Judaism Books

What Makes Someone a Jew?

Lauren Seidman

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 4-8 -> General
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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Religions -> Judaism

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

Perfect for all children 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

Seidman's book is pure and simple. A direct address to children about the meaning of being Jewish. To the point. No proselytizing, just the basic tenets of love, sharing and caring. Beautiful photographs.

What Makes Someone a Jew? 4 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

In simple, rhyming text, Lauren Seidman provides answers to the question posed in the title of this delightful picture book that celebrates diversity. "You don't have to look a certain way to be Jewish," Seidman reasons, but rather it is the values one lives by that matter. Large color photographs of Jewish children from a variety of ethnic backgrounds will engage young children, and offer them a broader perspective of the Jewish community in the United States and beyond. This book holds special appeal for children who have been adopted by Jewish families, as they will likely find within its pages photographs of other Jewish children that look like them. Although intended for a pre-school audience, What Makes Someone a Jew? could also be used with older children to encourage discussions about Jewish identity. The book's positive focus on the traditions and values shared by all Jews, and its inclusive and tolerant message make it a worthy purchase for libraries and schools serving young children and families with young children. For ages 2 - 6. Reviewed by Alison Kelly

Editorial Review:

What makes a person a Jew?

Is it the way that they look or the things that they do?

Is being Jewish a matter of how you look, or how you live? Using everyday examples that children can relate to, this colorful book helps all young Jewish readers understand what it really means to be a Jew.

A vibrant and fun way for children to develop a broader knowledge of Judaism and the Jewish People, this book gently guides children down their own path of Jewish spiritual discovery ... and reminds us all that being Jewish is about our deeds, thoughts, and heart.

Betrayed!

Stan, Telchin

Amazon Price: $10.39 List Price: $12.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Chosen Amazon Marketplace: 34 new & used starting at $7.46

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 36 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Literally could not put it down. 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

This book was reccommended to me, so when I received it from Amazon I opened it right away and started reading. A true story with major life changes that took so much courage, and the fallout that followed...it pulled me in and I literally could not stop reading until I finished the book. That is something that I have never done before. I highly reccommend this book for anyone who reads. Period.

Editorial Review:

Betrayed! is the page-turning account of a loving Jewish family caught on divergent prongs of a historic conflict. When Stan Telchin's daughter accepts Jesus as her Messiah, she makes a touching plea for him to search out the truth for himself. Intending to prove her wrong, Telchin sets out on a vigorous and critical examination of the claims of Jesus Christ. He is astonished at what he learns and finds himself facing a wrenching and life-changing decision. As readers travel with Telchin, they too will discover a deeper, fuller awareness of both Judaism and Christianity, as well as how God can heal wounds from the bitterest conflicts. Even more, readers will discover the inexorable power of the gospel. This new edition includes an update from the author and wisdom-filled words on Jewish identity.

The Book of Jewish Practice

Louis Jacobs

Amazon Price: $14.35 List Price: $15.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Behrman House Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 26 new & used starting at $5.82

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

Fundamental teachings of Judaism clearly presented 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 3 people found this review helpful.

One of the greatest of all scholar- teachers of modern Jewish life here provides a fundamental guide to Jewish Practice.

A Day of Pleasure: Stories of a Boy Growing Up in Warsaw

Isaac Bashevis Singer

Amazon Price: $8.95 List Price: $8.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) Amazon Marketplace: 48 new & used starting at $4.60

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Grandfather telling stories... 5 out of 5 stars.
17 of 18 people found this review helpful.

To enjoy listening to stories told by grandfather, you don't necessarily have to be a child! As a matter of fact, it is a life virtue to enjoy these stories told by Isaac Bashevis Singer, regardless of age. They are set in the now vanished Hassidic community of pre-II World War, but their moral content transcends time and space, and although they are soaked in Jewishness they equally appeal to the open-minded reader. Beware that out of the seventeen tales in this editon, 14 are included in "My Father's Court," by the same author.

I read this for a 6th grade book report and loved it! 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 5 people found this review helpful.

This book is a very good read for anyone and everyone that likes to read about foreign culture-- or even if you don't! I usually detest biographies and book reports, but reading this book made it FUN!

The childhood of a master story- teller 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Singer just has it. These vignettes of his childhood do not have the emotional power of his greatest stories but they are rich with life, insight and humor. And somehow he tells stories even when he is making simple descriptions of his early life. This work too tells the pain and poverty of his childhood and the difficulty of his parents' lives. It is too a tribute to a world - gone .

Editorial Review:

An ALA Notable Book.

A Torah Commentary for Our Times

Harvey J. Fields

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Accessible and thought-provoking 5 out of 5 stars.
20 of 20 people found this review helpful.

My wife and I recently decided we'd like to give our young children a more explicit introduction to moral values and figured that the torah would be an excellent vehicle (plus it would introduce the kids to torah). The problem was that neither my wife nore I is by any means a torah scholar - I'm a reform Jew and hadn't really done any bible study since hebrew school many, many years ago. I don't know enough to interpret the biblical texts myself and the full Talmud is far more than I was looking for. So, I went looking, in vain I feared, for a volume that would provide an accessible introduction to the bible.

Well, I'm happy to report that Fields' book met and exceeded my requirements. Each chapter contains a summary of the torah portion, an identification of key themes, summaries of select classical and modern commentary and a list of thought-provoking questions - perhaps 5-7 pages in all per parsha.

I've only had the book for a couple of weeks but already feel I've gotten my money's worth. I can in a brief time review the week's torah reading and then discuss it with my kids (who are too young to read the book themselves). They're learning and I am too.

Serious scholars may find this "Cliff's Notes" approach too superficial, but for a beginner like me, it's just right.

Editorial Review:

A Provocative approach to the weekly sidrah, juxtaposing the insights of ancient, medieval, and modern commentators (including the author). This is perfect for beginning Torah students of all ages and scholars seeking new angles on the text. This boxed set is an ideal bar/bat mitzvah or confirmation gift.

The Guide for the Perplexed [UNABRIDGED]

Moses Maimonides, Rambam

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 1.5 of 5

Bad - VERY Bad 1 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

Little if any care has been taken in pressenting this volume. Thew contents page is poorly set out, the type face is distresingly bad, the pages have huge unnecessay margins, there is no index, and no page numbers. I am very disappointed with this book, and will be purchasing a copy from a diffrent publisher in the near future. If this is the quality of publication that can be expected fromBN Publishing I will take care not to buy from them in the future. This is the first time I have ever felt the need to leave negative feedback about the actual layout out and pressentation of a book.

Editorial Review:

The Guide for the Perplexed (Hebrew:Moreh Nevuchim, Arabic: dalalat al ha'irin) is one of the major works of Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, better known as Maimonides, or the Rambam. It is the main source of his philosophical views. The main purpose of the work is to expound on Maaseh Bereishit and Maaseh Merkavah (the sections of Jewish mysticism dealing with Creation from Genesis and the passage of the Chariot from Ezekiel), these being the two main mystical texts in the Tanakh.

When a Jew Celebrates (The Jewish Values Series) (The Jewish Values Series)

Harry Gersh

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Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Bible & Other Sacred Texts -> General AAS

Editorial Review:

Describes the special days celebrated by a Jew and the Jewish community.

Torah Commentary for Our Times: Genesis (Torah Commentary for Our Times) (Torah Commentary for Our Times)

Harvey J. Fields

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

Book Review 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I found this book extremely helpful for my beginners Torah Study. The language and content is clear and concise. It makes each section easy to follow and understand. Mr. Fields selected a variety of commmentaries giving the student-reader numerous points of view and choices. The reader is free to develop his own ideas about the portion reviewed.

I would highly recommend this book for students first begining to study Torah.

Editorial Review:

A Provocative approach to the weekly sidrah, juxtaposing the insights of ancient, medieval, and modern commentators (including the author). Perfect for beginning Torah students of all ages and scholars seeking new angles on the text. This volume focuses on Genesis. All three volumes may be bought as a boxed set.

An Unbroken Chain: My Journey Through the Nazi Holocaust

Henry A. Oertelt, Stephanie Oertelt Samuels

Amazon Price: $12.71 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Lerner Publications Amazon Marketplace: 38 new & used starting at $5.30

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

stirring memoir 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 7 people found this review helpful.

Oertelt tells the story of his life in Germany from his 1938 until his liberation from a concentration camp. It is a stirring memoir -- heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. He uses the analogy of an 18 link chain to demonstrate how each link was important to his survival. The details in the book are remarkable in their lucidity and specificity. He is never graphic in his descriptions, but he is brutally honest. In the end, it is an uplifing tale in the context of terrible sadness.

Amazing Book and Speaker 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Mr. Oertelt came and spoke at my college in MN when I was a junior. Not only was he an amazing speaker, but he made the Holocaust a reality to everyone packed in that auditorium. He signed his book for everyone who wished to purchase it. I read it in one night unable to out it down!!! Highly recommended!

Explaining Reform Judaism

Eugene Borowitz, Naomi Patz

Amazon Price: $9.95 List Price: $9.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Behrman House Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 20 new & used starting at $1.94

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Extraordinary work, explaining the real meaning of Judaism 5 out of 5 stars.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful.

I borrowed this book in a public library. Had no big hopes, but was curious. How wrong I was. I practically devoured it after reading a few pages. Rabbi Borowitz has the special talent of knowing how to explain in simple words very complicated philosophical concepts of Judaism. Besides he does it in such a candid manner that my eyes went wet several times. Believe me, if you want your child to understand the essence of Judaism, this the book to give him/her as a gift. The title is a bit misleading, no matter which is your denomination - Reform, Conservative or Orthodox, even if Christian, this book will bring you the warmth of real "menchlichkeit" - how to become a decent human being.

On liberal judaism.... 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Though it is a short book, it gives one a good description of Reform Judaism. This book shows the evolution of this form of Judaism and how many times it's changed. Sadly enough, though, it paints the picture of a confused religious view that lacks consistency. This book would arouse one to possibly explore their cultural and political associations, but lack a lot on the spiritual side.

Editorial Review:

Presents the history and theology of the Jewish Reform movement.