Book Description
The revolutionary Haggadah is written in gender-inclusive contemporary language and has sold over 900,000 copies since its introduction.
Customer Reviews:
A Passover Haggadah.......2007-05-11
The art work in this Haggadah is enough to justify its purchase. The Hebrew is translated thoroughly and I assume faithfully (but how would I know). I have always found it very satisfactory for my seders that include adults and children of diverse faiths and non-faiths. If I were to improve it, I would place some of the songs that are at the back of the book at the portion of the service where it is appropriate to sing them (Dayenu, for instance).
A Passover Seder.......2007-04-11
We were so pleased to be able to purchase A Passover Haggadah by Herbert Bronstein on amazon.com. The original haggadahs we owned were bought over 25 years ago and had, quite literally, fallen apart. Our family has used these haggadahs at every Passover seder since that time and we would have been distraught if we could not continue the tradition.
Luckily, my wife found these on your website and our family was delighted we could continue our seders with our beloved haggadahs.
For an enjoyable Telling.......2001-03-12
Gender neutral language. Based in Right-to-Left format. Lots of English leader-and-group responsive readings. Contains Hebrew sections with English translations, and also transliterations for the primary blessings. The Four Questions are not transliterated, but are in English and Hebrew. The Four Children are children, not SONS. Dayenu is in Hebrew and English, no transliteration. There is a full Grace After Meals in Hebrew and Hallel is in Hebrew and English. Contains 25 pages of music.
Our family's haggadah.......2000-05-05
Our extended family has tried out other haggadot, but we always come back to this one. The gender-sensitive language is done very well -- it doesn't stick out at all. The book is a work of art!
Recipe for a wonderful Seder.......2000-03-24
This book is great. The language is poetic and powerful. It is even gender-inclusive and socially conscious without seeming new-agey. The illustrations are beautiful and dreamy. This haggadah is very versatile and provides a lot of choices for planning your Seder.
Book Description
A Night of Questions is a unique four-in-one Haggadah that includes outlines for customizing a Seder for the people present at the table. The four menus include a Seder for young children, a Seder for older children with adults, a Seder for groups of diverse backgrounds (including those who are not Jewish), and a Seder focusing on the role of women.
The Haggadah also features special color-coded graphic icons that highlight the different types of readings such as kavanot, which are introductions to the text that set the tone for the text, and readings for children. Readings and songs are drawn from a wide variety of sources, representing the diversity of the Jewish community and the world in which we live. Accompanying the text is compelling new artwork by Jeffrey Schrier, which itself serves as a commentary on the Haggadah liturgy.
Customer Reviews:
The only liberal Haggadah you will need.......2007-05-11
This year we had 25 to Sedar, so I ordered extra copies.
If you are looking for a liberal hagaddah, it has tremendous breadth and depth.
Most User-Friendly Haggadah.......2007-03-26
I have somewhere between 20 and 30 different Haggadot. A Night of Questions is not only one of the richest and most thought-provoking in my collection... it is also the most user-friendly. It's the only one that has a table of contents that breaks down the Maggid section into its familiar parts (4 Children, Dayenu, etc.) The outlines of 4 different types of seders in the back of the book are very helpful. There's something here for every one. The commentaries address the hard questions that are likely to arise in the minds of those who are really thinking about what we are saying, such as: "Would it really have been 'enough for us' had we come out of Egypt and not been given the Torah and not come into the Land of Israel?" IMPORTANT NOTE: I see that Amazon is showing this as 4-6 weeks delivery. I know that they are available from the publisher and you'll have them in time for Passover. Check out www.jrf.org."
Refreshing new Haggadah.......2007-03-25
This Haggadah has wonderful, contemporary discussions and presentations. The illustrations are beautiful.
The Best to Date.......2003-03-03
I have conducted sedorim (seders) for over 30 years and have used five different haggadot. This is the BEST! It explains, offers excellent commentary, provides choices in the kind of seder one might have, as well as providing frameworks for designing your own. I have used it for 2 years now and get rave reviews from the people who attend my sedorim.
The cd of the music of Pesach which is available, is a favorite as we prepare our home for the holiday.
It sure beats "Manishewitz".
This will get you out of a rut.......2003-02-13
Seders too often fall into a routine, with everyone slogging through the Hagaddah by rote. This is a lively, thought-provoking Hagaddah that will broaden and deepen your appreciation of Passover. It certainly has for my family.
Average customer rating:
- A New Encyclopedia Judaica - Modern Judaic Scholarship advances...
- A Series of Disappointments
- UNIQUE AND MONUMENTAL WITH ONE CAVEAT
- A preliminary report on a vital reference work for all those who take interest in the Jewish world
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Encyclopedia Judaica 22 Volume Set
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Customer Reviews:
A New Encyclopedia Judaica - Modern Judaic Scholarship advances..........2007-08-06
The Encyclopaedia Judaica is a 22-volume English-language encyclopedia of the Jewish people, their faith, Judaism, History and Culture. It's a cumulative result of over three decades of prodigious study and research by about 2,200 contributors and 250 editors around the world and includes approximately 21,000 entries with 2,700 new entries by 1,200 new contributors. Its Scholarship, comprehensive scope, authority, and widespread availability make it a great first and often indispensable resource for Rabbis, Scholars and laypeople.
Three valid critiques of the new edition are 1. prominent scholars decry the wholesale reprinting of many outdated entries. Current scholarship is shortchanged... 2. Minor and marginal Jewish figures and events, are still included, while major figures and movements are absent or minimized. 3. A difference between the first edition of the 72' Encyclopaedia Judaica and the second edition of the New Encyclopaedia Judaica is the paucity of visual images though the new editions are in color.
Nevertheless, it is recommended by the Library of Congress and by the Association of Jewish Libraries for use in determining the authoritative romanization of names of Jewish authors. Furthermore it's guidelines for transliterating Hebrew into English are followed by many academic books and journals. Additionally there are many improvements such a separate category of Jewish Law, reducing Legendary material, Scholem's classic essay on Kabbalah, greater material on Hasidim, Many new findings in Archeology, Israel and Post-Holocaust material, etc. In sum, it is an indispensable reference purchase for Universities, colleges, seminaries, Libraries and all who care about Modern Judaic scholarship. Highly Recommended and still indispensable.
A Series of Disappointments.......2007-04-11
My first disappointment: The wealth of illustration of the first edition is virtually gone. You can still find a treatment of Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, of course, but you will not see the great picture of him with his wife Hemdah, taken in 1912. Nor will you find the many other similar pictorial treasures of the first edition. If you must buy this edition, be sure to find a place on your shelves for the old one as well.
My second disappointment: The shoddy treatment of bibliographies. There are, to be sure, lists of books that are appended to the various articles. But there is no annotation. A bibliography without annotation, as it has been said so well, is like a body without a soul. These lists of books will not make it easy for anyone in search of knowledge to find the more helpful sources. But here the new editors have an excuse, if that is what you would call it: the first edition was just as bad in this regard.
My third disappointment: The new knowledge of the last 35 years, insofar as it finds its way into this new work, is often just appended as additions to the old articles. Even where new knowledge revolutionizes the old, the old is still accorded honor of precedent. What was obviously called for is a complete reworking, but this is not what the editors have done.
My fourth disappointment: At least some of the newer material is so superficial that it is useless for any scholarly purpose. I looked up "Exodus," hoping to find what archaeologists and historians have to say about the Biblical account. The article says, flatly, that it is the scholarly consensus that the Biblical Exodus is "unhistorical," meaning, I suppose, that it never happened. The article gives no reference to any archaeologist or historian, nor to any book or other article that would throw light on the subject. What can a student make of this ? Simply take on faith the word of the EJ II ? This is no way to write a work of reference. The writer of this article would receive a failing grade, easily, if he presented it for credit at a university.
There are of course many good things in this new work, and I am sure that with more time and perhaps more inclination I could have found many more than I did.
One good set of articles is about the Ethiopian Jews, even though it is not easy to find it unless you happen to know that the group is now called Beta Israel. The articles are by Steven Kaplan and his associates. Kaplan undoubtedly knows more about the subject than almost anyone else. But even here the EJ II's sloppy method of documentation gets in the way. As it happens, there is a small number of other scholars who have made seminal contributions to this subject, notably Kay Shelemay and James Quirin. Neither of these is mentioned by EJ II.
This work is serious enough - just - to constitute a required purchase for any general research library. If it was the aim of the editors to achieve this minimum, they have succeeded. But it does not seem that they will win any warm admiration of scholars. That, in my book, makes the work a failure, a squandered opportunity.
UNIQUE AND MONUMENTAL WITH ONE CAVEAT.......2007-03-30
I bought EJ #1 when it was published about 30 years ago, and have now already bought #2.
My problem with giving away (which I will probably soon donate to a large local university which just recently formed a Jewish Studies program), is the reason for witholding the last star:
IT HAS NO ILLUSTRATIONS! The brochure for EJ 1 stated 'over 2000 photos, maps, diagrams and illustrations', while the description of EJ 2 states '600 maps and diagrams'. This is a tremendous loss -- just look up 'illustrated manuscripts' or 'incunabula' in the older and see what you are missing in the newer. [Even Pinsk (now Belarus), my father's birthplace, has four photos (two showing the interior and exterior of its [previously] largest synagogue
while #2 shows none.
The project is better organized and has its basis in three parts: (1) Exact duplication from #2 where no update is needed; (2) Reproduction of #1 plus updates (even the bibligraphy makes the distinction between the older and newer references; and (3) Totally new subject matter.
Each of these three types of entries are clearly indicated.
I paid almost $500 for the older one in the late 70s, and if you look hard you can find this set for $1850 plus $8 (!!) shipping.
Contrary, for what is worth, the present edition took four years, not two as mentioned in the earlier ?analysis. However, it is as thorough as if it was written yesterday, which can be evidenced by its very current bibliography.
It is an outstanding contribution in all aspects relative to Jews/Judaism, and at a reasonable price.
Buy it, by all means, if this degree of information interests you and if you can afford its reasonable price.
A preliminary report on a vital reference work for all those who take interest in the Jewish world .......2007-02-21
I am writing this preliminary review of 'Judaica' in the hope that it can be of some help to potential purchasers and future readers of the work. No one asked me to write this review but the readers of it should know that I wrote five relatively small entries for the Encyclopedia, and am not thus a wholly unbiased reviewer.
Primarily though I do not so much intend to present my opinion but rather to report on one of the Encyclopedia's principal editors, Michael Berenbaum has to say about the Encyclopedia. I will I hope accurately paraphrase remarks he made about the 'Encyclopedia' in a talk given at the 'Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs' on February 19, 2007.
Michael Berenbaum says that the editors aimed to preserve the quality of the original Judaica while accurately reflecting the major changes that have taken place in the past thirty- five years in the Jewish world. In this regard one full- volume of the Encyclopedia is dedicated solely to dynamic and rapidly developing Israel. Berenbaum stressed that the Encyclopedia strongly reflects the changes that Feminism have brought in the past thirty- five years. There are three hundred new entries devoted to Jewish women. Many major entries such as the Gershom Scholem entry on 'Jewish Mysticism' were republished but augmented by a report on the work that has occurred since. In the 'Jewish Mysticism ' area Scholem's work was complemented by the work of a leading figure in the field. Prof. Moshe Idel.
Berenbaum said that the world of Jewish learning has vastly expanded in the past thirty - five years. In 1972 there were only a few universities which had Jewish Studies programs. Now there are hundreds of scholars in the area. This means new work is being done in many different areas.
Berenbaum stresses the vastness of the world of Jewish learning, the impossibilty of any single scholar comprehending it. He is however filled with admiration for the creativity in all areas of life displayed by the Jewish people and believes this is reflected within the 'Encyclopedia' itself.
Berenbaum compliments the chief - editor of the work Fred Skolnik who he calls a Renaissance Man of Jewish studies. He notes that this update was done in two years but that it could have taken twenty. The relative speed is in part attributable to the new technologies ( Internet, E-mail, Fax) which did not exist thirty- five years ago
I cannot at this point honestly vouch for the quality of the work which has been done.I expect however that in months and years ahead I will be turning to the New Judaica. As one interested in the 'Jewish world' I cannot count the number of times the 1972 Edition provided vital information for my own work. I expect the new Judaica will do the same for many thousands of researchers, and readers.
Book Description
Every parent hopes their child will be self-reliant, optimistic, and well mannered, a challenge in our current culture. Clinical psychologist and Jewish educator Wendy Mogel distills the ancient teachings of the Torah, the Talmud, important Jewish thinkers, and contemporary psychological insights into nine blessings that address key parenting issues such as:
* determining realistic expectations for each child
* respect for adults
* chores
* mealtime battles
* coping with frustration
* developing independence and self-control
* resisting over-scheduling and over-indulgence
The Blessing of a Skinned Knee guides us toward effective, enlightened parenting in an increasingly speedy, material, and competitive age.
Customer Reviews:
The Blessing Of The Skinned Kness.......2007-08-05
Simply the best parenting book I've ever read. Straightforward, simple and addresses every issue I've ever had with my kids. Intuitive and funny.
Some good advice from a Jewish lady.......2007-07-21
This book is very good, in general. There are some unimortant things that the author feels we need to hear about anyway. But still, for everyone who has children, or is intereted in parenting, it is quite a helpful book. I personally do have desire to learn from any book that can teach me something different or make me look at things in a different way. I'm not Jewish yet I felt there is a lot to learn here from the Jewish tradition. Mostly, it is the simplicity which is mixed together with divinity that I find is a very interesting and positive concept. I do recommend this book.
Take the time.......2007-07-06
I read this book when it first came out - read it once, twice, probably 3 times. The guidance here really helped get me through some challenging pre-teen years. My children (now older teens and college age) have all turned out better than I could have ever imagined! Parenting has a lot to do with following a clear path with frequently discussed values and clear expectations/consequences. I hope Wendy's messages continue to reach a lot of people.
A very good parenting book .......2007-06-28
The overwhelming majority of readers of this book I know of have found it to be a wise, practical guide to better parenting. They found it replete with ways of making their child more respectful, self- reliant children as preparation to becoming better and stronger human beings.
There was only one person whose negative criticism raised a question in my mind, and this in regard to the authors' treatment of children who suffer special disabilities.
In any case I found that there was already a certain wisdom and direction in the way the contents of the book are structured. The reader opens with a chapter on the way she changed her whole practice of counseling children. She then has a chapter teaching parents how to accept the special character of their children. Her idea is basically that we should not simply take children as if they are blank slates in which parents write out their own needs and wishes. But rather each is a unique human being whose special qualities we must understand and help develop in a way best for them.(This accords with the traditional Jewish saying "Educate the child according to its nature") She too teaches the danger of over- protecting children.This is the focus of the title- chapter on the blessings of a skinned knee. She then considers the whole question of how we can find in ordinary decisions sparks of spirituality . She goes on to talk about the blessing of longing , and how important it is to teach children gratitude for what they have received. One of the main messages of the book is teaching children to overcome that kind of mentality in which they are perpetually hungry and dissastified, always looking selfishly for the next treat they can get. Mogel aims to teach parents how to teach Moderation in regard to physical demands, and appreciation for Good received. This connects up with the chapter in which she deals with the traditional Jewish terms for motivation ( Yetzer Hara- The Evil Impulse) and how children need to be taught how to use their drives in a beneficial way . She also speaks about Moderation in relation to food . In her last chapters she moves to more purely spiritual considerations, and teaches how parents should help in teaching their children Faith in God.
While much of the Teaching here has its basis in traditional Jewish teachings about raising children it is clear that the work has a universal meaning and application.
Theology for every day.......2007-06-19
What I loved most about this book was the way in which the author marries theology with the nitty-gritty of everyday parenting decisions. The payoff for me personally has been a sense of joy, freedom and confidence as I rear my son. Mogel isn't only out to save kids' spirits or turn up the butane under the reader's observance of Judaism (I suspect that if I were Jewish, this book would have had such an effect on me); she wants to make parenting fun again, and she succeeds brilliantly. Witty, readable, and profound, this book is a real treasure. Don't miss it.
Book Description
More than 80 years ago, a young scholar emigrated from Eastern Europe to Jerusalem. Not long thereafter, he received a priceless spiritual teaching that revealed the source of lasting joy and fulfillment from a spiritual master whose name he would never disclose, not even after he himself became the most renowned Kabbalist of the 20th century. The young scholar's name was Rav Yehuda Ashlag, and though his letters and writings offer tantalizing hints of the wisdom that was given to him, the pieces of the puzzle have never been fully assembled until now. Here Michael Berg, himself the descendant of great Kabbalists, shares the result of years spent studying Rav Ashlag's life and work. In this book, Berg shows how the secret offers life-changing power. Drawing on stories and insights from Ashlag and other noted mystics, Berg explains how to discover one’s true purpose in the world and thereby find lasting peace and joy.
Customer Reviews:
dissapointing.......2007-10-13
Probably good for someone who has never read a word on anything Metephysical. I read it, sold it, didn't miss it. Nothing but rehashed info.
"The Search" by Michael Berg........2007-10-04
The book is very good. I purchased it in hardback for my wife. I believe the purchase price was $12.95. However the Shipping was nearly $18.00. This book is approximately 4"X6" and weighs maybe a couple of ounces. Unbelievable! What a RIP-OFF! I sent an e-mail to Amazon to complain, but as of today (10/03/07) I have not received a response, nor do I expect one. Needless to say this is my last purchase from Amazon. I employ over 400 workers for my company, and I made certain that they were ALL aware of this unethical business practice.
John Gremillion
Sharing? .......2007-08-11
Share this!, Mr. Berg. I read it in an hour, glanced back through to see if I missed something so perhaps spent an hour and fifteen or twenty minutes on drivel, ancients and wisdom, my eye. There's more philosophy in anything by Carlos Castenada on peyote. There's a saying that everytime you open a book you learn something, this is an exception to that, although I did learn for the thousandth time, Buyer Beware.
The Secret is So So.......2007-07-13
After all the hype on this book I was disappointed in it's content. It left me feeling uninspired and the author is a bit intense and condescending. The parables were a stretch.
Religous Subset of "The Secret".......2007-07-09
This book is focused on the religous suset of the ideas put forth in the book "The Secret" made so popular by Oprah. It is written by one of the co-authors of the latter book.
Amazon.com
Armstrong, a British journalist and former nun, guides us along one of the most elusive and fascinating quests of all time--the search for God. Like all beloved historians, Armstrong entertains us with deft storytelling, astounding research, and makes us feel a greater appreciation for the present because we better understand our past. Be warned: A History of God is not a tidy linear history. Rather, we learn that the definition of God is constantly being repeated, altered, discarded, and resurrected through the ages, responding to its followers' practical concerns rather than to mystical mandates. Armstrong also shows us how Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have overlapped and influenced one another, gently challenging the secularist history of each of these religions. --Gail Hudson
Book Description
Over 700,000 copies of the original hardcover and paperback editions of this stunningly popular book have been sold. Karen Armstrong's superbly readable exploration of how the three dominant monotheistic religions of the world—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—have shaped and altered the conception of God is a tour de force. One of Britain's foremost commentators on religious affairs, Armstrong traces the history of how men and women have perceived and experienced God, from the time of Abraham to the present. From classical philosophy and medieval mysticism to the Reformation, the Enlightenment, and the modern age of skepticism, Armstrong performs the near miracle of distilling the intellectual history of monotheism into one compelling volume.
Customer Reviews:
Enlightenment.......2007-10-13
This is a brilliant, well written history of belief systems, that have influenced my life. It enabled me to understand the roots of beliefs and customs that I have unknowingly and automatically engaged without an understanding of their origins.
The Hobo Philosopher.......2007-09-07
Karen Armstrong was, at one time, a Roman Catholic nun. She left the nunnery behind in 1969 but not her search for God. This is a good book.
Her book deals primarily with God in the Judeo-Christian theologies; Judaism, Christianity and Islam. She gives a good criticism and analysis from atheism to mysticism. She goes through each of the religions and the evolution of their thought. I suppose that the word "evolution" would not be proper because there is no actual progression of thought culminating in a final conclusion. It is a comparative analysis, exploring all the tangential pathways engaged in by all three of the theologies. The point is made that all three theologies have shared all of the various pathways in seeking a God. Each group has had its radicals, its rationales, its fundamentalists and it mystics.
I enjoyed Karen's book but Karen's notion that the impossible could become more acceptable if it is blanketed in the mystically paradoxical is not an answer that I can accept, but it is more than possible that mankind, in general, could find it temporarily sustainable. I feel that this would only bring the human race out of the frying pan and into the fire. Fundamentalism is certainly a step backward, but mysticism is no step forward.
I personally feel that in her quest for God she has one final step to take, but is afraid to take it for the fear of that "pit of despair and hopelessness" that she mentioned in her book. Kierkegard had a similar problem. He chose to "leap into the absurd".
Great Book.......2007-08-23
In this book, Karen Armstrong voices several great perspectives on religion. She began as a student of the church herself, working towards becoming a nun, and later decides to investigate things further. I think it's a great book for anyone who is either interested in learning more about religion, or has already adopted strong convictions. Everyone can learn the meaning and importance of what religion can mean to an individual, and in a well-written and eloquent manner. I recommend everyone read this book.
Part Fascinating, Part Dense.......2007-07-24
I found this book to be fascinating in parts and really dense in others. I am rating it somewhat low because, while I really enjoyed the ideas, I found the writing style to be very heavy in places and I am holding unto my stars for a more enjoyable read on the topic. The first three chapters were by far my favorite. They deal with the history behind the Old and New Testaments. The middle chapters deal with the evolution of Christian/Muslim/Jewish theology and were like trudging through mud for me. The last two chapters were again enjoyable for me and they deal with the history of atheism and a discussion on the future of God.
Armstrong's notion of "God" is somewhat foreign to me (it makes me think of Buddhism more than the Judeo-Christian God). She certainly does not appear to be a fan of anthropomorphic interpretations of God, but I have a difficult time discerning the role of any kind of organized religion if God is reduced to her mystical nothingness (perhaps she does not envision a role). I also am not sure how relevant it is to even call such a notion "God" after two millennia of anthropomorphic deities. At any rate, I very much enjoyed the historical aspects of this book and I would recommend it for those who are interested in the history of Christianity/Islam/Judaism from inception to now and are not afraid of some rather dense chapters.
Elegantly Comprehensive and Grippingly Readable.......2007-05-16
For anyone who has ever wondered why some people believe with extreme fervor in the supernatural for which there has never been a single shred of credible evidence, Karen Armstrong's magnum opus is a must read. A refugee from a Catholic convent, Ms Armstrong proved to be a bona fide intellectual whose scholarship is impeccable.
Her book begins with the yearnings of ignorant, superstitious ancient peoples for a means of explaining the then unexplainable. It goes on to show how such ancient myths evolved into the religions we know today.
Armstrong explains how the ancient nomadic Israelites rationalized their conquest of Canaan with the myths they were God's chosen people and he had promised the land of Canaan to them. In addition to taking the Canaanite's land, the Israelites also co-opted the chief God of their territorial pantheon, El, as their own and renamed Him Jehovah. "Emanuel" literally translates "El with us," not generically "God with us."
Armstrong goes on to delineate how Christianity was originally invented by Paul and others and how it has been repeatedly reinvented over the centuries, always holding out the seductive hope of "salvation" to those willing to accept the mythologies on blind faith that salvation is not only possible but also that there is somehow a need for it.
And she explains how Islam arose from Mohammed's vision, much as the Church of Latter Day Saints arose from Joseph Smith's vision and Christian Science from Mary Baker Eddy's.
Armstrong's book does not debunk religion, but it provides a comfortable understanding of the cosmos for anyone who finds religion obsolete in light of knowledge that has emerged since someone wrote Genesis.
Amazon.com
In 1988, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin undertook a mission to heal "Jewish ignorance," an affliction whose symptoms include the ability to name the three components of the Trinity, coupled with an inability to explain mitzvah. Telushkin's contribution to the cure is his wide-ranging, entertaining Jewish Literacy. First published in 1991, Jewish Literacy contains almost 350 entries on subjects ranging from the Ten Commandments to The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Entries are numbered (for easy, encyclopedia-style reference) and organized topically (to smooth the experience of reading each page straight through). And the revised edition contains several new entries (including articles about the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin and the vice-presidential nomination of Joseph Lieberman) as well as numerous corrections, enlargements, and updates. One might expect Rabbi Telushkin's project of inspiring Jewish literacy to be overly earnest, but the author's understated wit adds considerable levity to most entries. The entry on "Sodom and Gomorrah," for instance, ends this way: "A number of years ago, some Israeli promoters of tourism suggested transforming the modern city of Sodom into a tourist haven with casinos, nightclubs, and even strip shows. The Chief Rabbinate in Israel sharply demurred, warning that there was nothing to prevent God from destroying the city a second time. The plan was dropped." --Michael Joseph Gross
Book Description
How much do you know about Judaism?
- How did the Ten Lost Tribes become lost ?
- Are circumcisions performed on the Sabbath ?
- Which country first granted Jews equal rights ?
- When was polygamy outlawed for Jews ?
- Why does Jewish law compare gossiping to murder ?
You'll find the answers to these questions -- and much more -- in this insightful and comprehensive guide. Written by esteemed rabbi and bestselling author Joseph Telushkin, Jewish Literacy has become one of the most respected and widely used reference books on Jewish life, culture, religion, and tradition. Now revised and updated, this fascinating volume distills a vast body of scholarship into 348 short, readable chapters, making the rich and complex history of Judaism accessible to any reader.
Organized by subject, the book's fifteen sections include:
History and Contemporary Life
From the biblical and Talmudic periods through the Spanish Inquisition to modern times, with special sections on the Holocaust, Israel, and American-Jewish life.
Beliefs, Ethics, and Rituals
From monotheism to Judaism's views on the afterlife, "chosenness," and human relations with God; ethical concerns ranging from the proper treatment of animals to the real meaning of "an eye for an eye"; along with explanations of the major prayers and synagogue practices.
Jewish Holidays and Life Cycle
The origins and distinctive customs of each holiday, and the rites sanctifying every major life event from circumcision and baby naming to burial and mourning.
Answers to the questions from the front flap:
- They were dispersed when the Kingdom of Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians in 722 B.C.E. (see Chapter 45).
- The United States (see Chapter 203).
- Around 1000 C.E., when it was proscribed by Rabbi Gershom; however, most Sephardic Jews did not accept the ban (see Chapter 95).
- Because gossip, like murder, can do irrevocable damage (see Chapter 271).
Customer Reviews:
Nice survey.......2007-10-10
This book is intended for people, Jew or non Jew, to whet their appetite into the vast storehouse of Jewish history and all things that pertain to Jews in literature. I thought that it was (tob), good. The vastness of our history and literature is beyond reach in this life time. So, suffice to say, their exist certain fountains of knowledge such as this book that helps us mere mortals gain a foothold into our past. I want to say that this book could be used like, cliff notes, but that would trivialize the Rabbi's hard work. Nay, this book is needed and handy for a quick glance into Judaism past it is well written but like all surveys it makes you desire more.
It's a must have.
Shalom
Informative but some "don't go there" moments.......2007-09-25
In general, this was a good book. It is well-written, informative and intelligent. My only criticism is that the Rabbi's statements on Christianity and Islam were not always accurate of fair. (In fairness, these misinterpretations often come from the followers of the religions themselves.) If you keep these biases in mind this is a wonderful book.
Wonderful.......2007-09-24
This book is terrific. Absolutely terrific. Rabbi Telushkin is simply an incredible writer. This book should be read by everyone who is Jewish as well as by everyone who is interested in world religions.
God vs. G-d,etc. by a Rabbi who is a Rabbi(not a "rabbi").......2007-09-11
I remember when I first started seeing God spelled G-d,never having a clue what the reason was-and bumbling my way to some type of mystical bs answer that pissed me off;I don't remember how long my "explanation" predated this book,but I was pissed off until I finally saw the real answer:(p.56-57)"The Third Commandment also has not fared well in English:Lo tissa et shem Ha-Shem Eloheikha la-shav is usually translated as "You shall not take the Lord your God's name in vain."Many people think that this means that you have to write God as G-D,or that it is blasphemous to say words such as "goddamn".Even if these assumptions are correct,it's still hard to figure out what makes this offense so heinous that it's included in the document that forbids murdering,stealing,idolatry,and adultery.However,the Hebrew,Lo tissa,literally means "You shall not carry(God's name in vain);in other words,don't use God as your justification in selfish causes.The Third Commandment is the only one concerning which God says,"for the Lord God will not forgive him who carries His name in vain"(Exodus 20:6-7).The reason now seems to be clear.When a person commits an evil act,he discredits himself.But when a religious person commits an evil act in the name of God,he or she discredits God as well.And since God relies on religious people to bring knowledge of Him into the world,he pronounces the sin unpardonable."Amen.
One of the worst books I have ever read........2007-08-07
Before I express the criticism from my title I should begin by saying that this book is well written and very informative. It contains a lot of really interesting information about Judaism and were it not for the profound biases and ignorance of its author I might even rank it among one of the better books I have read recently.
In order to understand why I so thoroughly dislike this book it might actually help to briefly discuss another book that really has nothing to do with this one. A few years ago I read Bertrand Russell's History of Western Philosophy - another good book with a very similar abysmal nature. My issue with Russell is his utter dismissal of any other view point from his own. Thus Nietzsche is dismissed after only a page. Schopenhauer is rendered inconsequential while fundamental thinkers such as Kirkegaard and Wittgenstein are ignored. Meanwhile trivial thinks such as Dewey are praised because they agree with Russell's own positions. So while the book is well written, the general sense of history and context is brilliant, unless you already know something about philosophy, and can escape the many pitfalls, Russell's text is one to be avoided. And if you do know something it ends up seeming somewhat pathetic.
I have pretty much the same critique of Jewish Literacy by Telushkin. Yes this is a well written book. Yes there is a lot that is good here. A reader who wants to know a little something about Judaism and is willing to consult it more like a dictionary than a reading it cover to cover (like I did) might get some value from owning this book. If you want to occasionally look up different holiday's or get some brief illumination regarding Torah passages or even know a little something more about thinkers like Maimonides or Rabbi Feinstein this is a good introductory source.
What you don't want to do is think of this as having any value when it comes to that can be in any way impartial. Telushkin is an Orthodox Rabbi, so I guess I can forgive some of his opinions in much the same way I can forgive say... Pat Robertson some of his ignorant and backwards positions simply by say well... he is a Southern Baptist he probably doesn't know better.
As an example upon finishing this I was shocked and dismayed to discover that I am an Anti-Semite. I admit to not being Jewish. I can't help that my father's father was Jewish but that is matrilineally irrelevant. But felt that my admiration of so many Jewish writers, thinkers, artists and friends that I actually took the time to well... anee m'daber ktzat eevreet. But it turns out that according to Telushkin that anybody who has even the smallest criticism of Israel is Anti-Zionist and because of this also an Anti-Semite struck me as well... unkind. Or said another way, if disapproving of Israeli missiles killing unarmed Lebanese civilians, or disliking the racist and apartheid policies directed against the Palestinian population makes me an Anti-Semite the so be it; I guess I am one.
Some of his positions such as the position that only Orthodox Jews are really Jews, while Reform Jews and Conservative Jews aren't, seem to be just part of the overall position of Orthodoxy and can probably be ignored in pretty much the same way that say Ann Coulter's position that Democrats and Liberals are un-American are equally as bigoted and unfounded.
In fact if it makes my dislike of this book any easier to understand, just imagine a history of America written by an right-wing republican, then transfer the narrative into a history of Judaism. The same points would be covered 1) The troubled early years and the politically safe interpretation 2) The historical justifications for contemporary amorality 3) The veiled denouncing of political opponents 4) One hell of a lot of revisionism and glossing over.
So yes. I did not like this book. It was at times a fun read. There were a couple of funny anecdotes that I told some of my friends. I did learn a fair bit that I didn't know. The book was well written and kept my interest enough so that it only took me three days to finish reading, like I said cover to cover. But I would never recommend it to anyone. And to the people who do read it, I say be careful, read between the lines because while the author seems reasonable he really is not.
Book Description
"Welcome to the Faith Club. We're three mothers from three faiths -- Islam, Christianity, and Judaism -- who got together to write a picture book for our children that would highlight the connections between our religions. But no sooner had we started talking about our beliefs and how to explain them to our children than our differences led to misunderstandings. Our project nearly fell apart."
After September 11th, Ranya Idliby, an American Muslim of Palestinian descent, faced constant questions about Islam, God, and death from her children, the only Muslims in their classrooms. Inspired by a story about Muhammad, Ranya reached out to two other mothers -- a Christian and a Jew -- to try to understand and answer these questions for her children. After just a few meetings, however, it became clear that the women themselves needed an honest and open environment where they could admit -- and discuss -- their concerns, stereotypes, and misunderstandings about one another. After hours of soul-searching about the issues that divided them, Ranya, Suzanne, and Priscilla grew close enough to discover and explore what united them.
The Faith Club is a memoir of spiritual reflections in three voices that will make readers feel as if they are eavesdropping on the authors' private conversations, provocative discussions, and often controversial opinions and conclusions. The authors wrestle with the issues of anti-Semitism, prejudice against Muslims, and preconceptions of Christians at a time when fundamentalists dominate the public face of Christianity. They write beautifully and affectingly of their families, their losses and grief, their fears and hopes for themselves and their loved ones. And as the authors reveal their deepest beliefs, readers watch the blossoming of a profound interfaith friendship and the birth of a new way of relating to others.
In a final chapter, they provide detailed advice on how to start a faith club: the questions to ask, the books to read, and most important, the open-minded attitude to maintain in order to come through the experience with an enriched personal faith and understanding of others.
Pioneering, timely, and deeply thoughtful, The Faith Club's caring message will resonate with people of all faiths.
For more information or to start your own faith club visit www.thefaithclub.com
Customer Reviews:
What is "faith?".......2007-10-14
What I didn't see in this book is how "faith" translated into relationship with God within each of the three religious paths. While there were discussions of how their religions made them feel good/comforted them, I didn't see how God transformed them into his image. It seemed to be more about creating God/Allah in images they could be comfortable with - "I couldn't believe in a God who...would require particular rituals such as prayer/require belief in original sin, etc.
What does it mean to believe? If God created us (rather than vice versa) then what does he require of us? How does God speak to us and guide us when we stray? Because if we don't stray (no such thing as original sin after all and God loves us all just the way we are and we don't need to bend our wills to his) why do we need God at all? In which case, any road truly will lead home after all.
The Faith Club.......2007-10-11
I bought this book when on a business trip and looking for something to read in the evenings. I thought it would be a "soft" book to use as a "sleeping pill," as it were. In reality, it is an excellently written book on the journey of three women of different religions who discover, through the process of "agreeing to disagree," that their "religions" are in reality the same faith. In the beginning, one of the women describes them as "one having a religion with no faith, one a faith with no religion, and one having both." The three women set out to explore their differences and their similarities -- arguing, discussing, and perhaps even compromising -- until they find themselves supporting each other in their differences. I believe their method could be applied to other "differences" as well. Our media and our politics (as well as our religions) have become too egocentric and not willing to honestly explore what people of the opposite party really think, believe, and want. Read this book, discover the process, and "agree to disagree."
Faith Club.......2007-09-17
My wife purchased this book and is reading it for a book club. I heard her tell a friend that she loved this book.
The Faith Club.......2007-09-13
This book was full of good information and challenged me to think about my faith and to acknowledge the similarity between all three of these faiths.
As a Christian I was disturbed by the fact that the Christian seemed to give up some of the basic Christian tenets (that Jesus is truly the son of God and the way to salvation)but that did not ruin the intellectual\spiritual challenges of the book. I could discuss the topics of this book for years.
One Book; Three Pespectives.......2007-08-24
This was an informative yet personal book about the challenge of living in a diverse culture during a time of religious and political debate. Hearing the three women's voices alternatively helped to reveal different viewpoints and interpretations of the events and policies that affect us all. I appreciated some of the new information I read about Palestinians in particular. Yet more than gaining great new knowledge, I gained a broader perspective and deeper insight into many of today's most pressing national and international issues. At the same time, I was given the opportunity to glimpse into the homelife and family life of three different families dealing with three different realities and backgrounds. Fascinating, personal, introspective and heartwarming!
Customer Reviews:
Great Haggadah!.......2007-05-14
We were very happy with this Haggadah. Everything is there (hebrew, songs, stories, the afikomen, the wine,etc.) yet it is not excessively long. We had observant Jews, non-practicing Jews and a few non-Jews at our Sedar and they all throughly enjoyed the service. The ages ranged from 9 years old to 53 years old and included 3 teenagers. Truly several generations represented.
A Haggadah Mostly for the Younger Generations.......2007-05-07
The "Family Haggadah" appears to be illustrated and annotated for parents who want to keep their 7 - 12 year olds engaged during the seder. For that purpose, the Family Haggadah seems to be an excellent choice. Beautifully illustrated with lots of fun "side" facts. If you have teenagers or are a group of all adults, the Family Haggadah will likely come off as too childish. The content is good for various degrees of religious seders. If you are looking for a more cultural/humanistic/secular approach to celebrating Passover, this Haggadah will leave you wanting more. I take my hat (but not my kippa) off to the author for creating a kid friendly haggadah that parents could tolerate.
Perfect haggadah for an energetic and fun seder.......2006-04-11
I was looking for an easy-to-read Haggadah that was intelligent but at the same time fun for kids. This is the perfect one after a 10 year search. It is also the perfect amount of information...enough to make the seder interesting, but not too much that you get the feeling it will never end! Thank you Mr. Gindi for this Haggadah!!!
Very Interesting. A Great Learning Experience.......2003-10-20
This is a wonderful Haggadah that we have been using in my family ever since my dad wrote it. It is easy to understand and it makes the meal so much less boring. I am 11 which is the youngest in my family and we still use it in our seders. I hope that everyone who is young or old loves this book. I sure did!
Great for families with preschool and school-age children.......2003-05-04
This was our third year using this Haggadah with our children, now 7 and 9 years old, and we will probably use it for at least a few more years. The "Family Haggadah" includes a complete service (i.e., no steps are skipped) with brief, clear English narration and key blessings and verses in Hebrew or Aramaic. The service is traditional with some contemporary additions - the Matzah of Hope; a poem written by a boy imprisoned in a concentration camp; Miriam's Cup; and one of our favorites, the Frog Song. The authors estimate that the service will take 45 minutes before dinner and 15 minutes after; we found it took closer to 55 minutes before dinner. The book is beautifully illustrated and includes discussion topics in boxes alongside the main text ranging from "what is your favorite part of the service" to a more sophisticated consideration of what it means to be enslaved versus free. Because the text is streamlined and simplified, rather than dumbed-down, this is also an ideal Haggadah for first-time seder hosts and seder novices of any age. To keep the service brief, very few traditional Hebrew songs are included. If you like to sing, you will need to supplement the "Family Haggadah" with a more traditional book, such as the Maxwell House version available in supermarkets.
Book Description
Country Western singer Kinky Friedman often performs a song entitled "They Ain't Making Jews Like Jesus Anymore," and New Testament professor Amy–Jill Levine would agree. In fact, her career is dedicated to helping Christians and Jews understand the Jewishness of Jesus, thereby deepening the understanding of him, and facilitating greater interfaith dialogue. In this book, she shows how liberal Christians misunderstand Judaism, misunderstand the New Testament, and thus yank Jesus out of his Jewish context and wind up promoting hatred of Jews. Only with the deeper understanding this top Jewish, Southern–born New Testament scholar provides can we hope to respect each other's beliefs, as well as enrich our own.
Through a extremely busy teaching and speaking schedule, Levine has honed her message at synagogues, Catholic conferences, Jewish Community Centers, denominational meetings, in the classroom and in her highly successful Teaching Company audios and videos. Levine is brilliant, charming, funny and forceful, and uses these traits to give a completely fresh perspective on Jesus and the New Testament. In addition to offering new insights with great skill, she has the remarkable ability to be tough, pointing out how even liberal Christians can be unwittingly anti–Semitic in their understanding of what Jesus stood for.Her truth–telling here will provoke honest dialogue on how Christians and Jews should understand Jesus and our New Testament heritage.
Customer Reviews:
Well written and Informative.......2007-09-04
Only a few years ago it was heretical to say that Jesus was a Jew, yet in a few short decades Jesus' Jewishness has come to be a given. Or has it? That's the great benefit of Amy Jill Levine's book - it covers a topic you think you know, but explores it from so many different perspectives that you realize you didn't know it at all.
Some of the topics that Levine explores include the bases of the interpretations of anti-semiticism in the New Testament and our false stereotypes of life for the Jews in first century Israel.
If there is anything lacking in Levine's approach it is her acceptance of the gospels as they are, with little exploration of the ways in which they were sculpted by the gospel writers.
This is a well written and well researched treatise on first century Judiasm that will appeal to beginning students and scholars as well.
Jesus without the Schmaltz.......2007-08-10
If this review reads as though it has been written by a smitten fan, it is; because this reviewer is delighted at last to find, read and enjoy with undisguised pleasure, a book written by a Jew, who places Jesus firmly within his Jewish environments. And to do it succinctly, with wit and a deep appreciation for both Judaism and Christianity.
Amy-Jill Levine is a "woman of valour" in the world of Christian New Testament scholarship, and her book is a mitzvah for Jews and Christians. She is a modern Orthodox Jew, observant and informed as much about her own faith tradition as she is about the beginnings of the Christian movement. Levine brings to the table a wealth of knowledge about the late Second Temple period, the Jewish mileau surrounding the life of Yeshua/Jesus, and the complex beginnings of the Christian movement. Her razor sharp erudition is applied to the person of Jesus the observant and faithful Torah Jew using mishnaic and later rabbinic texts to give the reader a very comprehensive picture of the world/s in which Jesus lived and moved. Reading the Gospels from a Jewish perspective and with a critical eye to "weeding" out inaccurate (usually Christian) interpolations gives this foundation period in Christian history a wonderfully refreshing and academically satisfying perspective. I found her exegesis of John 4 a typical example of Levine's scholarship; theology - both Jewish and Christian, biblical and post-biblical, early Christian and Rabbinic literary analysis and criticism, historical contexts and implications for dialogue and teaching.
The second part of the book deals with common misunderstandings and misuses of the Gospels by both well-meaning and less well-meaning people, when it comes to Christians attempting to understand the one they call Saviour/Christ/Messiah. Only through honest study that challenges Christians to look critically at their sacred texts, can a more complete picture of Jesus emerge. And that is often done with some cost, as Levine details over a number of chapters. She does not shy away from wrestling with current issues of Antisemitism, the zealous, but naive, support of some Christians for Palestine at the cost of demonising Israel, and the perennial temptation of painting Jesus as the great liberator from Jewish oppression. With deft and skilled agility, Levine dismantles the myths and replaces them with fact and biblically based exegesis, commentary and plain, old fashioned common sense.
At the end of this slender volume I felt I had been given a valuable tool for working with students, providing both Jews and Christians with a text that could be used in joint study of the most famous Jew to have ever lived. People of faith will not be threatened by Levine's work. On the contrary I found her book only served to enrich my understanding of Jesus placing him firmly within his own people and religious culture. It has certainly made me keen to read more. My only regret is that the book was not longer.
The truth is here.......2007-07-16
This books is filled with historical truths that prove that the biggest religion in the world is based in faith and not any truth about history. I hope every Christian would read this so they know where they came from. If everyone read it there would be less anti-semitisim in the world.
Insightful.......2007-07-08
This was an excellent book for insights into the thinking of an Orthodox Jewish believer as she reveals her understanding of Judaism and Christianity.
There is no question but that we have "Gentilized" the Church, but careful reading of this book will reveal that the author has imposed the teachings of Judaism on first century Jews. Judaism became the primary teaching after the acceptance of the Talmud e.g., she equates disciples with Gentiles using standards of Judaism.
There were 20 cults in Israel at the time of Jesus according to Judaic Encyclopedia. Judaism won out and was formulated in the Talmud much later, around 500 CE.
Well worth reading as long as one is aware of the differences between Judaism and the ancient Jewish beliefs.
Really boring. There are far more readable books on the subject........2007-06-28
I find the history of the early onset of Christianity really intriguing. I have read many fascinating books on the subject. This is not one of them. The author uses an academic style focusing on arcane technicalities that only a scholar focused on this exact theme would find interesting. In other words, I don't think this is a book written for the layperson.
The main theme of the book is that Jesus was Jewish. What he taught, how he lived and behaved reflected the Judaic principles of the time. It is Paul, Luke, and Matthew that made great efforts in their writing to contrast Christianity from Judaism by in good part nearly demonizing the Jews.
The best part of the book is the last chapter titled `Quo Vadis?' But, the chapter still leaves a lot to be desired. First, the title is cryptic and disconnected from the content of the chapter. This Latin phrase means `where are you going?' But, the chapter does not go anywhere and does not answer this question. Instead, within this chapter the author makes 26 clarifications to enhance the relationship, tolerance, and understanding between Judaism and Christianity. The majority of those are pretty good. Within one of them, she stresses that the Gospels are narratives that often deviate from historical facts to advance the agenda of the Christian writers. The author deserves credit to advance such a fact. But, some of them reflect a Judaic bias. Her explanation that the sole reason Jesus died was because a man being proclaimed "king" in Roman-occupied Jerusalem was a political liability seems evasive and incomplete. Her explanation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict appears defensive. Some others reflect the author's erudition and her bent on the Byzantine. She recommends people learn both ancient Greek and Hebrew to study the scriptures in their original version. Again that may be commendable for scholars working on doctoral dissertations on the subject. Otherwise, it is a rather irrelevant recommendation for the rest of us.
If you are interested in studying the onset of early Christianity, I have read several fascinating books that include: Michael Baigent's `The Dead Sea Scrolls Deception' and `The Jesus Papers', Elaine Pagels' `The Gnostic Gospels' is also excellent.
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A Passover Haggadah: As Commented Upon by Elie Wiesel and Illustrated by Mark Podwal
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