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‘The Torah is both hidden and revealed ... there is a secret meaning to the holy Torah that is not written down explicitly or explained in it’ This selection offers a comprehensive survey of the 'Kabbalah', the body of writings in the Jewish mystical tradition. It features texts from a variety of literary forms, from the earliest biblical sources through to the early twentieth century, with a section on 'practical kabbalistic knowledge and procedure' to appeal to the modern market.
This richly-illustrated dictionary captures the richness and vitality of Jewish religion and culture: the web of legend and folklore crucial to understanding Judaism. The result is a vital and long-needed companion for anyone seeking to understand the Jewish world now and in past centuries. It describes all the main characters and the legends that have grown up around them; Jewish methods of Biblical interpretation; the framework of Jewish law, literature and poetry; the festivals of the Jewish Year; the different languages and subgroups within the community; and the many countries that Jews have lived in, as well as the importance of the Holy Land. Also revealed is a comprehensive picture of another side of Judaism. This is a world populated by angels and demons; sages and Kabbalists; creatures unknown to zoologists; lucky and unlucky days and numbers; and the hope for a Messianic era when the dead will arise, and man will live in harmony with nature.
The Historical Dictionary of the Jews presents the history of the Jewish people and their religious culture in a way that makes clear how and why this small, ancient people have survived nearly four millennia and managed to play such an important role in the world-well out of proportion to their population. The Jews trace their origins far back in history to the early tribes of Judah and Moses. Over the centuries, they spread across much of the Western world, as well as into parts of Africa and Asia, until they were crushed by the Holocaust and were forced to find refuge in the United States and the new state of Israel. Because of that horrific event, of the estimated 15 million Jews living ...
Every religious community has been affected by the "sexual revolution". The conflict between contemporary attitudes and traditional practices has led to major divisions and controversies, particularly when focused on issues such as homosexuality. This is the first attempt to take abroad look at both the Jewish pioneers of modern sexual thought and the impact of the revolution on our understanding of past Jewish practices and culture. For the first time the writings of leading scholars in the field from the United States and the United Kingdom have been brought together to explore these topics, and the book is essential reading for those academically or professionally engaged in areas ranging from counseling and pastoral work, to religious and social studies.
Documenting the life story, inspiring personality, and scholarship of Nehama Leibowitz, a recipient of the Israel Prize in Education, this biography discusses her strong views on issues such as Zionism, humanism, and feminism, as well as the influences that shaped her. The book also examines her pioneering approach to the study of the Hebrew Bible and the commentaries that forever changed the face of Jewish Bible study, as well as her acceptance as a prominent Torah scholar despite her gender and the future of her work in light of recent scholarship. Dozens of black-and-white photographs help tell the story of a brilliant teacher, an erudite scholar, and a forthright, warm, and humorous individual who left her mark on tens of thousands of people around the world.
An introduction to Jewish beliefs and practices, demonstrating that Judaism is a living religion which retains the vitality found in the Biblical corpus, but which has gone on to develop institutions, modes of behaviour and ideas which constitute the singularity of Jewish expression.
Young men and women in Jerusalem, London, and New York seek identity, spiritual clarity, and that nice Jewish girl or boy. Along the way, they manage to survive being pelted with fruit in synagogue, internet dating during the Second Intifada, a romance with a potential terrorist, an existential crisis on an El Al plane, and being blacklisted from dating in Manhattan of 2029. Nothing can eliminate the hope of these heroic individuals. Unsure if they are starring in a tragedy or a comedy, they persistently aim for a deeper connection, a more meaningful life.
"Demonstrates how the Jewish Bible radically changed the course of ethical thought and as a result has had enormous influence on later Jewish thought and law, as well as on Christianity and the development of modern Western civilization"--
The Wisdom of the Jewish Mystics is a selection of the most important writings, commentary, and ideas of the Jewish mystical tradition through the ages. The sayings are drawn primarily from the great Hasidic writers, like the Baal Shem Tov, who produced a new genre of mystical literature for laypeople. In his introduction, Dr. Unterman explains the background of kabbalistic thought and distills the quintessence of the mystics' wisdom.