Warrant for Terror examines fatwas, which are legal opinions declaring whether a given act under Islam is obligatory, permitted, or forbidden and which serve as a major instrument by which religious leaders impel believers to engage in acts of jihad. This book is published in cooperation with the Hoover Institution.
There is no issue too controversial for Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld as he seamlessly connects ideas and themes of the Torah to the major issues of our times. What does the Torah say about homosexuality? What is the agunah crisis, and what can we do about it? How do we effectively combat intermarriage? Is our justice system truly just? In this collection of thoughts about the fifty-four weekly Torah portions, Rabbi Herzfeld shows us how the Torah can guide us and inspire us in our daily lives. Why is giving away your pillow the best way to get a good night s sleep? Should the Internet be used for bar mitzvah lessons? How can you be a good parent? What would you do if you had only five minutes to live? Rabbi Herzfeld is confident and proud of his Jewishness. His enthusiasm and unabashed love for the Torah is contagious, and his Jewish pride shouts out from every page. Warning: If you read this book you will be infected by Rabbi Herzfeld's love of Torah!
Noble Laureate S. Y. Agnon brings together what has always been at the heart of Jewish religious consciousness: the Sinai event, the Revelation--as both memory and continuously renewed experience.
The conventional understanding of Israeli foreign policy has been that it is a relatively new phenomenon, with some claiming that the ‘Jewish People’ is an invention by mid-19th century Jewish historians, or simply an ‘imagined community’. This book disputes these claims by demonstrating that the Jews have a tradition of foreign relations based on an historical political tradition that goes back thousands of years, and that this tradition has been carried over to the State of Israel. The Jewish political tradition in foreign policy has always been defensive-oriented, whether under sovereignty or in the Diaspora. Power has generally been only a means for achieving survival rather than a goal in itself, whereas Jewish national identity has always been related to historical Zion. In order to explore the question of whether it is possible to identify patterns of international behaviour in the foreign policy of the Jews, the book begins with the Bible and continues through the period of the First and Second Temples, then looks at the long generations when the Jewish people were stateless, and ultimately concludes with an examination of the sovereign Jewish state of Israel. The underlying assumption is that an understanding of these characteristics will allow us to derive a better understanding of the Jewish origins of Israel’s foreign policy, which should in turn help to eliminate many of the harshest criticisms of Israel’s foreign policy. By presenting a nuanced and intricate examination of longstanding Jewish foreign policy principles, this book will appeal to students and scholars of Jewish Studies, Israeli Studies, International Relations and anyone with an interest in the relationship between religion and foreign policy.
Our culture is showing the cracks of a growing fracture. Soaring divorce rates; a crippled economy that rewards the few and punishes the many; religious-fueled hatred; record rates of depression—the headlines paint a grim picture. We inhabit a society that desperately needs fixing. But as Rabbi Shmuley Boteach reveals in his new book, Renewal, our society can made whole again when we as individuals make the choice to live a life based on values. For too long, conversations about values have been derailed by political movements trying to score points over hot-button issues like gay marriage or abortion. Boteach, one of our wisest and most respected counselors and spiritual experts, reaches deep into our history and into our shared religious legacy to revive the key universal values of Judaism for our struggling world. He presents these age-old ideas as guideposts for the challenges of modern times. These values, whose roots are in the Bible and thousands of years of Jewish spiritual living, can be applied to anyone in the modern world—from Christians and Muslims to atheists and agnostics—who want to renew their existence and recommit themselves to the most precious things in life. Renewal shows everyone how to use the timeless values of the Hebrew Bible and Judaism to live a more fulfilling, modern life. Destiny Unlike the Greeks, who believed that life was scripted from birth, the Jews believe in destiny. In short, they reject the idea of tragic fates and instead champion the individuals’ capacity to create their own destiny through individual choice. Redemption Christians and Muslims emphasize salvation, or the need for man to become spiritual—to refine his character and earn a place in heaven. But Jews believe in world redemption, the capacity for the individuals to make heaven here on earth for,the betterment of the community. Action What you do is more important than what you believe. Good deeds always supersede good dogma. Enlightenment Jews are an infinitely curious people and believe that the great bane of existence—boredom—can only be cured by knowledge. Marriage Marriage refers not just to the institution, but rather the softening of the masculine by exposure to the feminine. A culture that does not know how to respect women is bound to collapse. Struggle It is wrestling with our nature, rather than attaining perfection, that constitutes true righteousness. Everyone is somehow flawed, but righteousness is found in the struggle to do right amid a predilection to act selfishly. Sacred Time Whereas other religions sanctify space, Jewish values privilege special moments. The Sabbath day, the holiest day of the week, provides a time for connecting with family and friends.
At the beginning of the eighteenth century most European Jews lived in restricted settlements and urban ghettos, isolated from the surrounding dominant Christian cultures not only by law but also by language, custom, and dress. By the end of the century urban, upwardly mobile Jews had shaved their beards and abandoned Yiddish in favor of the languages of the countries in which they lived. They began to participate in secular culture and they embraced rationalism and non-Jewish education as supplements to traditional Talmudic studies. The full participation of Jews in modern Europe and America would be unthinkable without the intellectual and social revolution that was the Haskalah, or Jewish Enlightenment. Unparalleled in scale and comprehensiveness, The Jewish Enlightenment reconstructs the intellectual and social revolution of the Haskalah as it gradually gathered momentum throughout the eighteenth century. Relying on a huge range of previously unexplored sources, Shmuel Feiner fully views the Haskalah as the Jewish version of the European Enlightenment and, as such, a movement that cannot be isolated from broader eighteenth-century European traditions. Critically, he views the Haskalah as a truly European phenomenon and not one simply centered in Germany. He also shows how the republic of letters in European Jewry provided an avenue of secularization for Jewish society and culture, sowing the seeds of Jewish liberalism and modern ideology and sparking the Orthodox counterreaction that culminated in a clash of cultures within the Jewish community. The Haskalah's confrontations with its opponents within Jewry constitute one of the most fascinating chapters in the history of the dramatic and traumatic encounter between the Jews and modernity. The Haskalah is one of the central topics in modern Jewish historiography. With its scope, erudition, and new analysis, The Jewish Enlightenment now provides the most comprehensive treatment of this major cultural movement.
Every holiday has two parts: its historical background and its laws. This unique new offering from Shmuel Blitz - especially for children - presents both. He begins by telling us the story. We'll learn the history of the Exodus from Egypt; the heroism of the Maccabees, Chana and her seven sons; and Yehudis; the story of Rabbi Akiva and his rise from unlearned shepherd to the great sage of our people. So it is with every one of our festivals. And then - once we know the story - we learn the laws. Everything is presented simply, accurately, and clearly, in the famous Shmuel Blitz manner. With Tova Katz's beautiful illustrations, it's a treasure house of fun-filled learning. Read it to your little ones. Before long they'll know it by heart and read it to you. Bring a sparkle to your holidays with this hit from a master storyteller.
This book presents a linear history of Jewish martyrdom, from the Hellenistic period to the high Middle Ages. Following the chronology of sources, the study challenges the general consensus that martyrdom was an original Hellenistic Jewish idea. Instead, Jews like Philo and Josephus internalized the idealized Roman concept of voluntary death and presented it as an old Jewish practice. The centrality of self-sacrifice in Christianity further stimulated the development of rabbinic martyrology and the talmudic guidelines for passive martyrdom. However, when forced to choosed between death and conversion in medieval Christendom, Ashkenazic Jews went beyond these guidelines, sacrificing themselves and loved ones. Through death not only did they attempt to prove their religiosity, but also to disprove the religious legitimacy of their Christian persecutors. While martyrs and martyrologies intended to show how Judaisim differed from Christianity, they, in fact, reveal a common mindset.
The eighteenth century was the Jews' first modern century. The deep changes that took place during its course shaped the following generations, and its most prominent voices still reverberate today. In this first volume of his magisterial work, Shmuel Feiner charts the twisting and fascinating world of the first half of the 18th century from the viewpoint of the Jews of Europe. Paying careful attention to life stories, to bright and dark experiences, to voices of protest, to aspirations of reform, and to strivings for personal and general happiness, Feiner identifies the tectonic changes that were taking place in Europe and their unprecedented effects on and among Jews. From the religious and cultural revolution of the Haskalah (Jewish Enlightenment) to the question of whether Jews could be citizens of any nation, Feiner presents a broad view of how this century of upheaval altered the map of Europe and the Jews who called it home.
In the Heart of the Seas follows Hananiah, along with many rabbis and their wives, on a spiritual journey to Palestine. The trip is a test of courage and mirrors the daily trials and experiences of modern existence, yet yields renewed faith.
In this book, Shmuel Peerless, a long-time student of Nechama Leibowitz's, systematically presents the respected scholar's unique approach to Torah instruction, organizing some of her methodological teachings and pedagogical techniques in a manner that makes them easily accessible to teachers and students of textual study alike. The information provided in this volume is collected and extrapolated from Leibowitz's lectures, published writings, and gilyonot—the study sheets on the weekly Torah portion she disseminated to students worldwide. This book helps to preserve Nechama Leibowitz the teacher, the scholar, and the personality as an inspiration for future generations of teachers and students.
This fascinating translation of a heretofore unknown Yiddish work offers new insights into the ethical teachings of the great rabbi, The Chofetz Chaim. Originally compiled in Yiddish by Rabbi Shmuel Greiniman, this translation contains 100 intriguing stories and parables based upon the Chofetz Chaim's enduring Torah lessons and their application to modern Jewish life. Advanced Praise for Messages of the Chofetz Chaim "The Chofetz Chaim, one of our people's giants, is renowned for both his words and his deeds. One generation ago, both were made available in a book to the Yiddish speaking public. Due to Rabbi Dr. Marvin Bash's marvelous translation, the English speaking public of this generation can get to know and learn from a "giant" who was truly "a man for all seasons." -Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg, Beth Tfiloh Congregation, Baltimore, MD. "Marvin Bash has made the stories of Rabbi Israel Meir Ha-Cohen Kagan (The Chofetz Chaim) available and accessible to those who do not understand Yiddish. In so doing, he has opened an important window into a life controlled by a powerful and all-encompassing faith in G-d that was committed to the best of the values of Judaism. This sage and his tales continue to inspire all who encounter them. Despite their setting in a world that is no more, their message is as timely today as it was when they were first told." -Rabbi Barry Freundel, Kesher Israel Congregation, Washington DC "At a time when there is great interest in spirituality, the translator-messenger, Rabbi Bash, has here faithfully transmitted moving examples of a unique, life-centered spirituality, as told by a traditional sage blessed with special sensitivities and ethical concern." -Dr. Max D. Ticktin, Professor of Jewish Studies and Yiddish Literature, George Washington University
Data structures are the fundamental building blocks of any computer program, used for storing, representing and manipulating data in a computer. This text presents the basic concepts of data structures as part of the art of writing computer programs. The author concentrates on the fundamentals of what should be done to solve a problem efficiently rather than technical implementation details. The text includes pseudocode and covers all the most common data structures, such as queues, stacks, trees, heaps, and hash tables, along with the basics of searching, sorting, and coding. This book can supplement any undergraduate algorithms or discrete math course and will also be accessible to students and researchers in other quantitative disciplines. No prerequisites beyond introductory programming and basic mathematics are required, and the accessible, conceptual presentation will appeal to undergraduates in many quantitative fields. Carefully designed problem sets with selected solutions will allow students to test their understanding.
An intriguing series of letters exchanged between Rabbi Schmuley Boteach and controversial paranormalist Uri Geller. The two correspondenets write in sharply contrasting styles: the rabbi is a straight-talking sceptic, while Geller is the fable-weaving product of a varied education.
From the prizewinning Jewish Lives series, an accessible and fascinating biography of Moses Mendelssohn, the seminal Jewish philosopher "A fascinating portrait of an important Enlightenment figure."—Library Journal The “German Socrates,” Moses Mendelssohn (1729–1786) was the most influential Jewish thinker of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. A Berlin celebrity and a major figure in the Enlightenment, revered by Immanuel Kant, Mendelssohn suffered the indignities common to Jews of his time while formulating the philosophical foundations of a modern Judaism suited for a new age. His most influential books included the groundbreaking Jerusalem and a translation of the Bible into German that paved the way for generations of Jews to master the language of the larger culture. Feiner’s book is the first that offers a full, human portrait of this fascinating man—uncommonly modest, acutely aware of his task as an intellectual pioneer, shrewd, traditionally Jewish, yet thoroughly conversant with the world around him—providing a vivid sense of Mendelssohn’s daily life as well as of his philosophical endeavors. Feiner, a leading scholar of Jewish intellectual history, examines Mendelssohn as father and husband, as a friend (Mendelssohn’s long-standing friendship with the German dramatist Gotthold Ephraim Lessing was seen as a model for Jews and non-Jews worldwide), as a tireless advocate for his people, and as an equally indefatigable spokesman for the paramount importance of intellectual independence.
‘This impressive study will doubtless come to be considered one of the definitive works in the intellectual history of the Jewish Enlightenment . . . The outstanding nature of this work, its conceptual clarity, and its penetrating analysis make it an exceptional piece of historical research.’ From the Arnold Wiznitzer Prize citation
This is an anthology of seven short stories authored by Shmuel Shimshoni. Two of his favorite stories, " n Impulsive Compulsion" and "Common Sense Annuls the Evidence of Valid Witnesses" are borrowed from the author's previously published book. These are included for the enjoyment of you, the reader who might not have read his first volume "No Alternative." These stories are the results of adaptation of the imaginative powers that only mankind has. The author hopes that you, the reader will enjoy perusing these stories, at least as much as the author has enjoyed creating them.
In recent years, fewer young people make a smooth and linear transition to adulthood. The age of marriage has increased, and the lives of many young people are characterized by instabilities in both their careers and their romantic lives. These changes have been conceptualized as an extension of adolescence, with some arguing that this reflects the increased narcissism and self-absorption of "Generation me". However, when approaching the age of 30, the vast majority of young people are likely to have settled down. More than eighty percent have started a career or have a steady job (OECD, 2022) and more than two thirds are married or involved in a stable and intimate romantic relationship (U.S, Census Bureau, 2021)"--
From the author of 'The Secret of Jewish Femininity,' and her husband, a rabbi and noted educator, comes this indispensable volume to help couples understand each other better and promote sh'lom bayis, marital harmony.
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