An important contribution to the welcome growth of religious understanding and cooperation between Jews and Christians. Filled with warm sympathy for Christianity but also with sturdy intellectual honesty and loyalty to Judaism, this classic work continues to clearly and forcefully guide both Christians and Jews in timely, relevant discussion of the relationships between their faiths. Examining the Jewish views on Jesus throughout history and today, Rabbi Samuel Sandmel introduces the perspective of a rabbi of the liberal wing of Judaism, and presents the scholarship of the last century and a half as pursued by both Christians and Jews. Without prejudice but admittedly partisan, this book explains why Jesus is of cultural and historical interest to Jews, though not of direct religious interest. It drives home one of the most important lessons of our time—that Christians and Jews can be worlds apart theologically, but also very close in mutual understanding and in cooperation toward desirable human goals.
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.
An in-depth look at the Christian scriptures—from a Jewish perspective. On Christmas day 1925, Rabbi Stephen S.Wise, one of the twentieth century’s most influential Jewish leaders, gave a lecture at Carnegie Hall in New York City titled “A Jew’s View of Jesus.” He argued that Jesus, in fact, existed, contrary to popular Jewish opinion at that time. He said, “Neither Christian protest nor Jewish lamentation can annul the fact that Jesus was a Jew, an Hebrew of Hebrews.” Thirty years later, Rabbi Samuel Sandmel set out to explain and introduce—for the first time in scholarly detail from a Jewish perspective—the enigmatic character of the texts held sacred by Christians, the so-called New Testament that surrounds and presents the figure of Jesus. In this new edition of Sandmel’s classic work, you will encounter his lucid and brilliant introduction to the New Testament from a Jewish point of view, transcending the boundaries of religion in order to share in the profound perplexities and deep aspirations that we as human beings have been inspired to express.
The ancient teachings of Jewish mysticism--Kabbalah--speak of the urgent need to rectify the world, instructing us how to mend the tattered fabric of our lives, as individuals and as active contributors to humanity's destiny. Today, the dream of Jewish security and cultural revival in Israel seems to be threatened as never before. After nearly two thousand years of exile, the Zionist dream--return to their homeland by the Jewish people--is fraught with challenge. Rabbi Ginsburgh analyzes the current crisis from a Kabbalistic perspective, and offers solutions that are both practical and in keeping with a spiritual approach to the problem. In this book, he outlines a practical program for healing the ills of the State of Israel in its approach to reestablishing a homeland. The proposals are at once profound and down-to-earth, and permeated by an optimism and love for the Jewish people and all humanity. Includes glossary, footnotes, and index.
Gematria Refigured presents the discoveries that led to the author’s transformation from a gematria skeptic to a gematria lover. It develops a theory which elucidates how the Torah and Chazal use gematria to direct us toward a very specific type of idea. Through its many examples, this work illustrates how gematria can help us uncover novel insights, while providing interesting and clearly formulated perspectives into many mitzvos, themes, and stories in Tanach.
Wake up to the divine abundance that is all around you! This inspirational companion helps you recognize God’s gifts in the everyday world around you. For each day of the year, an inspiring quote from a Jewish source and a personal reflection on it help you focus on your spiritual life and all the things you have to be grateful for. Using both the secular and Jewish calendar as a framework, this daily devotional helps you honor the special and holy events of the year as well as identify the sacred in the mundane moments of your life. It draws on the wisdom of Jewish sources and teachings, and ancient and contemporary spiritual thinkers, to gain perspective on the abundance that is all around you—in your achievements and challenges, relationships and personal time, joy and suffering, job and home. It will help you elevate the ordinary to the extraordinary every day of the year.
From one of the world's most famous and respected rabbis—"a practical explanation of Jewish worship from a spiritual slant" (Detroit Free Press). For both the novice and for those who have been engaged in prayer for years, here is the one guide needed to practice Jewish prayer and understand the prayer book. From the origins and meaning of worship to a step-by-step explanation of the daily prayers to the reason you're not supposed to chat with your friends during services, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz answers many of the questions likely to arise about Jewish prayer. Here are chapters on daily prayer; Sabbath prayer; prayer services for the holidays; the yearly cycle of synagogue Bible readings; the history and makeup of the synagogue; the different prayer rites for Ashkenazim, Sephardim, Yemenites, and other cultural/geographic groupings; the role of the rabbi and the cantor in the synagogue; and the role of music in the service.
“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 series 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 fourth in the five-volume Torah Encounters series, Torah Encounters: Numbers makes the weekly Torah portion approachable and applicable. It is a wonderful resource for clergy, adult or high school Hebrew education, or personal study.
Your plain-English guide to Judaism Whether you're interested in the religion or the spirituality, the culture or the ethnic traditions, Judaism For Dummies explores the full spectrum of Judaism, dipping into the mystical, meditative, and spiritual depth of the faith and the practice. In this warm and welcoming book, you'll find coverage of: Orthodox Jews and breakaway denominations; Judaism as a daily practice; the food and fabric of Judaism; Jewish wedding ceremonies; celebrations and holy days; 4,000 years of pain, sadness, triumph, and joy; great Jewish thinkers and historical celebrities; and much more. Updates to the "recent history" section with discussions of what has happened in the first decade of the twenty-first century including: the expansion of orthodox political power in Israel; expansion of interfaith work; unfortunate recent anti-Semitic events; and other news Expanded coverage of Jewish mysticism and meditation, which has become increasingly popular in recent years New coverage on Jewish views of morality, including birth control, homosexuality, and environmental concerns Revised recipes for traditional Jewish cooking, updated key vocabulary, and Yiddish phrases everyone should know Jews have long spread out to the corners of the world, so there are significant Jewish communities on many continents. Judaism For Dummies offers a glimpse into the rituals, ideas, and terms that are woven into the history and everyday lives of Jewish people as near as our own neighborhoods and as far-reaching as across the world.
This compelling book pours a clear light onto the concealed reasons why certain events appear in our lives and the world at large. Exploring the ancient principles of Kabbalistic Astrology reveals that each of us is born into an astrological environment best suited for the completion of the corrections that we must make in our lives."--Publisher description.
From angels and the afterlife to suffering and Divine providence, The God Book addresses all things spiritual through classic works of Jewish philosophy. Works summarized include the Rambams Moreh Nevuchim (Guide for the Perplexed), Ramchals Derech Hashem (Way of God), ibn Pakudas Chovos HaLevavos (Duties of the Heart) and Hilchos Deios from the Rambams Mishneh Torah.
Discover the Talmud and its universal values for all people. While the Hebrew Bible is the cornerstone of Judaism, it is the Talmud that provides many central values for living. The Talmud sets out specific guidelines and lyrical admonitions regarding many of life's ordinary events, and offers profound words of advice for life’s most intractable dilemmas. This accessible introduction to the Talmud explores the essence of Judaism through reflections on the words of the rabbinic sages, from one of American Judaism’s foremost teachers and writers, Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins. Dr. Elkins provides fresh insight into ancient aphorisms and shows you how they can be applied to your life today. Topics include: Kindness through Giving, Welcoming and Sharing; Human Relationships; Personal Values; Family Values; Teaching and Learning; and Life’s Puzzles. Enlightening and inspiring, the values of the Talmud can be appreciated not just by Jews, but by anyone seeking a greater understanding of life and its mysteries.
Does death end life, or is it the passage from one stage of life to another? In The Death of Death, noted theologian Neil Gillman offers readers an original and compelling argument that Judaism, a religion often thought to pay little attention to the afterlife, not only presents us with rich ideas on this subject—but delivers a deathblow to death itself. Combining astute scholarship with keen historical, theological and liturgical insights, Gillman outlines the evolution of Jewish thought about bodily resurrection and spiritual immortality. Beginning with the near-silence of the Bible on the afterlife, he traces the development of these two doctrines through Jewish history. He also describes why today, somewhat surprisingly, more contemporary Jewish scholars—including Gillman—have unabashedly reaffirmed the notion of bodily resurrection. In this innovative and personal synthesis, Gillman creates a strikingly modern statement on resurrection and immortality. The Death of Death gives new and fascinating life to an ancient debate. This new work is an intellectual and spiritual milestone for all of us interested in the meaning of life, as well as the meaning of death.
Messianic Rabbi Allan Moorhead explores and dissects the books of the Bible to expound on revelations concerning the captivity and restoration of Israel. While many believe the famous 1948 Arab-Israeli War was the complete fulfillment of the prophetic passages in Zechariah and Daniel, Rabbi Allan exegetes through thought-provoking evidences that there is more to take place before we see the restoration of the Israeli nation, and poignantly correlates it to end-time Bible prophecy. End-time Prophecies have proven to be an imperfect study since all has not been revealed to God’s people yet. We cannot understand prophecy in its entirety without understanding the history of Israel, how it has affected many nations, and brought us where we are today.
Judaism and Christianity have to explain why humans, created by a good and merciful God, sin and commit evil. Rabbi Michael Mayersohn introduces the readers to the conclusions of the Hebrew Bible, the rabbinic literature of Talmud and Midrash, the writings of Paul, Augustine, Aquinas and Martin Luther. Nowhere else can a reader find the rabbis of Talmud and Christian saints Paul and Augustine all in one place talking about an issue as important as sin and evil. The Bible introduces us to the topic of sin with the story of Cain and Abel and Christianity takes us back to the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. In its own distinctive way each tradition tries to explain why humans created by God sin. In this fascinating exploration Rabbi Mayersohn will take us to these sacred texts and explain how Judaism and Christianity reach the conclusions they do about human sinfulness. Is sin inherent in the human condition or the result of some external influence? What is Gods role in the story of humans and evil? Is Original Sin the only answer to how sin appeared in the human story? What do these two great faith traditions have to say about these and other important questions?
Understanding the Tanya guides the reader through one of the most extraordinary books of moral teachings ever written. The Tanya is a seminal document in both the study of Hasidic thought and of Kabbalah—Jewish mysticism. With a keen understanding of the profound struggles within the human soul, the Tanya helps us understand how we can raise ourselves to higher and higher spiritual levels. Timeless in its approach, the Tanya addresses specific moral problems and dilemmas and delves into their root causes, distilling the universal predicaments of humankind and offering solutions that can change the way we view ourselves and conduct our lives. The Tanya explores the workings of the soul and examines the complexities, doubts, and drives within all of us as expressions of a single basic problem—the struggle between our Godly and animal souls.
David was a man after God's own heart, not because he was perfect, but because he always sought God through prayer. It is through his example we can learn to pray in all things at all times. The Prayers of David combines faithful scholarship with accessible writing to bring a personal level of reflection to these emotionally powerful prayers. Cross references and cultural and historical content bring a richer understanding of the Old Testament, while powerful inspirational writing inspires you to model your own prayer life after David's example.
According to Jewish mysticism, the souls of a husband and wife originate in the same undifferentiated spiritual essence. These souls are bound as one, and the purpose of marriage is to enable a couple to manifest this unity in the context of everyday life. Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh shows how the natural process of mating of establishing a healthy relationship, fostering togetherness, and ultimately merging into true oneness--is a spiritual act of the highest order. Drawing on modern psychology and Kabbalistic wisdom, with many illustrations from Biblical personalities, the author traces the steps through which today's married couple can actualize their relationship ideals in their daily life. Includes glossary, footnotes, and index.
Near-death experiences? Past-life regression? Reincarnation? Are these sorts of things Jewish? With a blend of candor, personal questioning, and sharp-eyed scholarship, Rabbi Elie Kaplan Spitz relates his own observations and the firsthand accounts shared with him by others, experiences that helped propel his journey from skeptic to believer that there is life after life. From near-death experiences to reincarnation, past-life memory to the work of mediums, Rabbi Spitz explores what we are really able to know about the afterlife, and draws on Jewish texts to share that belief in these concepts—so often approached with reluctance—is in fact true to Jewish tradition. “The increasing interest and faith in survival of the soul may grow into a cultural wave that is as potentially transformative for society as the civil rights movement and feminism. A renewed faith in ‘the soul’s journeys’ will call for a reassessment of our priorities, and will enable traditional religions to renew and transform their adherents.” —from the Introduction
God gave the Torah to Moses and our ancestors at Mount Sinai thousands of years ago, and we’ve been studying it ever since. Rabbi Charna S. Klein continues the tradition in this scholarly work, interpreting the Torah’s fifty-four chapters in Inside the Torah. Klein presents interpretations from ancient Sages to modern commentators and adds original rabbinic interpretations on important topics such as creation, evolution, societal development, gender, sexual diversity, and more. The author also applies scientific lenses, including cultural, archeological, physical and medical anthropology to explicate hidden meanings in the Biblical text. Meant for Jews and non-Jews, the book is a significant contribution on the interpretation of the Torah from the perspectives of Chassidus and the Jewish mystical tradition of Kabbalah, its concepts, structures, and meaning. Rabbi Klein encourages the Jewish people as inheritors of the Mosaic tradition to connect with God and repair ourselves and the world. Awaken, know, delve deep and reach high to make yourself a vessel for good.
The Taryag Companion is Rabbi Jack Abramowitz’ most ambitious project to date. Not only does it include thorough and incisive explanations of all 613 mitzvos (according to the list of Maimonides) in a surprisingly readable fashion, the supplemental materials will enlighten readers on a broad array of related topics, from the 13 foundations of the Jewish faith to the 19 blessings of Shemoneh Esrei and from the 24 Books of the Jewish Bible to the 63 tractates of the Oral Law. Never before has so comprehensive an overview been so concise.
Addressed to Jews and non-Jews alike, though aware that these two reader groups were likelyn to approach the book with very different presuppositions, Daiches sets out to define Judaism in relation to philosophy, to explain Kant’s philosophy through the superiority of halakhah, defend a biblically based Jewish interpretation of history, and champion Judaism as a religion of freedom guaranteed by halakhah (Jewish law).
Quite simply, the easiest introduction to Jewish mysticism you can read. An insightful and absorbing introduction to the ten gates of Jewish mysticism and how they apply to daily life. "There is a place that is as far from here as breathing out is from breathing in. For the word is very near to you. Where life forever holds gentle sway over death, where people are human with the same grace that a willow is a willow, where the struggle and the yearning between male and female is at last resolved.... It is to begin with, all inside us." —from the Introduction "In the past decade I’ve read Honey from the Rock at least half a dozen times. Every time I read it I wonder if I have ever read it before. Either it keeps changing, or I do. Maybe it’s both.... As someone told me: 'Lawrence Kushner is a mystic. He gives you flashes of insight.'” —from the Publisher’s Preface to the Anniversary Edition
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.
FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION DECODED The Old Testament isn't just a collection of traditions from one group of people--it's about Jesus as the key to salvation. After reading this book, you will have no doubts that Jesus is the Messiah, and you will be able to read the Old Testament with the newfound revelation that God has been pointing to His Son as the Savior of the world for thousands of years. Many times, when inquisitive readers look to see how the New Testament authors applied the Old Testament to show that Jesus is the Messiah, they become confused. When the Gospel writers quote Old Testament scriptures and say, "This is how Jesus fulfilled it," the passage quoted doesn't appear to be a prophecy at all. This is because understanding Messianic prophecy is often more of an art than a science. Messianic prophecy is not simply the measurement of specific prophecies about the future that Jesus fulfilled. In the Hebrew tradition, prophecy is not one-dimensional; it is not simply foretelling the future. In reality, the whole of Scripture is prophetic, pointing us to Christ. In Messianic Prophecy Revealed, Rabbi Kirt A. Schneider takes readers through the Word of God, showing them how the New Testament writers took passages out of the Old Testament to prove that Jesus is indeed the Messiah. It's a subject that sounds simple but is, in fact, more complex than many realize. This book will show followers of Jesus why they can have absolute confidence that Jesus is who He claimed to be--the Messiah.
A beautiful, poetic translation of the Book of Psalms, Songs Ascending includes textual commentary and insights into the translation process, illuminating the choices of the original composers and the choices facing us in the 21st century as we try to make each psalm our own. The spiritual commentary asks: To what events, struggles, and triumphs in our lives might this psalm speak? How might this psalm articulate an aspect of our own sacred existence, or how might it help us celebrate a special day in our lives? How might it provide comfort when we are bereft and most in need of consolation, or how might it help us provide comfort for someone else? Songs Ascending explores all this and more, engaging the reader in dialogue that will inform and inspire. "For Richard Levy, the force of the Psalms comes from their spiritual intentions; and he re-enforces this priority with rich commentary and postscripts that help the reader actually USE the Psalms in some meaningful way. Songs Ascending may be the high point in Richard Levy's career--a career filled with high points." - Rabbi William Cutter, PhD, Steinberg Emeritus Professor of Human Relations at HUC-JIR Los Angeles "With its clear and engaging English translation, the insightful commentary, and thought provoking spiritual applications, Songs Ascending offers something for everyone, from lay person, to rabbi, to biblical scholar alike. And for that, I give it a "two thumbs up," or as we say in Hebrew: kol hakavod!" - Professor Kristine Henriksen Garroway, Visiting Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible at HUC-JIR Los Angeles
This long-awaited collection of essays on Mishkan T'filah by Rabbi Richard Sarason, PhD, serves as a commentary on our prayerbook. Drawing on Dr. Sarason's deep knowledge of liturgy, these essays teach about Mishkan T'filah specifically and about prayer in general.
Rabbi Samuel’s book “Gentle Judaic Wisdom” is a brilliant work, very wise, easy to read, and deceptively simple. The book is filled with information. It is a rich cornucopia of wisdom quoted from sources such as the Torah, Mishnah, Tosefta, Talmud, ancient rabbis, philosophers, and many more sources, even the New Testament. For, as Maimonides wrote when he quoted the pagan Aristotle in his Guide of the Perplexed, “The truth is the truth no matter what its source.” As I read Rabbi Samuel’s notes, I felt impressed by both the extent of his knowledge and how well he understood the many subjects he addressed. It is a perfect book to read either from the first page until the end; the reader may wish to select subjects of interest from the many provided and meditate about that section. It is also the perfect reference book to keep at home to peruse from time to time. We can read the book to enjoy the ideas they express. I enjoyed them this way, but I also found the quotes thought-provoking. They made me think, and they can and should do the same for other readers. What do you think of the quote you read? How can you apply the idea in it to your life? Does the quote cover all situations? Can we extend the idea further and go beyond what the sage said? If so, how? I hope that you enjoy this book as much as I did. I think you will. ~Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin, Foreword Should a man nourish anger against his fellow and expect healing from the LORD? Should a man refuse mercy to his fellows, and yet seek pardon for his own sins? If he who is but flesh cherishes wrath, who will forgive his sins? Remember your last days; set your enmity aside; remember death and decay; and cease from sin. ~Ben Sira 28:3-6
The kids’ companion to the award-winning Putting God on the Guest List, 3rd Ed.: How to Reclaim the Spiritual Meaning of Your Child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah Used as an inspiring part of bar/bat mitzvah preparation for parents in hundreds of congregations around the world. Jewish youngsters and their parents need to turn inward at bar and bat mitzvah time and ask themselves these hard questions: “Why are we doing this? What does it all mean?” At last, a guide especially for kids, to help them spiritually prepare for their bar/bat mitzvah. Explains the core spiritual values of Judaism to young people in a language they can understand. Questions at the end of each chapter engage kids and let them offer their own thoughts. A special section helps parents and kids find places to perform acts of tzedakah to honor the event—newly revised and updated.
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.
Now that you’ve learned the daf, how will your life be transformed? Whether you’ve been doing daf yomi for years or you’re not quite ready to commit but want to be part of the daf yomi global movement, there’s something in The Transformative Daf for everyone. It’s about joining the conversation. It’s about talking over the daf with your family, your friends, your colleagues. It means never being short of a discussion-starter or a meaningful devar Torah. Every page of the Gemara, every word, every letter, contains the secrets of the universe to achieving a life of simchah and purpose. Transform your life today!
The primary goal of this book is to solve a two-thousand-year-old puzzle: if Jesus lived a totally Jewish life and became the founder of Christianity, why aren't Jews and Christians in a respectful, appreciative, and embracing relationship? This work begins to reduce two thousand years of misunderstanding, stereotyping, and prejudices that have existed between these two faiths. In its place are historical facts about the childhood, religious education, and communities that nourished and influenced Jesus. This work also encourages new approaches to biblical interpretations and thought. The ultimate aim of the author is to have Jews and Christians realize that they are strongly connected by mutual faith, beliefs, and traditions. Dr. Slomovitz has summarized this linkage with the phrase, "Loving Jesus means loving Jews.
One of the most important contributions of Chasidut to Judaism has been in the realm of psychology. Chasidic teachings interpret and apply the myriad Kabbalistic metaphors to the realm of the human psyche and soul. Yet, for all the expansive analyses and discussion of the human psyche produced by the Chasidic masters (specifically the Rebbes of Chabad-Lubavitch), there has been a pronounced lack of an ordered and modern review of the psyche. In the early years of the 20th century, Dr. Fischel Schneersohn, a colleague of Sigmund Freud and a relative of the then Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber Schneersohn, took it upon himself to translate the Chasidic nomenclature and discourse on the psyche into scientific language that would be useful to the modern psychologist. Unfortunately, for whatever the reasons may be, his yearning to share the Torah s wisdom on the psyche was not to be fulfilled. Since then, the need for introducing these teachings to the public in general and to the professional field of psychologists has only grown. This book is an important contribution to the creation of psychology and therapeutic techniques based purely on the Divine wisdom of the Torah and specifically its inner dimensions of Kabbalah and Chassidut. By offering a structured review and explanation of the psyche and its place in the larger and more complex super-structure of the soul, this volume provides a foundational guide for mental and spiritual health practitioners as well as for those wishing to deepen their understanding of Kabbalah and Chassidut.
Sefer Yetzirah (the "Book of Creation"), one of the earliest Kabbalistic works, teaches that the letters of the Hebrew alphabet are the building blocks of creation. Each letter has its own significance, spiritual energy, and reason for existing. In this revised version of Rabbi Ginsburgh's best-selling The Alef-Beit, Jewish Thought Revealed Through the Hebrew Letters, he explains how each letter's name, form, and numerical value play a role in the creative process of the cosmos. He draws on the understandings of the well-known mystic, the Baal Shem Tov, in depicting how each letter has nine dimensions, with impact in three worlds--the physical, spiritual, and Divine. In every letter there is the true completion of the soul, a chance to unite consciousness with the code of creation. Includes glossary, footnotes, and index.
PMA Best Religion Book of the Year! The inspiring guide to spiritual celebration used in hundreds of congregations—Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist—revised and expanded! "Parents and their children acutely feel the social pressures that surround bar and bat mitzvah. But they want to feel the spiritual promise of the event, the pull of the divine, and the knowledge that they are participating in an event that has meaning both in the ancient past and in the very immediate present. They want to know that the steep incline before them is their family's own version of Sinai, the summit where, in every generation, Jews meet God, individually and as a people. They want to know that bar and bat mitzvah can be a path to that summit. And they want to know how to get there. . . . This book can be their guide." —from "Why This Book Was Born" Helps people find core spiritual values in American Jewry's most misunderstood ceremony—bar and bat mitzvah. In a joining of explanation, instruction and inspiration, Rabbi Salkin helps both parent and child truly be there when the moment of Sinai is recreated in their lives. Rabbi Salkin asks and answers questions that make parents and children more comfortable with the event and able to experience it more joyfully. How did bar and bat mitzvah originate? What is the lasting significance of the event? What are the ethics of celebration? What specific things can you do to reclaim the spiritual meaning of the event? How to further develop spirituality? What spiritual values can parents and young people build together? To help guide friends and family who are not Jewish through this important Jewish life cycle event, Rabbi Salkin provides a brief, welcoming overview: "What Non-Jews Should Know About the Bar and Bat Mitzvah Service.
A beautiful, poetic translation of the Book of Psalms, Songs Ascending includes textual commentary and insights into the translation process, illuminating the choices of the original composers and the choices facing us in the 21st century as we try to make each psalm our own. The spiritual commentary asks: To what events, struggles, and triumphs in our lives might this psalm speak? How might this psalm articulate an aspect of our own sacred existence, or how might it help us celebrate a special day in our lives? How might it provide comfort when we are bereft and most in need of consolation, or how might it help us provide comfort for someone else? Songs Ascending explores all this and more, engaging the reader in dialogue that will inform and inspire.
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