Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook was one of the outstanding rabbinic figures of the twentieth century. Chief Rabbi of Palestine until his death in 1935, he served as a reconciling force between many battling factions and separated ideologies in the early days of the Zionist movement. Rabbi Kook had a unique ability, through his warmth, compassion, and deep sense of humanness, to make harmony out of seemingly irreconcilable differences. One of the many remarkable things about Rabbi Kook was his close friendship with non-Orthodox communities, including young secular Zionist pioneers and struggling, idealistic kibbutz founders. His sense of Klal Yisrael (the fellowship of Jews) transcended ideological boundaries. The sainted teacher’s poetry and prayers are recited today in synagogues of all shades of opinion throughout America. A mystic, philosopher, and deeply religious spirit of the modern age, Rabbi Kook’s best known saying is “We must renew the old and sanctify the new.” This, in essence, sums up his approach to the creative melding of past, present, and future. Young and old alike will delight in this enthralling life of one who was scholarly and pious in unusual proportions, yet constantly active in the daily personal, social, and political problems of the first half of the twentieth century.
Teshuvah means "return." It is the return to God, The return to health, The return to our soul, The return to the universe, The return to a mended planet, The return to happiness, The return to home. Lights of Teshuvah is the quintessential work of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook (1865-1935), first Chief Rabbi of the holy land, who was a Talmudic genius, a communal leader, a saintly personality, an impassioned visionary, a fighter for social justice, a poet and-most of all-a mystic. He was also a deeply original thinker, the breadth, inclusive spirit and transcendent ecstasy of whose teachings embrace the entirety of creation. Rabbi Kook was a poet of the soul and a spokesperson for a complete human spirit that embraces contradiction, that reconciles the poles of this-worldly and other-worldly experience. His writings celebrate the union of legalism and poetry, particularism and universalism, faith hidden in atheism and atheism hidden in faith, the spirit revealed from the flesh, and beauty revealed through ugliness. Rabbi Kook sang of universal creativity, of an unceasing fecundity that is the natural song of all being. He championed the poetic and creative spirit within each individual. "Every time our heart beats with a true expression of spirituality," he wrote, "every time a new and exalted thought is born, we hear the likeness of a Godly angel's voice at the doors of our soul asking that we allow him entry so that he may appear to us in the totality of his beauty." Ultimately, Rabbi Kook's robust message is one of life and growth, hope and optimism. "Death is a false phenomenon," he taught, and "to the degree that the quantity of movement toward wholeness grows, evil decreases and goodness is revealed." ABOUT THE TRANSLATOR Yaacov David Shulman is the author, translator and editor of fifty books of Jewish spiritual and literary meaning. His translations of Rav Kook are available at ravkook.net, and his latest work is available at dotletterword.com. For a full listing of his work, visit his Amazon author's page or shulman-writer.com. You may reach him at yacovdavid@ gmail.com.
In Judaism, the centrality of Trah- Jewish learning - is beyond question, but the value of madda -secular knowledge - is less clear. Torah Umadda, a provocative work by the president of Yeshiva University, shows that these concerns are by no means unprecedented. As Dr. Lamm writes, ¿The intersections of Torah and Wisdom are not always clear; indeed, they are more often than not elusive and indeterminate. But the encounter between them is fruitful, sometimes fateful¿and always fascinating.¿ Dr. Lamm explores six models of Torah Umadda, providing thorough overviews of such great Jewish thinkers as Moses Maimonides, Samson Raphael Hirsch, and Abraham Isaac Kook. He examines the ideological context of late eighteenth-and early nineteenth-century Jewish religious thought that culminated in the creation of the citadel of Torah Umadda, Yeshiva University.
A celebration of Jewish men's voices in prayer—to strengthen, to heal, to comfort, to inspire from the ancient world up to our own day. "An extraordinary gathering of men—diverse in their ages, their lives, their convictions—have convened in this collection to offer contemporary, compelling and personal prayers. The words published here are not the recitation of established liturgies, but the direct address of today's Jewish men to ha-Shomea Tefilla, the Ancient One who has always heard, and who remains eager to receive, the prayers of our hearts." —from the Foreword by Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, DHL This collection of prayers celebrates the variety of ways Jewish men engage in personal dialogue with God—with words of praise, petition, joy, gratitude, wonder and even anger—from the ancient world up to our own day. Drawn from mystical, traditional, biblical, Talmudic, Hasidic and modern sources, these prayers will help you deepen your relationship with God and help guide your journey of self-discovery, healing and spiritual awareness. Together they provide a powerful and creative expression of Jewish men’s inner lives, and the always revealing, sometimes painful, sometimes joyous—and often even practical—practice that prayer can be. Jewish Men Pray will challenge your preconceived ideas about prayer. It will inspire you to explore new ways of prayerful expression, new paths for finding the sacred in the ordinary and new possibilities for understanding the Jewish relationship with the Divine. This is a book to treasure and to share.
Avi doesn't only talk the talk, or even walk the walk. He writes the instruction manual. This book shows a way, perhaps not the only way but one indispensable way, of being an activist on behalf of the Jewish people. Read it and learn." —from the Foreword by Alan M. Dershowitz I n this age of perpetual strife and conflict, we need now more than ever to find out how to be proactive in repairing our broken world. Rabbi Avraham Weiss's provocative and challenging guidebook will show you just that—and so much more. With easy-to-follow steps, accessible explanations of the principles of spiritual activism and an exploration into the foundations of spiritual activism as rooted in the Torah, Weiss offers more than simply a user manual—he provides an in-depth approach to changing your role in the world. Topics include: • Why, How and When Do We Engage in Spiritual Activism? • Choosing the Cause • Making Partners • Designing the Strategy • Leading Other People • Seeing the Big Picture • And more ...
Modern science is the most accurate lens of reality that humanity has developed so far. Science is crucial to humanity’s health, safety, and development. Still, the lens of science only “sees” a thin slice of the totality of existence. Much of the human experience cannot be simply explained by standard quantifiable tests. Many people have become aware of the limits and shortcomings of scientific knowledge and have also realized that our perpetual hunger for spiritual understanding is real and undeniable. Many of us sense that there is something beyond. Throughout various periods of history and various cultures and societies, people have been interested in the mysterious and the paranormal. This yearning is rooted in the soul’s search for true spirituality. A Jewish Guide to the Mysterious, written by one of contemporary Judaism’s leading scholars and teachers, clearly explains classic Torah views on intriguing phenomena, such as dreams, astrology, time travel, alien life, reincarnation, ESP and auras, angels, demons, ghosts, and even such topics as the lost city of Atlantis and the Bermuda Triangle. Read this fascinating book and be amazed.
Meditation empowers us to transcend our material mind-set and touch the Infinite and Eternal. "True meditation transforms the way we see reality.... It touches the place inside us where a spark of the Eternal dwells. Meditation unites us with our true Self." —from the Introduction The life of meditation is much more than the act of sitting for half an hour or forty-five minutes and looking inward. It is a whole way of life. Through meditation we learn to live in a heightened awareness and walk at all times in the presence of God. Rabbi Yoel Glick brings wisdom from personal experience and Eastern traditions to illuminate and vitalize familiar Jewish rituals, vocabulary and imagery. He provides specific guidelines and practical techniques grounded in Judaism for each stage of the life of meditation, outlining the inner processes we encounter and the questions we face: How does meditation help us connect with the Collective Jewish Soul? What happens in our mind, body and soul when we meditate? How do we resist the pull of a material mind-set and live in expanded consciousness? What does it feel like to reach union with our spiritual source? How do we remain aware of God's living presence in our everyday life?
If you were to ask ten people, Who started Christianity? you might hear ten voices giving the same quick response: Jesus. But those ten people would be wrong. Jesus wasn’t a Christian. Jesus lived and died as a Jew. Understanding the Jewishness of Jesus is the secret to knowing him better and understanding his message in the twenty-first century. Walking through Jesus’ life from birth to death, Rabbi Evan Moffic serves as a tour guide to give Christians a new way to look at familiar teachings and practices that are rooted in the Jewish faith and can illuminate our lives today. Moffic gives fresh insight on how Jesus’ contemporaries understood him, explores how Jesus’ Jewishness shaped him, offers a new perspective on the Lord’s Prayer, and provides renewed appreciation for Jesus’ miracles. In encountering his Jewish heritage, you will see Jesus differently, gain a better understanding of his message, and enrich your own faith.
This is the first book of a three-book series on the Messiah, the final end of days redemption, the ten tribes, and the war of Gog and Magog according to Judaism, which is based on authentic Torah sources. The book gives information on how to identify the real Messiah son of David and son of Josef based on his traits, such as where he was raised and his birth date, his talents, such as being a musician and man of war and administrator of Torah justice, appearance, skills, wisdom, his suffering and imprisonment, signs of the times preceding his coming, prophesies of the days of the Messiah, the anti-Christs Armilus and Gog, the role of Elijah the prophet and the Sanhedrin, what we can do to hasten his coming before the final end time, the divinity of Torah, the Noahide Covenant, overview of what is the end of days final redemption and the war of Gog and Magog, barriers to the Messiah and their destruction, Messiah as a world leader who establishes peace based on Torah justice and builds the third Temple, the importance of love and kindness for all, and a realistic Torah-based peace plan for the Palestinians.
Expanded from the Chief Rabbi of South Africa's doctoral thesis, Defending the Human Spirit explores the Torah's legal system compared to Western law. Using real court cases to demonstrate the similarities and differences between Judaism's view of defending the vulnerable and Western legal practice, Rabbi Goldstein places halacha as truly ahead of its time. Covering such diverse topics as political tyranny, oppression of women, crime, and poverty, Defending the Human Spirit is fascinating, informative and inspiring reading.
The Soul of Jewish Social Justice offers a novel intellectual and spiritual approach for how Jewish wisdom must be relevant and transformational in its application to the most pressing moral problems of our time. The book explores how spirituality, ritual, narratives, holidays, and tradition can enhance one’s commitment to creating a more just society. Readers will discover how the Jewish social justice ethos can help address issues of education reform, ethical consumption, the future of Israel, immigration, prison reform, violence, and business ethics.
We all live with a deeply rooted desire to understand our unique purpose in this world. That discovery is the key to making every moment meaningful and living a truly empowered life. But are we searching in the right places? The Four Elements of an Empowered Life takes you on a journey inward — to understand your unique purpose and to discover your inner worlds, represented by the four elements of fire, wind, water, and earth. Drawing on a wide range of sources, including classic Torah texts, Kabbalistic works, psychology, and modern-day thinkers, as well as the author’s own personal experiences in Jewish education and outreach, Rabbi Buxbaum presents a close-up look at the constant struggles that are taking place within each of these inner worlds. These pages are filled with practical tools and habits that will help you master the elements and become the greatest possible version of yourself — empowering you to accomplish the mission that only you can achieve in this world.
Embark on a path of teshuvah… בדרך, a path toward greater self-actualization, joy, and faith is one that brings us closer to the source of light within, our neshamah, our soul. With every step of this journey, we uncover more and more of who we are and what we can be. בדרך, on this path, we discover the great treasures that lie within: our abilities, potential, strengths, and essential holiness. בדרך, with Reb Zusha of Anipoli… The beloved tzaddik Reb Zusha was an embodiment of unassuming righteousness, sincerity, and down-to-earth holiness, who revealed a derech of teshuvah — a systematic path of “return.” Rooted in positivity, Reb Zusha’s real-world advice empowers us to advance personally and spiritually. This road map is not merely instruction in “how to do teshuvah” but heartfelt and valuable guidance for living consciously in the Presence of Hashem in every area of our lives. Replete with powerful stories and illuminating, practical wisdom of the tzaddikim, Baderech is a vital companion for spiritual “travelers” at every stage, yearning to uncover their own path toward teshuvah.
The present volume includes a brief collection of Torah sources on Cognitive behavioral therapy Dialectical behavior therapy General psychotherapy Anxiety, obsessions, compulsions, and depression Parenting Mental health and well-being
“Jewish thinkers don’t talk all that much about love. All too often we leave that to Christian theologians. But in this excellent volume, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin puts the commandment to love at the center of Jewish theology and experience. This is a book that will change the way you think about–and practice–Judaism.” –Professor Ari L. Goldman, Columbia University, and author of The Search for God at Harvard “Love your neighbor as yourself” is the best-known commandment in the Bible. Yet we rarely hear anyone talk about how to apply these words in daily life. In this landmark work, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, one of the premier scholars and thinkers of our time, gives both Jews and non-Jews an extraordinary summation of what Jewish tradition teaches about putting these words into practice. Writing with great clarity and simplicity as well as with deep wisdom, Telushkin covers topics such as love and kindness, hospitality, visiting the sick, comforting mourners, charity, relations between Jews and non-Jews, compassion for animals, tolerance, self-defense, and end-of-life issues. This second volume of the first major code of Jewish ethics written in the English language is breathtaking in its scope and will undoubtedly influence readers for generations to come. It offers hundreds of practical examples from the Torah, the Talmud, the Midrash, and both ancient and modern rabbinic commentaries–as well as contemporary anecdotes–all teaching us how to care for one another each and every day. A Code of Jewish Ethics, Volume 2: Love Your Neighbor as Yourself is a consummate work of scholarship. Like its acclaimed predecessor, which received the National Jewish Book Award, it is rich with ideas to contemplate and discuss, while being primarily a book to live by. Nothing could be more important in these strife-torn times than learning how to love our neighbors as ourselves. The message of this book is as vital and timely now as it has been since time immemorial.
Pirkei Avot is the urtext of Jewish practical wisdom. In many ways, the words of Pirkei Avot were the first recorded manifesto of social justice in Western civilization. This commentary explores text through a lens of contemporary social justice and moral philosophy, engaging both classical commentators and modern thinkers.
The Book of Proverbs, attributed to King Solomon, is a profound collection of Jewish wisdom, song, and inspiration. Yet to contemporary readers, the text can appear vague, ambiguous, and contradictory. In this refreshing and relevant commentary, Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz challenges us to find modern meaning in this ancient text. Using his signature blend of social justice practice and Jewish thought from throughout history, Rabbi Yanklowitz shows how the words of Proverbs are strikingly pertinent to issues we face today. Drawing on a wide range of sources, Rabbi Yanklowitz explores such topics as income inequality, feminism, animal rights, environmentalism, and many more. The author's commentary is paired with the full text of Proverbs--in both Hebrew and an updated, gender-accurate translation--so readers can glean their own insights. Published by CCAR Press, a division of the Central Conference of American Rabbis
Delve deeper into spiritual practice to find the power and meaning waiting there for you. “Spiritual practice reveals that the Garden of Eden is right where you are standing and helps you to be here, now. Therefore, Jewish spiritual practices cultivate joy, hope, resilience and understanding so that you can undertake your soul’s work in this lifetime with vision, passion and integrity.” from the Introduction This innovative guidebook makes accessible Judaism’s spiritual pathways, principles and applications, and empowers you to test their value within your own life. Each chapter provides step-by-step, recipe-like guides to a particular Jewish practice or group of practices, gives examples of how they might unfold inside your life, and shows how each can help refuel your spirit throughout the day. You’ll discover: Prayer practices for embracing the body and creation with awe, limbering up your mind, and preparing for compassionate action How to draw sustenance from the Great Mystery, the inexplicable and unknowable Source of Life How to mine the Torah’s stories, commentaries, symbols and metaphors for meaning Ways to develop your Hebrew vocabulary so you can formulate your own interpretations of sacred text How to explore and practice mitzvot as meaningful, compelling parts of your spiritual life How to view the Jewish people as a precious human resource and as a model for resilience ... and much, much more.
Avi doesn't only talk the talk, or even walk the walk. He writes the instruction manual. This book shows a way, perhaps not the only way but one indispensable way, of being an activist on behalf of the Jewish people. Read it and learn." —from the Foreword by Alan M. Dershowitz I n this age of perpetual strife and conflict, we need now more than ever to find out how to be proactive in repairing our broken world. Rabbi Avraham Weiss's provocative and challenging guidebook will show you just that—and so much more. With easy-to-follow steps, accessible explanations of the principles of spiritual activism and an exploration into the foundations of spiritual activism as rooted in the Torah, Weiss offers more than simply a user manual—he provides an in-depth approach to changing your role in the world. Topics include: • Why, How and When Do We Engage in Spiritual Activism? • Choosing the Cause • Making Partners • Designing the Strategy • Leading Other People • Seeing the Big Picture • And more ...
Slavery Animal sacrifices Expulsion of the seven nations With in-depth treatment of numerous passages from the Scripture, these and other topics from the Jewish Scripture troublesome to many 21st-century readers are analyzed in Is the Good Book Bad? Stern also makes the case that a morality based on belief in God is more compelling than one based on scientific materialism. While the content and argumentation are unique and nuanced, he takes on modern-day criticism without making modern-day compromises on the authenticity of Scripture and how it was interpreted by the sages of the Talmud and the scholars who followed in their footsteps.
Reveals the real, whole name of God and its place within each of us • Explains how none of the God-names commonly used in the Bible is God’s real name • Shows how the real name of God unites all religions from both West and East • Includes spiritual techniques, prayers, poems, and meditative chants to bring each of us into deep, personal, intimate, living relationship with God Of the many names of God commonly used in the Bible and other sacred literature, none is God’s real name. Every God-name, including YHWH, reflects only one of God’s many aspects, such as the loving creator, the militaristic authoritarian, or the all-knowing judge. None embodies the wholeness, the totality, the full Essence of God. Who then are we to speak to when we seek God? If you can’t truly know something until you know its name, how can we truly know God? The culmination of years of translation research and etymological investigation, Rabbi Wayne Dosick’s work digs through many layers of presumption and deeply ingrained beliefs to reveal the real name of God hiding in plain sight in the Bible: Anochi. He shows how this sacred name unites all religions--both of the West and the East. The name Anochi enables us to finally meet the whole, complete, real God--both the grand God of the vast universe and the God of breath, soul, and heart who dwells within each of us. This in-depth exploration of God’s name includes spiritual techniques, poems, guided prayers, and meditative chants to bring each of us into personal, intimate, and purposeful relationship with God. By knowing the real name of God, we can affirm the connection to the Divine at the core of our being. We can touch the face of God that resides deep within us all.
Did you ever want to ask an Orthodox Rabbi a question, but didn't know howor where to begin? Rabbi Shmuel Jablon, a young Orthodox rabbi and educator, answers questions from all over the world. He also provides thoughts from sages both modern and classical on the Jewish Holidays. You may be surprised to find your questions here...and even more surprised at the answers!
Rabbi Zeev Karov describes the moments of joy only a father can have on his son's wedding day. Soon after the wedding, his son, Aharon, is called up for duty and leaves to fight for his nation. While fighting, Aharon suffers traumatic injuries from an explosion. Although doctors are sure he will not survive, Aharon defies the odds and overcomes an incredible obstacle. This book is the heartwarming story of an individual who enthusiastically and selflessly jumps into the fray without concern for personal benefit and a nation that rises to a very difficult occasion with grace and extraordinary solidarity. While bringing in proverbs, scripture, and Jewish history to support the actions taken before and after the explosion, Rabbi Karov also uses similar tactics to reinforce his faith and belief in God while his son recovers. Deep in the Heart is about hope and about the faith that has kept the Jewish people alive to this very day.
Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the Alter Rebbe, famously stated that we must "live with the times," thereby experiencing the teachings of the Torah related to each week of the year. Similar to the zodiac, where every month has its own symbolism, every week of the Jewish calendar also has a unique meaning. Kahane and Wainer explain that the calendar is the master key to unlock the hidden rationale behind the formal structure of ancient sacred texts, as well as to understand basic mystical concepts. When comprehended within the context of the Jewish calendar, these works reveal the spiritual energy of each week, serving as a practical guide for self-analysis and development. During this annual journey, we will learn to live with greater harmony, happiness and gratitude by learning from the Kabbalah, from age-old Jewish ethical teachings, and even from animals. The objective is to make the reader be in touch with the spiritual powers of each week, thereby improving ones daily conduct and rediscovering the universal song within each one of us: the song of the soul.
“Torah, as both book and process, is the taproot that penetrates to the heart of Jewish meaning, understanding, and expression. Torah study is how we mine not just meaning from the text, but our awareness of God’s will,” writes Rabbi Daniel Pressman in the introduction to Torah Encounters: Genesis. This book invites readers into the richness of the Torah, sharing context and information for each parasha, as well as commentary from generations of Biblical interpreters—historical and modern, and Rabbi Pressman’s own insights. The first in the five-volume Torah Encounters series, Torah Encounters: Genesis makes the weekly Torah portion approachable and applicable. It is a wonderful resource for clergy, adult or high school Hebrew education, or personal study.
How can a Jewish approach to social justice offer positive change for America? "Ancient texts offer significant wisdom about human nature, economic cycles, the causes of inequality, and our obligations to each other. These insights can inform our own approaches to current issues, challenge our assumptions, and force us to consider alternative approaches. The conversation between our texts and our lives can enrich our experience of both." —from the Introduction Confront the most pressing issues of twenty-first-century America in this fascinating book, which brings together classical Jewish sources, contemporary policy debate and real-life stories. Rabbi Jill Jacobs, a leading young voice in the social justice arena, makes a powerful argument for participation in the American public square from a deeply Jewish perspective, while deepening our understanding of the relationship between Judaism and such current social issues as: Poverty and the Poor Collection and Allocation of Tzedakah Workers, Employers and Unions Housing the Homeless The Provision of Health Care Environmental Sustainability Crime, Punishment and Rehabilitation By creating a dialogue between traditional texts and current realities, Jacobs presents a template for engagement in public life from a Jewish perspective and challenges us to renew our obligations to each other.
An essential reference work for any thinking student of religion. Innovative and provocative, Evolving Halakhah affirms the system of traditional Jewish law, Halakhah, as a developing and moral structure, flexible enough to accommodate the changing realities of each generation. In this accessible analysis of Halakhah, Moshe Zemer issues a clarion call to follow the ancient and modern principles of evolving Halakhah, which demands ethical deeds, the discovery of holiness in the Commandments, a critical approach to the Tradition, and responsibility of the entire Community of Israel. These principles are viewed as the framework in which the other commandments are applied. To Jews who sometimes see no choices but those of fundamentalist rigidity on the one hand, or total rejection of tradition on the other, Zemer argues instead for awareness of the inherent flexibility of the halakhic system. Halakhah, he argues, has had many voices, and has changed to meet every generation’s needs. Equipped with this view, liberal Jews can reclaim their tradition from a conservative rabbinic establishment that all too often—especially in Israel—has seen the voice of strictness as more authentic than the voice of lovingkindness. The product of Zemer’s thirty-five years of work in the Israel Movement of Progressive Judaism, Evolving Halakhah includes chapters on matters ranging from personal status, especially marriage and conversion, through the “political” Halakhah of a response to the intifada. It shows that the traditional framework for understanding the Torah’s commandments can be the living heart of Jewish life for all Jews—including Reform, Reconstructionist, Conservative, and Modern Orthodox.
New York Times Bestseller! Kathie Lee Gifford and Rabbi Jason Sobel the authors of the New York Times best seller The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi bring you an exciting new life-changing message that will help you read the Bible with new eyes and take you into the heart of God's people in Scripture – from Abraham to Ruth to Jesus and His early followers. In The God of the Way, Rabbi Jason shares wisdom from his Jewish heritage and helps us read Scripture in the cultural context of biblical times. Kathie Lee adds personal stories and reflections from her spiritual journey and studies, serving as a companion as you go deeper in your own relationship with God. You will experience: The God of the How and When: When you don't know the details…God does. The God of His Word: When you can't see God…trust His heart and the promises in His Word. The God Who Sees: When you feel abandoned and forgotten…God knows and cares about you. The God of the Other Side: When you feel overwhelmed and unworthy…God never passes by but crosses over and brings freedom. Journey into God's word, from the creation of the world through the desert and empty places, the Hebrew nation, and meet Jesus, the disciples, and his followers. As you do, you will see how you are part of God's epic story of redemption – a radiant testimony to the truth that belief in God's promises is never wasted.
Every human being is presented with the ''human challenge'': How do I grow? How do I become wise? How do I sanctify the world around me and make it a better place? How do I work on my character? How do I integrate work and food and intimacy into my life's goals? This volume is an attempt to answer these questions for the intelligent and sensitive adult reader. It draws significantly on deeper Jewish thought, balancing brevity with profundity. The Human Challenge provides a rich and exciting entry point for those who are at the early stages of their relationship with Judaism as well as significant benefit to those with an extensive background, as it provides a methodical and sourced overview of topics that may otherwise remain as fragmented insights.
From the best-selling author of God Is a Verb, the classic spiritual retreat guide that enables anyone to create their own self-guided spiritual retreat at home. The ancient mystics looked to spiritual retreat as a way of cleansing the body and healing the soul. In Silence, Simplicity & Solitude, David A. Cooper traces the path of the mystics and the practice of spiritual retreat in all the major faith traditions, sharing the common techniques and practices of the retreat experience for beginner and advanced meditators alike. Cooper shows the way to the self-discovery and discipline of the spiritual retreat experience and clearly instructs how to create an effective, self-guided spiritual retreat in your own home. Silence, Simplicity & Solitude teaches that not only is silence a great healer, but that inner spiritual retreat can provide life-changing insight into deeper spiritual truths
A Code of Jewish Ethics, Volume 1: You Shall Be Holy is the initial volume of the first major code of Jewish ethics to be written in the English language. It is a monumental work on the vital topic of personal character and integrity by one of the premier Jewish scholars and thinkers of our time. With the stated purpose of restoring ethics to its central role in Judaism, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin offers hundreds of examples from the Torah, the Talmud, rabbinic commentaries, and contemporary stories to illustrate how ethical teachings can affect our daily behavior. The subjects dealt with are ones we all encounter. They include judging other people fairly; knowing when forgiveness is obligatory, optional, or forbidden; balancing humility and self-esteem; avoiding speech that shames others; restraining our impulses of envy, hatred, and revenge; valuing truth but knowing when lying is permitted; understanding why God is the ultimate basis of morality; and appreciating the great benefits of Torah study. Telushkin has arranged the book in the traditional style of Jewish codes, with topical chapters and numbered paragraphs. Statements of law are almost invariably followed by anecdotes illustrating how these principles have been, or can be, practiced in daily life. The book can be read straight through to provide a solid grounding in Jewish values, consulted as a reference when facing ethical dilemmas, or studied in a group. Vast in scope, this volume distills more than three thousand years of Jewish laws and suggestions on how to improve one’s character and become more honest, decent, and just. It is a landmark work of scholarship that is sure to influence the lives of Jews for generations to come, rich with questions to ponder and discuss, but primarily a book to live by.
There is a little land. In that little land, there is a little city. In that city there is a little street, and on that street there is a little wall. When you stand by that Holy Wall, you can hear the footsteps of our father Abraham, and you can hear the trumpet of the Great Day to come. You hear the past and you can hear the future. You can hear the singing of the Levites. Or, you can hear us crying, going into exile. You can hear the six million crying out of the gas chambers, and you can hear the trumpet of the Great Day to come. I was standing one early morning by the Holy Wall, and I was saying Kaddish for my father. But when you stand by that Holy Wall, you say Kaddish for the whole world. Sometimes you feel like saying Kaddish for your own soul, and sometimes you feel like saying Kaddish for tomorrow. Then you hear the words “Yisgadal V’yiskadash Shmei Raba — May G-d’s Name become great and sanctified,” and you remember there is one G-d, and you know that the Great Morning is coming. You know that day and night will get together. The living and the dead, we and the whole world. This is my song, the song of tears, because on that Great Day the tears will march through the world, and the whole world will join them. The tears will clear the world and prepare the world. Everything will come together. We will all come together. It will be a new morning – a new beginning. In this remarkable and life-changing work, the reader is transported to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem to be inspired by the teachings of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach zt”l. Masterfully adapted by Rabbi Shlomo Katz (renowned musician and creator of the best-selling and acclaimed The Soul of Chanukah: Teachings of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach), these teachings touch the soul.
A spiritual memoir by the author of God Is a Verb. "This book is a treasure map, but not like any you have seen before. Most people believe that the object of a treasure hunt is to find a chest of gold. The mystical approach, however, is that the search itself is the treasure.... Here is an invitation to begin an exploration of the treasure fields of your own mind...the most exciting and rewarding adventure you will ever take." —from the Introduction Here is an insider’s look at a spectrum of mystical traditions—by someone who is remarkably fluent in the language of each. Three Gates to Meditation Practicechronicles more than fifteen years in the spiritual journey of "post-denominational" Rabbi David A. Cooper and his wife Shoshana—years that led the Coopers everywhere from a secluded mountain hut in New Mexico to the Sinai desert, from chanting Sufi dhikr and meditation with Buddhist masters to studying Kabbalah and esoteric Judaism in the Old City of Jerusalem. The Coopers’ story is an intimate account of what intensive spiritual practice is like, with an ultimate message that is supremely inspiring: The spiritual path is completely within our reach, whoever we are, whatever we do, as long as we are willing to try.
All the important moral ideas of the modern world are based on the key biblical verses analyzed in this collection. What generally happens when someone picks up a copy of the Bible? Often it is put down within seconds because readers see endless verses which turn them off. Finally, here is an accessible book about the Bible that focuses on its great moral principles: --Human beings are created in the image of God. --"Love your neighbor as yourself." --"You shall not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor." --"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." --"Justice, justice shall you pursue." Dov Peretz Elkins believes that if a reader understands fifty verses of the five thousand in the Bible (only 1 percent), he or she will begin to grasp the essence of the Bible. This remarkable explanation of the Bible shows readers how it can serve as a light that illuminates a path through the confusion and problems in their personal and communal lives. The result is a life that is better and more serious--a life with meaning, purpose, and direction. The Bible's Top 50 Ideas: --Presents the Bible's essential ideas in readable, engaging fashion. --Focuses on the contemporary value of the Bible. --Uses commentaries and explanations from sources that are modern as well as ancient, Christian as well as Jewish, and popular as well as scholarly. Elkins not only simplifies the Bible but also demonstrates how its fundamental ideas and concepts have inspired four thousand years of civilization to follow its teachings. The result is a moral, legal, and literary foundation that remains the basis of all democratic and principled societies to this day.
Chaim Zelig was a child on the move. His father, Rabbi Oscar Fasman, led one kehillah after another until finally settling in Chicago, where he took the helm of Beis Medrash L’Torah (Skokie). Chaim, an outstanding bachur, learned in the yeshiva until his Rebbe, Reb Mendel Kaplan, sent him off to Eretz Yisrael to advance his learning. The Ponevezher Rav chose to prepare his shiurim with Chaim. The Brisker Rav accepted him as one of the fifteen original talmidim in his yeshiva. Rav Aharon Kotler invited him to be his talmid in Lakewood. But the yeshiva that would ultimately define the still “out-of-town” bachur, was Bais Hatalmud. There, Chaim studied under Reb Leib Malin and became the talmid muvhak of Reb Chaim Visoker, who primed him in teaching Torah and understanding people. After his marriage, Chaim set out to fulfill his dream of spreading Torah in America. Rabbi Chaim Fasman did the unthinkable — he left the sheltered confines of the yeshiva world for Los Angeles, California, which he envisioned as a city thirsty for Torah. He founded one of the first kollelim in America and transformed Los Angeles into a flourishing empire of Torah. This is the fascinating story of Rabbi Chaim Fasman, builder of Torah in America.
Written by the Orthodox historian Rabbi Berel Wein, The Oral Law of Sinai is an extraordinary and beautifully illustrated book that explores the Talmud—a law book that is a faithful transmission of the Oral Law of Sinai. As Rabbi Wein explains, the Talmud is two separate books comprising the Oral Law. This work offers an explanation of the first book of the Talmud, the Mishnah
What if each and every word of the Gemara was life-changing? What if we could see how every single Talmudic debate, every scenario, every idea impacts the way we view ourselves and the world around us? When you first open up The Transformative Daf, you discover a whole new way of looking at the Gemara. No example is random. No debate is tangential. Beneath the surface discussion of every sugya lies an eternal moral message. But then you examine the abundant sources in The Transformative Daf and you realize that this approach is not new at all. Building on classic works such as Ben Yehoyada, Maharsha, Iyun Yaakov, and various Torah commentaries, it’s clear that Rabbi Friedman builds on a rich Torah tradition of deriving meaning and application for daily life. Whether you are baki b’Shas or new to Gemara, every page of The Transformative Daf will inspire you with a lesson for life that is insightful, meaningful, and transformative!
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