Judaism Books - Page 4

Perspectives on Maimonides: Philosophical and Historical Studies (Littman Library of Jewish Civilization)

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Editorial Review:

'For many years to come it is likely to remain a major reference volume for students of Maimonides.' Sarah Stroumsa, Jewish Quarterly Review 'These studies, however disparate, provide us with convincing evidence of the continuing importance of Maimonides' philosophy.' Marvin Fox, Times Literary Supplement 'Surely one of the best surveys both of Maimonides and of his historical context ...an important contribution.' Oliver Leaman, Le'ela 'It is very apposite to have it now in paperback: less expensive, it will allow students to possess a volume that will acquaint them with high standards of scholarship, showing at the same time that although so much has been said and written about Maimonides, it is still possible to come up with new and interesting insights into his life and works, which continue to be interpreted very differently by different scholars.' Gad Freudenthal, Journal of Religious History Leading scholars have combined forces to produce this volume on the philosophy and legal views of Moses Maimonides (1138-1204) and the historical context in which he worked.The philosophical section examines Maimonides' ethical doctrine; his paradoxical life-style; his Guide of the Perplexed; his attitude to mysticism; his use of language; and his theory of astronomy. The legal section deals with law and medicine, the relation of Maimonides' legal thought to the Talmud; his doctrine of a just war; and his theory of redemption and Messianism. The history section examines Maimonides' accession to the position of head of the Jewish community in its historical context, at the time of the rise of the 'Ayyubid dynasty under Saladin. Contributors: Joel L. Kraemer, Lawrence V. Berman, Joshua Blau, Gerald J. Blidstein, Joseph Drory, Andrew S. Ehrenkreutz, Ithamar Gruenwald, Steven Harvey, Warren Zev Harvey, Arthur Hyman, Alfred L. Ivry, Tzvi Langermann, Ralph Lerner, Jacob Levinger, Aviezer Ravitsky, Isadore Twersky, Michael Winter

Franz Rosenzweig: His Life and Thought

Franz Rosenzweig

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

Well-written and fascinating 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book is incredible for the insight it gives you into Franz Rosenzweig's life and thinking. It is a remarkable biography along with numerous samples of essays and personal letters. Glatzer follows him from his childhood and vigorous young manhood to his early disability and death as a young father from Lou Gehrig's disease. The book leaves you inspired by Rosenzweig's remarkable example of strength, patience, and love, both in thought and in deed. It is wonderful to see his thoughts memorialized in this way for future generations.

Editorial Review:

Nahum Glatzer has brought both the life and the thought together in this marvellous collection -- there is no better introduction to this seminal Jewish thinker.

Let There Be Light: Modern Cosmology and Kabbalah: A New Conversation Between Science and Religion

Howard Smith

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Editorial Review:

In Let There Be Light, Howard Smith, a research astrophysicist and traditionally observant Jew, explores how modern scientific understandings of the cosmos complement Judaism’s ancient mystical theology, the Kabbalah. He argues that science and religion are not only compatible, but that a healthy, productive dialogue between the two sheds light on ethics, free will, and the nature of life, while at the same time rejecting fundamentalist misinterpretation and the pseudoscience of creationism. Written for a general audience, yet supported by the most current and accurate scientific research, the book discusses topics such as modern quantum mechanics and mystical notions of awareness; how Kabbalah’s ten sefirot mirror the developing phases of an inflationary universe; and the surprising parallels that exist between the Big Bang theory and Kabbalah’s origin theory. Smith delves into complex ideas without resorting to jargon or mathematical equations, creating an intelligent, authoritative work accessible to all readers.

Compassion for Humanity in the Jewish Tradition

David Sears

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Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Important and timely analysis 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

One of the main reasons the world faces so many crises today is that the ways of society are generally contrary to fundamental Torah values. Even many people who are committed to Judaism often stress ritual observance but fail to place sufficient emphasis on Judaism's powerful universal concerns.
In his very well researched, organized, and written book, Compassion for Humanity in the Jewish Tradition, David Sears takes a major step to correct this situation. The book is a compilation of translations from classic texts of Jewish thought, from Scripture through the Talmud and up to contemporary rabbinic leaders, on Judaism's teachings on how Jews should relate to other people. The book also includes a number of essays that serve as general overviews and prefaces to the translations, discussing and analyzing the source material.
Among the themes that the quotations superbly amplify are: the Jewish mandates to be a "light onto the nations" and to work for tikkun olam (the healing, repair, and perfecting of the world); the mitzvot to pursue justice and righteousness and to emulate God in His attribute of compassion; the implications of such mitzvot as "love thy neighbor as thyself", "be kind to the stranger for you were strangers in the land of Egypt", and "seek peace and pursue it"; Jewish business ethics; treatment of converts; how the ultimate goal of Jewish particularism is to benefit all of humanity and all of creation; and the ramifications of the Jewish "Messianic Vision."
David's background in both secular and Jewish areas gives him unique qualifications to write this trend setting book on Jewish obligations to humanity. His initial education was in the liberal arts and in the fine arts and music, and for a time he taught at the college level. Later, he studied at several Chassidic yeshivas. He has written several books on Chassidic leaders and teachings, including The Path of the Baal Shem Tov: Early Chassidic Teachings and Customs (Jason Aronson, 1997) as well as several books for Jewish young people, including Tales From Reb Nachman (Artscroll/Mesorah. 1987). He has illustrated a number of books, including The Artscroll Youth Haggadah (Artscroll/Mesorah, 1987), as well as over 20 "kosher comic books". He has also made substantial contributions to various phases of Jewish music, has had exhibits of his paintings and photography, and has contributed a wide variety of articles to Jewish publications.
I hope that this book will be widely read in the Jewish community (and in other communities), because it has the potential to have a major impact on the future of both Judaism and our imperiled planet. Since this review is for a vegetarian publication, I will indicate one example of a quote from the book that can be tremendously helpful in efforts to put the treatment of animals on the Jewish agenda:
Love of all creatures is also love of God, for whoever loves the One (God) loves all the works that He has made. When one loves God, it is impossible not to love His creatures. The opposite is also true. If one hates the creatures, it is impossible to love God Who created them. (Maharal of Prague, Nesivos Olam, Ahavas haRe'i, 1)
If aware of such a teaching, how could committed Jews square it with the cruel treatment of over 9 billion animals annually on factory farms prior to their slaughter for a diet that also has such negative health and environmental effects. Of course the fact that over 70% of the grain produced in the U. S. and 40% produced worldwide is fed to animals destined for slaughter while an estimated 20 million people worldwide die every year from hunger and its effects is also sharply at variance with many of the quotations in the book.
What God must think of the widespread mistreatment of animals today is indicated in another of the book's quotes:
This may be likened to an expert goldsmith who fashions a vessel with great skill, but when he displays his work, one of the people begins to mock and scorn it. How angry that goldsmith would be; for by disparaging his handiwork, one disparages his wisdom. Similarly, it is evil in the sight of the Holy One, blessed be He, if any of His creatures is despised. (Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, Tomer Devorah, Chapter 2).
The very thorough and sensitive job that David Sears has done in this book makes it imperative that he obtain the financial means to complete another work in progress: a companion volume on "Compassion for Animals in the Jewish Tradition." For David has the background, wisdom, sensitivity, compassion, and commitment to animal rights to effectively challenge Jews to apply Jewish teachings on animals. As a Breslav Chassid, his commitment to Jewish law and tradition cannot be challenged. No one could claim that he is just one more animal rights advocate who doesn't care about Judaism and religion, in general, and is not concerned about human problems. Also. his knowledge of Hebrew and Kabbalistic, Chassidic, and other Jewish sources enables him to find teachings that are not commonly known. His authentic and powerful quotations would be a respectful but powerful challenge to the Jewish community that it would not be able to easily ignore.

Editorial Review:

For many Jews and non-Jews, the Torah, the Talmud and other rabbinic writings have long been interpreted as saying that the Jews alone are God's chosen people. According to Sears, such readings have led to a struggle among Jews between assimilation--losing their particular Jewish identity--and withdrawal--preserving their particular Jewish identity and surviving as a people. In order to demonstrate the depth from which Judaism speaks in a universalistic voice, Sears collects a wide range of sources from a number of periods in Jewish history. Sears's extensive sourcebook is a rich collection of primary writings on the role of compassion in the Jewish tradition.

Judaism, Human Values, and the Jewish State

Yeshayahu Leibowitz

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Editorial Review:

A biochemist by profession, a polymath by inclination and erudition, Yeshayahu Leibowitz has been, since the early 1940s, one of the most incisive and controversial critics of Israeli culture and politics. His direct involvement, compelling polemics, and trenchant criticism have established his steadfast significance for contemporary Israeli-and Jewish- intellectual life. These hard-hitting essays, his first to be published in English, cover the ground Leibowitz has marked out over time with moral rigor and political insight. He considers the essence and character of historical Judaism, the problems of contemporary Judaism and Jewishness, the relationship of Judaism to Christianity, the questions of statehood, religion, and politics in Israel, and the role of women. Together these essays constitute a comprehensive critique of Israeli society and politics and a probing diagnosis of the malaise that afflicts contemporary Jewish culture.

Leibowitz's understanding of Jewish philosophy is acute, and he brings it to bear on current issues. He argues that the Law, Halakhah, is essential to Judaism, and shows how, at present, separation of religion from state would serve the interest of halakhic observance and foster esteem for religion. Leibowitz calls the religious justification of national issues "idolatry" and finds this phenomenon at the root of many of the annexationist moves made by the state of Israel. Long one of the most outspoken critics of Israeli occupation in the conquered territories, he gives eloquent voice to his ongoing concern over the debilitating moral effects of its policies and practices on Israel itself. This translation will bring to an English-speaking audience a much-needed, lucid perspective on the present and future state of Jewish culture.

Religion of Reason: Out of the Sources of Judaism (American Academy of Religion Texts and Translations Series)

Hermann Cohen

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Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Best Book On Judaism 4 out of 5 stars.
9 of 21 people found this review helpful.

If you know absolutely nothing about Judaism, you will not get much out of this book. The best way to understand Judaism is to read Book Five of the TORAH a number of times, allowing yourself to forget any Christian preconceptions. Why, for instance, did the Chief Rabbi of Israel rule that a disruptive child should be removed from class, while the US Government considers such disruption a disability- that one aims at the long term welfare of the Jewish people as the measure of good and the other has some other value system in mind. If you can grasp the meaning of not taking the mother bird but taking the eggs or young, then you are at a point where you may be able able to understand what Cohen is talking about. My favorite notion of Cohen's in the book is his definition of Religion, that to qualify as a Religion, as opposed to a superstition I suppose, the system must be true. His concept of true is that of a scientist, not that of a priest. It is the exact opposite of the Catholic notion that the moral teachings of the Pope are TRUTH, as if TRUTH could come out of pronouncement. Cohen recognizes that truth stands or falls on its own, not by virtue of who stated it. It is not too surprising that Cohen during his lifetime went from Judaism to Hegel and back to Judaism. If one removed the State from Hegel and substituted the long term welfare of the Jewish people, Hegel could be Jewish. People who like comic book versions of books will not enjoy Religion of Reason. Torah should be the first thing understood, then RAMBAM ( Maimonides), especially M-TORAH), but Religion of Reason should be the third book or collection consulted. Maimonides says in M-Torah in the prohibition against gambling: A person (Jewish of course) should do nothing which neither increases his understanding nor contributes to the progress of civilization. To my knowledge, people who hate Jews will find no ammunition in Cohen's book. This book is for those who want really to understand, not for those who are looking for more justifications for anti-semitism. Those who are impressed by Jews' being seen either as pathetic, as in The Fixer, or as monsters, will not find their emotional longings satisfied by Cohen's masterpiece. I have only read it twice, so forgive me for missing something less casual readers may not miss. The book is
a translation from German. Any college or university library worthy of the name should have a copy of Religion of Reason. It is not hard reading. You can understand Religion of Religion even if you, like me, could not grasp Critique of Pure Reason, which Cohen does not touch upon. Just as Shopenhauer said that a person could not be a man unless he had read and understood Critique of Pure Reason, in today's world a person who does not understand Judaism has only a smattering of education. If you would understand, consult the books (or collections of books) in the order recommended and you will begin to understand the modern world. If, however, you are pre-disposed to anti-semitism, please read and understand Kant's "Critique of Pure Reason" first.

Editorial Review:

Hermann Cohen's Religion of Reason, Out of the Sources of Judaism (first published in 1919) is widely taken to be the greatest work in Jewish philosophy and religious thought since Maimonides' Guide to the Perplexed. It is at once a Jewish book and a philosophical one: Jewish because it takes its material from the literary tradition that extends from the bible to the rabbis to the great medieval philosophers; philosophical because it studies that material in order to construct a worldview that is rational in the broadest sense of the term. This edition reprints a 1972 introduction by Leo Strauss and includes an essay on the work by Steven Schwarzchild. A new introduction by Kenneth R. Seeskin situates Cohen's masterwork in the history of modern philosophical and religious thought.

The Exegetical Imagination: On Jewish Thought and Theology

Michael Fishbane

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Editorial Review:

Exegesis--interpretation and explanation of sacred texts--is the quintessence of rabbinic thought. Through such means and methods, the written words of Hebrew Scripture have been extended since antiquity, and given new voices for new times. In this lucid and often poetic book, Michael Fishbane delineates the connections between biblical interpretation and Jewish religious thought.

How can a canon be open to new meanings, given that it is believed to be immutable? Fishbane discusses the nature and rationale of this interpretative process in a series of studies on ancient Jewish speculative theology. Focusing on questions often pondered in Midrash, he shows how religious ideas are generated or justified by exegesis. He also explores the role exegesis plays in liturgy and ritual. A striking example is the transfer of speculative interpretations into meditation in prayer. Cultivation of the ability to perceive many implicit meanings in a text or religious practice can become a way of living--as Fishbane shows in explaining how such notions as joy or spiritual meditations on death can be idealized and the ideal transmitted through theological interpretation. The Exegetical Imagination is a collection of interrelated essays that together offer new and profound understanding of scriptural interpretation and its central role in Judaism.

Abraham Joshua Heschel: Prophetic Witness

Edward K. Kaplan, Samuel H. Dresner

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Editorial Review:

Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907-1972) was one of the outstanding Jewish thinkers of the 20th century. A renowned American theologian and interpreter of tradition, he was author of such books as "Man Is Not Alone", "God in Search of Man", and "The Prophets". This book, the first of two volumes, is a comprehensive biography of Heschel. Based on interviews with Heschel's friends and family, archival documents and Heschel's previously unknown writings in Yiddish, German and Hebrew, the book traces Heschel's life from his birth in Warsaw in 1907 to his emigration to the United States in 1940. Edward Kaplan and Samuel Dresner describe how Heschel came of age in a Hasidic community and reached maturity in secular Jewish Vilna and cosmopolitan Berlin, speaking out as a religious philosopher during the advent of Nazism. They relate how he became a teacher in Berlin, in Martin Buber's education programme in Frankfurt (where his lifelong debate with Buber originated), in Warsaw, and in London, while the several Jewish cultures he had absorbed were being destroyed. They show that he was already intellectually and spiritually mature when he emigrated to the United States, fully prepared for his dual roles as interpreter of Jewish piety and social activist.

An Autobiography

Solomon Maimon, J. Clark Murray

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Editorial Review:

Brilliant and bedraggled, the picaresque Jewish philosopher Solomon Maimon was one of the great thinkers of the eighteenth century. Now the definitive English version of Maimon's remarkable "Autobiography", the 1888 translation by J. Clark Murray, is available for the first time in paperback, enhanced with a new introduction by Jewish studies scholar Michael Shapiro. Wry and spirited, shrewd and unrepentant, Maimon alternated between nomadic destitution and intellectual swordplay among the Jewish elite of Berlin. The son of a petty merchant in Polish Lithuania, Maimon was a child Talmud prodigy who became increasingly antagonistic toward the Jewish establishment and receptive toward the secular philosophies of Spinoza, Hume, Leibnitz, and Kant.A perpetual outsider, Maimon observed with an equally sharp eye the excesses of his time and the vicissitudes of his own life. Parallel to his own development as a thinker in the company of Moses Mendelssohn and others, Maimon conveys the physically wretched but spiritually vibrant Polish ghetto, the beginnings of Hasidism (which he denounces as antirationalist), and the world of the wealthy Berlin Jewry who enthusiastically embraced the ideas of the Enlightenment. Combining philosophical discourse with personal anecdotes that shift abruptly from the tragic to the hilarious and back, "Maimon's Autobiography" indelibly portrays one man's devotion to truth on his own terms regardless of the cost to himself or others.

Ecology & the Jewish Spirit: Where Nature and the Scared Meet

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Editorial Review:

The ancient Israelites, like all our ancestors, depended on nature for their daily livelihood. Rain and crops determined their fate Nature was an integral part of their lives and of their faith.

But what is our place in nature, and what is nature's place in our spiritual lives?

In today's modern culture, we've become separated from the spiritual possibilities of the natural world. "Modern" religion often overlooks nature, focusing instead on history and human drama.

This book offers an alternative...a different, eye-and-soul-opening way of viewing religion: a perspective grounded in nature, and rich in insights for people of all faiths.

Respect for the holiness of Creation, our duty to protect the natural world, reverence for the land--a focus on nature is part of the fabric of Jewish thought. Here, innovators in Judaism and ecology lead us on an exploration of the concepts of sacred space, sacred time, and community. They bring us a richer understanding of the long-neglected themes of nature that are woven through the biblical creation story, ancient texts, traditional law, the holiday cycles, prayer, and mitzvot (good deeds).

Ecology & the Jewish Spirit is the first book in the emerging field of religion and the environment to reflect a Jewish ecological perspective. It describes the wisdom the Jewish tradition has to offer all of us, to help nature become a sacred, spiritual part of our own lives.