{"title":"Judaism and Faith","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eExplore English books on Judaism, Jewish thought, and faith — from accessible translations of Rav Kook's revolutionary writings to modern explorations of Torah, Kohelet, and everyday Jewish practice. Books for thinking Jews who want Judaism to speak to their real lives. Curated by Gefen Publishing, Israel's leading English-language publisher.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"what-we-dont-know-about-god-and-people-in-the-bible-deuteronomy","title":"What We Don't Know About God and  People in the Bible - Deuteronomy","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe December 13, 2021 edition of The New Yorker has an article about the famed actress Greta Garbo called “The Retiring Sort” by Margaret Talbot. She reveals that the film director of the 1933 film Queen Christina told Garbo that she must “make her mind and heart a complete blank, empty her face of expression, so that the audience could impose whatever emotion they wanted on it.” The audience\n\u003cbr\u003ewould decide for themselves what her reaction was to the murder of her lover. The Bible is similar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe need to understand that the Bible is obscure, think about what we are reading, decide how we want to interpret events and what people and God are doing, and learn from our thoughts. In the philosopher Plato?’s book Apology, he tells us that his teacher, the great philosopher Socrates, was considered the wisest man because only he admitted being ignorant rather than pretending he knew\n\u003cbr\u003esomething when he did not. As a result, Socrates asked questions, just as we should.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePointing out the obscurities in scripture should not be understood as being critical. It emphasizes that the Bible is prompting us to think.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDr. Israel Drazin offers readers comprehensive, eye-opening, easy-to-read revelations that\n\u003cbr\u003eshow that the Bible purposely avoids presenting clear descriptions of the thinking and behaviors\n\u003cbr\u003eof God and biblical people. Ambiguities and obscurities are present in virtually every situation and allow readers to imagine their own details. The narratives become like fascinating parables designed to attract readers using the startling unclear details that prompt thought about why the biblical character acted thus, and learn from their interpretations of these thoughts and\n\u003cbr\u003eacts how to behave. Dr. Drazin emphasizes that proper understanding can only be attained by\n\u003cbr\u003easking questions and shows that contrary to what many think, the Hebrew Bible offers almost\n\u003cbr\u003enothing about God, what God did, and what the founding patriarchs thought and did. With\n\u003cbr\u003ethis understanding, readers will not be surprised that ancient and modern Bible commentators, religious and non-religious, have different interpretations of the Torah.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Israel Drazin","offers":[{"title":"Hard cover","offer_id":49503215583552,"sku":"7801-63","price":88.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9789657801635_500w_710h.jpg?v=1723353312"},{"product_id":"what-we-dont-know-about-god-and-people-in-the-bible-genesis","title":"What We Don't Know About God and  People in the Bible - Genesis","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe December 13, 2021 edition of The New Yorker has an article about the famed actress Greta Garbo called “The Retiring Sort” by\n\u003cbr\u003eMargaret Talbot. She reveals that the film director of the 1933 film Queen Christina told Garbo that she must “make her mind and heart a complete blank, empty her face of expression, so that the audience could impose whatever emotion they wanted on it.” The audience would decide for themselves what her reaction was to the murder of her lover. The Bible is similar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe need to understand that the Bible is obscure, think about what we are reading, decide how we want to interpret events and what people and God are doing, and learn from our thoughts. In the philosopher Plato’s book Apology, he tells us that his teacher,\n\u003cbr\u003ethe great philosopher Socrates, was considered the wisest man because only he admitted being ignorant rather than pretending he knew something when he did not. As a result, Socrates asked questions, just as we should. Pointing out the obscurities in scripture should not be understood as being critical. It emphasizes that the Bible is prompting us to think\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDr. Israel Drazin offers readers comprehensive, eye-opening, easy-to-read revelations that show that the Bible purposely\n\u003cbr\u003eavoids presenting clear descriptions of the thinking and behaviors of God and biblical people.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAmbiguities and obscurities are present in virtually every situation and allow readers to imagine their own details. The narratives\n\u003cbr\u003ebecome like fascinating parables designed to attract readers using the startling unclear details that prompt thought about why\n\u003cbr\u003ethe biblical character acted thus, and learn from their interpretations of these thoughts and acts how to behave. Dr. Drazin\n\u003cbr\u003eemphasizes that proper understanding can only be attained by asking questions and shows that\n\u003cbr\u003econtrary to what many think, the Hebrew Bible offers almost nothing about God, what God did, and what the founding patriarchs\n\u003cbr\u003ethought and did. With this understanding, readers will not be surprised that ancient and modern Bible commentators, religious\n\u003cbr\u003eand non-religious, have different interpretations of the Torah.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Israel Drazin","offers":[{"title":"Hard cover","offer_id":49503215616320,"sku":"7801-22","price":88.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9789657801222_500w_710h.jpg?v=1723353357"},{"product_id":"what-we-dont-know-about-god-and-people-in-the-bible-leviticus","title":"What We Don't Know About God and People in the Bible: Leviticus","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe December 13, 2021 edition of The New Yorker has an article about the famed actress Greta Garbo called “The Retiring Sort” by Margaret Talbot. She reveals that the film director of the 1933 film Queen Christina told Garbo that she must “make her mind and heart a complete blank, empty her face of expression, so that the audience could impose whatever emotion they wanted on it.” The audience\n\u003cbr\u003ewould decide for themselves what her reaction was to the murder of her lover. The Bible is similar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe need to understand that the Bible is obscure, think about what we are reading, decide how we want to interpret events and what people and God are doing, and learn from our thoughts. In the philosopher Plato?’s book Apology, he tells us that his teacher, the great philosopher Socrates, was considered the wisest man because only he admitted being ignorant rather than pretending he knew\n\u003cbr\u003esomething when he did not. As a result, Socrates asked questions, just as we should.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePointing out the obscurities in scripture should not be understood as being critical. It emphasizes that the Bible is prompting us to think.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDr. Israel Drazin offers readers comprehensive, eye-opening, easy-to-read revelations that\n\u003cbr\u003eshow that the Bible purposely avoids presenting clear descriptions of the thinking and behaviors\n\u003cbr\u003eof God and biblical people. Ambiguities and obscurities are present in virtually every situation and allow readers to imagine their own details. The narratives become like fascinating parables designed to attract readers using the startling unclear details that prompt thought about why the biblical character acted thus, and learn from their interpretations of these thoughts and\n\u003cbr\u003eacts how to behave. Dr. Drazin emphasizes that proper understanding can only be attained by\n\u003cbr\u003easking questions and shows that contrary to what many think, the Hebrew Bible offers almost\n\u003cbr\u003enothing about God, what God did, and what the founding patriarchs thought and did. With\n\u003cbr\u003ethis understanding, readers will not be surprised that ancient and modern Bible commentators, religious and non-religious, have different interpretations of the Torah\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Israel Drazin","offers":[{"title":"Hard cover","offer_id":49503215681856,"sku":"7801-53","price":88.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9789657801536_500w_710h.jpg?v=1723353408"},{"product_id":"what-we-dont-know-about-god-and-people-in-the-bible-exodus","title":"What We Don't know About God and People in the Bible - Exodus","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe December 13, 2021 edition of The New Yorker has an article about the famed actress Greta Garbo called “The Retiring Sort” by Margaret Talbot. She reveals that the film director of the 1933 film Queen Christina told Garbo that she must “make her mind and heart a complete blank, empty her face of expression, so that the audience could impose whatever emotion they wanted on it.” The audience\n\u003cbr\u003ewould decide for themselves what her reaction was to the murder of her lover. The Bible is similar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe need to understand that the Bible is obscure, think about what we are reading, decide how we want to interpret events and what people and God are doing, and learn from our thoughts. In the philosopher Plato?’s book Apology, he tells us that his teacher, the great philosopher Socrates, was considered the wisest man because only he admitted being ignorant rather than pretending he knew\n\u003cbr\u003esomething when he did not. As a result, Socrates asked questions, just as we should.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePointing out the obscurities in scripture should not be understood as being critical. It emphasizes that the Bible is prompting us to think.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDr. Israel Drazin offers readers comprehensive, eye-opening, easy-to-read revelations that\n\u003cbr\u003eshow that the Bible purposely avoids presenting clear descriptions of the thinking and behaviors\n\u003cbr\u003eof God and biblical people. Ambiguities and obscurities are present in virtually every situation and allow readers to imagine their own details. The narratives become like fascinating parables designed to attract readers using the startling unclear details that prompt thought about why the biblical character acted thus, and learn from their interpretations of these thoughts and\n\u003cbr\u003eacts how to behave. Dr. Drazin emphasizes that proper understanding can only be attained by\n\u003cbr\u003easking questions and shows that contrary to what many think, the Hebrew Bible offers almost\n\u003cbr\u003enothing about God, what God did, and what the founding patriarchs thought and did. With\n\u003cbr\u003ethis understanding, readers will not be surprised that ancient and modern Bible commentators, religious and non-religious, have different interpretations of the Torah\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Israel Drazin","offers":[{"title":"Hard cover","offer_id":49503215747392,"sku":"","price":88.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9789657801611_500w_710h.jpg?v=1723353382"},{"product_id":"what-we-dont-know-about-god-and-people-in-the-bible-numbers","title":"What We Don't Know About God and People in the Bible: Numbers","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe December 13, 2021 edition of The New Yorker has an article about the famed actress Greta Garbo called “The Retiring Sort” by Margaret Talbot. She reveals that the film director of the 1933 film Queen Christina told Garbo that she must “make her mind and heart a complete blank, empty her face of expression, so that the audience could impose whatever emotion they wanted on it.” The audience\n\u003cbr\u003ewould decide for themselves what her reaction was to the murder of her lover. The Bible is similar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe need to understand that the Bible is obscure, think about what we are reading, decide how we want to interpret events and what people and God are doing, and learn from our thoughts. In the philosopher Plato?’s book Apology, he tells us that his teacher, the great philosopher Socrates, was considered the wisest man because only he admitted being ignorant rather than pretending he knew\n\u003cbr\u003esomething when he did not. As a result, Socrates asked questions, just as we should.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePointing out the obscurities in scripture should not be understood as being critical. It emphasizes that the Bible is prompting us to think.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDr. Israel Drazin offers readers comprehensive, eye-opening, easy-to-read revelations that\n\u003cbr\u003eshow that the Bible purposely avoids presenting clear descriptions of the thinking and behaviors\n\u003cbr\u003eof God and biblical people. Ambiguities and obscurities are present in virtually every situation and allow readers to imagine their own details. The narratives become like fascinating parables designed to attract readers using the startling unclear details that prompt thought about why the biblical character acted thus, and learn from their interpretations of these thoughts and\n\u003cbr\u003eacts how to behave. Dr. Drazin emphasizes that proper understanding can only be attained by\n\u003cbr\u003easking questions and shows that contrary to what many think, the Hebrew Bible offers almost\n\u003cbr\u003enothing about God, what God did, and what the founding patriarchs thought and did. With\n\u003cbr\u003ethis understanding, readers will not be surprised that ancient and modern Bible commentators, religious and non-religious, have different interpretations of the Torah\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Israel Drazin","offers":[{"title":"Hard cover","offer_id":49503215812928,"sku":"7801-62","price":88.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9789657801628_500w_710h.jpg?v=1723353433"},{"product_id":"the-impossible-jews","title":"The Impossible Jews","description":"\u003cp\u003eMark Twain asked a simple question: \"All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?\" None of the great civilizations of ancient times are still around. But, somehow, the ancient Jews and their distinctive way of life are still here. Why? This book shows that many other non-Jews also recognized this unusual phenomenon and the specialness of the Jewish people. In other words, it is a question that every intelligent human being should be asking and getting clear and cogent answers. This book presents the classic answers to the question and then provides a novel one never heard before. It also explains, for the first time ever, a profound variation of the rationale for anti-Semitism. The Jews are impossible for the very reason that the whole world depends on their survival. But why? Now, you the reader will find out the secret to an anomaly that has baffled so many. Enjoy this mind-opening and life-enlightening experience. You will be a different person when you grasp the message of this book. If you don’t have an answer to this very basic question, then this book is for you.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Yitzhak Shimon Hurwitz","offers":[{"title":"Hard cover","offer_id":49508223779136,"sku":"7023-99","price":88.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9789657023990_500w_700h.jpg?v=1723456504"},{"product_id":"be-a-blessing","title":"Be a Blessing","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis book appears in English in a time of troubles for the Jewish people. This book offers a healing, life-affirming alternative to a religious approach based on solidarity, imposed by external enemies. Bar-or enriches the book by offering images and models that draw upon the poetic and mystical insights of the kabbalistic tradition. Broad in structure and vision, richly detailed in the warp and woof of daily living, this book brings an inspired and inspiring voice to uplift Jewish life at a critical moment.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mordechai Bar-or","offers":[{"title":"Soft cover","offer_id":50165948383552,"sku":"7801-57","price":83.3,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9789657801574.jpg?v=1737621174"},{"product_id":"humorous-serious-and-thoughtful-ideas","title":"Humorous, Serious, and Thoughtful Ideas","description":"\u003cp\u003ePeople should strive to learn how to improve themselves and act intelligently. Maimonides said that human intelligence is a gift from God to help them make decisions in life, and not that God directly helps people. It is their God-given intelligence that can help them. Maimonides also said that we can learn from everything God created, to which I agree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe can learn from our own body. As we will see later in this book, Elias Canetti taught that even the human body teaches lessons. Humans learned how to make a knife, spears, and arrows from the nails on their index fingers, and bows for arrows from their thumbs. The earlier rabbis taught that we can learn much from animals, even ethics from ants. Maimonides said. “The truth is the truth no matter what its source.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eI am convinced that we can learn from all writings, even jokes, a few of which I have I included in this book. If people took a little time after hearing a joke to wonder why we laugh, what is it about a particular joke that provokes laughter, what we can learn from it, and its lesson may apply at other times, I firmly believe that in this way people can bring about improvement in ourselves and society.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes, after these jokes I suggest thoughts to ponder, which hopefully might encourage the reader to think of an idea.\n\u003cbr\u003eIn addition to jokes, I included other essays to make us think and improve ourselves, some serious, and others humorous. Chapters at the outset of the book are concise. Later chapters are more extended. For example, I have several chapters in which I address the subject of statistics in a somewhat humorous fashion. All science is based on statistics. Our lives are based on statistics. However, statistics only tell us the possibility of the truth, not the certainty of it. What should we learn from this? What causes us to laugh?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrequently, laughing shows our joy or happiness in overcoming an embarrassment, confusion, or an obvious conclusion. Why would a joke such as, “Why did the chicken cross the street? To get to the other side” trigger us to laugh? Is it because we did not know the answer before it was given and were surprised in its simplicity?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhat does that teach us?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLaughter is also considered an evolutionary mechanism that helps build social bonds and regulate human relationships. What does that teach us that we can apply to other occasions?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA laugh or a smile can make you feel better in difficult times. I found that in the rare times that I am sad, if I force myself to smile, my body may respond in kind to the point that I have a brighter outlook.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe above is from the introduction\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Israel Drazin","offers":[{"title":"Hard cover","offer_id":50165950742848,"sku":"7801-74","price":88.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9789657801741.jpg?v=1738247627"},{"product_id":"putting-god-first","title":"Putting God First:","description":null,"brand":"Alick Isaacs","offers":[{"title":"Hard cover","offer_id":50165954675008,"sku":"7023-71","price":140.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9789657023716_500h.jpg?v=1749127935"},{"product_id":"who-was-the-prophet-elisha","title":"Who Was the Prophet Elisha","description":null,"brand":"Israel Drazin","offers":[{"title":"Hard cover","offer_id":50165960802624,"sku":"7801-60","price":88.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9789657801604.jpg?v=1738683181"},{"product_id":"why-god-why","title":"Why God Why","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRabbi Gershon Schusterman knew all the textbook answers when comforting bereaved community members who asked him, “Where is God? If God is loving, how could this happen?”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBut when the rabbi’s young wife died suddenly, leaving him a 38-year-old widower with eleven children to raise, he found himself reeling.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHis personal quest for answers to these timeless questions led him to a deeper exploration of Judaism’s teachings about how to cope with and transcend tragedy, teachings that have provided comfort and understanding to millions of people throughout the generations.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWritten for anyone who has also endured devastating loss, this wise and sensitive guide will help you:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWork through your grief while not becoming stuck in grief\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGrow toward a hopeful, future oriented perspective because life is meant to be lived\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRealize that the soul lives eternally on a higher plane\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDevelop a personal relationship with God that opens a channel for both challenging communication as well as comforting resolution\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is a book for all times and for people of all faiths―or even no faith at all. It is a book about moving from darkness to light, toward God, and ultimately toward hope.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gershon Schusterman","offers":[{"title":"Hard cover","offer_id":50165961261376,"sku":"88895-072","price":78.4,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9798888950722_500h.jpg?v=1745391435"},{"product_id":"middos-manners-morals-with-a-twist-of-humor","title":"Middos, Manners \u0026 Morals with a Twist of Humor","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRead and enjoy Joe Bobker’s uniquely entertaining Middos Manual, a fifty-two-week guide with dozens of anecdotes from gedolim and tzadikim that explains how Middos + Morals = Menschlichkeit 101… all with a twist of humor!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Gerer Rebbe on time management… Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik on smacking a child… the Chofetz Chaim on keeping your word… the Steipler Rav on emunas chachamim… Rabbi Chaim Berlin on hespedim… Rav Yisroel Salanter on controversy… Rav Aryeh Levin on compassion… the Satmar Rav on menachem aveil… the Klausenberger Rebbe on ma’aser money… Rav Chaim Volozhiner on anger… Rav Levi Yitzchak on loving your neighbor… Rav Aryeh Leib HaKohen on chumras… Rav Aaron Kotler on sharing… Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel on coveting… Rav Shach on giving bad advice… Rav Tzvi Pesach on self-subordination… Rabbi Sholom Shwadron on stealing… Rav Elchonon Wasserman on waking a sleeping person… the Baba Sali on the power of Torah learning… the Vizhnitzer Rebbe on sensitivity… Rav Isser Zalman on shadchanus… Rabbi Simcha Zissel Broide on personal prayer… the Chazon Ish on permissible loshen hora… Rav Shlomo Wolbe on children’s misconduct… the Sassover Rebbe on insults… Rav Shlomo Shimshon Karelitz on bribes… Rav Shlomo Wolbe on bias… Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky on hakoras hatov… Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld on the beauty of Eretz Yisroel… the Sanzer Rebbe on tzedaka… Rav Nochum of Chernobyl on humility… the Ba’al Haturim on community fundraisers… Rav Yerucham Levovitz on Torah teachers… the Maharal of Prague on kindness… the Ba’al Shem Tov on how to pick a new rabbi… the Vizhnitzer Rebbe on emes… the Ben Ish Chai on stretching the truth… the Alter of Slabodka on meshulachim… Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach on gemilus chasadim… Rav Yechezkel Abramsky on Jews hitting Jews… Rav Dessler on misquoting… and many, many more!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Joe Bobker","offers":[{"title":"Hard Cover","offer_id":50563268084032,"sku":"448-7","price":72.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9789652294487_500h.jpg?v=1745408407"},{"product_id":"pirkei-avos-with-a-twist-of-humor","title":"Pirkei Avos with a Twist of Humor","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePirkei Avos with a Twist of Humor is a unique and whimsical journey through the impressive Sayings of Our Sages. Enjoy Joe Bobker's educational romp through Jewish ethics, heritage, law and lore, all stirred with a twist of humor and served with the intent of inspiring the reader to explore Judaism!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Joe Bobker","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":50563391488320,"sku":"589-7","price":66.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9789652295897_500h.jpg?v=1745410869"},{"product_id":"mysteries-of-judaism-v","title":"Mysteries of Judaism V","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Bible doesn’t offer its readers clear answers to the problems that humans face. Being obscure, even ambiguous to the common person, the Bible challenges the readers to interpret its material and bring in their own understandings of it. This allows for religious leaders to have the opportunity to reinterpret its obscure messages to apply its the laws to modern times.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere are many biblical tales that are mysterious. They leave the reader with the opportunity to read into them the way they want to see things – or better yet, what they should see things. The Bible should be interpreted. We shouldn’t dismiss the\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eparables within as mere “nice stories”. We should constantly be asking questions about what the Bible is trying to tell us.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis book is for you if you are;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003ea critical thinker\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003einterested in debating topics within Judaism\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eappreciate the bringing to bear vast knowledge of other cultures and customs on the discussions about the Bible and Judaism\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Israel Drazin","offers":[{"title":"Hard Cover","offer_id":50582168764736,"sku":"7023-96","price":80.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9789657023969_500h.jpg?v=1745840768"},{"product_id":"the-spiritual-revolution-of-rav-kook","title":"The Spiritual Revolution of Rav Kook","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Spiritual Revolution of Rav Kook is also available in English and Spanish. The Spanish edition is entitled; La Revolucion Espiritual de Rav Kook.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDespite Rav Kook (1865–1935) being one of the most influential thinkers in Jewish history, his revolutionary writings are mostly unknown to the general public. This book contains many new and accessible translations, as well as an in-depth spiritual biography. Each chapter is introduced and broken up into a variety of topics, including the individual, Torah, God, teshuvah, prayer, creativity, Zionism, science, and vegetarianism.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis book features an entirely new, original, accessible translation of a diverse selection of Rav Kook’s writings. This work offers a surprisingly modern model of religion from the perspective of a spiritual leader who was ahead of his time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ari Zeev Schwartz","offers":[{"title":"English","offer_id":50600763851072,"sku":"913-0","price":88.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true},{"title":"Español","offer_id":50600763883840,"sku":"7023-60","price":88.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9789652299130_500h.jpg?v=1746340516"},{"product_id":"שנאת-חינם-baseless-hatred-la-haine-gratuite","title":"שנאת חינם \\ Baseless Hatred \/ La Haine Gratuite","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBaseless Hatred is available in English Hebrew \"שנאת חינם\"  and French \"La Haine Gratuite\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat is hatred? What is baseless hatred? And how does this basic human emotion affect our relationships, our communities, and our world? In this fascinating study, pharmacological researcher Rene H. Levy looks through a scientific, sociological, and religious lens at the causes and effects of baseless hatred, and offers a prescription for preventing and repairing its damaging consequences. Levy examines the psychological and neurobiological bases of baseless hatred, and shows how it destroys interpersonal relationships. Baseless hatred is understood within Jewish tradition to have been the cause of the longest exile of the Jewish people from the Land of Israel; Levy discusses the impact of baseless hatred – both from without and from within – on the State of Israel, including an analysis of Islamist anti-Zionist hostility and the more recent Western antisemitic opposition as well as the new existential questions posed by the post-Zionist movement. Finally, Levy shows how the cement that has kept the Jewish people united as a nation, known as arevut, “mutual responsibility,” proves to be the remedy for the devastating problem of baseless hatred.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rene H. Levy","offers":[{"title":"English","offer_id":50603672731968,"sku":"530-9","price":68.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true},{"title":"Hebrew","offer_id":50603672764736,"sku":"532-3","price":64.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true},{"title":"French","offer_id":50603672797504,"sku":"531-6","price":64.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9789652295323_500h.jpg?v=1746434727"},{"product_id":"mysteries-of-judaism","title":"Mysteries of Judaism","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJudaism today \u003c\/strong\u003eis radically different from the Judaism described and mandated in the Torah, writes Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin, a noted authority on Jewish life, history and thought. For example, around the time of the destruction of the Temple, rabbinic reinterpretation changed both the observance and the religious significance attributed to the festivals. Thus, the biblical day of Passover on Nissan 14 was totally eliminated and the seven-day holiday called the Festival of Matzot, beginning Nissan 15, was\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003erenamed Passover. Likewise, the biblical holidays Yom Teruah and Yom Habikurim were transformed into Rosh Hashanah and Shavuot. The practice of building huts during Sukkot is likely more tied to the lack of lodging space in Jerusalem during the harvest festival than any biblical origin, says the rabbi.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis book challenges some of the basic assumptions about Judaism, showing how many of them are nowhere to be found in the Hebrew Bible, and some even have their origins in pagan cultures. It will surprise readers to hear, for example, about bizarre wedding practices, the Queen of Sheba myths, or the fact that classical religious sources are not always right. At its core, the book strongly challenges discriminatory practices against women, such as the seclusion of women during religious services and the problem of the agunah, women held in failed marriages by husbands who will not provide a religious divorce.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith topics spanning the range of religious practice, Mysteries of Judaism will astonish and enlighten readers as it reveals the complex relationship between biblical and rabbinic Judaism.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Israel Drazin","offers":[{"title":"Hard Cover","offer_id":50692786422080,"sku":"651-1","price":68.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9789652296511_500h.jpg?v=1748331686"},{"product_id":"mysteries-of-judaism-iv","title":"Mysteries of Judaism IV","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Bible has a style that most people do not know and as a result they fail to understand what the Bible is saying. In many cases this causes them to misunderstand Judaism. Below are some examples.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Torah does not tell us everything and leaves much to the reader’s imagination.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStories often have other, unrelated stories mixed in regardless of the insertion not having any relationship to the main tale.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScripture frequently repeats itself.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMost numbers in the Torah are arguably exaggerated to highlight the event.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRepetition often seems to conflict with a prior description in a significant manner.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDifferences in spelling occur frequently. A good example is in the two versions of the Decalogue.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWe can only guess at the meaning of many biblical words.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Torah was divided into chapters by Christians. The Jews accepted most of these divisions even though they are not always rational.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRabbi Akiva, Rashi, most synagogue sermons, and others insist that the Torah is in divine language, with God saying exactly what God wants said. Rabbi Ishmael, Maimonides, ibn Ezra, and many others take the view of the Torah speaking in human language, with repetitions not teaching new lessons, but only repeated for emphasis or a similar reason.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSome commentators, such as Nachmanides, are convinced that the Torah is composed in a mystical code.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScripture frequently, yet briefly describes an event, leaving out details, which it later adds when the story of the event is repeated.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBoth rabbis and scholars differ among themselves whether certain biblical stories or events are actually history or a dream or parable.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne can better understand Biblical stories by comparing them with other similar tales in the Bible and outside the Bible.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eThe numbers 3, 7, and 10 (being a combination of the first two), occur frequently.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Israel Drazin","offers":[{"title":"Hard Cover","offer_id":50692788715840,"sku":"7023-45","price":80.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9789657023457_500h.jpg?v=1748331200"},{"product_id":"mysteries-of-judaism-ii","title":"Mysteries of Judaism II","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrom kindergarten on, Jewish children are taught that the Torah as observed today is identical to the Torah given at Sinai. Unfortunately, many adults today, even those at the highest institutions of Torah learning, never develop a more nuanced and complex view of the evolution of the Torah. In another fascinating book, Israel Drazin shows how the Torah has been adapting to and adopting from its surrounding cultures, from the time of the Canaanites, through the Talmudic period, and until today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlthough challenging to some preconceived notions, and perhaps even threatening to some dogmatic elements, this richer view of Judaism reveals how a breathing, flexible religion has been essential in upholding the unity of the Jewish people throughout the centuries.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Israel Drazin","offers":[{"title":"Hard Cover","offer_id":50692788846912,"sku":"886-7","price":68.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9789652298867_500h.jpg?v=1748331317"},{"product_id":"mysteries-of-judaism-iii","title":"Mysteries of Judaism III","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis eye-opening and thought-provoking book covers what the Torah states about life after death, the soul, the world to come, sin, repentance, rational and mystical views on immortality, resurrection, and the age of the universe, what if anything we must believe, changes that occurred in our concept of God, multiple violations of Torah laws by biblical persons (even prophets), misunderstandings about the Ten Commandments, prophecies that were not fulfilled, biblical and other ancient Jewish books that were neglected or rejected, humor in the Bible, the portrayal of biblical figures with their faults, and changing biblical laws and rabbinical customs.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt explains that the siddur is not what people think it is and contains mystical additions, and it offers different views about the value of prayer. It talks about Judaism’s first philosopher, contacts with non-Jewish cultures that changed Judaism, surprising elements in Ecclesiastes, and the nontraditional views of Orthodox thinkers such as Rashbam, Nachman Krochmal, J. B. Soloveitchik, David Hartman, Nathan Lopes Cardozo, and others.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt describes what most people do not know about Maimonides and clarifies his view on Midrashim, why they were written and their value today. It reveals that people are punished despite repentance and that false prophets can still prophesy. It examines the Torah and holy books, conversion, and intermarriage, and the impact of foreign cultures on Jewish practices and halakha. It analyses mysticism and atheism; the values of secular culture; the views of Moshe Chaim Luzzatto and his Mesillat Yesharim, and of Arnold Ehrlich; and it explores Nietzsche, Gersonides, and Maimonides’ views on faith and the Bible.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Israel Drazin","offers":[{"title":"Hard Cover","offer_id":50692793073984,"sku":"7023-10","price":78.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9789657023105_500h.jpg?v=1748332292"},{"product_id":"inner-space","title":"Inner Space","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn introduction to Kabbalah, Meditation, and Prophecy. 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In these he is kind, and generally very friendly to people. God was not satisfied with the biblical Elijah and God criticized and punished him. Were the fifteen events in which Elijah was involved miracles or natural events? Most are easy to explain as natural events; some are more difficult to do so. Did God order Elijah to perform the acts? The Bible does not say so. The only times that Elijah was ordered by an angel or God to do something was when he was told to go somewhere, and these instructions could be understood as Elijah having the idea. Nearly all Elijah s acts were done because of his overzealous love of God and his abhorrence of idol worship, and apparently show no warm feelings toward people. Yet, the Biblical book Malachi is held by many to prophesy the coming of the prophet Elijah centuries after his death or ascension to heaven. This, despite the fact, as Dr. Drazin shows, Malachi s prophecy does not seem to deal with the messianic age, but with a resolution of the problems caused by intermarriage. Malachi states, \"Behold, I will send to you Eliyah the prophet before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the heart of fathers to children, and the heart of children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.\" These words have nothing to do with a messianic age and the legendary Elijah who generally helps people in distress is totally different from the overzealous biblical Elijah with whom God was displeased.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-expander-header a-expander-partial-collapse-header\"\u003e\n\u003ca role=\"button\" data-action=\"a-expander-toggle\" class=\"a-declarative\" data-a-expander-toggle='{\"allowLinkDefault\":true, \"expand_prompt\":\"Read more\", \"collapse_prompt\":\"Read less\"}'\u003e\u003ci class=\"a-icon a-icon-extender-collapse\"\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Israel Drazin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50811884765504,"sku":"7023-28","price":72.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9789657023280_500h.jpg?v=1750815873"},{"product_id":"kohelets-pursuit-of-truth-a-new-reading-of-ecclesiastes","title":"Kohelet's Pursuit of Truth: A New Reading of Ecclesiastes","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEcclesiastes, 'the greatest single piece of literature I have known' (Thomas Wolfe) continues to engage readers. The book is so controversial that some of the earliest rabbis sought to exclude it from the Bible in light of its self-contradictions and occasional near-heresies. Fortunately, the depth of thought won out. This commentary confronts the book from a perspective that is literary, while maintaining the highest academic standards.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe volume is strikingly new, including the following central reconsideration's:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEcclesiastes was written with empowering the reader in mind. It is not a developed philosophy, but a short novelette, a story of one man's search for verifiable evidence of God's workings in this world (which he does not find). Strikingly, his principal consequent advice is: 'Enjoy.'\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe book is a retrospective collection, so one finds a plethora of voices from one person the young searcher, the poet, the teacher, the old man obsessed with death, etc. To these, the author adds the slightly dissenting voice of the one presenting the book. This variety turns the novelette into a parallel ongoing dialogue.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe presentation as first person speech serves both to make the reader more sympathetic toward the speaker and yet less accepting of his contentions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMany of the 'contradictions' in Ecclesiastes are in fact evidence of growth and change, as observable in the text. The reader is left to judge these as maturity, as the weakness of age, or possibly as the confusions inherent in life.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs the speaker turns ever more to advice on how to get along, ultimately recommending no more contemplation, the reader is nevertheless left with more questions than answers. This book does not seek to provide answers to all the challenges, but rather a challenge to all the answers\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Benjamin J. Segal","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":50819517022528,"sku":"892-8","price":64.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9789652298928.jpg?v=1750906626"},{"product_id":"letters-to-talia","title":"Letters to Talia","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLetters to Talia describes the rich cultural worlds of a yeshiva student and a kibbutz girl who succeed in creating a dialogue of understanding and compassion. Their distant outlooks meet in a meaningful and touching dialogue that reveals how much common ground they share despite their divergent worldviews. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLetters to Talia is an exceptional, engaging book that brings hope to those seeking a serious dialogue and real understanding between the religious and secular in Israeli society today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dov Indig","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":50838345253184,"sku":"601-6","price":74.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9789652296016_500h.jpg?v=1751474005"},{"product_id":"the-poetry-of-prayer-tehillim-in-tefillah","title":"The Poetry of Prayer. Tehillim in Tefillah","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOften we find it difficult to concentrate on the prayers we recite, due partly to a lack of understanding of the biblical poetry in the tefillot. This book aims to unlock the mystery of the various psalms which comprise the tefillah. The book begins with an introduction to prayer, Tehillim, and biblical poetry. Then, after an overview of the structure of the morning service, each chapter examines either a prayer adapted from a psalm or the entire psalm and explains the reason it was chosen as part of the liturgy. Let the words of my mouth praise God and all mankind will bless the holy name of God for eternity (Psalm 145:21)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rabbi Avi Baumol","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":50838424322368,"sku":"452-4","price":94.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9789652294524.jpg?v=1751475147"},{"product_id":"practical-judaism","title":"Practical Judaism","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis volume, Practical Judaism is an attempt to address broad sectors of the Jewish public who have asked themselves basic questions such as: Who are we? What is unique about us? What obligations follow from this? What is the basis for all our beliefs and practices.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"direction: rtl; text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"firstPart\"\u003eמהדורת העברית משנת 2025 היא ספרו של הרב י.מ לאו בעריכת שאול מייזליש. הוא תוצאה של דחף שבא מקרב שכבות רחבות בציבור הישראלי.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"direction: rtl; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"firstPart\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e \u003cspan\u003eאנשים החלו לשאול את עצמם יותר ויותר: · מי אנחנו? · במה מתבטאת יהדותנו? · למה הדבר מחייב? · מהי ההלכה וכיצד היא מתרגמת לשפת המעשה?\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e·\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"direction: rtl;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan class=\"firstPart\"\u003eעל אילו נדבכים רעיוניים והשקפתיים היא בנויה? בשאלות אלו נתקל המחבר במאות מקרים, הן בהופעות והרצאות פומביות, והן בתוכניות רדיו וטלוויזיה והן בשיחות אישיות. חזרו ונשנו השאלות: · מהי תפילה? · איזו חשיבות יש לכיפה? · מה משמעות ה``קדיש``? · מדוע הוא נאמר בארמית דווקא? · מה נאמר בדיו ב``כתובה`` מתחת לחופה? · מדוע אין מדליקים אור בשבת\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"secondPart openText\"\u003e  ואין נוסעים לים ביום זה? · מדוע נחוג ראש השנה יומיים? ספר זה בא לתת תשובות לשאלות אלו. הוא עוקב אחרי השעון היומי ואחרי הלוח השנתי של היהודי שומר המצוות, מקימה ועד שינה, מתשרי ועד אלול, מרגעי השמחה שבחיים ועד חלילה רגעי מוות ופטירה. בספר זה ימצא הקורא הדרכה מעשית אלמנטרית: ``מה ואיך עושים``, בצד נסיון להסביר ``למה עושים``? הרב ישראל מאיר לאו נולד בפיוטריקוב, פולין, לאביו הרב הגאון משה חיים לאו הי``ד, רב העיר, כנצר לשלושים וחמישה דורות של רבנים. כילד, עבר את השואה - בה איבד את הוריו - עלה במסגרת עלית הנוער יחד עם אחיו. את השכלתו התורנית רכש בישיבות ``קול תורה`` בירושלים, ``כנסת חזקיהו`` בזכרון יעקב וישיבת פוניבז` בבני ברק. בגיל 22 הוסמך לרבנות, ומאז הוא משמש בה. בשנת תשכ``ה נבחר כרב בית הכנסת ``תפארת צבי`` בת``א, משנת תשל``א כיהן כרב אזורי בצפון ת``א. בשנת תשל``ט נבחר כרבה הראשי של נתניה ובשנת תשמ``ט נבחר הרב י.מ לאו לרבה הראשי של תל אביב יפו. הרב י.מ לאו מרבה להופיע בבימות ציבוריות ובהופעות בכלי התקשורת ההמוניים, מתוך רצון להביא את דבר התורה והשקפותיה למגוון הרחב ביותר של האוכלוסיה בישראל. שאול מייזליש יליד פתח תקווה, בוגר ישיבת בני עקיבא בנחלים, עתונאי, חבר מערכת ``הצופה``, פרסם ספרים ומאמרים בנושאי יהדות וחברה, ומשתתף בתוכניות רדיו וטלוויזיה.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"direction: rtl; text-align: right;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Israel Meir Lau","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover \/ English","offer_id":50898581946688,"sku":"D-1210","price":112.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true},{"title":"Hardcover \/ Hebrew","offer_id":50991790850368,"sku":"HEBNF-899","price":98.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9789657141472_500h.jpg?v=1753113183"},{"product_id":"samson","title":"Samson","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"\u003eWho Was the Biblical Samson\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"\u003e explored in this critical and thoughtful exploration of Samson as presented in the Book of Judges. Israel Drazin applies a rationalist approach, examining traditional interpretations, scholarly critiques, and archaeological findings. He questions common assumptions, contrasts Samson with other biblical figures and ancient heroes like Hercules, and considers both literal and allegorical readings. The book avoids dogmatic assertions, instead offering readers a framework to draw their own conclusions about Samson’s character, role, and significance in the biblical narrative.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(43, 0, 255); text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"\u003eQuote\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(43, 0, 255);\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"\u003e“Most people, even scholars, do not understand the Hebrew Bible correctly... Virtually every significant person mentioned in the Torah had faults like other humans, and like Samson in this book.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"\u003eOffers Readers\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"\u003eRational analysis, challenges conventional assumptions and invites readers to think critically about the text.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"\u003eComparative interpretations exploring how the story of Samson has been understood and reinterpreted across time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"\u003eEvidence without dogma, empowering readers to draw their own informed conclusions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"\u003eProfound insights into human nature, personal responsibility, and the potential for growth through failure.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Israel Drazin","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":50901287567680,"sku":"7864-03","price":84.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9789657864036_500h.jpg?v=1753183191"},{"product_id":"rational-ideas-book-one","title":"Rational Ideas: Book One","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Aptos;\"\u003eRational Ideas: Book One\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e is a collection of essays that challenge traditional religious assumptions and promote a rational, evolving approach to Judaism. Drawing from philosophy, biblical interpretation, history, and literature, Drazin critiques dogmatic beliefs and explores how Jewish law, holidays, ethics, and concepts have changed over time. He juxtaposes thinkers like Maimonides and Spinoza, uses literature to reveal philosophical insights, and advocates for open-minded inquiry, moral responsibility, and continual personal and societal improvement. The book encourages readers to think critically, favor a thoughtful, reasoned approach over unquestioning acceptance or mystical speculation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Israel Drazin","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":50901606629696,"sku":"7801-92","price":86.0,"currency_code":"ILS","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0873\/3340\/4992\/files\/9789657801925_500h.jpg?v=1753193602"},{"product_id":"sacred-monsters","title":"Sacred Monsters","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUnicorns, mermaids, dragons, and phoenixes may feel at home in fantasy literature, but references to these and other mysterious creatures go back much further in history. The Bible, Talmud, and Midrash refer to many such strange creatures. In this beautifully designed and richly illustrated book, Natan Slifkin, the famed zoo rabbi and author of Seasons of Life, Nature's Song, and The Challenge of Creation, examines a host of mythic and not so mythic creatures from both their Torah descriptions and modern zoological research, giving us a new perspective on the interface between science, myth, and Torah thought. Greatly expanding on a prior book, Mysterious Creatures, Rabbi Slifkin explores conflicts between the Talmud and science in the context of Torah mysteries of zoology. The Talmud and Midrash discuss a wide range of bizarre creatures, including mermaids, unicorns, griffins, dragons, sea-serpents and phoenixes, as well as strange biological concepts such as spontaneous generation. Sacred Monsters discusses these cases in detail and brings a range of different approaches for understanding them. It is an essential book for any student or educator who has ever struggled with conflicts between the Talmud and science. Strikingly designed, and including extraordinary photographs and illustrations, this is a truly stimulating work. The goal of this book is not merely to persuade readers that the Talmud and Midrash are worthy of their interest. It is important to discuss these creatures for the same reason that the Sages of the Talmud and Torah scholars throughout the ages saw fit to discuss them \u0026amp;emdash; namely, that they are also part of Torah. Torah is not just about history, religious ritual and laws of interpersonal conduct. It is an extremely broad field of study that encompasses many different topics. Some areas of the Torah are more popular or more relevant than others, but we should not neglect the others. The animals of this book are discussed in classical Jewish literature for a variety of reasons. With some, such as the tachash, it is a matter of understanding the construction of the Tabernacle. With others, such as the mermaid, the goal is to clarify a matter of law. And with yet others, such as Leviathan, the point is to convey various theological messages. Furthermore, there is a particular pressing need for a book of this nature. When people encounter references to such creatures in the Talmud, they can be left with anything from gnawing questions to a severe crisis of faith. Did such creatures really exist? Did the Sages of the Talmud really believe in such creatures? What are we to make of it? This book studies the history of the various approaches that have traditionally been taken by Torah scholars in resolving such issues.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReviews:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e...A delightful mix of Talmudic teachings, zoological science, and historical investigations... 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Imam Shamsi Ali, who grew up in a small Indonesian village and studied in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, believed that all Jews wanted to destroy Muslims. Coming from positions of mutual mistrust, it seems unthinkable that these orthodox religious leaders would ever see eye to eye. Yet in the aftermath of 9\/11, amid increasing acrimony between Jews and Muslims, the two men overcame their prejudices and bonded over a shared belief in the importance of opening up a dialogue and finding mutual respect. 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