Orthodox Judaism Books
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
£999.99
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
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
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
Book Synopsis
£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
Penguin Putnam Inc Foreskin's Lament: A Memoir
£999.99
Academic Studies Press Rabbi Joseph Dov Soloveitchik on the Experience
Book SynopsisThis book is devoted to Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik’s discussions on the practice of prayer. Prayer is analyzed across a broad and complex spectrum in Soloveitchik’s work, and his writings describing and analyzing the experience of prayer afford a profound insight into its diversity, ranging from existential crisis to communion with God.Through a careful reading of R. Soloveitchik’s texts dealing with this topic, the book follows the consciousness of prayer across its various stages until maturity, starting with an analysis of Worship of the Heart, through to Reflections on the Amidah and other writings.Table of Contents Introduction Part I. Worship of the Heart: The Consciousness of Prayer Chapter One: Nature and Purpose Chapter Two: The Consciousness of Prayer: An Outline Chapter Three: The Consciousness of Prayer: The Subjective and the Objective Chapter Four: The Consciousness of Prayer: The Process of Consolidation Chapter Five: The Path of the Consciousness of Prayer to Perfection Chapter Six: The Dialectic of Consciousness: Between Reading Shema and Prayer Chapter Seven: The Interpretation of Reading Shema and Its Blessings: (1) Methodology and Sources Chapter Eight: The Interpretation of Reading Shema and Its Blessings: (2) Application Part II. "Reflections on the Amidah" in Perspective Chapter Nine: Prayer and Redemption Chapter Ten: Covering the Profound: The Legal-Halakhic Dimension of the Amidah Chapter Eleven: Interpretation of the Amidah Prayer Part III. Community Chapter Twelve: Synagogue and Community Summation: The Consciousness of Prayer Bibliography Index
£89.09
Academic Studies Press Rabbi Joseph Dov Soloveitchik on the Experience
Book SynopsisThis book is devoted to Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik’s discussions on the practice of prayer. Prayer is analyzed across a broad and complex spectrum in Soloveitchik’s work, and his writings describing and analyzing the experience of prayer afford a profound insight into its diversity, ranging from existential crisis to communion with God.Through a careful reading of R. Soloveitchik’s texts dealing with this topic, the book follows the consciousness of prayer across its various stages until maturity, starting with an analysis of Worship of the Heart, through to Reflections on the Amidah and other writings.Table of Contents Introduction Part I. Worship of the Heart: The Consciousness of Prayer Chapter One: Nature and Purpose Chapter Two: The Consciousness of Prayer: An Outline Chapter Three: The Consciousness of Prayer: The Subjective and the Objective Chapter Four: The Consciousness of Prayer: The Process of Consolidation Chapter Five: The Path of the Consciousness of Prayer to Perfection Chapter Six: The Dialectic of Consciousness: Between Reading Shema and Prayer Chapter Seven: The Interpretation of Reading Shema and Its Blessings: (1) Methodology and Sources Chapter Eight: The Interpretation of Reading Shema and Its Blessings: (2) Application Part II. "Reflections on the Amidah" in Perspective Chapter Nine: Prayer and Redemption Chapter Ten: Covering the Profound: The Legal-Halakhic Dimension of the Amidah Chapter Eleven: Interpretation of the Amidah Prayer Part III. Community Chapter Twelve: Synagogue and Community Summation: The Consciousness of Prayer Bibliography Index
£28.49
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
£89.09
She Writes Press The Skeptic and the Rabbi: Falling in Love with Faith
£999.99
Academic Studies Press Defenders of the Faith: Studies in Nineteenth-
Book SynopsisThe Emancipation of European Jewry during the nineteenth century led to conflict between tradition and modernity, creating a chasm that few believed could be bridged. The emergence of modern traditionalism was fraught with obstacles. The essays published in this collection eloquently depict the passion underlying the disparate views, the particular areas of vexing confrontation and the hurdles faced by champions of tradition.The author identifies and analyzes the many areas of sociological and religious tension that divided the competing factions, including synagogue innovation, circumcision, intermarriage, military service and many others. With compelling writing and clear, articulate style, this illuminating work provides keen insight into the history and development of the various streams of Judaism and the issues that continue to divide them in contemporary times.Trade Review“In this book, Judith Bleich, a professor of Jewish history at Touro University, delineates the history of the relationship between the Orthodox and Reform communities in Germany, France, the US, and elsewhere in the 19th and 20th (and 21st) centuries. … The foundations of the relationship set during this period of contention between the two groups continue to influence and shape the current situation between them. Bleich expertly demonstrates this by using many references and footnotes to connect current developments to the historical record she analyzes. … This book is recommended for academic libraries that want to deepen their collection of materials dealing with the development of Reform and Orthodox Judaism, spirituality and religious history, religious studies, Zionism, and other topics of interest covered in the volume.” —Eli Lieberman, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, AJL Reviews“Prof. Judith Bleich, masterful teacher and distinguished scholar of modern Jewish intellectual history, revered rebbetzin in the New York Orthodox community and beyond, is an eminent authority on the emergence of the modern movements of Orthodox and Reform Judaism and the history of the polemics between those movements. A selection of her published essays in the latter area appeared recently as Defenders of the Faith: Studies in Nineteenth-and Twentieth-Century Orthodoxy and Reform. Every essay is characteristically erudite and repercussive, of essential importance to scholars in the field. All, as always, are authored with meticulous attention to historical detail, rigorous analysis of primary and secondary sources, and elegantly crafted prose.”—Tradition OnlineTable of Contents Preface Introduction. Nineteenth to Twenty-First Centuries: From Pessimism to Optimism 1. Rabbinic Responses to Nonobservance in the Modern Era 2. The Emergence of an Orthodox Press in Nineteenth-Century Germany 3. The Circumcision Controversy in Classical Reform in Historical Context 4. Clerical Robes: Distinction or Dishonor? 5. Intermarriage in the Early Modern Period 6. Military Service: Ambivalence and Contradiction 7. The Testament of a Halakhist 8. Between East and West: Modernity and Traditionalism in the Writings of Rabbi Yehi'el Ya'akov Weinberg 9. Liturgical Innovation and Spirituality: Trends and Trendiness Index
£95.39
Academic Studies Press Defenders of the Faith: Studies in Nineteenth-
Book SynopsisThe Emancipation of European Jewry during the nineteenth century led to conflict between tradition and modernity, creating a chasm that few believed could be bridged. The emergence of modern traditionalism was fraught with obstacles. The essays published in this collection eloquently depict the passion underlying the disparate views, the particular areas of vexing confrontation and the hurdles faced by champions of tradition.The author identifies and analyzes the many areas of sociological and religious tension that divided the competing factions, including synagogue innovation, circumcision, intermarriage, military service and many others. With compelling writing and clear, articulate style, this illuminating work provides keen insight into the history and development of the various streams of Judaism and the issues that continue to divide them in contemporary times.Trade Review“In this book, Judith Bleich, a professor of Jewish history at Touro University, delineates the history of the relationship between the Orthodox and Reform communities in Germany, France, the US, and elsewhere in the 19th and 20th (and 21st) centuries. … The foundations of the relationship set during this period of contention between the two groups continue to influence and shape the current situation between them. Bleich expertly demonstrates this by using many references and footnotes to connect current developments to the historical record she analyzes. … This book is recommended for academic libraries that want to deepen their collection of materials dealing with the development of Reform and Orthodox Judaism, spirituality and religious history, religious studies, Zionism, and other topics of interest covered in the volume.” —Eli Lieberman, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, AJL Reviews“Prof. Judith Bleich, masterful teacher and distinguished scholar of modern Jewish intellectual history, revered rebbetzin in the New York Orthodox community and beyond, is an eminent authority on the emergence of the modern movements of Orthodox and Reform Judaism and the history of the polemics between those movements. A selection of her published essays in the latter area appeared recently as Defenders of the Faith: Studies in Nineteenth-and Twentieth-Century Orthodoxy and Reform. Every essay is characteristically erudite and repercussive, of essential importance to scholars in the field. All, as always, are authored with meticulous attention to historical detail, rigorous analysis of primary and secondary sources, and elegantly crafted prose.”—Tradition OnlineTable of Contents Preface Introduction. Nineteenth to Twenty-First Centuries: From Pessimism to Optimism 1. Rabbinic Responses to Nonobservance in the Modern Era 2. The Emergence of an Orthodox Press in Nineteenth-Century Germany 3. The Circumcision Controversy in Classical Reform in Historical Context 4. Clerical Robes: Distinction or Dishonor? 5. Intermarriage in the Early Modern Period 6. Military Service: Ambivalence and Contradiction 7. The Testament of a Halakhist 8. Between East and West: Modernity and Traditionalism in the Writings of Rabbi Yehi'el Ya'akov Weinberg 9. Liturgical Innovation and Spirituality: Trends and Trendiness Index
£23.74
Turner Publishing Company Love and Terror in the God Encounter: The
Book SynopsisThe intellectual legacy of one of the twentieth century's greatest religious thinkers—explained by a leading theologian of our day. "It is only through experiencing the contradictions in human existence, through being overwhelmed by the divine presence, through the finite human being feeling terror-stricken by the infinite majesty of God that one can develop an authentic religious personality." —David Hartman (From Chapter 6) Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik (1903–1993) profoundly influenced modern Orthodox Judaism in the United States—and Judaism as a whole—by opening up a discourse between the tradition of Torah study and Western philosophical thought. The future of both religious Zionism in Israel and of Orthodoxy in America hangs to a great extent on how we interpret his intellectual legacy. Dr. David Hartman’s penetrating analysis of Rabbi Soloveitchik’s work reveals a Judaism committed to intellectual courage, integrity and openness. A renowned theologian and philosopher, Hartman meticulously explores the subtlety and complexity of Rabbi Soloveitchik’s theological thought, exposing a surprising intersection of halakhic tradition and modern Western theology—a confrontation that deepens and expands our spiritual understanding. Hartman’s provocative interpretation bears witness to the legitimacy of remaining loyal to the Judaic tradition without sacrificing one’s intellectual freedom and honesty.Trade Review"A unique combination of love and criticism, depth and respect. This book is an invitation to experience Hartman's ongoing philosophical dialogue with his great teacher, and is an important contribution to understanding the thought of both these major figures." —Prof. Avi Sagi, director, Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Hereneutics and Cultural Studies, Bar Ilan University "Compellingly demonstrates how R. Soloveitchik joined intellectual brilliance in Jewish learning with a deep empathy for modern existentialist philosophy. Undoubtedly, this work will become the standard for future scholarship on the majestic thought of R. Soloveitchick." —Prof. Yehuda (Jerome) Gellman, Department of Philosophy, Ben-Gurion University of NegevTable of ContentsPreface 1. Introduction 2. The Halakhic Hero 3. The Religious Passion of Halakhic Man 4. The Lonely Man of Faith 5. Confrontation 6. Prayer Bibliography Index
£19.79
Mandel Vilar Press The Jewish Underground of Samarkand: How Faith
Book SynopsisA portal into the perseverance of Jewish culture in the face of attempts to destroy it.To answer his son's question: what was it like growing up in Samarkand? Rabbi Hillel Zaltzman wrote and researched this memoir and history about Chassidic Jews who found refuge in Samarkand during the World War II and continued to live there under Soviet rule. This is a personal story for Zaltzman, who was born in Kharkov, Ukraine. When the Nazis invaded Kharkov, Zaltzman’s parents fled with their three young children to Samarkand (Uzbekistan). There they reconnected to other refugee Chassidic families, as well as some famous Chassidic rebbes also in flight. In Uzbekistan they created a thriving Jewish community until its institutions were abruptly shut down by Stalin immediately after the war. Still this Jewish community in Samarkand, Uzbekistan is remembered as shpitz Chabad—the epitome of Chassidic ideals and devotion.Zaltzman’s father kept him out of the Soviet schools, where atheism was promoted and Sabbath observance was impossible, teaching him furtively at home, until a neighbor discovered his existence at the age of 9. Zaltzman had no choice but to attend a public school then, but he still observed the demands of his faith and stayed home from school when necessary. Hillel studied with esteemed Chabad Chassidic rebbes who taught at great personal risk. If discovered, they could be sentenced to harsh labor in Siberia.Zaltzman credits his father’s unswerving commitment to his chinuch—his Jewish education—was beyond any compromise, and it was an exemplary expression of their Chabad brand of Chassidic Judaism: “The Chabad community was infused with a rich inner world of Chassidic vitality,” Zaltzman writes.Meanwhile, the Soviet regime remained obsessed with eliminating a Jewish religious identity; a special division of the NKVD (Soviet secret police) was assigned the task of destroying Jewish schools and yeshivas, and surveilling individuals through synagogue informers. Zaltzman records his experiences and adventures and those of other memorable people he has known and the sacrifices they made to share their love of Torah and Jewish learning in the secret underground yeshivas. He describes their attempts to celebrate Jewish holidays, make matzah, and obtain prayer books, as well as their other colorful escapades. He also tells of their exasperating experiences trying to obtain exit visas to leave the Soviet Union. The largely untold story of Chabad activism and heroism comes through with great immediacy in this first-person account of spiritual resistance to a Communist regime at war with the Jewish devotion to God and Torah. From the age 16, along with several other idealistic young men, Hillel Zaltzman was involved in Chamah, an underground Jewish organization that helped sustain and preserve Jewish life in the Soviet Union through education. Chamah established a network of underground Jewish schools that clandestinely taught more than 1,500 children over the years and provided material and spiritual support to Jews trying to obtain exit visas in the 1960s and 70s. Hillel himself was allowed to immigrate to Israel only in 1971, after years of trying. Now living in New York, he is the director of IChamah, an international organization which is devoted to serving Jews from the Former Soviet Union in Israel, Russia, and the US. Rabbi Zaltzman was honored for his humanitarian and Jewish outreach in the U.S. Senate in May 2016, as part of Jewish American Heritage Month.Trade Review"Zaltzman's stirring memoir, which was originally published in 2015 as Samarkand and has been condensed for this new edition, recounts his attempts to preserve Jewish culture in Soviet Uzbekistan. . . . He writes of these achievements in steady, unshowy prose, succeeding in his stated goal to enlighten readers who are unaware of a thriving Jewish community in the former Soviet Union. It's a fascinating blend of personal and cultural history."—Publishers Weekly "While the Kremlin ruthlessly suppressed organized religion, Chassidic Jews in Samarkand managed to sustain their traditions with determined ingenuity. Brimming with vivid detail, this book will interest anyone curious to know how they survived in the face of Stalinist repression."—Joshua Rubenstein, Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University and the author of nine books on Soviet history including The Last Days of Stalin "A debut history that details the plight of a family of Jews who fled from Ukraine to Uzbekistan while pursuing their faith . . . . the author does a remarkable job of vividly depicting the city of Samarkand, which became famous for its tenacious preservation of Jewish customs despite zealous political persecution. It serves as an effective historical study of Jewish life under Communist tyranny, and Zaltzman's mastery of details of the period is undeniable.—Kirkus Reviews "The inspiring story of Chabad's underground followers in far-off Samarkand as recounted by a Lubavitch activist who defied the Communists and survived to tell the tale. A valuable source on Jews under Communism and an unforgettable chronicle of courage and perseverance."—Jonathan D. Sarna, University Professor and Joseph H. & Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History, Brandeis University "I'm drawn in by the storytelling, its unembellished directness and clarity and by the brief sketches of each character that nevertheless embody an entire personality in the eyes of an intelligent and sensitive observer. Rabbi Hillel's earnest poignancy and his humanity and modesty are irresistible. The bravery of resistance to oppression dominates throughout. You have in your hands a cultural treasure!"—Cynthia Ozick, American novelist, and essayist whose fiction and nonfiction books include The Shawl, Levitation: Five Fictions, The Cannibal Galaxy and Metaphor and Memory. "Very little is known about the history of the Jews of Samarkand during the Soviet period. That is partly due to the clandestine nature of their struggle to maintain their Jewish identity under the most difficult circumstances. It is also due to the nature of the Soviet authoritarian regime that was intent on keeping the Soviet Jewry struggle hidden from public view. Rabbi Zaltzman's book makes an especially important contribution to Jewish history because it sheds light on aspects of the Jewish struggle for religious liberty in the Soviet Union that had not been previously studied and revealed. This book will inform, enlighten, and inspire the reader about events that took place in Samarkand that in many ways changed the course of Soviet Jewish history."—Michael N. Dobkowski, John Milton Potter Chair in the Humanities, Hobart and William Smith Colleges "Rabbi Zaltzman has the storyteller's genius: part historian, part I. B. Singer. In this astonishing narrative of a largely unknown piece of Jewish history, he tells of his family's journey and that of fellow Chabad Lubavitchers to the Uzbek city of Samarkand as they flee the Nazi invasion of Ukraine. He then recounts their struggles in Samarkand to keep themselves—and their religious practices—alive under the brutal rule of the Soviet Union after the war. Against those formidable enemies, Chabad Chassidism triumphs. No amount of political persecution can win when facing the dedication of the Chabad community. It is a dramatic story of perseverance, devotion to Jewish learning and the Jewish determination to survive."—Sol Gittleman, Alice and Nathan Gantcher University, Professor Emeritus, Tufts UniversityTable of ContentsPartial Table of Contents (Balance will be filled by February 1st):1. A Chassidic Education in Communist Russia2. My Father’s Youth in Lubavitch3. The War Years in Samarkand4. The Uncles I Didn't Know5. The Postwar Years under Stalin6. Our Distinguished Guest: R. Berke Chein7. Secret Worship Services8. The Legendary Chassid: R. Simcha Gorodetzky9. Our Bukharian Champion: R. Refael Chudaidatov10. Making Matzah11. The Founding of Chamah12. The Underground Yeshiva13. What Was the KGB Looking for in My Workshop?14. Shabbos Bereishis in the Cotton Field15. Mentor and Friend: R Mendel Futerfas16. Adventures on the Road17. Matchmaking in the Shadow of the KGB18. My Mother's Death and My father'sImmigration to Israel19. Leaving Russia20. From Dream's in Russia to Reality in IsraelGlossary About the Author
£19.79
Monkfish Book Publishing Company A Kabbalah of Food: Stories, Teachings, Recipes
Book SynopsisInspiring, mystical, and often surprising Chassidic tales combine with teachings and favorite Jewish recipes to nourish body and soul. Stories and food have always been central to Jewish life, and in this book, they are uniquely tied together. Thirty-nine Chassidic tales, revolving around food and eating and accompanied by spiritual teachings, delve into the mysteries of the Kabbalah, the joy of the Chassidim, and the power of religious faith and acts (mitzvot). Sixty-three recipes highlight Kosher cooking and the special foods traditionally prepared for Shabbat and the major Jewish holidays, including such favorites as knishes, latkes, gefilte fish, brisket, kugel, bagels, and challah bread. Many of the recipes are suitable for children to learn to cook.
£12.34
Brill Reading the Letter to Titus in Light of Crete: Dynamics of Early Christian Identity Construction
Book SynopsisThis volume argues that Titus’s invocation of Crete affected the ways early readers developed their identities. Using archaeological data, classical writings, and early Christian documents, he describes multiple traditions that circulated on Crete and throughout the Roman Empire concerning Cretan Zeus, Cretan social structure, and Cretan Judaism. He then uses these traditions to interpret Titus and explain how the letter would intersect with and affect readers’ identities. Because readers had differing conceptions of Crete based on their location and access to and evaluation of Cretan traditions, readers would have developed their identities in multiple, conflictual, even contradictory ways.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction 1 Titus, Crete, and Memory 1 Memory, Space, and Lieux de Mémoire 2 Titus as Lieu de Mémoire 3 Reception of Titus vis-à-vis Crete 4 Conclusion 2 Zeus 1 Pre-Roman Crete and Zeus 2 Rome, Crete, and the Development of the Zeus Myth 3 Conclusion 3 Cretan Society 1 Pre-Roman Period 2 Society in Roman Crete 3 Conclusion 4 Cretan Judaism 1 Crete and Judaism 2 Jewish-Cretan Connection Myth 3 Judaism and Zeus 4 Summary 5 No Cretans Allowed? 1 The Not-Lying God and His Associates 2 One of Us? 3 Group Organization 4 Conclusion 6 Our Great God and Savior: A New Foundation Myth 1 Epiphanies from God 2 Reception of Titus 2:13 3 A Unique People and Foundation Myths 4 Counter-Memories 5 Conclusion Conclusions Bibliography Index
£999.99
Gefen Publishing House Destiny: Why A Tiny Nation Plays Such a Huge Role
Book Synopsis
£999.99
Urim Publications Scholarly Man of Faith: Studies in the Thought
Book SynopsisThis book sets forward a series of interesting and less-explored aspects of Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik's teachings. These essays delve into the Rav's approach toward understanding biblical figures, his views on emotions and intellect, his appreciation of R. Yehudah ha-Levi, his understanding of medieval history, and the implications for modernity.Trade Review"This volume addresses a series of fascinating yet until now less-explored teachings of the Rav. And them are the Rav's take on major personalities in the Tanach, in light of his views on emotion, intellect and the interrelationship of these facets in the Rav's teachings" Alan Jay Gerber, The Jewish Star"'In Scholarly Man of Faith ,' said Dr. Kanarfogel, 'outstanding international scholars examine areas of his intellectual endeavors that have not been fully explored, making the volume valuable to anyone interested in the rav's teaching... I have had the pleasure of investigating with my fellow scholars the forces that have shaped the distinct elements of the Jewish character.'" JLNJ Staff, www.jewishlinknj.com"With essays on topics such as Biblical Hermeneutics in the Thought of R. Soloveitchik: A Preliminary Appraisal of the Influence of R. Yehudah Halevi, Science of Hermeneutics? Rav Soloveitchik's Scientific Method Revisited and more, this is a book by serious scholars and meant for a readership well-versed in western philosophy and at home with Rav Soloveitchik's worldview. For such readers, Scholarly Man of Faith is a reminder just how timeless and relevant Rav Soloveitchik was, and is." Ben Rothke, http://www.jewishpress.comTable of ContentsIntroduction, 7 Shalom Carmy, "In Many Respects God was Closer to Abraham than He was to Moses," Themes in Emergence of Ethical Man, 11 Shira Weiss, Biblical Hermeneutics in the Thought of R. Soloveitchik: A Preliminary Appraisal of the Influence of R. Yehudah Halevi, 27 Alex Sztuden, The Identity of Love and Cognition in the Thought of R. Joseph Soloveitchik, 49 Ephraim Kanarfogel, The History of the Tosafists and their Literary Corpus according to Rav Soloveitchik's Interpretrations of the Qinot for Tishah B'Av, 75 Daniel Rynhold, Science of Hermeneutics? Rav Soloveitchik's Scientific Method Revisited, 109 David Shatz, Contemporary Scholarship on Rabbi Soloveitchik's Thought: Where We Are, Where We Can Go, 135 Contributors, 197
£999.99
Urim Publications I Am for My Beloved: A Guide to Enhanced Intimacy
Book SynopsisForthright and frank, yet respectful and sensitive, I Am for My Beloved: A Guide to Enhanced Intimacy for Married Couples will help couples enrich their marital and sexual lives, and maintain passion and intimacy within the framework of Jewish tradition. Written by two Orthodox Jewish sex therapists with over 50 years combined experience, I Am for My Beloved conveys essential information about intimacy, sexual anatomy and physiology, sex within the life cycle, and Jewish values and attitudes towards sex – with an informative and practical approach. The information provided in this book will enable couples to enjoy a more open and fulfilling intimate connection, both emotionally and physically.Trade Review"Torah Judaism places great importance on sexuality not only as a legitimate source of pleasure for husband and wife, but also as a key component to a happy marriage and a basic human need. It can be difficult, however, for many religious Jews to maintain a healthy and balanced view of sexuality as they negotiate Judaism's expectations for modesty and sanctity against the currents of the surrounding society's highly sexualized culture. The present work by David Ribner and Talli Rosenbaum is an important resource for religious Jews who seek to understand the essentials and nuances of sexuality and sexual intimacy through the lens of their tradition. The book's presentation is sophisticated, accessible, practical, scientifically current, religiously sensitive, and wise. It should be recommended to any Orthodox couple seeking guidance as they begin their journey together toward physical and emotional intimacy." Dr. Andrew Nachum Klafter, MD"Ribner and Rosenbaum have written an extraordinary book, filled with the authors' special blend of profound religious and clinical wisdom. It is destined to become a classic for Jewish couples seeking to enrich and deepen marital intimacy at every stage throughout the life cycle." Peggy J. Kleinplatz, Ph.D., Director of Sex and Couples Therapy Training, University of Ottawa, Canada"This is a wonderful book with every chapter bringing a tremendous amount of information using clear language, illustrations, case studies and insights from other professionals. The two professional and experienced authors share decades of valuable research and insights gleaned from their work. A worthwhile and important read." Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash, Yoetzet Halakha and Sex Educator
£21.95
Gefen Books Torah Comics: Comic Strips Summarizing the Weekly
Book Synopsis
£999.99
