Jainism Books

The Jewish Way in Death and Mourning (Revised and Expanded Edition)

Maurice Lamm

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The best guide on the subject I know 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

This is the best guide on ' Jewish Death and Mourning' I know. It is clearly written. It presents the Halachic aspects of the process in a good way. It shows sympathy and understanding. It will answer most if not all of the procedural questions the person has who is in the process of mourning.
It is the standard work , and rightly so.

comprehensive orthodox view 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book is tremendously informative about every possible question you could have about the Jewish laws and customs about death and mourning. It is well written and it's easy to look up questions you have. It's nicely broken down in chronological order from the end of life until the yearly yahrzeit observance.

It is, however, from the modern orthodox perspective. As a recent mourner, it made me feel guilty that my reform family was not observing all the minute details of mourning that occur. It's strength, tho, is that you know all the details and can observe what you can. And you now know what the ideal might be.

The paradox of course is that one is not likely to purchase or read it until some of the stages of mourning have passed. But it is comforting to read about the stages and their meaning even if they have passed. Plus it leaves you well informed should a death occur in the future, a likelihood for all of us mortals.

Editorial Review:

This is a very detailed guide to the traditional aspects of Jewish observances of Death and Mouring. It is a must for every Jew -- Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, or un-affiliated!

An Introduction to Jainism

Dr. Bharat S. Shah, Bharat S. Shah

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

This book is really worth your while 5 out of 5 stars.
24 of 24 people found this review helpful.

This book is very unique in the world of books on Jainism. My experience has been that most books presume you already have a great deal of understanding of Jainism before you start reading them or that you are very religious. While this book is most likely informative for those readers , I do not fall under those categories. This book taught me what Jainism is about without telling me what rituals I must follow and without preaching to me about my shortcomings as a Jain. it is very simply written and really teaches the reader about all aspects of the religion, including interesting stories about its development. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about Jainism.

Editorial Review:

Second U.S. edition of a highly acclaimed, simple introduction to Jainism, an ancient (more than 2600 years old) but currently relevant religion from India. Written in a clear and friendly style, full of explanations, and a gradual, stepwise presentation of its fundamental principles. For personal or classroom study. Equally interesting for non-Jains of either Indian, non-Indian, or Western origin, and for students and scholars of non-violence, vegetarianism, and ecology.

COALFIELD JEWS: An Appalachian History

Deborah R. Weiner

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Editorial Review:

The stories of vibrant eastern European Jewish communities in the Appalachian coalfields

Coalfield Jews explores the intersection of two simultaneous historic events: central Appalachia’s transformative coal boom (1880s-1920), and the mass migration of eastern European Jews to America. Traveling to southern West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, and southwestern Virginia to investigate the coal boom’s opportunities, some Jewish immigrants found success as retailers and established numerous small but flourishing Jewish communities.

Deborah R. Weiner’s Coalfield Jews provides the first extended study of Jews in Appalachia, exploring where they settled, how they made their place within a surprisingly receptive dominant culture, how they competed with coal company stores, interacted with their non-Jewish neighbors, and maintained a strong Jewish identity deep in the heart of the Appalachian mountains. To tell this story, Weiner draws on a wide range of primary sources in social, cultural, religious, labor, economic, and regional history. She also includes moving personal statements, from oral histories as well as archival sources, to create a holistic portrayal of Jewish life that will challenge commonly held views of Appalachia as well as the American Jewish experience.

Heavenly Powers: Unraveling the Secret History of the Kabbalah

Neil Asher Silberman

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Great book with a different perspective, a recommended read 5 out of 5 stars.
12 of 12 people found this review helpful.

In recent years it seems that most books on the Kabbalah seem to concentrate on the mystical aspects. Especially with it's growing popularity with various New Age movements. Silberman takes a different direction and concentrates on the historical and political factors that influenced the development of the Kabbalah and it's rituals. He takes the reader back to the beginnings or many of the rituals and discussed the political and historical influences of that time and how they worked together to weave a rich tapestry of religious tradition.
He has a remarkable ability to take a complex subject and put it into a readable style as he takes the reader on a journey from the Babylonian empire through the Roman and Byzantine empires, through Europe and to Israel. For the new age reader who is more interested in the rituals and methods of the Kabbalah this will probably not be their favorite book, but for those desiring an understanding of the roots of the religious tradition this is an excellent book with a perspective that others do not offer. A recommended read for any student of history, religion, or political sciences or others who just want to understand such things.

Editorial Review:

Heavenly Powers: Unraveling the Secret History of the Kabbalah gives a political history of Jewish mysticism. Neil Asher Silberman says the goal of his book is to describe "how kabbalistic rituals--at least in their initial stages--expressed symbolic yearnings for down-to-earth political ideals, formulated under particular historical conditions, with particular earthly injustices in mind." Silberman argues that Kabbalah inspired concrete economic, religious, and political movements in Babylon during the time of Ezekiel, in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus, in Istanbul at the time of Suleiman the Magnificent, and in Renaissance Venice. His saga sometimes stretches credibility in its aspiration to historical sweep, but he's entitled. A person can get carried away when he or she has discovered a secret, and Neil Asher Silberman, by describing the political effects of Jewish mysticism, has certainly done that. --Michael Joseph Gross

Karma - The Mechanism Create Your Own Fate

Hermann Kuhn

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Highly recommended, life changing, valuable knowledge & book 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I have read countless spiritual and self help books in order to gain understanding about life, spirit, truth and how to help others. This book stands out as one of the more important, relevant and practical books on how to improve your life and of those around you and even the World. It finally explains in detail once and for all what Karma is, what it really means and better yet, how to improve it and to change it for the better. The premise itself is very intriguing in that Hermann was able to translate the Jain Manuscript which is a very ancient and wise text, in order for us to understand, comprehend and to benefit from its timeless knowledge, information and important messages. I can honestly say and full heartedly tell you that this is one of those books that will change your life for the better, it definitely has changed mine and it is also very thought provoking, detailed in its translation and is fun to read as well.

Editorial Review:

The first book that tells - what karma really is, - how it works, - what causes karma and - how to use it successfully in our daily life. Karma - the Mechanism is part of an authentic, ancient Indian manuscript. Though it originated millennia ago, its information proves extremely relevant to our present times. The current search for purpose beyond material saturation will in it find the keys to an expansion of human experience entirely unknown to the West. This key is not shrouded in obscure language nor demands the application of mystic techniques, it simply interprets life from a new angle. This new angle enables us to arrange the components of our daily life in a way that will automatically produce effective action and dynamically expanding cognition. For the first time Karma - the Mechanism presents this ancient knowledge and its practical application in modern English and makes it accessible to everyone in the West.

The Jains (Library of Religious Beliefs and Practices)

Paul Dundas

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Difficult but thorough read 5 out of 5 stars.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful.

This book gets really detailed, and it's hard to keep track of some of the histories and nuances in philosophy. Nonetheless, my mother was amazed at how completely the author covered Jainism, and I'm learning alot myself (we're both Jain).

A fine text on Jainism 4 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

The author does a very thorough job introducing the reader to Jainism, its history, its sacred days, its customs and its sects. Indian language vocabulary is also well-explained (mostly Sanskrit). The one thing grossly lacking in this book is citation of scripture. As I recall, there may be a sentence or two of Jain scripture in the entire book. It has long been my belief that the best way to learn about the beliefs of any religion is through its own source text(s). The author does state that there is no definitive canon of Jain scripture, but the book could have been made about 25% larger through some reasonable scriptural selection, or, alternatively, 25% of the existing content could have been cut to provide the reader some feel for Jain scripture. This is the only negative critcism that I have to offer. Aside from this one criticism, this is an excellent book and I recommend it highly.

Editorial Review:

The Indian religion of Jainism, whose central tenet involves non-violence to all creatures, is one of the world's oldest and least-understood faiths. Dundas looks at Jainism in its social and doctrinal context, its history, sects, scriptures and ritual, and describes how the Jains have, over two and a half thousand years, defined themselves as a unique religious community. This revised and expanded edition takes account of new research into Jainism.

Life Force : The World of Jainism

Michael Tobias

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

interesting, but... 3 out of 5 stars.
14 of 17 people found this review helpful.

Well, it's an OK survey book, but I was put off by the author's co-opting Jain principles to rail on about non-vegetarians, the beef industry, and environmentalism. I don't necessarily disagree with some of his positions, but I purchased the book to expand my knowledge of Jainism, not for the author's social agenda.

A better alternative is Hemacandra's The Lives of the Jain Elders (R.C.C. Fynes, ed.), which has a brief history and overview of Jainism, though it's limited to the White-clad Jains. The translation of Hemacandra's work is a very readable intro to some of the moral precepts of the religion.

Great book on Jainism - Religion of Non-Violance(Ahimsa) 5 out of 5 stars.
14 of 15 people found this review helpful.

This is the best book on Jainism. Michael Tobias has described non-violance(ahimsa) in great details. Everyone knows Gandhi but many don't know driving force behind Gandhi's Ahimsa. Gandhi's spiritual leader, Shrimad Rajchandra(or Raichandbhai in Gandhi's autobiography)was Jain.

He has also tried to depict differences between Jainism and Baudhdhism, where applicable. By birth, I'm Jain(and trying to be Jain by act)and I appreciate many historical perspective on Jainism.
Also, as mentioned in the book, Jainism is scientific religion - covering Physics, Math and other subjects. This is great book not only for spiritual reading but also for environmental understanding.

I got this book from the library. I'm going to buy few copies and going to give them to my spiritual friends.

Editorial Review:

An introduction to Jainism, one of the oldest religions in the world.

God Owes Us Nothing: A Brief Remark on Pascal's Religion and on the Spirit of Jansenism

Leszek Kolakowski

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

God Owes Us Nothing reflects on the centuries-long debate in Christianity: how do we reconcile the existence of evil in the world with the goodness of an omnipotent God, and how does God's omnipotence relate to people's responsibility for their own salvation or damnation. Leszek Kolakowski approaches this paradox as both an exercise in theology and in revisionist Christian history based on philosophical analysis. Kolakowski's unorthodox interpretation of the history of modern Christianity provokes renewed discussion about the historical, intellectual, and cultural omnipotence of neo-Augustinianism.

"Several books a year wrestle with that hoary conundrum, but few so dazzlingly as the Polish philosopher's latest."—Carlin Romano, Washington Post Book World

"Kolakowski's fascinating book and its debatable thesis raise intriguing historical and theological questions well worth pursuing."—Stephen J. Duffy, Theological Studies

"Kolakowski's elegant meditation is a masterpiece of cultural and religious criticism."—Henry Carrigan, Cleveland Plain Dealer

Esther's Children: A Portrait of Iranian Jews

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A true treasure. 5 out of 5 stars.
19 of 21 people found this review helpful.

This is one of the most beautiful books I own. It is beautifully designed, and the photographs are brilliant. The quality of the book itself is also most exceptional. In a lot of ways, the book is almost a photo-narrative of the history of Jews in Iran. I am an Jewish Iranian-American graduate student, and I am awed by the amount of information I've found in the book. There was so much about my own heritage that I didn't know. Every page is filled with invaluable information about the history and culture of the Jews of Iran. The information is certainly of scholarly quality, but the book is so easy and pleasurable to read. Anyone interested in Jewish studies, Iranian studies, or even Middle Eastern history should own this book. It also makes a spectacular gift. Mine was a gift from my girlfriend. I can not recommend it enough.

Editorial Review:

This magnificent volume makes available for the first time a comprehensive history of the Jews of Iran -- from their earliest documented settlement in that land in 722 B.C.E. through the end of the 20th century.

Lavishly illustrated in full color with more than 500 images of monuments, manuscripts, objects, and individual and family portraits collected from private and public archives the world over, this unique book includes 25 articles by distinguished authors and scholars in the field of Judeo-Iranian studies.

Six of the articles are historical essays, examining the status of Jews in various periods of Iranian history. The remaining articles explore a variety of cultural and sociopolitical subjects pertinent to each historical period. The book ends with a comprehensive bibliography of Judeo-Iranian scholarship containing over 600 English, French, German, Hebrew, and Persian books and journal articles.

The Jewish Identity Project: New American Photography

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Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

While American Jews are commonly considered a homogenous ethnic group, the reality today is far more complex. Conversion, adoption, intermarriage, and immigration have transformed the fabric of Jewish communities, as they have the United States as a nation. This fascinating book explores questions of American Jewish identity and how Jews fit today into larger discourses of race, ethnicity, and religion. Featuring ten photographic and video projects by emerging and mid-career artists, all commissioned by The Jewish Museum, the book presents a range of provocative discussions of the nature of Jewish identity in 21st-century America.

Susan Chevlowe discusses how the artists explore individual communities to dispel stereotypes of contemporary Jewish life, and Ilan Stavans dissects the diversity of American Jews over the last century. In illuminating interviews with the artists, Joanna Lindenbaum provides insights into their ideas and methods. A beautifully illustrated portfolio of each of the commissioned works immerses the viewer in a distinctive community, revealing complex and often surprising ways in which Jewish Americans grapple with their identity.

Participating artists:

• Dawoud Bey

• Tirtza Even and Brian Karl

• Rainer Ganahl

• Nikki S. Lee

• Yoshua Okon

• Jaime Permuth

• Andrea Robbins and Max Becher

• Shari Rothfarb and Avishai Mekonen

• Jessica Shokrian

• Chris Verene