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How Judaism Became a Religion: An Introduction to Modern Jewish Thought
By Leora Batnitzky. 2011
A new approach to understanding Jewish thought since the eighteenth centuryIs Judaism a religion, a culture, a nationality—or a mixture…
of all of these? In How Judaism Became a Religion, Leora Batnitzky boldly argues that this question more than any other has driven modern Jewish thought since the eighteenth century. This wide-ranging and lucid introduction tells the story of how Judaism came to be defined as a religion in the modern period—and why Jewish thinkers have fought as well as championed this idea.Ever since the Enlightenment, Jewish thinkers have debated whether and how Judaism—largely a religion of practice and public adherence to law—can fit into a modern, Protestant conception of religion as an individual and private matter of belief or faith. Batnitzky makes the novel argument that it is this clash between the modern category of religion and Judaism that is responsible for much of the creative tension in modern Jewish thought. Tracing how the idea of Jewish religion has been defended and resisted from the eighteenth century to today, the book discusses many of the major Jewish thinkers of the past three centuries, including Moses Mendelssohn, Abraham Geiger, Hermann Cohen, Martin Buber, Zvi Yehuda Kook, Theodor Herzl, and Mordecai Kaplan. At the same time, it tells the story of modern orthodoxy, the German-Jewish renaissance, Jewish religion after the Holocaust, the emergence of the Jewish individual, the birth of Jewish nationalism, and Jewish religion in America.More than an introduction, How Judaism Became a Religion presents a compelling new perspective on the history of modern Jewish thought.How Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have reimagined Abraham in their own imagesJews, Christians, and Muslims supposedly share a common religious…
heritage in the patriarch Abraham, and the idea that he should serve only as a source of unity among the three traditions has become widespread in both scholarly and popular circles. But in Inheriting Abraham, Jon Levenson reveals how the increasingly conventional notion of the three equally "Abrahamic" religions derives from a dangerous misunderstanding of key biblical and Qur'anic texts, fails to do full justice to any of the traditions, and is often biased against Judaism in subtle and pernicious ways.Power in the Portrayal unveils a fresh and vital perspective on power relations in eleventh- and twelfth-century Muslim Spain as…
reflected in historical and literary texts of the period. Employing the methods of the new historical literary study in looking at a range of texts, Ross Brann reveals the paradoxical relations between the Andalusi Muslim and Jewish elites in an era when long periods of tolerance and respect were punctuated by outbreaks of tension and hostility. The examined Arabic texts reveal a fragmented perception of the Jew in eleventh-century al-Andalus. They depict seemingly contradictory figures at whose poles are an intelligent, skilled, and noble Jew deserving of homage and a vile, stupid, and fiendish enemy of God and Islam. For their part, the Hebrew and Judeo-Arabic texts display a deep-seated reluctance to portray Muslims in any light at all. Brann cogently demonstrates that these representations of Jews and Muslims--each of which is concerned with issues of sovereignty and the exercise of power--reflect the shifting, fluctuating, and ambivalent relations between elite members of two of the ethno-religious communities of al-Andalus. Brann's accessible prose is enriched by his splendid translations; the original texts are also included. This book is the first to study the construction of social meaning in Andalusi Arabic, Judeo-Arabic, and Hebrew literary texts and historical chronicles. The novel approach illuminates nuances of respect, disinterest, contempt, and hatred reflected in the relationship between Muslims and Jews in medieval Spain.Strictly Observant: Amish and Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Women Negotiating Media
By Rivka Neriya-Ben Shahar. 2024
The Amish and ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities have typically been associated with strict religious observance, a renunciation of worldly things, and…
an obedience of women to men. Women’s relationship to media in these communities, however, betrays a more nuanced picture of the boundaries at play and women’s roles in negotiating them. Strictly Observant presents a compelling ethnographic study of the complex dynamic between women in both the Pennsylvanian Old Order Amish and Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities and contemporary media technologies. These women regularly establish valuable social, cultural, and religious capital through the countless decisions for use and nonuse of media that they make in their daily lives, and in ways that challenge the gender hierarchies of each community. By exhibiting a deep awareness of how media can be managed to increase their social and religious reputations, these women prompt us to reconsider our outmoded understanding of the Amish and ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities, the role that women play in these communities as agents of change, and our own relationship to media today.Horizons Blossom, Borders Vanish: Anarchism and Yiddish Literature
By Anna Elena Torres. 2024
A bold recovery of Yiddish anarchist history and literature Spanning the last two centuries, this fascinating work combines archival…
research on the radical press and close readings of Yiddish poetry to offer an original literary study of the Jewish anarchist movement. The narrative unfolds through a cast of historical characters, from the well known—such as Emma Goldman—to the more obscure, including an anarchist rabbi who translated the Talmud and a feminist doctor who organized for women&’s suffrage and against national borders. Its literary scope includes the Soviet epic poemas of Peretz Markish, the journalism and modernist poetry of Anna Margolin, and the early radical prose of Malka Heifetz Tussman. Anna Elena Torres examines Yiddish anarchist aesthetics from the nineteenth-century Russian proletarian immigrant poets through the modernist avant-gardes of Warsaw, Chicago, and London to contemporary antifascist composers. The book also traces Jewish anarchist strategies for negotiating surveillance, censorship, detention, and deportation, revealing the connection between Yiddish modernism and struggles for free speech, women&’s bodily autonomy, and the transnational circulation of avant-garde literature. Rather than focusing on narratives of assimilation, Torres intervenes in earlier models of Jewish literature by centering refugee critique of the border. Jewish deportees, immigrants, and refugees opposed citizenship as the primary guarantor of human rights. Instead, they cultivated stateless imaginations, elaborated through literature.100 Jewish Brides: Stories from Around the World
By Barbara Vinick and Shulamit Reinharz. 2024
100 Jewish Brides: Stories from Around the World features stories of Jewish brides from six continents, highlighting diverse customs and…
rituals related to weddings now and in the past. The stories, written by brides, their relatives, clergy, and other intimates, cover similarities and differences across the Jewish diaspora, from courtship and betrothal to pre-wedding customs, the wedding ceremony, and beyond. With stories from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, this collection of intimate personal testimonies will surprise and inspire. A Jewish wedding after conversion in Madagascar, a reunion of Holocaust survivors in Sweden, a shipboard romance initiated by a celebrity, these stories from 83 countries describe Jewish wedding traditions, some familiar and others eye-opening, in a multitude of cultures and settings, past and present. 100 Jewish Brides offers intimate glimpses into the worlds of brides and their families based on their own written accounts. It represents opportunities to learn how Jewish lives were and are currently lived around the world from memories of the distant past to recent times.The Complete Idiot's Guide to Jewish History and Culture
By Rabbi Benjamin Blech. 1999
You're no idiot, of course. You know that Judaism began with Abraham and that Moses led the children out of…
slavery in Egypt. But when it comes to knowing who Elijah, Esther, and Judah Maccabee were, and their significance to Judaism, you feel like you've been wandering in the desert for 40 years. Don't feel Jewish guilt just yet! The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Jewish History and Culture provides you with a complete, authoritative account of the Jewish people—from Abraham, Moses, and King David to Golda Meir, Menachem Begin, and Yitzhak Rabin.The Complete Idiot's Guide to Kabbalah: Make Your Life’s Path a Spiritual One
By Collin Canright, Rav Michael Laitman. 2007
What the Kabbalah can do for you. According to the authors of this comprehensive guide, the Kabbalah that Madonna popularized…
is far from authentic. In fact, the Kabbalah is much bigger—and better. Here, readers will discover how it can deliver money, love, health, and many other things.- An international authority on authentic Kabbalah was a consultant for this book.- Blends religion/spirituality with New Age mysticism.The Essential Guide to Jewish Prayer and Practices (Essential Guide)
By Andrea Lieber. 2012
An insightful and illuminating guide to Judaism's basic tenets and practices. The Essential Guide to Jewish Prayer and Practices offers…
a more profound understanding of Judaism-for practicing Jews and non-Jews alike-by explaining the key concepts of Jewish thought, including the sanctity of human life, Judaism's concept of God, and the role of the Torah in guiding Jewish spiritual life. Judaic studies scholar Andrea Lieber introduces readers to the form of Jewish prayer-the structure of Jewish worship and the different kinds of prayers that make up Jewish liturgy. The perfect guide for Jewish spirituality for affiliated and non- practicing Jews as well as people of other faiths Provides essential knowledge of the meaning of the Torah and the rituals of worship and prayerJudaism: An Introduction to Jewish Beliefs and History (Idiot's Guides)
By Rabbi Jeffrey Wildstein. 2015
Idiot's Guides: Judaism is written by an accomplished Rabbi and teacher for both a non-Jewish person, as well as any…
Jewish person who wishes to learn more. The book offers a thorough examination and covers the five books of Moses, Jewish law, history, and important Jewish scholars. Jewish life, Holy Days, and a comparison to Christianity are also included, along with twenty frequently asked questions.An insightful look at one of the most unusual written works ever created. Compiled centuries ago by a group of…
wise men as a way to preserve the oral traditions of the Jewish faith, the Talmud has challenged and thrilled some of the world&’s greatest minds with its complex approach to exploring ideas and subjects from virtually every possible angle. This essential guide makes the ancient text of the &“oral Torah&” accessible for all readers, whether they&’re Jewish or not. In this Complete Idiot&’s Guide®, you get. • An examination of Talmudic logic and debate. • Discussion of how science and medicine relate to Talmudic philosophies. • Description of proper behavior and conduct as expected within Talmudic lifestyle. • The significance of seeds and blessings found in the Talmud.The complete companion guide for owners of any iPad model, including the new iPad mini. Published every six weeks you’ll…
be kept up-to-date with the latest things to do on your iPad.Helps both new and veteran users get more out of their iPhones, iPads, Macs, and more, with coverage that cuts…
through today's glut of apps and accessories to find what matters most. Offers an easy and enjoyable way to keep up with the latest Apple trends and topics.The ultimate resource for savvy users of Apple products. Filled with authoritative news, analysis, and tips about all things Apple…
-- Mac, iPhone, iPad, and beyond! Brings you the most trusted product reviews, from Apple hardware to accessories to the very best apps.Get buying advice from PCWorld's reviews and lab-based rankings for laptops, PCs, smartphones, digital cameras, printers, HDTVs and more. Set…
up a home network. Make your PC faster. Choose effective anti-virus software. Every issue of PCWorld is packed with award-winning articles, product rankings, news, reviews, how-tos, tips, bug fixes and much more.Le judaïsme dans la vie quotidienne (Espaces libres)
By Ernest Gugenheim. 2023
Une introduction aux pratiques quotidiennes du judaïsme, qui mêle doctrine et rite pour aboutir à un mode de vie spécifique…
ne se restreignant pas au domaine du sacré. L'auteur montre notamment comment la loi juive s'est continuellement adaptée aux évolutions.The Rabbi of 84th Street: The Extraordinary Life of Haskel Besser
By Warren Kozak. 2004