is far from an unreconstructed throwback to a European shtetl. Rather, it is a thoroughly American phenomenon."---Leah Libresco Sargeant, First Things"An engaging and extremely well-researched history of the growth and development of Kiryas Joel."---Ben Rothke, Jewish Link"Stolzenberg (Univ. of Southern California Gould School of Law) and Myers (Univ. of California, Los Angeles) argue persuasively, if counter-intuitively, that the development of Kiryas Joel is “'quintessentially American'."---J. D. Sarna, Choice"Fascinating and very enlightening."---Chaim I. Waxman, Contemporary Jewry"A knowledgeable, opinionated inventory of the Chinese reception of Greek philosophy."---Carl Mitcham, Dao: A Journal of Comparative Philosophy
£25.50
Lexington Books Hair Headwear and Orthodox Jewish Women Kallahs
Book SynopsisIn this study, Milligan uses an interdisciplinary ethnographic approach to consider the lived religious cultural experiences of Orthodox Jewish women living in a small community. Through an investigation of hair and head covering, Milligan explores the meaning of tradition in a contemporary context.Trade ReviewOrthodox Judaism is generally considered patriarchal and male dominated, but this insightful study on the symbolic tradition of Jewish women covering their hair reveals that under certain circumstances, Jewish women have been able to co-opt tradition and thus empower themselves. Ethnographer Milligan focuses on a small, widely divergent Orthodox community (Degel Israel Congregation) in Lancaster, PA, and for comparison, a few unconventional Jewish women unaffiliated but with other communities. She provides a myriad of complex choices these women made on whether to cover their hair and, if they did, what they wore and how, when, and why they did it. She also discovered that from a psycho-religious perspective, head covering and hair covering are not synonymous; however, both may provide the means for self-identity. Milligan found that tradition and family history rather than Jewish law (halakah) were usually the basis for female head covering choices in what she describes as an Orthodox community of practice involving learning, observance, and experience. As the novel The Red Tent (1997), by Anita Diamant, depicted little-known Jewish women's roles in biblical times, so this intriguing, factual work provides many subtleties within Judaism as practiced by women in the contemporary US. A five-page glossary of mostly Hebrew and Yiddish terms is also helpful. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. * CHOICE *Hair, Headwear, and Orthodox Jewish Women: Kallah’s Choice is an important contribution to the fields of Jewish studies, gender studies, and American studies. Through her multi-disciplinary approach, Milligan reveals the symbolic power of hair and hair covering as a tool for negotiating the complexity of Jewish identity among Jewish women in small-town America. While hair covering is often read as a repressive practice in traditional communities, Milligan shows how the choice to cover or not to cover one’s hair is perceived among the women she interviews as an expression of power to define their own status in a complicated religious landscape. This very readable ethnography is complemented by a careful analysis that draws on a wide range of theoretical tools, including insights from gender studies, cultural psychoanalysis, anthropology, and American studies. -- Andrea Lieber, Dickinson CollegeIn this brilliant ethnography, Amy Milligan lets us listen in to personal conversations and see women in and out of worship to ask a profound question about the maintenance of tradition in a non-traditional environment. She opens doors to places we have not looked before—beneath hair coverings and in women’s study groups—to make us reassess the meaning not only of orthodox practice, but of identity driven by women’s worldview. Her groundbreaking book on a hairy subject will surely change the way we think, and talk about, not just Jews but the expressive body of tradition. -- Simon J. Bronner, Pennsylvania State UniversityTable of ContentsPrologue Chapter 1: A Hairy Subject: Approaches to Hair and Hair Covering Chapter 2: Covering Jewish Women: The Congregational Context Chapter 3: Splitting Hairs: The Struggle for Community Definition in a Small Town Orthodox Synagogue Chapter 4: Wearing Many Hats: The Hair Covering Practices of the Orthodox Jewish Women at Degel Israel Synagogue Chapter 5: Letting Their Hair Down: Orthodox Women at Degel Israel Synagogue Who Choose Not to Cover Their Hair Chapter 6: Flipping Their Wigs for Judaism: Non-Orthodox Women Who Choose to Cover Their Heads Chapter 7: The Long and Short of It: A Psychoreligious Interpretation of Hair Covering Epilogue
£82.80
University Press of America Theology in Action How the Rabbis of Formative
Book SynopsisWhile in contemporary culture we tend to resort to a single, if broadly defined, range of discourse for the results of systematic thought about public matters of the social order, this is not the case in Rabbinic Judaism. Judaism''s authoritative documents set forth the entire structure of belief and system of behavior in two distinct modes of discourse, Halakhic and Aggadic, or broadly construed, statements of law and lore. Theology in Action shows how the Talmud of Babylonia (a.k.a., the Bavli) account of normative action sets forth in a dual discourse the single, coherent theology of Rabbinic Judaism.
£31.50
Jason Aronson, Inc. Tikkun Olam
Book SynopsisTo learn more about Rowman & Littlefield titles please visit us at www.rowmanlittlefield.com.
£37.80
Jason Aronson, Inc. The World of Orthodox Judaism
Book SynopsisThis book is a friendly, engaging explanations of the traditions and lifestyles of Orthodox Jews. Informative for both Jews and non-Jews, Eli W. Schlossberg draws on personal experiences as an Orthodox Jew active in the international business world to answer the most commonly asked questions people have about religious Jewish life. The World of Orthodox Judaism is a concise resource for anyone interested in learning more about the customs and standards of Orthodox Jewish life.
£28.50
Jason Aronson, Inc. The Scholars Haggadah
Book SynopsisIn this unprecedented masterwork, The Scholar's Haggadah: Ashkenazic, Sephardic, and Oriental Versions, Heinrich Guggenheimer presents the first Haggadah to treat the texts of all Jewish groups on an equal footing and to use their divergences and concurrences as a key to the history of the text and an understanding of its development.
£49.40
Jason Aronson, Inc. Leadership in the HaBaD Movement
Book SynopsisLeadership issues are subject to much discussion and interest yet too little is known of their internal dynamics. Leadership and succession of authority has been a constant theme in Jewish literature and life from biblical days onwards.
£103.50
Jason Aronson, Inc. Sparks of Light
Book SynopsisThe author writes: 'Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak HaCohen Kook (5635-5695/1865-1935) was one of the greatest Jewish leaders of recent history. He was steeped in Jewish knowledge of all kinds, a master of halacha, Talmud, and Jewish philosophy, and he also had a good knowledge of the general philosophy and science of his day.'Trade ReviewI was very happy to learn that you are planning to publish books in English. The time has come that the holy concepts connected with the vision of Israel and man, that emanate from the Torah, should be publicized in the world in the language of the time that is spoken by the most people who most need to hear these concepts. -- Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook
£89.10
Jason Aronson, Inc. Jewish Tales of Reincarnation
Book SynopsisScattered throughout many "kabbalistic" and "Hasidic" texts are numerous teaching stories with reincarnation as their central theme. In order to make the stories understandable to the modern reader, this work includes explanations of cultural and religious details in each tale. It contains both classical and contemporary tales.
£52.20
Jason Aronson, Inc. The Gates of Repentance
Book SynopsisAn English translation of "Sha'arei Teshuvah", by Rabbeinu Yonah of Geronah (dated 1263).
£94.50
Jason Aronson Inc. Publishers Kashrut Tefillin Tzitzit
Book SynopsisPresents a spiritual analysis of the symbolic nature of mitzvot.Trade ReviewThe Jewish quest for spiritual meaning and intellectual depth is furthered many steps by this exciting study of three diving commandments. This book can help defeat the emotional vacuum which results from rote performance of religious ritual. It points to the richness of belief, values, and commitments which lie embedded in Jewish symbolic arts and objects. -- Rabbi Saul J. Berman, director, EdahOne of the fundamental principles of Judaism is the eternal relevance to life of Torah and the practical observance of mitzvot. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch endeavored through his commentaries and teachings to demonstrate this relevance to modern man. In his work on three of the main mitzvot, Dr. Stephen Bailey presents the reader of our age with an inspirational, thought-provoking work which enhances their fulfillment and understanding. It will prove useful to both scholars and students—and is a contribution to the task of remaining true to Torah in the face of the challenge of changing times. -- Elliott Bondi, senior editor, Samson Raphael Hirsch Publications Society
£78.00
Jason Aronson, Inc. Symbols of the Kabbalah
Book SynopsisGives a philosophical and psychological interpretation of the major symbols of the theosophical Kabbalah. This work shows that the Kabbalah, as it is expressed in the school of Isaac Luria, provides an account of the cosmos, and humanity's role within it, that is intellectually, morally, and spiritually significant for contemporary life.
£69.30
Jason Aronson, Inc. Sacred Fire
Book SynopsisConsists of commentaries on each weekly "Torah" portion. This work also includes a number of lengthy sermons delivered on the major Jewish Festivals.
£93.60
Jason Aronson, Inc. On Repentance
Book SynopsisFor five decades prior to his death in 1993, Rabbi Joseph Dov Soloveitchik was the unchallenged leader of modern Orthodox Judaism in the United States. His understanding of both traditional Judaism and secular philosophy shaped two generations of rabbinic students at Yeshiva University, and charted a new course for American Orthodox Jews. In On Repentance, noted scholar Pinchas Peli has gathered the major points of Rabbi Soloveitchik''s teachings on teshuvah (repentance), based on the annual series of lectures on the theme of teshuvah, presented on the anniversary of his father''s death. For many Jews, these lectures were the major academic and intellectual event of the year. Outside of his followers however, few were able to experience the genius of Rabbi Soloveitchik. He gave his lectures in Yiddish, and generally refused to publish. Now readers can experience the brilliant thinking of this great teacher and sage.
£31.50
Jason Aronson, Inc. Tolerance Dissent and Democracy
Book SynopsisThis volume is the latest addition to the ongoing 'Orthodox Forum Series'. This collection ofessays is devoted to exploring three related issues that have received public attention following the assassination of Prim Minister Yitzhak Rabin
£54.00
Jason Aronson, Inc. Halakhic Positions of Rabbi Joseph B.
Book SynopsisRabbi Joseph B Soloveitchik (1903-1993), commonly known as the Rav, has stimulated and influenced the intellectual minds and touched the sensitive hearts of thousands of his students both in the United States and across the globe.
£38.70
Jason Aronson, Inc. Sacred Fire
Book SynopsisConsists of commentaries on each weekly Torah portion. This title includes a number of lengthy sermons delivered on the major Jewish Festivals.
£36.00
Jason Aronson, Inc. Hasidic Wisdom
Book SynopsisCollects over one thousand of the aphorisms of hasidic teaching. Most remarkable about these pithy hasidic sayings is how they combine the wisdom of Jewish tradition with sound modern psychological and spiritual insight.Trade ReviewUseful for daily meditations or a 'grabber' for entry into a more in-depth spiritual exercise. Put it on a coffee table for easy browsing and reflection, or on the nightstand to be perused before sleep or upon awakening in the morning. -- Rabbi Nathan M. LandmanThe wisdom of the hasidic tradition distilled into folk proverbs, presented with much warmth and humor. Simcha Raz have given us a great gift. -- Dr. Arthur Green, Brandeis UniversityThis remarkable book manages to capture in each and every hasidic aphorism the spiritual audacity, deep humor, and moral wisdom of a great tradition. It has enriched my life. -- Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis
£89.10
Jason Aronson, Inc. Halakhic Positions of Rabbi Joseph B.
Book SynopsisIn Halakhic Positions of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, insights into Jewish law from the preeminent figure of twentieth-century modern Orthodoxy are presented in a clear and concise manner. Commonly known as the Rav, Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, ztl, has stimulated and influenced the intellectual mind and touched the sensitive hearts of thousands of people. While he was not necessarily known as a decisor, or poseik, of halakha, he was widely recognized as an individual who had the uncanny ability to conceptualize the spirit of Jewish law on a universal level. Throughout his lifetime, the Rav published few works, transmitting his Torah knowledge through classes and lectures instead. As a student of Rabbi Soloveitchik for many years, Rabbi Aharon Ziegler accumulated a vast library of notes and tapes on the Rav''s halakhot. In this volume he shares the Rav''s unique and perhaps lesser known halakhic positions on a wide range of topics, including: *The procedure for lighting candles on
£34.20
University of Pennsylvania Press Exclusion and Hierarchy
Book SynopsisFollowing the Jewish Enlightenment, many eighteenth-century Jews chose not to observe the religious laws and customs that had earlier marked them as culturally different from their Christian peers. As the Jewish population became increasingly assimilated, an ultraorthodox movement also emerged, creating a discrete identity for a group within the Jewish community that opted not to move toward the mainstream but instead to embrace the traditional laws.By tracing the evolution of the approach of the Orthodox to their nonpracticing brethren, Adam S. Ferziger sheds new light on the emergence of Orthodoxy as a specific movement within modern Jewish society. In the course of this process, German Orthodoxy in particular articulated a new hierarchical vision of Jewish identity and the structure of modern Jewish society. Viewing Orthodox Judaism as no less a nineteenth-century phenomenon than Reform Judaism or Zionism, Ferziger looks at the ways it defined itself by its relationship to Trade Review"This book enhances our understanding of an essential feature in modern Orthodoxy that has heretofore been underemphasized. Ferziger's sociological approach to rabbinic responsa is rare in the English-language literature, and his theoretical framework is well thought out, clearly presented, and very useful." * Samuel Heilman *"This very nuanced and informed study charts Orthodox responses to concrete cases of nonobservance and deviant behavior in nineteenth-centruy central Europe and thereby traces the emergence of modern Orthodoxy." * American Historical Review *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction. The Emergence of Parallel Phenomena: Orthodox Judaism and the Modern Nonobservant Jew PART I. TRADITION, EXCLUSION, INCLUSION, AND HIERARCHY Introduction 1. A "Community of the Faithful": Hakham Zevi Hirsch Ashkenazi (1660-1718) and the Religious Pluralism of the Spanish-Portuguese Diaspora 2. The Forerunners of Orthodoxy 3. The Age of the Hatam Sofer: Early Nineteenth-Century Orthodoxy and the Emergence of Internal Boundaries 4. The Formulation of Hierarchical Judaism: Rabbi Jacob Ettlinger and the Nature of modern Jewish Identity PART II. VARIATIONS OF HIERARCHICAL JUDAISM: GERMAN ORTHODOXY IN THE LATE NINETEENTH CENTURY Introduction 5. The Hirschian Hierarchy: Communal Separation and the Nonobservant Jews 6. Bambergerian Unity and the Hierarchical Principle 7. The Conscious Hierarchy of Berlin Separatist Orthodoxy Conclusion: The Hierarchical Model and Orthodox Centers Outside of Germany Afterword Appendix: Pre-Modern Rabbinic Sources Regarding Non-Observance List of Abbreviations Notes Bibliography Index Acknowledgments
£52.70
MW - Rutgers University Press Becoming Frum How Newcomers Learn the Language and Culture of Orthodox Judaism Jewish Cultures of the World
Book SynopsisWhen non-Orthodox Jews become frum (religious), they encounter much more than dietary laws and Sabbath prohibitions. They find themselves in the midst of a whole new culture, involving matchmakers, homemade gefilte fish, and Yiddish-influenced grammar. This explains how these newcomers learn Orthodox language and culture through their interactions with community veterans and other newcomers.Trade Review"Benor's engaging and innovative study of language and identity surprises, delights, and educates. Becoming Frum is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand Jewish language and culture today." -- Mary Bucholtz * department of lingustics, University of California, Santa Barbara *“Becoming Frum offers a nuanced visual and sound portrait of Orthodox Jewish life, enabling us to hear the way individuals’ identities evolve.” -- Samuel Heilman * department of sociology, Queens College, CUNY *"This volume by Benor is a sociolinguistic study of non-Orthodox Jews becoming frum (religious) by returning to the beliefs and practices of Orthodox Jewish life. Nine well-researched chapters underscore the state of hesitation, decision, and action of returnees. Becoming Frum encodes dress change, eating habits, social outlook, and an impressive array of 'dos and don'ts' that will identify the newly observant. Very informative is Benor's investigative scrutiny of frumster speech (religious Yinglish). This is a strong ethnographic study of issues and lessons related to becoming religiously Orthodox observant. Recommended." * Choice *"Benor does a superb job of enhancing our understanding of the complex process of cultural change and language socialization that individuals go through as they become observant." * Jewish Link *Table of ContentsList of FiguresList of TablesPrefaceAcknowledgmentsTranscription Conventions1. Introduction: Orthodox Jews and Language Socialization2. "Now You Look Like a Lady": Adventures in Enthnographic and Sociolinguistic Fieldwork3. "He Has Tzitzis Hanging Out of His Ponytail": Orthodox Cultural Practices and How BTs Adapt Them4. "This Is Not What to Record": Yiddish, Hebrew, and the English of Orthodox Jews5. "Torah or Toyrah": Language and the Modern Orthodox Black Hat Continuum6. "Just Keepin' It Real, Mamish": Why Ba'alei Teshuva Adopt (or Avoid) Orthodox Language7. "I Finally Got the Lingo": Progression in Newcomers' Acquisition of Orthodox Language8. "A Ba'al Teshuva Freak": Distinguishing Practies of Newly Orthodox Jews9. Matisyahu and My Fair Lady: Reflections on Adult Language SocializationNotesBibliographyIndex
£29.70
MI - New York University Yeshiva Fundamentalism Piety Gender and Resistance in the UltraOrthodox World
Book SynopsisThe ultra-Orthodox yeshiva, or Jewish seminary, is a space reserved for men, and for a focus on religious ideals. This book uncovers evidence that firmly religious and pious young men of this community are seeking to change their institutions to incorporate several key dimensions of the secular world.Trade Reviewn this ground-breaking work, Stadler accomplishes the seemingly impossible by penetrating the exclusive male enclave of the ultra-orthodox yeshiva. Her methods are not merely innovative, but truly inspired. The results are remarkable. -- Shaul Kelner,Vanderbilt UniversityThis brief but exceptionally rich ethnography of the Haredi, the ultra-Orthodox male Yeshiva world in Israel, is an important contribution on many levels. Stadler successfully pioneers a methodology for studying an institution she cannot directly access: the methodologically preferred field approachparticipant-observation of behavioris, in this setting, not possible for a woman. She gets around thisbarrier by using alternative tools. Moreover, given the dearth of true observational studies of this bastion of male Jewish learning, this pioneering effort not only unravels some complexities of the Yeshiva world, but also uncovers the seeds of rebellion brewing among younger scholars who are verbalizing objections to their teachers rejection of integration and full participation in Israeli society. . . . If Stadlers analysis is correct, a mini-revolution is in the offing for Haredi society and its future role and status in Israel. A must read! . . . Essential. * Choice *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Preface 1 Introduction: Redefining Male Piety and Fundamentalism 2 Yeshiva Fundamentalism in Israel's Haredi Community 3 On the edge of transgression: The Study of the Talmud and the "Evil Inclination" 4 Challenges to the Fundamentalist Denunciation of Work 5 The Idealization of Soldiers' Masculinity 6 The Domestication of Masculine Piety 7 A Case Study: Terror, ZAkA, and the "Soldiers of Piety" 8 Conclusion: A Reconstruction of Fundamentalism and Piety Notes References Index About the Author
£30.40
Jason Aronson, Inc. Understanding Judaism
Book SynopsisJudaism is primarily a religion of actions rather than beliefs. When the Jewish people accepted God''s covenant, they committed themselves first to obedience and practice, and then to striving to understand the message implicit in the Torah. In Understanding Judaism: The Basics of Deed and Creed, a perfect textbook for independent and classroom study, Rabbi Benjamin Blech presents a comprehensive explication of the Jewish faith. What does it meant to be a Jew? How does religion affect the ways in which Jewish people think and act? What are the basic concepts of Judaism? This volume answers these vital questions.Trade ReviewRabbi Blech's book is one that every Jew should read. Even Jews who are very knowledgeable with regard to their ancestral faith will find in it new insights that deal with aspects of the tradition of which one might have thought that nothing new could besaid. Only a rabbi who is at one and the same time an inspiring spiritual leader of an active congregation of committed Jews, and a master teacher of college students searching for their spiritual roots, could so skillfully combine in his presentation ofJudaism so much that can open the eyes of the latter and deepen the delight of the learned in that which they fathomed only superficially... -- Rabbi Emanuel RackmanFor more than a generation, Yeshiva University's James Striar School has been an acknowledged pioneer in Ba'al Teshuvah (return to Judaism) education. Rabbi Benjamin Blech has been a mainstay of that program and has done yeoman work in illuminating the basic principles and creed of Judaism. This volume, a compilation of his thoughts and teachings, brings his erudition, sensitivity, and insights to those seeking to grow in their appreciation of the truths of the Torah. -- Dr. Norman LammRabbi Blech's book is one that every Jew should read. Even Jews who are very knowledgeable with regard to their ancestral faith will find in it new insights that deal with aspects of the tradition of which one might have thought that nothing new could be said. Only a rabbi who is at one and the same time an inspiring spiritual leader of an active congregation of committed Jews, and a master teacher of college students searching for their spiritual roots, could so skillfully combine in his presentation of Judaism so much that can open the eyes of the latter and deepen the delight of the learned in that which they fathomed only superficially. -- Rabbi Emanuel Rackman
£23.75
Jason Aronson, Inc. Jewish Tradition and the NonTraditional Jew
Book SynopsisAnother addition to the 'Orthodox Forum Series', this book is a collection of papers from the Second Orthodox Forum in New York and provides compelling insight into the minds of highly respected scholars in the Orthodox Rabbinate. Two of the papers include a brief account of non-observance and the Rabbinic view throughout Jewish history.
£74.70
Jason Aronson, Inc. Talmud for Beginners
Book SynopsisRabbi Abrams writes: When I teach Torah classes to my congregants, sometimes they become very uncomfortable with what they read in the Tanach. Jacob tricks his father. Moses kills a man. David commits adultery. They struggle to come to grips with the difficult passages in the text. They also work on finding meaning in worship services, even though they don''t know Hebrew. They strive to define themselves proudly as Jews in a non-Jewish world. They worry about assimilation. And I''m pretty sure that they think their problems are modern ones. Blessedly, the rabbis of the Talmud struggled with these questions, too, and they came up with some terrific answers. In this introduction to the tractate Megillah of the Babylonian Talmud, we will learn how the rabbis viewed the Torah, and how they teach us to relate to it. They don''t shy away from the hard-to-deal with passages, but show us how to meet them head on without sacrificing respect for them. They show us how to make the text our own and how to honor it in our everyday lives. These are ancient answers to modern questions. In this tractate, the rabbis develop a whole system of honor that is based on respect for the Torah in each person and object in our world. In other words, the true Jewish status system is based on learning and menschlichkeit, rather than money or fame. So while this tractate may be stimulating on an intellectual level, it''s also stimulating on the mensch'' level. As the second volume in a series, this book challenges the learner to reach new heights of understanding the Talmud, and the way the rabbis thought. However, don''t be afraid, it''s still very much for beginners. A general introduction about the Talmud is provided, then selected passages from each of the tractate''s four chapters are explained in simple language. A bibliography for further reading, glossary, halachic appendix and descriptions of the rabbis mentioned in the book, are also provided.Trade ReviewAll too often Talmud dissembles into a mass of details, some fascinating but many others esoteric or irrelevant. In this book, Rabbi Abrams identifies the underlying grand themes that pull it all together. She takes the novice by the hand, gently walking him/her through complex logical analyses, until the beauty of the complete structure comes into sight. By weaving lively examples of loving relationships between human beings into her explanations, Rabbi Abrams not only clarifies the nature of a Jew's relationship to God, but prods the reader into grappling with some of the larger religious issues of the day. In short, like Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, she makes the study of Talmud inviting instead of intimidating. -- Rabbi Judith Hauptman, Jewish Theological SeminaryRabbi Abrams has produced an excellent introduction to the study of the Talmud. Through explication of selected texts, she conveys to the reader the high degree of accessibility and comprehensibility of the Talmud, proving again that even the most complex matter can be grasped if properly transmitted. Bringing in her own insights, she transforms material that at first blush might seem abstruse or unrelated to human concerns into texts that speak not only to the historical reality of the Rabbis but to our contemporary self as well. -- Blu Greenberg, author, How to Run a Traditional Jewish Household
£34.20
Temple University Press,U.S. Degrees of Separation
Book SynopsisExploring how exiting ultra-Orthodox Judaism is not a single act of defiance, but an interactive process that extends for years after leavingTrade Review“Degrees of Separation is an original and imaginative investigation of the character and consequences of exiting closed and closely knit religious communities. On the basis of extensive interviews and observation of two Ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities in New York—Lubavitch and Satmar—Newfield examines the experiences and consequences of exiting. He rejects the taken-for-granted assumption that exit can be clean and decisive and hence prefers to talk about ‘exiting.’ Like whistleblowers, exiting individuals are typically subject to symbolic attacks and are often regarded as psychologically unstable by the community. Exiting can never be complete, because individuals have deeply ingrained habits acquired from early socialization in the community. Degrees of Separation is not simply a study of religious communities; it offers important insights into membership of and exit from any community or ‘total institution.’”—Bryan S. Turner, Presidential Professor of Sociology, Emeritus, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, and author of The Religious and the Political: A Comparative Sociology of Religion“Degrees of Separation is a nuanced, sensitive book about ‘exiters’—those who leave their Hasidic communities of origin—for all kinds of reasons. Newfield’s account moves beyond a simple binarism, that of staying or going; instead he foregrounds the complicated ways that exiters experience long-term liminality, simultaneously attached to and independent of the totalizing communities in which they grew up. Newfield has written an accessible, fascinating book sure to be of great interest to a wide audience—a real accomplishment.”—Ayala Fader, Professor of Anthropology at Fordham University and author of Hidden Heretics: Jewish Doubt in the Digital Age"[A] fascinating and inspiring read that challenges readers to consider the religious periphery of religious exiters and the development of their new journeys.... Most importantly, it opens a door to a largely unknown world full of mysticism and tradition and highlights the struggle against its oppressive systems. Newfield’s own positionality as an ex-Lubavitcher and the realization of his own transcending liminality make this book a very informative yet intimate story—a story of belonging, curiosity, and bravery but also loss and grief."—Politics, Religion & Ideology
£69.70
Temple University Press,U.S. Degrees of Separation
Book SynopsisExploring how exiting ultra-Orthodox Judaism is not a single act of defiance, but an interactive process that extends for years after leavingTrade Review“Degrees of Separation is an original and imaginative investigation of the character and consequences of exiting closed and closely knit religious communities. On the basis of extensive interviews and observation of two Ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities in New York—Lubavitch and Satmar—Newfield examines the experiences and consequences of exiting. He rejects the taken-for-granted assumption that exit can be clean and decisive and hence prefers to talk about ‘exiting.’ Like whistleblowers, exiting individuals are typically subject to symbolic attacks and are often regarded as psychologically unstable by the community. Exiting can never be complete, because individuals have deeply ingrained habits acquired from early socialization in the community. Degrees of Separation is not simply a study of religious communities; it offers important insights into membership of and exit from any community or ‘total institution.’”—Bryan S. Turner, Presidential Professor of Sociology, Emeritus, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, and author of The Religious and the Political: A Comparative Sociology of Religion“Degrees of Separation is a nuanced, sensitive book about ‘exiters’—those who leave their Hasidic communities of origin—for all kinds of reasons. Newfield’s account moves beyond a simple binarism, that of staying or going; instead he foregrounds the complicated ways that exiters experience long-term liminality, simultaneously attached to and independent of the totalizing communities in which they grew up. Newfield has written an accessible, fascinating book sure to be of great interest to a wide audience—a real accomplishment.”—Ayala Fader, Professor of Anthropology at Fordham University and author of Hidden Heretics: Jewish Doubt in the Digital Age"[A] fascinating and inspiring read that challenges readers to consider the religious periphery of religious exiters and the development of their new journeys.... Most importantly, it opens a door to a largely unknown world full of mysticism and tradition and highlights the struggle against its oppressive systems. Newfield’s own positionality as an ex-Lubavitcher and the realization of his own transcending liminality make this book a very informative yet intimate story—a story of belonging, curiosity, and bravery but also loss and grief."—Politics, Religion & Ideology
£25.19
Edinburgh University Press Jewish Orthodoxy in Scotland
Book SynopsisJews acculturated to Scotland within one generation and quickly inflected Jewish culture in a Scottish idiom. This book analyses the religious aspects of this transition through a transnational perspective on migration in the first three decades of the twentieth century.
£81.00
New York University Press Queer Judaism
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Queer Judaism refuses simple narratives that pit queer lives against religion. Instead, it beautifully examines how LGBT activists in Israel work within Orthodox Judaism to give their lives and identities meaning, even as they struggle within this tradition to make space for themselves. Avishai’s brilliant, moving ethnography sets a new standard for scholarship in religion and sexuality. It’s a must read." -- Anthony Petro, author of After the Wrath of God: AIDS, Sexuality, and American Religion"An engaging book about people whose proud, public existence became possible over a very short time. Pushing beyond old notions of reconciling conflicting identities, Avishai illustrates how actors gently seized a political and cultural moment and organized to articulate the meaning their lives derived from existing at the intersection of orthodox religion and `unorthodox’ sexuality. Ultimately, Queer Judaism is a story of how queerness can foster life and growth in institutions, culture, and individuals—and its limits." -- Dawne Moon, author of God, Sex, and Politics: Homosexuality and Everyday Theologies"Drawing on interviews with dozens of gay religious Israeli Jews and activists, experiences at Orthodox LGBTQ events and time researching and reading message boards, Avishai traces the history of gay activism in Israel’s religious worlds and the rapid transformation in attitudes and advocacy." -- Amy Spiro * The Times of Israel *
£62.90
New York University Press Queer Judaism
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewQueer Judaism refuses simple narratives that pit queer lives against religion. Instead, it beautifully examines how LGBT activists in Israel work within Orthodox Judaism to give their lives and identities meaning, even as they struggle within this tradition to make space for themselves. Avishai’s brilliant, moving ethnography sets a new standard for scholarship in religion and sexuality. It’s a must read. -- Anthony Petro, author of After the Wrath of God: AIDS, Sexuality, and American ReligionAn engaging book about people whose proud, public existence became possible over a very short time. Pushing beyond old notions of reconciling conflicting identities, Avishai illustrates how actors gently seized a political and cultural moment and organized to articulate the meaning their lives derived from existing at the intersection of orthodox religion and `unorthodox’ sexuality. Ultimately, Queer Judaism is a story of how queerness can foster life and growth in institutions, culture, and individuals—and its limits. -- Dawne Moon, author of God, Sex, and Politics: Homosexuality and Everyday TheologiesDrawing on interviews with dozens of gay religious Israeli Jews and activists, experiences at Orthodox LGBTQ events and time researching and reading message boards, Avishai traces the history of gay activism in Israel’s religious worlds and the rapid transformation in attitudes and advocacy. -- Amy Spiro * The Times of Israel *Queer Judaism includes excerpts from numerous interviews that show the heartbreak of those who have not been accepted by their families and/or community. However, these are the same people who are creating a new version of Orthodoxy simply by living their lives and expecting acceptance. Their use of Jewish texts has also helped them become more actively engaged in Judaism. Queer Judaism will inspire and challenge readers as it shows the active development of religious change in Israel. * The Reporter *
£21.59
Lexington Books Hair Headwear and Orthodox Jewish Women
Book SynopsisHair, Headwear, and Orthodox Jewish Women comments on hair covering based on an ethnographic study of the lives of Orthodox Jewish women in a small non-metropolitan synagogue. It brings the often overlooked stories of these women to the forefront and probes questions as to how their location in a small community affects their behavioral choices, particularly regarding the folk practice of hair covering. A kallah, or bride, makes the decision as to whether or not she will cover her hair after marriage. In doing so, she externally announces her religious affiliation, in particular her commitment to maintaining an Orthodox Jewish home. Hair covering practices are also unique to women's traditions and point out the importance of examining the women, especially because their cultural roles may be marginalized in studies as a result of their lack of a central role in worship. This study questions their contribution to Orthodoxy as well as their concept of Jewish identity and the ways in whicTrade ReviewIn this brilliant ethnography, Amy Milligan lets us listen in to personal conversations and see women in and out of worship to ask a profound question about the maintenance of tradition in a non-traditional environment. She opens doors to places we have not looked before—beneath hair coverings and in women’s study groups—to make us reassess the meaning not only of orthodox practice, but of identity driven by women’s worldview. Her groundbreaking book on a hairy subject will surely change the way we think, and talk about, not just Jews but the expressive body of tradition. -- Simon J. Bronner, Pennsylvania State UniversityHair, Headwear, and Orthodox Jewish Women: Kallah’s Choice is an important contribution to the fields of Jewish studies, gender studies, and American studies. Through her multi-disciplinary approach, Milligan reveals the symbolic power of hair and hair covering as a tool for negotiating the complexity of Jewish identity among Jewish women in small-town America. While hair covering is often read as a repressive practice in traditional communities, Milligan shows how the choice to cover or not to cover one’s hair is perceived among the women she interviews as an expression of power to define their own status in a complicated religious landscape. This very readable ethnography is complemented by a careful analysis that draws on a wide range of theoretical tools, including insights from gender studies, cultural psychoanalysis, anthropology, and American studies. -- Andrea Lieber, Dickinson CollegeAs the novel The Red Tent (1997), by Anita Diamant, depicted little-known Jewish women's roles in biblical times, so this intriguing, factual work provides many subtleties within Judaism as practiced by women in the contemporary US. A five-page glossary of mostly Hebrew and Yiddish terms is also helpful. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. * CHOICE *Table of ContentsPrologue Chapter 1: A Hairy Subject: Approaches to Hair and Hair Covering Chapter 2: Covering Jewish Women: The Congregational Context Chapter 3: Splitting Hairs: The Struggle for Community Definition in a Small Town Orthodox Synagogue Chapter 4: Wearing Many Hats: The Hair Covering Practices of the Orthodox Jewish Women at Degel Israel Synagogue Chapter 5: Letting Their Hair Down: Orthodox Women at Degel Israel Synagogue Who Choose Not to Cover Their Hair Chapter 6: Flipping Their Wigs for Judaism: Non-Orthodox Women Who Choose to Cover Their Heads Chapter 7: The Long and Short of It: A Psychoreligious Interpretation of Hair Covering Epilogue
£37.80
Rowman & Littlefield Raising the Bar Mitzvah: Reimagining What Our
Book SynopsisThis is a book about embracing change for one of the most sacred ceremonies in Jewish tradition: the Bar Mitzvah. The current model of Bar Mitzvah training doesn’t seem to resonate with teenagers today. Cantor Matt Axelrod explains why the ceremony should be adapted to combine personal interests (art, music, sports) to the original traditions. This connection allows a more positive path to preparing and learning about the ceremony and its rich traditions. The book will challenge the status quo of the past as a new generation of Hebrew leadership emerges, and proposes to become the resource guide of choice to better prepare synagogues for reuniting students (and parents!) to the Bar Mitzvah tradition and celebration.
£51.30
Rowman & Littlefield Raising the Bar Mitzvah: Reimagining What Our
Book SynopsisThis is a book about embracing change for one of the most sacred ceremonies in Jewish tradition: the Bar Mitzvah. The current model of Bar Mitzvah training doesn’t seem to resonate with teenagers today. Cantor Matt Axelrod explains why the ceremony should be adapted to combine personal interests (art, music, sports) to the original traditions. This connection allows a more positive path to preparing and learning about the ceremony and its rich traditions. The book will challenge the status quo of the past as a new generation of Hebrew leadership emerges, and proposes to become the resource guide of choice to better prepare synagogues for reuniting students (and parents!) to the Bar Mitzvah tradition and celebration.
£23.75
Basic Books To Be a Jew: A Guide to Jewish Observance in
Book Synopsis
£18.99
Createspace Independent Publishing Platform The Fragile Factor: How Parents, Teachers, And
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£12.33
Jason Aronson Inc. Publishers The Life and Teachings of Hillel
Book SynopsisThe Life and Teachings of Hillel provides the most comprehensive treatment ever published of one of the greatest figures in Jewish tradition. Yitzhak Buxbaum weaves together the various stories about Hillel along with his teachings and sayings to develop this ground-breaking portrait, shedding new light on Hillel's illustrious career, fascinating life, and profound teachings. Hillel is one of the most important and popular of the talmudic sages, yet he is mostly known only in the context of two or three popular stories told about him. Such stories as teaching the "Golden Rule" of Torah "while standing on one foot," and his saying, "If I am not for myself, who will be for me, and if I am for myself alone, who am I," have eclipsed a more complete view of Hillel's influence and significance. In the rabbinic tradition, there is much debate between the teachings of the school of Hillel and that of his contemporary, Shammai. Hillel is often seen as the more tolerant, softer teacher, with his teachings representing what we consider "normative" Judaism. Often, the traditions passed down to modern times are a result of the rabbis' reconciliation of the two schools, so that Hillel's pure teachings have been lost. The Life and Teachings of Hillel separates out Hillel's teachings and looks at them independently of Shammai's. Studied on their own, it becomes evident that Hillel was actually much more radical and "hasidic" than is commonly thought. While he is known for representing the gentler, more loving side of Judaism, in this work his pious radicalism is also apparent. Readers will be charmed and fascinated by Hillel's fiery gentleness. The Life and Teachings of Hillel offers new information about a radiant religious figure, and it also recovers a side of Jewish tradition that has been lost to most people.Trade ReviewYitzhak Buxbaum's book is a comprehensive study of the quotations and comments found in rabbinic literature about Hillel, who is probably the best known of the ancient sages. In an era of growing religious extremism, Hillel's liberalism in interpreting the halacha could perhaps serve as a beacon to modern-day rabbis to follow in his pious and liberal footsteps.... * Journal Of The Royal Musical Association *Hillel, the oft-quoted sage who lived sometime between the second quarter of the last century B.C.E. and 10 C.E., is captured from all perspectives through his teachings. Some biographical details emerge, but the emphasis is on his gentle personality which suffused his teachings. It is this aspect which the author finds to be so attractive to contemporary Jews. Sample chapter titles are: Charity and Peace; Hillel and Herod; The Humble Man; Hillel's Teaching Style. The book ably demonstrates why Hillel's teachings were so influential and are still so popular. * Jewish Book World *The extraordinary nature of Hillel comes to life in the pages of this book. A long needed spiritual biography of one of the greatest talmudic teachers and religious figures is presented to us in a clear and inspiring fashion. -- Rabbi Michael Strassfeld, author of The Jewish Holidays and co-editor of The Jewish CatalogsThe Life and Teachings of Hillel is a treasure of information relating to all aspects of Jewish life. It is well researched and very well documented. The book brings to life an entire historical period with its giant leaders. It is amazing how much of Hillel's teachings are still applicable in modern times. Any adult Jewish book collection will benefit from the addition of this volume. It is a joy to read! * Journal Of Nietzsche Studies *Yitzhak Buxbaum's book is a comprehensive study of the quotations and comments found in rabbinic literature about Hillel, who is probably the best known of the ancient sages. In an era of growing religious extremism, Hillel's liberalism in interpreting the halacha could perhaps serve as a beacon to modern-day rabbis to follow in his pious and liberal footsteps. * Journal Of The Royal Musical Association *Table of ContentsPart 1 Ascent to Leadership Chapter 2 The Lost Teachings of Hillel Chapter 3 Historical Settings and Family Background Chapter 4 Shebna Chapter 5 Hillel on the Roof Chapter 6 His Great Torah Knowledge Chapter 7 Hillel becomes Nasi Chapter 8 The Nasi as Scholar Chapter 9 The Nasi as Judge Chapter 10 Hillel's View on Leadership Chapter 11 Yeas and Dates Chapter 12 Hillel the Pharisee Chapter 13 Hillel, Menahem, and Shammai Chapter 14 The Prosbul Chapter 15 Hillel and Herod: Religion and Politics Chapter 16 Hillel and Herod: Religion and Politics - Continued Part 17 Mission and Message Chapter 18 Disciples of Aaron Chapter 19 Loving Peace Chapter 20 Being "Mixed in" with Others Chapter 21 Charity and Peace Chapter 22 Loving People Chapter 23 Love and Judging Others Chapter 24 Under the Wings of Divine Presence Chapter 25 A Mission to All Men Chapter 26 Three Proselytes Chapter 27 Receive All Men Part 28 The Hasidic Personality Chapter 29 Hillel's Personality Chapter 30 Hillel the Hasid Chapter 31 A Hasid from Love Chapter 32 The Hasid and Hesed Chapter 33 A Different Way Chapter 34 His Heart Is Firm. Trusting in the Lord Chapter 35 Hasid and Parush Chapter 36 The Way of Hesed Chapter 37 The Humble Man Chapter 38 Hillel and the Once-Rich Poor Man Chapter 39 Gentle and Bearing Insult Chapter 40 Disciple of Ezra Chapter 41 Hillel's Teaching Style Chapter 42 Hillel and the Rich Part 43 Holy Spirit, Holy Legacy Chapter 44 A Good Name versus a Great Name Chapter 45 The Holy Spirit Chapter 46 The Rejoicing of the Water-drawing Chapter 47 Hillel's Death Chapter 48 If I am Not for Myself Chapter 49 In Favor of Shammai Chapter 50 A Unique Balance
£33.25
Jason Aronson Inc. Publishers Israel as a Religious Reality
Book SynopsisTo find more information about Rowman & Littlefield titles please visit us at www.rowmanlittlefield.com.
£66.60
Jason Aronson Inc. Publishers The Cantor's Manual of Jewish Law
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£51.30
Jason Aronson Inc. Publishers Modern Scholarship in the Study of Torah
Book SynopsisFrom the Preface: "The principal thrust of this book is to challenge the compartmentalization to which we seem all too easily resigned, to discover whether, and to what extent, the methods of modern scholarship can become part and parcel of the study of Torah, conceived as a religious-intellectual way of life. Not 'Modern Scholarship and the Study of Torah,' but 'Modern Scholarship in the Study of Torah."
£56.70
Jason Aronson Inc. Publishers Engaging Modernity: Rabbinic Leaders and the
Book SynopsisThis collection of essays seeks to understand the tension between contemporary and traditional elements in the thought, practices, and life of Modern Orthodox Jewry. Together, they are a fascinating study of the balance that occurs between modernity and traditionalism, whereby faith and practice emerge from the encounter adapted but not wholly transformed.
£56.70
Jason Aronson Inc. Publishers Music and Kabbalah
Book SynopsisMusic is an intrinsic part of Jewish expression, reaching back to the biblical "Song of the Sea," which appears in Exodus, and the Psalms composed by King David. Employing the tools of Jewish mysticism, Music and Kabbalah examines the spiritual connection between God and music. The holy aspects of the musical scale, musical terminology, and instruments named in the Psalms are deciphered by using the gematria (interpretive numeric value) of their Hebrew names. Rabbi Glazerson employs music as a vehicle with which to teach that "Judaism and the Hebrew language, the holy tongue, are vast and deep, embracing incomprehensible knowledge of every aspect and sphere of life."
£40.50
Jason Aronson Inc. Publishers On Repentance: The Thought and Oral Discourses of
Book SynopsisFor five decades prior to his death in 1993, Rabbi Joseph Dov Soloveitchik was the unchallenged leader of modern Orthodox Judaism in the United States. His understanding of both traditional Judaism and secular philosophy shaped two generations of rabbinic students at Yeshiva University, and charted a new course for American Orthodox Jews. In On Repentance, noted scholar Pinchas Peli has gathered the major points of Rabbi Soloveitchik's teachings on teshuvah (repentance), based on the annual series of lectures on the theme of teshuvah, presented on the anniversary of his father's death. For many Jews, these lectures were the major academic and intellectual event of the year. Outside of his followers however, few were able to experience the genius of Rabbi Soloveitchik. He gave his lectures in Yiddish, and generally refused to publish. Now readers can experience the brilliant thinking of this great teacher and sage.
£54.00
Seal Press Becoming Eve: My Journey from Ultra-Orthodox
Book SynopsisAbby Chava Stein was raised in a Hasidic Jewish community in Brooklyn, profoundly isolated in a culture that lives according to the laws and practices of an eighteenth-century Eastern European enclave, speaking only Yiddish and Hebrew and shunning modern life. Stein was born as the first son in a rabbinical dynastic family, poised to become a leader of the next generation of Hasidic Jews. But Stein felt certain at a young age that she was a girl. Without access to TV or the internet and never taught English, she suppressed her desire for a new body while looking for answers wherever she could find them, from forbidden religious texts to smuggled secular examinations of faith. Finally, she orchestrated a personal exodus from ultra-Orthodox manhood into mainstream femininity-a radical choice that forced her to leave her home, her family and her way of life.
£21.25
Academic Studies Press Yitz Greenberg and Modern Orthodoxy: The Road Not
Book SynopsisSixteen scholars from around the globe gathered at the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies in the bucolic Yarnton Manor in the Oxfordshire countryside in June 2014, for the first (now annual) Oxford Summer Institute on Modern and Contemporary Judaism. The current volume is the fruit of this encounter. The goal of the event was to facilitate in-depth engagement with the thought of Rabbi Dr. Irving "Yitz" Greenberg, concentrating particularly on the historical ramifications of his theological and public stances. Consideration was given to his lifelong and complex encounter with the Modern Orthodox stream of American Judaism and the extent to which his teachings functioned as "the road not taken." This auspicious gathering was most certainly characterized by deep appreciation for Greenberg's original outlook, which is predicated on his profound dedication to God, Torah, the Jewish people, and humanity. But this was by no means gratuitous homage or naive esteem. On the contrary, those in attendance understood that the most genuine form of admiration for a thinker and leader of his stature—especially one who continues to produce path-breaking writings and speak out publicly—is to examine rigorously and critically his ideas and legacy. We are confident that the creative process that was nurtured has resulted in a substantive contribution to research on the religious, historical, and social trajectories of contemporary Judaism, and, similarly will engender fresh thinking on crucial theological and ideological postures that will ultimately enrich Jewish life. This volume offers readers a critical engagement with the trenchant and candid efforts of one of the most thoughtful and earnest voices to emerge from within American Orthodoxy to address the theological and moral concerns that characterize our times.Trade Review“The book mirrors the man. Like Rabbi Irving Greenberg, Yitz Greenberg and Modern Orthodoxy: The Road Not Taken is scholarly yet accessible, critical yet constructive, focused yet with broad sensibility. The newly published essay collection critiques the rabbi’s ideas while appreciating their redemptive qualities. It charts the twists and turns of Modern Orthodoxy since the 1950s and explores Greenberg’s up-and-down relationship with established Orthodoxy. The book also casts a wider light on issues that have exercised American Jews during that time: fitting into American culture, religious pluralism, feminism, the Holocaust, Zionism and modern sexuality. It’s the story of American Jewry coming of age, with perceptive commentary on its sociology, theology and ethics.”— Eugene Korn, The Jewish Week“This work provides an excellent introduction to the critical issues surrounding Modern Orthodoxy’s encounter with the rapidly changing contemporary world.” —Randall C. and Anne-Marie Belinfante, AJL ReviewsTable of Contents Editors' Introduction Adam S. Ferziger, Miri Freud-Kandel, and Steven Bayme A Personal Retrospective Modern Orthodoxy and the Road Not Taken: A Retrospective View Irving (Yitz) Greenberg Part One: Law and Theology History and Halakhah Steven Katz Rabbi Yitz Greenberg's Covenantal Theory of Bioethics Alan Jotkowitz Irving Greenberg's Theology of Hybrid Judaism Darren Kleinberg On the Meaning and Significance of Revelation for Orthodox Judaism James Kugel Divine Hiddenness and Human Input: The Potential Contribution of a Postmodern View of Revelation to Yitz Greenberg's Holocaust Theology Tamar Ross Modern Orthodoxy and Religious Truth Marc B. Shapiro On Revelation, Heresy, and Mesorah—from Louis Jacobs to the TheTorah.com Miri Freud-Kandel Part Two: Past and Present What Is "Modern" in Modern Orthodoxy? Alan Brill Can Modern Orthodoxy Survive? Jack Wertheimer Where Have All the Rabbis Gone? The Changing Character of the Orthodox Rabbinate and its Causes Samuel C. Heilman Modern Orthodox Responses to the Liberalization of Sexual Mores Sylvia Barack Fishman "The Road Not Taken" and "The One Less Traveled": The Greenberg–Lichtenstein Exchange and Contemporary Orthodoxy Adam S. Ferziger Index Editors and Contributors
£23.74
