Reviews (36)

It's a good book - read it.
I would recommend this book to any parent who is experiencing trouble with overprotected and/or overindulged children. Though I am myself not Jewish I liked how the author - based on Jewish beliefs - reassured parents that it is ok to set limits and ask your children to pay you the due respect. Afterall, you are supposed to be your child's parent and not his/her friend! Parenting is not about pampering or protecting but about preparing for life. Even from a non-religious point of view the book made some good points; a lot of the other suggestions made in the book were pretty much common sense but I guess that also depends where you come from. What I liked most about it though was that it encouraged parents to accept that a kid might just be "normal" and it is somtimes more important to accept that than to try to turn your child into something it is not (read: a genius). It's a good book - read it.

Wisdom for the new parent
Jewish or not - this book has a great read tone to it, feels pratical and possible and is always going to stay on my shelf.

Helpful book
I find I don't come down solidly on either side of the argument between putting children's needs first or maintaining a more traditional strict discipline, denying kids' their wants to build character.I think of the former as the theory promoted by La Leche League, and I do feel that kids have legitimate needs, and those needs should be acknowledged and met.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Family & Relationships    2. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    3. Family/Marriage    4. Judaism - General    5. Judaism - Rituals & Practice    6. Parenting - General    7. Advice on parenting    8. Family & Relationships / Parenting    9. Judaism   

Subjects:  1. Child Care/Parenting    2. Child Development And Rearing    3. Child rearing    4. Family & Relationships    5. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    6. Judaism    7. Parenting    8. Parenting - General    9. Religious aspects    10. United States    11. Family & Relationships / Parenting   

Editorial Review

Even well-versed Biblical scholars might be perplexed if asked about Jabez, a little-known man listed in 1 Chronicles, chapter 4. Yet his simple petition is the cornerstone of Read more

Reviews (546)

"A bit shallow compared to other books on prayer..."
I can't add much to previous reviews except to say that if you're looking for a solid, detailed instruction on how to pray effectively, this may not be it.
Worst interpretation ever
I read this book years ago.My first impression was, "this seems like a lot to pull from such a small passage."I really felt that there was something wrong with it. A few months later, I read a textbook on Biblical Interpretation, and suddenly I could articulate what bothered me so much about this book.
There needs to be a Zero star rating for books like this
I wonder what Bruce Wilkinson was thinking when he wrote this book. There is no way a top-notch theologian could squeeze 96 pages out of one verse and keep it focused solely on Scripture. Well, Wilkinson wrote that much, but he threw in so many examples from life that it totally took away the meaning of the verse.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible    2. Bible - Meditations - Old Testament    3. Bible Commentary    4. Bible.    5. Christianity    6. Chronicles, 1st, IV, 10    7. Devotional    8. General    9. History and criticism    10. O.T    11. O.T.    12. Prayer    13. Prayers    14. Religion    15. Religion - Inspirational/Spirituality    16. Spiritual    17. Worship    18. CHRISTIAN LIVING / SPIRITUAL GROWTH / PRAYER    19. Christian prayerbooks    20. Christian worship    21. Jabez    22. Religion / Christian Life   

Reviews (4)

Best book ever
This has been the only book I have ever read that hit a huge cord within me and stayed.The messages and insights will stay with you long after you've put the book down.We have stopped watching TV with our kids during the week and instead talk, play games, go on walks and enjoy each other's company.We have learned to destress our house and focus on happiness.My husband and I have reconnected and our family is happier as a whole.This book, if you allow it to, can teach you miraculous things.Shmuley Boteach is an incredible rabbi, teacher, husband and above all, father.This book is worth 10 times it's price.Thank you Shmuley Boteach!!

10 BOOKS TO GIVE AWAY TO EVERYONE YOU CARE ABOUT
I was so struck by this book I could not put it down.I talked to everyone I know about the concepts in the book and have already passed it along to my son who has two children.I need to purchase 2 more now, one for my nail technician and one for me to keep until the next time I give it away.
10 conversations you need to have with your children
It does not matter what faith you prescribe to - this book defines what we as parents should be focusing on in raising our children - "who" are children are not "what" they are! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Child Care/Parenting    2. Child Development And Rearing    3. Communication in the family    4. Conduct of life    5. Family & Relationships    6. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    7. Judaism - General    8. Parent and child    9. Parenting - General    10. Philosophy Of Judaism    11. Popular Culture - General    12. Family & Relationships / Parenting   

Editorial Review

In 1988, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin undertook amission to heal "Jewish ignorance," an affliction whose symptoms include the ability to name the three components of the Trinity, coupled with an inability to explain Read more

Reviews (62)

converting to judaism
Having purchased this remarkable book and thinking that I knew quite alot about Judaism was quite an eye-opener for me. I was astonished at the wealth of information this work has to offer anyone who is interested in learning the basics of the jewish faith. The articles which are divided between the Bible, the holidays, the history of the jewish people, the holocaust and other subjects provide the reader with an excellent source of material and a basic knowledge of all things jewish. I recommend it highly.

No Jewish home library is complete without it.
I find myself returning to this book again and again to answer questions that come to mind and many discussions I have been part of have been started by a single sentence in this book, as Telushkin is wonderful at examining various perspectives on any given subject. And, Telushkin also has a knack for reporting a lot of information in a very concise, clear manner-- no long, drawn out rambles at all.

5* Brilliant Read - All Jewish households should own a copy
I bought a copy today, and although I have not (quite) finished reading it, it is already clear to me that R' Telushkin has written an excellent book, ranging from history to topical issues and much more. The quality of this book is very high, and although it does occasionally not go into quite enough detail, at least this means that, unlike other similar books I have seen, it flows very well, and is well suited to its target audience.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Customs and practices    2. History    3. Jews    4. Judaism    5. Judaism - General    6. Judaism - Rituals & Practice    7. Reference    8. Religion    9. Religion - Judaism    10. Jewish studies    11. Religion / General    12. Yiddish   

Reviews (8)

Book Just As Good As The Play!!
Byran & Sam's book "Jewtopia" is a great read. It's so funny, and helps Jews see the great humor in our culture. From the Foreward and the History (Where It All Began) to the Conspiracy Theories, you are laughing out loud. I bought this book as a present to my 21 year-old sister but I'm reading this book first before I give it to her! This book is just as good as the play. I recommend "The Chosen Book for the Chosen People" to be on everyone's coffee table for many years to come!!

A WONDER TO BEHOLD- FUNNIEST THING EVER!
What a joy to have a book that makes you laugh from beginning to end! What might appear as a "coffe table" book is actually a great cover to cover read. The artwork, illustrations and design is firstrate, but what stands out above all is the comedy - this is one REALLY REALLY REALLY funny book - and I'm not even a Jew! This is going to be my gift of choice for all my friends!

I love this!!!
If you think the book is funny, check out the play in NY. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Humor    3. Jewish wit and humor    4. Jews    5. Judaism - General    6. Religion - Judaism    7. Satire And Humor    8. Topic - Religion    9. Humor / General    10. Humour collections & anthologies   

Reviews (1)

A Must-Have!
This book is for everyone, regardless of what stage you are in your relationship.It really gets to the core of what sex and life is all about.If you are looking for answers on how to genuinely enrich your relationship, this book holds the key elements that we have all been missing out on. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Health & Fitness    2. Health/Fitness    3. Judaism - Kabbalah & Mysticism    4. Love / Sex / Marriage    5. Sexuality    6. Health & Fitness / Sexuality    7. Religion: general   

Subjects:  1. Jainism    2. Jewish - General    3. Judaism - History    4. Reference    5. Religion    6. Religion - Judaism    7. Jewish studies    8. Judaism    9. Reference works   

Reviews (2)

Good Common-Sense Approach To Adversity
Rabbi Kushner's new book, "Overcoming Life's Disappointments" is a good friend to have if you've got some adversity in your life.He takes Moses, who spent 40 years wandering in the desert with his people and then was forbidden to enter the promised land with them, as his model on how a good person copes with trials.His advice is that life continues to have good things in store for us even after our dreams are shattered, if we don't let ourselves become hardened and embittered but keep our minds and hearts open.This sounds obvious enough, but it's easier said than done.Rabbi Kushner provides many stories from his long career to explain how we can cope.As a self-confessed admirer of Sigmund Freud, he's not big on the mystical or intuitive aspects of religion.He's more of a "duty is its own reward" kind of guy.But he is a preacher of what C.S. Lewis called "the Tao": the basic "way" that most religions have in common.If you are looking for essential answers, Rabbi Kushner is a good place to start.

Rabbi Kushner gives a few pointers in resiliency
One of the hardest things for anyone to learn, no matter where you are in life, or how much money you have, is coping with times when things don't turn out as you expect. Some people never recover, while others seem to sail past a disaster with hardly a break in stride. The trick isn't in what the disaster is, but how they've handled it.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Adaptation, Psychological    2. Bible - Stories - Old Testament    3. Handbooks, manuals, etc    4. Inspirational    5. Inspirational - General    6. Jewish Law    7. Judaism - General    8. Life skills    9. Old Testament Commentary    10. Personal Satisfaction    11. Religion    12. Religion / Inspirational   

Reviews (3)

Wisdom insights
I found this book to be very helpful to me in tying together my core "yearnings" to the insights to a wisdom tradition that Irwin Kula makes alive and relevant. There is no claim to a "right" or "wrong" - rather it is how to tap into centuries-old teachings to make some sense of this crazy human experience. Almost everyone can relate to the stories that are told. There is truly something for everyone here.

Life is easier when you appreciate its complications
Irwin Kula takes us past our longing that a single truth applied everywhere will give us fulfillment.Instead he shows that in every problem is an opportunity--that what initially seems confusing and complicated doesn't need to be feared but appreciated.As I read his book, I felt optomistic without feeling naive or simplistic.

Must read!
Kula's first book is a revelation.He provides deep insights based on many wisdom traditions that will deeply affect your life and the lives of those you love. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Jewish way of life    2. Judaism    3. Judaism - General    4. Life    5. Religion    6. Religious aspects    7. Self-Help    8. Spiritual    9. Spiritual Healing    10. Spiritual life    11. Spirituality - General    12. Religion / Judaism / General   

Reviews (3)

Zealotry With A Cause
David Mamet here displays the pugnaciousness of a Norman Mailer without the self-embellishing promotionalism.Speaking for myself, I do not need the names and behaviors of those Jews who fit the ideal type self-abnegator constructed by Mamet.They are to be found everywhere, including parts of my extended family and even in my own house.But, unlike Mamet, I don't think Jewish self-hatred is only repulsive.The true victims of Jewish ambivalence are the descendents of those Jews who internalize the self-mocking, Woody Allenesque gibes of their "wicked son" parents.They have squandered their own birthright and are too ignorant about its content and value to understand what they've lost. If anything, though he pulls no punches, Mamet does not make the case strongly enough.But for a solid opening salvo, I'd recommend this book to any disaffected Jew who doesn't at present understand the benefit of "showing up" to lead an obligated Judaic life and helping to make community.

did I agree with it all?No, but it forced me to think....
As a gay Jew of Color, I often think about self-hatred.This society has taught me to not like myself for a number of reasons.Mamet forces me as Jew to look at how I have internalized these messages.Did I agree with his analysis all the time?No but I had to think....

Reactionary ethnocentric nationalism from a "progressive"
Mamet is both a celebrated playwright and one of the most chauvinist and ethnocentric nationalists extant. If a traditional Catholic were to say about the pope and the Church what Mamet says about rabbis and the Synagogue in this book, he would be denounced as a reactionary bigot and hardly taken seriously. Instead, by some sleight of hand he may have picked up from his stage-magician pal Ricky Jay, Mamet's Judaic jingoism is transformed into a progressive appeal. To what? Blind faith in dogma and ideology as a path to salvation? Did anyone ever hear of the Enlightenment? Thank God for Pfefferkorn, Spinoza, Shahak, Chomsky, Kaye, Finkelstein and all the other "apostates" who had the courage and integrity to break free. Read this book as a case study in megalomania and paranoia from one of the grandees directing contemporary culture in America. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Antisemitism    2. Discrimination & Racism    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Identity    7. Jewish - General    8. Jewish Sociology    9. Jewish Studies    10. Jews    11. Judaism - History    12. Self-hate (Psychology)    13. History / Jewish   

Reviews (5)

"Starting with Moses & all the prophets......
I own four JPS Torah commentaries; Genesis, exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Whilst written by Jewish scholars, they are a huge help to the Christian preacher and Bible study scholar. In depth knowledge of the language, and traditions offer fascinating, whilst sad insights to the Jewish interpretation of the Torah. I would recommend these books very highly to anyone with a strong faith in Jesus Christ as the Messiah. They, even unknowingly clearly point to him as the Saviour of the world.
Be Advised, Speciality is Key
Because of the degree of specialty of each of the writers (each are specialists on the Law), a decent (at least some) amount of Hebrew knowledge is key, to allow the reader to evaluate decisions made by the authors.It is also key to remember that these commentaries (following after the aims of JPS) are thoroughly Jewish and track the development of understanding for the passages discussed, though not necessarily to the detriment of the series.A great work, worth the shelf space of any Rabbi, Preacher, or Scholar.rq ladonai kvd

Thorough and thought provoking
Of the five commentaries in the JPS series on the first five books of the Bible, Milgrom's is the best. Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible - Study - Old Testament    2. Judaism - History    3. Judaism - Sacred Writings    4. Religion    5. Religion - Judaism    6. Biblical concordances & commentaries    7. Books of the Old Testament    8. Judaism   

Editorial Review

When doctor and author Rachel Naomi Remen (Read more

Reviews (44)

Good book but not what expected
Very encouraging stories yet I prefer to see those positive stories tight to the hand of of the Lord.

Required reading for doctors?
The stories of real communication in this book will stay with me for a long time.I wish Dr. Remen's examples of listening and being present would be required reading for medical residents and practicing doctors,especially in this time of increasingly computerized medicine.
Read and receive a blessing
This is a great book. It affirms that healing has a spiritual dimension. Some of the stories touched me in such a way that I will remember them all of my life. I read this book as part of a book club; it generated good discussion. I plan to give away copies to friends and family. I would also recommend this book to anyone who is suffering from a serious illness. It is both hopeful and real, two qualities difficult to combine in spiritual writing. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ethics, Jewish    2. Exempla, Jewish    3. Inspirational    4. Inspirational - General    5. Jewish way of life    6. Judaism - Rituals & Practice    7. Personal Growth - Happiness    8. Religion    9. Personal Christian testimony & popular inspirational works    10. Religion & Beliefs    11. Religion / Inspirational    12. Self-Help & Practical Interests   

Reviews (11)

If you are a leader in a congregation, you simply have to absorb the concepts in this book
This is a book to be absorbed slowly.
Read, and Your Ministry Will Never Be the Same
This book has a reputation of revolutionizing the way its readers view congregational life. Based on his experience as a rabbi and marriage and family therapist, the late Ed Friedman gives the most comprehensive and practical understanding of congregations as emotional systems. Conflicts are explained not from a linear standpoint, i.e. "A causes B," but from a systemic perspective where all participants are contributors. Each part of the system is connected to, or has its own effect upon, every other part. This helps to explain why many "issues" that arise within a congregation cannot be settled on the level of content, but must be viewed as representations of how the persons surrounding the issues are participating in the relational system. "Issues" may seem settled, but if the relational system continues to function the same way, the same or other "issues" will reappear later, because they were merely symptomatic of the emotional dynamics among the people involved. This book begins by explaining the major concepts of family systems theory, and applies them to organizational life, leadership, and the leader's family. It is full of examples, which makes these complex ideas easier to grasp. Few books are as insightful and helpful in equipping church leaders to understand congregations. It is the standard in applying family systems theory to congregations.

A MUST READ for all persons in positions of leadership
"Generation to Generation" by Edwin Friedman is a groundbreaking book on the dynamics of organizational and religious leadership as seen through the lens of the multi-generational family systems model.In the book, Friedman uses case studies and examples drawn from his own leadership experience and uses them to illustrate how leadership can be understood and transformed by having an awareness of three major systems that directly affect organizational leadership:Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity - Pastoral Counseling    2. Family    3. General    4. Judaism    5. Judaism - General    6. Pastoral Theology    7. Psychology    8. Psychotherapy - Counseling    9. Religion    10. Religion - Pastoral Care / Counseling    11. Religious gatherings    12. Religious life    13. Christian ministry & pastoral activity    14. Psychology & Psychiatry / Counseling   

Editorial Review

Like the many other Dummies books, Read more

Reviews (10)

Maybe FORBut Never BY Dummies
Here to take its place in the greatest informational series this side of a bookshelf full of encyclopedias, Judaism For Dummies continues the "Dummies" tradition of educating and never boring the inquiring mind of its reader. In this volume, which tells everything that might possibly ever be asked about humanity's oldest and most profoundly world-changing religion, concise facts are presented in such a way that anyone, from children to adults, can grasp the informative answers herein. From biographies of the great figures in Judaism, to simple answers on customs, holidays, dietary requirements, beliefs, the Kabala, rabbinical laws, the hows and whys of anything Jewish, it's all explained here. There's even a delightful page dedicated to Jewish humor, which includes a sardonic joke about two Jewish men in an alley who see a pair of tough-looking men approaching. The one Jew turns to the other and says, "I think we should get out of here cause there's two of them and you and I are alone." Ha, yeah, pretty good... Judaism For Dummies is a fine source of educational material and it impressed me, as so far every book in this series has.

The Hebrew words will swirl in your head
So, you'd like to learn something about one of the oldest religions in the world and instead of turning to any of the thousands of published works on the subject of Judaism you turn instead to the Dummies book on the subject? Well, it worked for me. Judaism for Dummies, written by Ted Falcon and David Blatner, follows the well-known style of the series in condensing even the most complicated of matters down into comprehensible formats that can be read through in a matter of days.
Light-hearted Introduction
If this had been the first book I had read about Judaism, I probably would have gotten much more interested much more quickly than I did.Judaism for Dummies presents all the basic concepts of Judaism in just over 300 pages of delightful commentary.With informative sidebars and appropriate humor, this book is an excellent introduction to the Jewish faith.Appendixes include a table of the holidays for until the year 2010, an introduction to Yiddish words as well as less well known Yinglish words and basic Jewish vocabulary, and a smattering of useful blessings presented in Hebrew, transliteration, and English.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Judaism    2. Judaism - General    3. Religion    4. Religion - Judaism    5. Religion / Judaism / General   

Reviews (30)

Intentional mistranslated words
.
poor binding
the downfall to this version is the binding.The first day I flipped through the book pages started falling out.

From a gentil perspective
Honestly, I bought this book with the intention to learn Hebrew... I never made it, but now I use the translation and commentaries as a reference for my studies and I do recommend this book, nicely printed and easy to read.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible - Study - Old Testament    2. Bibles    3. Bibles - Hebrew    4. Judaism - General    5. Judaism - Sacred Writings    6. Religion    7. Judaism    8. Old Testament   

Features

• Box set

Reviews (4)

Excellent delivery
The time of the delivery was very good, in less than 3 weeks I had my books with me.

Wonderful gift and accesory
These wonderful books deal with tradtional judaism and more controversial issues like conversion and marriage.The first volume is essentially detailed with accounts of 'who is a Jew' 'What is a Jew''What are Jewish holidays''What is the Jewish service and its structure''What are essential Jewish rituals''How do Jews interpret the Torah'.These chapters detail almost any question one might have about what it means to be a Jew, how to live a Jewish life and how to interpret the essential Torah.This volume is wonderful for non-Jews, return Jews, Secualt Jews and normal Jews intreested in exploring their religion deeper.Wonderful excerts explain the origins of such simple items like the Kipa(Yarmluke) and essential questions about Jewish dietary laws. Well written and simple
Best, I think, for children, Jews by Choice, and non-Jews with questions.It is written on a very basic level.Wonderful reference source for when those occasional "trivia question" moments come up, and you simply "have to know." ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Jewish - General    2. Judaism - Rituals & Practice    3. Religion    4. Religion - Judaism    5. Judaism   

Editorial Review

Author Simon Weisenthal recalls his demoralizing life in a concentration camp and his envy of the dead Germans who have sunflowers marking their graves. At the time he assumed his grave would be a mass one, unmarked and forgotten. Then, one day, a dying Nazi soldier asks Weisenthal for forgiveness for his crimes against the Jews. What would you do? This important book and the provocative question it poses is birthing debates, symposiums, and college courses. The Dalai Lama, Harry Wu, Primo Levi, and others who have witnessed genocide and human tyranny answer Wiesenthal's ultimate question on forgiveness. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

A Sunflower among books---unforgettable
This book has touched me and remained with me since I read it my Senior year of high school.It facilitated numerous discussions on the issue of forgiveness--a complex issue that is actually quite simple.It also helped me to face some of my own issues and grudges so that I was finally able to begin understanding true forgiveness and hope.
Never forget the sunflower
Simon Wiesenthal's death prompted me to read "The Sunflower" for the first time. The book recounts Wiesenthal's haunting encounter with a dying SS soldier. The author was a concentration camp prisoner at the time. The tormented soldier desperately implored absolution for the atrocities he committed. The book passionately explores guilt, penitence, and forgiveness as Wiesenthal invited and printed the commentary from others about what they would have done if they had been in his place.
One who did not forget
I am writing this review the day after Shimon Wiesenthal died. He was ninety- six years old. Thousands of words have been written about him and his life- task. Certainly one of the major contributions he made was to make people aware of the enormity of the crime which was the Holocaust. After the war many wished to forget, but he out of a strong sense of duty to those who had died, to those who had been murdered and suffered so much , made it his business to make the world remember. And he too made his business to bring to justice those who committed the crime. And as he said many times he did this not only for the victims, but for the future generations of mankind so that such an evil would never come again not only to Jews but to all of humanity.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Church And Society    2. Concentration camps    3. Ethics    4. Ethics & Moral Philosophy    5. Genocide    6. History    7. Holocaust    8. Jewish Holocaust    9. Personal narratives, Jewish    10. Philosophy    11. Religion    12. Sonnenblume    13. Wiesenthal, Simon    14. World War, 1939-1945    15. Europe    16. Judaism    17. Practical & applied ethics    18. Religion / General    19. The Holocaust    20. Reading Group Guide   

Subjects:  1. Cooking / Wine    2. Methods - Quick & Easy    3. Regional & Ethnic - Jewish & Kosher   

Reviews (3)

Wise advice throughout, for anyone
One of the things I find most wonderful about this book is that I can pick it up and read only a page, and have something worth thinking about.It is packed full of good, clear advice and ethical guidance. On first glance there are some ideas that seem obvious, and some that seem impossible. But with further reading and effort the impossible becomes easier to conceive of, and ideas that seemed obvious reveal hidden depths. I am on my second reading of the book, mixed with frequently jumping around in the text, and I'm certain I'll get something new from it with future readings as well.
excellent for the High Holy Days
Like Telushkin's Book of Jewish Values (which overlaps somewhat with this book) this book is not only full of practical ethical suggestions.Here are a few examples:
ample encyclopedic mind
In a longer review for jbooks.com, I wrote: "Spending time with this first volume is akin to tapping into Rabbi Telushkin's encyclopedic mind. Fortunately, it's both an ample and organized mind, as evidenced by the logical breakdown of chapters, the bulk of which appear in the second part, in which basic virtues and vices are explicated. Everything from civility and forgiveness to anger and hatred are laid bare." You can read the full review at [...] ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anecdotes    2. Essence, genius, nature    3. Jewish Law    4. Jewish ethics    5. Judaism    6. Judaism - Rituals & Practice    7. Judaism - Theology    8. P