New Book Release: Jewish Law as Rebellion

Jewish Law as Rebellion: A Plea for Religious Authenticity and Halachic Courage by R. Nathan Lopes Cardozo

In this remarkable, and what promises to be a highly controversial, work, Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo suggests that Jewish Law must be seen as a discipline of resistance and courage. He pleads for the urgent return to authentic religiosity, which by now has been compromised by nearly all who claim to be religious. Rebelling against the rabbinical establishment, Rabbi Cardozo takes it to task for failing to liberate Halacha from its stagnancy and confinement. With ground-breaking suggestions, he shows how to make Jewish Law once again relevant to our modern society and to the State of Israel.

Out of love for Judaism and all human beings Rabbi Cardozo provokes, challenges, annoys and disturbs his readers, asking them to resist the corrupting effect of the ordinary and often hollow motions of today’s religious life. While focusing on Judaism and Jewish Law, much of what Rabbi Cardozo argues applies equally to other religions as well as to secularism.

A book that may trigger a new era of genuine introspection, laying the foundations for a better world in which the Divine will stand at the center of humanity. 

New Book Release: Tiferet Yisrael

Tiferet Yisrael by Ramon Widmonte

The famed Maharal of Prague, a 16th-century mystic, is known for the legend of the Golem, but his Torah scholarship has remained a closed book to English speakers for far too long. While several attempts have been made to translate or abridge the Maharal’s Torah, the complexity of his thought has defied standard translation methodologies. This edition of the Tiferet Yisrael (the Splendor of Israel) seeks to present the Maharal’s thought in all its majesty and to enable beginners and scholars alike to grasp the overall structure of the Maharal’s concepts through the addition of innovative summaries and graphical aids. In the work, the Maharal contemplates questions of Jewish life, such as How can there be ritually observant Jews who behave immorally? What is the reason for performing Mitzvot (commandments)? Is there any relevance or meaning to performing Mitzvot if one doesn’t understand God’s reasons for commanding them? What is the path to self-fulfillment? The translation is lucid and faithful, with in-line comments to guide the reader in exploring the Maharal’s depths.

New Book Release: Tanakh: An Owner's Manual

Tanakh, an Owner's Manual by Moshe Sokolow

Tanakh, an Owner’s Manual offers both a modern and Orthodox approach to the historical and literary frameworks within which the Hebrew Bible should be learned and appreciated. It covers the authorship of its 24 constituent books, their designation as sacred literature (canonization), the development of the Masoretic text, a survey of classic medieval and modern commentaries, the interaction of traditional exegesis and modern biblical scholarship, and a gradual curriculum for developing biblical literacy and comprehension. It reflects the author’s insights as they developed over 40 years of studying and teaching, and will be of interest to teachers, students, and anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the Hebrew Bible.

New Book Release: Journey Together

Journey Together: 49 Steps to Transforming a Family by Sarah Hermelin

Offering a model of self-improvement rooted in Jewish thought and practice, Journey Together explains the mystical system of counting the Omer—a Jewish practice of counting the days between the holidays of Passover and Pentecost—focusing on a different personality characteristic on each of the 49 days. The author illustrates how each trait can be improved with easy-to-grasp examples from the Bible as well as inspirational modern-day stories. Each chapter concludes with exercises that parents and children can carry out together to help strengthen the family bond. This guide serves to make the counting of the Omer a transformative experience for families who take the time to apply its insights and lessons into their lives.

New Book Release: Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach: Life, Mission, and Legacy by Natan Ophir

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach (1925–1994) is considered the most influential composer of Jewish religious music of the 20th century and a progenitor of the modern neo-Hasidic renaissance. To date, there has been no systematic study of his life and very little scholarly analysis of his teachings, innovations, and music.

This book examines Shlomo’s life and career via the prism of the historical and cultural developments of his time, including the Holocaust, the Six-Day War, the hippie phenomenon, the New Age movement, and other events that were channeling the course of Jewish life. It also attempts to understand the roots of the Carlebach phenomenon and its wide-range appeal. Above all, this book provides a new framework to evaluate and appreciate the unique form of heartfelt Judaism, joyful optimism, and soulful rejuvenation that Reb Shlomo inspired.