In this sequel to We Have Reason to Believe, Louis Jacobs examines afresh all the issues involved. He does so objectively but with passion, meeting the objections put forward over the past forty years by critics from the various trends within the Jewish world, both Orthodox and Reform, and inviting a new generation of readers to follow the argument and make up their own minds. More than forty years have passed since Louis Jacobs first published the still-controversial book We Have Reason to Believe, the work which led to his being outlawed by the Orthodox Jewish establishment. In this new book he examines afresh all the issues involved, meeting all the objections put forward from the various trends within the Jewish world so that readers can make up their own minds.
Jewish thinkers throughout the ages have been as passionate in their concern about the meaning and nature of faith as Christian theologians. This is a lucid and profound examination of Jewish approaches to belief, by a controversial and respected scholar who analyses the nature of God through a critical study of all vital philosophical sources. We are shown the conflicts--and how they are resolved--between rational and traditional views on faith, between instinctive acceptance and a more sophisticated, polemical approach. The views of mediaeval and modern theologians, Christian and Jewish (Kabbalists, religious existentialists, fundamentalists, mystics) are appraised and contrasted in the most open-minded manner. Of special interest, perhaps, is the understanding critique of the Freudian and Marxist opposition to belief in a deity. On a more mundane level, those seeming contradictions in the structure of existence which confound most men, such as the problem of evil, are analyzed in a way that is both practical and heartening. Dr. Jacobs has succeeded in demonstrating, to readers of all faiths, that particular nature of Judaism which is both universalistic and, at the same time, deeply concerned about the individual.
Rabbi Dr Louis Jacobs examines more than a thousand years of rabbinic responsa and draws from them attitudes to basic theological principles which underlie his concern with such practical questions as life after death, reward and punishment, and the problem of suffering.
All the fundamental tenents of Judaism as expressed in the Thirteen Principles of Faith laid down by Maimonides are subjected to a brilliant, courageous interpretation--a major work.
What does it mean to trust in God? How can man love God? If timidity is unwholesome, why does Scripture speak of the fear of God? When should a lie be told? What ought to be our attitude to warfare? Of what relevance is the ideal of holiness to men and women of this age? How can pride be conquered? Can a man love his neighbor as himself? In Jewish Values, these and many other ethical and religious questions are considered in the light of Jewish teachings. It is the author's thesis that a gap exists between traditional views as presented in the classic sources of Judaism and their application in the lives of our contemporaries, but he is convinced that this gap can be bridged. This book is a contribution to the building of such a bridge or, at least, as the author suggests, it is a surveyor's plan of part of the work to be done.
‘One of the basic books required for those who want to go directly into the nature of Hasidic prayer . . . in this sound and clearly written text there is a scholarly survey of the most immediate developments of Hasidism, which enters into that world both as a scholar looking in from the outside, and as a rabbi aware of the yearnings of faith. The new introduction is valuable in pointing to the most recent scholarship . . . a pleasure to read.’ European Judaism
This book, by Louis Jacobs, is about Jewish prayer, with sections on the technique of prayer, the use of Hebrew, and congregational prayers for synagogues.
The story of one paleontologist's fossil digs in Africa, and his unexpected findings Winner of the Colbert Award for the best adult book about dinosaurs Winner of the Colbert Award for the best adult book about dinosaurs Louis Jacobs reopened paleontologists' eyes to the African continent when he uncovered a major fossil site in the hills of Malawi in the 1980s. During five digging seasons in Malawi and three in Cameroon, Jacobs found the remains of two meat-eating theropods, two herbivorous sauropods, an odd crocodile about the size of a Chihuahua, and rare early mammals. Now in paperback, Quest for the African Dinosaurs includes Jacobs' new introduction, which discusses recent developments in paleontological research in Africa.
In these three lectures, the eminent British rabbi and theologian Louis Jacobs defines and defends his position as a liberal supernaturalist and halakhic nonfundamentalist in those areas where the religious Jew is confronted with the conflicting truth claims of modern knowledge and traditional belief. Jacobs begins by contrasting the theistic belief in a personal God with some of its alternatives; he argues that the liberal supernaturalist's position is both the closest in approximation to the traditional Jewish view and still the most coherent way to deal with the fundamental mysteries of the universe, even after Freud, Darwin, Marx, and modern technology have replaced a God-centered universe with a universe the center of which is man. The second lecture explores the impact of modern science and scholarship on the doctrine of Torah min hashamayim, divine revelation of the Written and Oral Torah. Acknowledging the influence of geology, astronomy, anthropology, comparative religion, Wissenschaft des Judentums, and Textual Criticism on the development of the Torah, Jacobs argues that one can be objective without any sacrifice of piety if one accepts the premise that "the totality we call Torah is human imbued with the divine." Finally, in the third lecture, Jacobs discusses traditional interpretations of the doctrine of the Chosen People and examines some of the tensions it generates today in terms of interreligious tolerance, the Jewish people and the Jewish state, and the demands of the group versus the needs of the individual. In addition, he contrasts fundamentalist and nonfundamentalist attitudes toward various eschatological idead, advocating a position of "reverent agnosticism" with regard to belief in the Messiah and resurrection of the dead but affirming acceptance of the immortality of the soul as a basic principle of modern Jewish faith.
The 'Ask the Rabbi' column in the Jewish Chronicle, in which the anonymous 'Rabbi' replied to readers' questions covering every aspect of Judaism, was an extremely popular weekly feature of the paper." "During more than twenty years, over a thousand lively questions and answers have accumulated and this book is a selection of those questions arranged according to various pertinent themes." "It can now be disclosed that the author of the replies was Rabbi Louis Jacobs who, without refraining from expressing his own, occasionally controversial, views, presented the Orthodox position, as well as that of Reform and Liberal Judaism where they differed from Orthodoxy."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved
In this study of how the Halakhah (the Jewish legal system) embraces each of life's situations, the author demonstrates that the Halakhists, influenced by their diverse cultural backgrounds, sought throughout the ages to maintain the flexibility of the law.
Synopsis: LA Cult Hit 7 REDNECK CHEERLEADERS tells the story of a novice playwright and expert push over, Ben, attempting to direct his first play—at the advice of a favorite aunt on her deathbed. He meets a Hollywood theatre producer at Trader Joe’s and the Equity-waiver hell begins. Ben’s play within the play is an American Tale of a small town boy, Young, who against the wishes of a tyrannical, podunk father, is determined to become a high school cheerleader for the sake of love. Out of his element with actor-types, Ben rehearses the cast in their redneck roles. Hearts are trampled on. Rim jobs are discussed. Testicles are mangled and some actors die. But not without a serious, and cathartic, cheer-competition finale. And Ben’s favorite aunt smiles down from Lesbian Heaven. Cast Size: 4 Males, 4 Female
This is a Comprehensive"how-To"and"know All"guide to Jewish faith and values, written by great Jewish Theologian. It contains answers to questions about God, Torah, mitzvot, holidays, festivals, rituals, Jewish symbols, philosophy, mysticism, and more.
Through a careful analysis of the primary texts, Jacobs conducts a thorough survey of some of the most important instances where the individual is discussed in the Jewish religious tradition.
Illustrations. explanations of why certain things are done in a particular way, contemporary applications and information on how to do things is thus made available.
An introduction to halachah featuring selections from the basic sources--halachic midrashim Mishnah Jerusalem and Babylonian talmuds the Codes and the responsa--translated and interpreted for today's student.
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