Subjects:  1. History    2. History - General History    3. History: American    4. Holocaust    5. Holocaust survivors    6. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    7. Judaism - General    8. Judaism - History    9. Personal narratives    10. Psychological aspects    11. Psychology    12. World - General    13. Judaism    14. Religion / Judaism / General    15. USA   

Reviews (1)

Descriptions of a collage of unusual Jewish communities.
This book is a collection of essays describing Jewish communities in unlikely corners of the world, written by laypeople and rabbis who have sought these communities out to help them (re)-establish connections to therest of the Jewish people.Kulanu (Hebrew for "all of us"), theorganization that Karen Primack works with, is dedicated to finding andsupporting communities that are rediscovering their Jewish roots or areestablishing themselves as Jews by choice.Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. History    3. History Of Judaism    4. Jewish - General    5. Jewish diaspora    6. Judaism - General    7. Latin America    8. Proselytes and proselyting, Je    9. Religion    10. Sephardim    11. Sociology   

Reviews (1)

Will be the leading work in the field, Blows Your Conception
Lee Levine is a Professor at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and this is a fresh perspective on the ancient synagogue (gathering place).According the Levine, the synagogue was not just a replacement for the Temple that was destroyed.It was not only a center of learning and prayer that faced Jerusalem. According to Levine, prayer was not even the primary function.It was a community center that even served meals.Prayer was not done according to the Talmud and its leadership had nothing to do with rabbis. As is done today, the benefactors of early synagogues even had their names displayed in gold on plaques.The early synagogues were embellished by paintings and mosaics of birds and icons, including pagan and non-Jewish astrological signs.More money was spent on large synagogues than on the schools and academies. (the more things change the more they stay the same, no?)Levine writes that there is no verification that females were ever separated into galleries.Greek and Aramaic were the predominant languages in the early synagogues. They did not become prayer centers til about the fourth century.In the words of the Times Literary Supplement, this is a weighty and meaty book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Jewish Studies    3. Judaism - History    4. Religion - Judaism    5. Social Science    6. Sociology    7. ASIA    8. Asian / Middle Eastern history: BCE to c 500 CE    9. Judaism    10. Religion / Judaism / History    11. Religious communities & monasticism    12. Social history   

Reviews (25)

Easy to understand and quite instructive
The Protocols of the Elders of Zion is without a doubt the most notorious and infamous anti-Semitic text ever written. Originally a piece written as a response to Napoleon III, it was later re-written and given a new title by the Russians, who used it in their anti-Semitic propaganda. Adolf Hitler too used it, mentioned it in his speeches, and talked about it in Mein Kampf, and even though the falsification has been exposed repeatedly it's still being used today, by among others dubious New Age prophets.
An important topic buta static presentation
Eisner is justly remembered as a graphic innovator and the topic here; portraying the true origins of this contemptible "document" is admirable, so why didn't this work better? The basic problem is that the history of the protocols does not lend itself to creativity in presentation. Like a textbook THE PLOT serves an important purpose and Eisner does his best to add some drama to the basic tale of how a petty group of Russian bureaucrats decided to create this foul work to support their political agenda and from there groups all over the world have used it to foster hatred; but the material is too dry to support anything but the facts. Eisner gives it a try but basically the book is a series of talking heads, and no matter what approach Eisner uses it never really becomes anything more than that. It just doesn't make for an exciting read in this medium. Despite my complaints it is my hope that like Nast's cartoons helped bring down Tammany Hall, THE PLOT too will serve its purpose and enlighten people to the lies behind the protocols of Zion.

The lie that wouldn't die.
Will Eisner was one of the greatest story tellers in the history of comics, and is credited with creating the graphic novel.This book was his last finished work.It is the story of "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion", an anti-Jewish tract that purports to tell of the Jews' plot to take over the world.The whole thing was a hoax, but that didn't stop anti-Semites from using it to justify discriminating against Jews.Eisner does an effective job of showing, through words and pictures, how this dangerous document influenced (and continues to influence) the world negatively. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Antisemitism    2. Conspiracy & Scandal Investigations    3. Europe - Russia & the Former Soviet Union    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Jewish - General    8. Judaism - History    9. Modern - 20th Century    10. Protocols of the wise men of Zion    11. History / Modern / 20th Century    12. Jewish studies    13. Nationalism    14. Russia   

Reviews (2)

Discourse on Messianic Judiasm
The large majority of this book discusses the rise and fall of messianism through the medieval period and how it affects Judaism today. There are also other essays present that discuss the history of the Star of David symbolism and the mystical golems.
Messianism, Antinomianism, and Jewish Spirituality
Gershom Scholem, recognized as one of the foremost academic scholars of Jewish mysticism of the 20th century, presents here an excellent series of essays exploring the crises caused by fits of messianism in Judaism, especially the Sabbatian crisis.
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Subjects:  1. History    2. Judaism    3. Judaism - History    4. Judaism - Theology    5. Messiah    6. Religion    7. Religion - Judaism    8. Mysticism    9. Religion / Judaism / History   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Doctrines    3. Judaism    4. Judaism - General    5. Judaism - History    6. Judaism - Rituals & Practice    7. Judaism - Theology    8. Religion    9. Religion - Judaism    10. Religion & Theology | Judaism    11. Religion / Judaism / Theology    12. Theology   

Editorial Review

Gershom Scholem, who died in 1982, remains the biggest gun in kabbalah scholarship, and Read more

Reviews (5)

Mystical image of God in Divine Name
Many years ago, knowing that Jesus cannot be claimed by any subset of religions, I saw the pivotal events in his life graphically depicted in the original scripts of the Divine Names from the World Religions. I sometimes wondered if I was being too childish until I read in this book that the letters of the Divine Name form the mystical image of God.

Introdaction toKabbalah
As it's titel, this book is a must book for every freshman student in Kabbalah & Jewish Mysticism (although not easy to read).But not only for freshmen. As a Ph.D student,I need to use this book & the other musterpiece works of Prof. Scholem. Although many criticism was written about Scholem's views (mainly by Prof. Idel & Prof. Libbes), his books & his other works are & will remaine the masterworks of the Kabbalah study.

kabbalah
I learned a great deal from Herr Doktor Gershom Scholem (1897-1982) through his text, "On the Kabbalah and Its Symbolism".Dr Bernard McGinn, Divinity School, University of Chicago, wrote in the introduction, "I believe that all students of mysticism should read Scholem, not only for his profound insights into the Jewish mystical tradition, but also to deepen their understanding of the dynamics of other mysticisms -- Christian, Islamic, and even those further afield."Professor Scholem presents an historical perspective with the full knowledge that there are other approaches."From an historical point of view", he writes, "the sum of religious phenomena known as mysticism consists in the attempts of mystics to communicate their experiences to others."Within this context, this text explores broad sweeping topics in each chapter -- topics that deservedly have receieved attention by intelligent scholars for centuries.In the first chapter, "Religious Authority and Mysticism" Herr Doktor Scholem presents a thesis fundamental to his research, "there is no mysticism as such, but only the mysticism of particular religious systems, Christian, Islamic and Jewish mysticism, and so on".The mystic working within a religious system is, according to Scholem, at the same time both conservative and revolutionary."Conservative" because the mystic tries to preserve the sources of traditional authority, and "revolutionary" because the mystic also may subsititue his own opinion for that prescribed by authority.In the second chapter, titled, "The Meaning of the TORAH in Jewish Mysticism", Scholem explains the dynamic relationship between the TORAH and the mystic.Scholem presents three fundamental principles on which the Kabbaslistic conceptions of the nature of the TORAH are based: (1) YWVH; (2) TORAH as oganism; (3) Infinite meaning of the divine word.As an example of the third, in addition to the the concept of written and oral TORAHs, the author of the "ZOHAR" speculates four levels of meaning: (1) literal (2) hermeneutic (3) allegorical and (4) mystical.The history of Judaism, Scholem explains in the third chapter, is a tension between the purity of the reality of GOD.The dynamic involved is clearly presented in the realization that the price of GOD's purity is the loss of her living reality.Scholem offers that the Book Bahir, a cornerstone of 12th century Kabbalistic thought, introduces myth into Judaism.Remarkably, it contends evil as an attribute of GOD.In a similar vein, the commentary on the Sefer Yetzirah by Judah ben Barzilai introduced speculative thinking to Jewish theosophy.The fourth chapter, "Tradition and New Creation in the Ritual of the Kabbalists" presents a solution to a problem faced by each new generation.Namely, how are the traditions passed on in a vital and meaningful medium.The Mishnal codified Jewish religious law and ritual for an agrarian community had survived for centuries.As the agrarian society diminished, the TORAH became obsolete and the natural rituals became less meaningful, historical rituals.The Spanish Kabbalists found a new ritual to express the old traditions.Scholem writes, "The rejuvenation of religion repeatedly finds its expression in a return to ancient images and symbols, even when these are 'spiritualized' and transformed into speculative constructions."R. Yanassan Gershom has already succinctly summarised the fifth chapter which deals with the concept of the Golem.I will take the liberty to direct you to his comments.If you are interested in historical issues of the Kabbalah, this is essential reading for you. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cabala    2. Golem    3. History    4. Judaism - History    5. Judaism - Sacred Writings    6. Religion    7. Religion - Judaism    8. Judaism    9. Kabbalah & hermetic thought    10. Magic & alchemy    11. Mind, Body, Spirit    12. Mysticism    13. Religion / Judaism / History   

Subjects:  1. Judaism    2. Judaism - History    3. Religion    4. Religion - Judaism   

Reviews (35)

Good answer to title question
David Klinghoffer essentially develops the same answer arrived at by the 18th century scholar Hermann S. Reimarus:
A "Must Read" Book
Many reviewers on this page simply want to tell you what they think.They want to disagree with Klinghoffer, castigate him, preach to him, convert him.All I want to do is tell you that this is a good book, and you should read it.With all respect, you can't call yourself educated unless you do.
I couldn't put this book down - it had me hooked
This highly readable book is extensively detailed in supporting its thesis.Klinghoffer explains why, by and large, over the centuries Jews have not taken on a belief in Jesus.Quoting liberally from Jewish sources, providing the reader with much fascinating literary and historical information, the author outlines why, coming from a Jewish perspective, with Jewish religious beliefs and expectations, belief in Jesus either as Messiah, God, god, or part of a trinity is not a coherent option.
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Subjects:  1. Christianity    2. Christianity - History - General    3. Christianity and other religio    4. Christianity and other religions    5. Comparative Religion    6. Jesus Christ    7. Jewish Theology    8. Jewish interpretations    9. Judaism    10. Judaism - History    11. Judaism - Theology    12. Judaism And Christianity    13. Messiahship    14. Relations    15. Religion    16. Religion - World Religions    17. Religion / General   

Subjects:  1. Bible    2. Bible - Biography - Old Testament    3. Bible - Study - Old Testament    4. Biography    5. Doctrines    6. Feminism    7. Judaism    8. Judaism - General    9. Judaism - History    10. O.T    11. Old Testament    12. Religion    13. Religion - Judaism    14. Religious aspects    15. Women In Judaism    16. Women in the Bible    17. Women's Studies - History    18. Religion / Judaism / History    19. Women's studies   

Reviews (1)

Bible interpretation and history at their finest
Martin J. Mulder's 'Mikra: Text, Translation, Reading and Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity' is a masterpiece, spanning centuries of interpretive historical development. It's written both for the academic and the interested layperson. Books like this are difficult to locate nowadays, but are well worth the effort.Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible    2. Bible - CriticismInterpretation - Old Testament    3. Bible.    4. Criticism, interpretation, etc    5. Criticism, interpretation, etc., Jewish    6. Evidences, authority, etc    7. Evidences, authority, etc.    8. History    9. History of doctrines    10. Judaism    11. Judaism - History    12. Judaism - Sacred Writings    13. O.T    14. O.T.    15. Post-exilic period, 586 B.C.-210 A.D    16. Religion    17. Religion - Commentaries / Reference    18. Spirituality - General   

Reviews (8)

great deal
thanks for the book, great service..shipping a bit slow..but was a big help to find discounted books

Historic & Insightful
Bright does nothing to insult or diminish the traditions of religous persons; nor does he ask those with pure scholastic interest to carry beliefs in line with any given tradition.Instead, he articulates the scripture's statements of history and infuses external sources in a lively narrative reading that provides much insight into the history of Israel. Hebrew Scripture is not dismissed with harsh disregard for its riches; external evidence is not dismissed either.Tensions are allowed to remain and presented to the reader.

Good, but not objective
I had to write this when I saw the other reviews.I purchased the book because I felt that it would be an objective analysis of the archeological findings from the region.Israel and Palestine are some of the most heavily excavated real estate in the world.If there had been a palace of Salomon and David, it would have been found by now - and properly identified in time.Much of the work in this book I would describe as wishful thinking.Its fine to take the Hebrew Bible as a guide, just as others took Homer's Iliad as a guide to Troy.But no one seriously feels that finding some evidence for a historical Troy means that Hector, Paris and Helena were real people.Nice story, but without some factual evidence, it's still just a nice story, no matter how strongly you believe.Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible - Study - Old Testament    2. History    3. History - General History    4. Jews    5. Judaism - History    6. Middle East - Israel    7. Religion    8. To 70 A.D    9. Biblical studies, criticism & exegesis    10. History of religion    11. Judaism    12. Old Testament   

Editorial Review

Jonathan Kirsch wants to answer the question, "Who is a Jew?" and in Read more

Reviews (9)

Informative for the Uninformed...Maybe
Kirsch's revelation (sic) that Judaism has a long history of diversity and myriad interpretations is old news by roughly 3500 years [Note to Jonathan: that is the definition of Midrash in the first place.] Repetetive exclamations! that biblical writers tried to conceal, whitewash, or censor this or that bit of information are presented in a tabloid style as often as not citing sloppy research or questionable scholarship. Newcomers to biblical inquiry may pick up a few nuggests of basic information here, but for my money Mr. Kirsh would be well advised to pay more attention to his serious subject than to selling books to supplement his income.

nothing but good things to say...
great writer, great overview of jewish history, great book overall! for anyone looking to start learning about the history of jewish people, this book is a great primer. i truly enjoyed reading this book and finished it over a single weekend. after reading THE WOMAN WHO LAUGHED... i feel competent and confident in picking up other books that delve deeper into more specific aspects of history.
If there is a "true" Judaism, it is as diverse as Judaism itself.
Kirsch succeeds in provoking the reader to consider both the historical uncertainties of the Biblical texts' mosaic and their historical and contemporary interpretations.At first glance, Kirsch appears to rely on alternative, "out-of-the-box" analysts, but his arguments are more than well founded on contemporary and historical notions within Judaism's main traditions.The book succeeds in sparking discussion and engaging the reader in alternative perspectives on less-than-settled issues that normative trends would have us think otherwise. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. Jewish - General    3. Judaism - History    4. Religion    5. Religion - Judaism    6. History of specific racial & ethnic groups    7. Jewish studies    8. Religion / Judaism / History    9. World history   

Subjects:  1. Christianity    2. Christianity - General    3. Christianity - History - General    4. Christianity and other religio    5. Christianity and other religions    6. Church history    7. Congresses    8. Early Church (To 476)    9. Judaism    10. Judaism - General    11. Judaism - History    12. Judaism And Christianity    13. Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600    14. Relations    15. Religion    16. Religion - Church History   

Reviews (3)

A Classic
If you must read only one book on Zionism, let this be it. Walter Laqueur, internationally renowned historian, has created a masterpiece that has stood the test of time (it was originally written over 30 years ago!), and has become one of the standard works on the subject, alongside Shlomo Avineri's The Making of Modern Zionism and Hertzberg's The Zionist Idea. Definitive history
Laquer's History of Zionism is an indispensable work about the origins of the Jewish state.Wherever you stand on Israel, here is a thought provoking and well-researched text that is definitive on the subject.If you are someone who dislikes Israel, you should at least read it to understand how Israel developed and learn about Zionist self-perception.

Richard A. Macales, columnist, "Mac's Facts"
As one of the century's great historians, how fortunate we are that the German-born Laqueur spent his formative scholarly years in Eretz Israel as a journalist and researcher. This landmark work is very sympathetic toreligious Orthodoxy and its significant relationship in the evolution ofmodern political Zionism. Its strength is in the study of religious andpolitical Zionism within the European milieu. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History: World    3. Judaism - Hasidism    4. Judaism - History    5. Sale Adult - History - General History    6. Zionism    7. Sale Books   

Reviews (5)

Rating based upon Carson's summary essay at end...
This review was originally posted as a discussion topic in the section below. I have decided to add it to the reviews section. As you read below you will see that I actually think that this book, so far as the various contributors are concerned (excepting the short introductory essay by Carson and his lengthy conclusion-analysis essay at the end, and possibly Seifrid's learned but wrongheaded, in my opinion, essay), is an excellent book. The various contributors provide excellent discussions of the areas of Jewish literature that they cover, especially from the angle/questions of the law, how the literature reflects Jewish understanding of it, the identity of Israel and the relation of that to the law, identity of Israel and eschatological hope, the literature's covenantal-conception of Israel's relationship with its God, how the Judaism reflected by each piece of literature understood `grace,' etc. So, as a book discussing Judaism in the ancient world, especially early Judaism when Jesus was around (several of the essays do not touch on Judaisms contemporary with Jesus and/or prior to 70 CE and 135 CE, which makes a massive difference), this book is excellent. The one star rating reflects how I rate the book with respect to how people in general seem to perceive the book and its goal: to refute Sanders' `Covenantal-Nomism.' The one-star rating reflects what I think of Carson's summary-analysis essay at the end that claims/presents the book as a triumph over Sanders in a way that people who do not like the (?) New Perspective on Paul (as I state below, that term means something different to different people; it seems that for most people who do not like the NPP, especially the ones who have not read anything by supposed-NPP scholars, it seems to mean some understanding of Paul that does not present Paul as espousing a Lutheran-Reformed theology; this is relevant as I have lost count of how many times I have seen scholars, who are not technically NPP scholars labeled as NPP who simply try to set Paul in a first century context with his letters addressing first century issues). Please read below to see some short comments on why I think that this book utterly fails to refute Sanders' `Covenantal-Nomism' as a helpful way to designate the pattern of religion exemplified by/in the various Early Judaisms.
GreatResponse to New Challenges of Justification By Faith
Volume 1 addresses the various (variegated) views held by the Jews during the second temple period about the relationship of the Law (nomism) to salvation (justifcation). It focuses on the era before and right after the time of Jesus. Understanding the views of this era help us with understanding the background of the New Testament.
Examines Ancient Jewish Beliefs About Justification--Excels!
Volume 1 addresses the various (variegated) views held by the Jews during the second temple period about the relationship of the Law (nomism) to salvation (justifcation). It focuses on the era before and right after the time of Jesus. Understanding the views of this era help us with understanding the background of the New Testament.
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Subjects:  1. Bible - CriticismInterpretation - New Testament    2. Christianity - History - General    3. Covenants    4. History    5. History and criticism    6. History of doctrines    7. Jewish religious literature    8. Judaism    9. Judaism - History    10. Post-exilic period, 586 B.C.-2    11. Post-exilic period, 586 B.C.-210 A.D    12. Religion    13. Religion - Judaism    14. Religious aspects    15. Biblical Studies: New Testament General Studies, Biblical Studies: Old Testament Backgrounds/Historical Studies/Archaeology    16. Religion / Church History   

Reviews (1)

The only book of its kind, in such depth and scholarship.
This is not a book for beginners. If you want an introduction to Jewish prayer, see "Entering Jewish Prayer" (Reuven Hammer) or "To Pray As a Jew" (Hayim Halevy Donin). This book is, in contrast, is the most thorough academic study of the Jewish liturgy ever written.Originally published in German in 1913, and subsequently updated in a number of Hebrew editions, the latest edition now has been translated into English by Prof. Raymond P. Scheindlin.This study covers the entire range of Jewish liturgical development, beginning with the early cornerstones of the siddur; through the evolution of the medieval piyyut tradition; to modern prayerbook reform in Germany and the United States.Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. Jewish Religious Texts    3. Judaism    4. Judaism - History    5. Judaism - Rituals & Practice    6. Liturgy    7. Religion    8. Religion - Judaism   

Subjects:  1. Bible - Language Studies    2. Judaism - History    3. Religion    4. Religion - Biblical Studies - Language    5. Language Arts & Disciplines / General   

Reviews (1)

A beautiful, fascinating, thrilling book
I loved this book!Every Jewish woman (and man) and everyone interested in Jewish life in America should read it.It gives a view of American and Jewish history I had never seen before, and it is beautifully written.It is full of moving stories of real women working to build America at every period of history.I had never understood how important women have been in creating the American Jewish community.Just wonderful! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. History    3. Jewish - General    4. Jewish women    5. Jews    6. Judaism - History    7. Religion    8. Social conditions    9. United States    10. Women    11. Women immigrants    12. Jewish Studies    13. Women's Studies   

Editorial Review

For readers who wish to learn about Jewish prayer, Read more

Reviews (5)

A help to better prayer
There are a number of good books on the subject of Jewish Prayer. Seth Kadish's ' Kavvana' perhaps does most to explain the actual problems a Jew faces in praying in the proper way. There are books by Haim Donin, by Rabbi Munk who provides great insight into the meaning of the prayers, by many others. Rabbi Steinsaltz is a great Talmid Chacham and his work provides a most detailed explanation of the meaning of prayer and of various individual prayers. I have read parts of the work and learned from them . I highly recommend this work for all those who would know its meaning in a richer way.

For those who wonder why
This is a largely a how-to book written by a Jew for primarily a Jewish audience. The primariy focus is on the order of prayer as used through the use of a Siddur. I found the background to why certain traditions exist interesting (my primary motive for reading it), but found the many chapters devoted to what order certain aspects are performed on what occasions taxing. In fairness, this is primarily because I'm not Jewish, not because of the writing. However, for the Jewish person wondering why they do certain things at certain times, this book will prove to be very educating.
excellent guide
As most books of Even-Israel (or Steinsaltz) this is a highly readable book, clearly explaining the traditions and regulations of prayer. Read it once to get a basic grip, and then keep it as a reference work. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Judaism - History    2. Judaism - Rituals & Practice    3. Prayerbooks - Jewish    4. Religion    5. Religion - Judaism    6. Judaism    7. Religion / Judaism / Beliefs, Practices, Rituals