Jews and Power (Jewish Encounters)

Jews and Power (Jewish Encounters).
Taking in everything from the Kingdom of David to the Oslo Accords, Ruth Wisse offers a radical new way to think about the Jewish relationship to power. Traditional Jews believed that upholding the covenant with God constituted a treaty with the most powerful force in the universe; this later transformed itself into a belief that, unburdened by a military, Jews could pursue their religious mission on a purely moral plain. Wisse, an eminent professor of comparative literature at Harvard, demonstrates how Jewish political weakness both increased Jewish vulnerability to scapegoating and violence, and unwittingly goaded power-seeking nations to cast Jews as perpetual targets.

Although she sees hope in the State of Israel, Wisse questions the way the strategies of the Diaspora continue to drive the Jewish state, echoing Abba Eban’s observation that Israel was the only nation to win a war and then sue for peace. And then she draws a persuasive parallel to the United States today, as it struggles to figure out how a liberal democracy can face off against enemies who view Western morality as weakness. This deeply provocative book is sure to stir debate both inside and outside the Jewish world. Wisse’s narrative offers a compelling argument that is rich with history and bristling with contemporary urgency. See details

Essential Judaism: A Complete Guide to Beliefs, Customs & Rituals

Essential Judaism: A Complete Guide to Beliefs, Customs & Rituals.
Ten years ago, Robinson entered a Reform synagogue for the first time since adolescence. He became an active congregant, but he discovered in his reincorporation of certain rituals and practices that he “was often baffled” by what occurred in the synagogue. This expansive tome attempts to provide the essentials of Judaism for novices, outsiders and those who, like Robinson, rediscovered their heritage as adults. It’s an excellent introductory resource, vast but accessibly organized. Robinson first covers the most ritually significant Jewish prayers and walks the reader through a typical Shabbat service. He presents the basic facts about holidays and the Jewish calendar, then explores Jewish life-cycle rituals from bris to burial and includes a catch-all chapter on other practices such as Kashrut. By beginning with Jewish practice, rather than history or law, Robinson centers the core of Judaism in everyday life. The book’s second half is a whirlwind tour of Torah and Talmud, Kabbalah and Jewish philosophers, with a key explanatory chapter on historical developments such as Hasidism and Zionism. Notably absent is the history of the Holocaust and the founding of Israel; Robinson notes that the Judaica sections of most bookstores already overflow with such historical information, and he explores instead the scope of Jews’ reactions to those events. This is a valuable, sensitive one-volume guide to Jewish practice. See details

Flipping Out? Myth or Fact: The Impact of the “Year in Israel”

Flipping Out?: Myth or Fact? The Impact of the “Year in Israel” by Shalom Z. Berger, Daniel Jacobson and Chaim I. Waxman takes a hard look at a phenomenon that has become a major source of both inspiration and consternation in the Jewish community. The Jewish community has changed over the past four decades for many reasons, prominent among them the phenomenon of large numbers of students spending a year after high school studying Torah full time in Israel. The results of this “Year in Israel” can be felt in many synagogues and homes, with a good deal of increased ritual observance and dedication to Torah study – the much discussed “Shift to the Right.” Many questions arise from these changes. Have these students been brainwashed? Has their primary education so failed them that a single year in Israel is more influential than over a decade of American schooling? Have they found an easy way to alleviate some hidden insecurity? Or are they merely inspired by a profoundly rich and spiritual lifestyle? And how long does this newfound religious devotion last? Is it really the start of a radically different life path or is it merely a short-term religious high that becomes more moderate over time? See details

Family Haggadah

Family Haggadah. A RIGHT TO LEFT version Haggadah. In green, red and black text. Includes mostly English readings and translations with some Hebrew for the most well known paragraphs (Avadim Hayeenu, blessings), and English transliterations for blessings. The English in non-sexist (gender neutral) and within the grasp of school age children. Certain passages are tagged with icons to note “songs”, “plan ahead activities”, and “for young children.” It opens with a Seder checklist to make sure you have all the items for a good seder. The seder text follows. The Four Sons are Four CHILDREN. Children are prompted to tell the table how they would explain Passover to each of the four children. Dayenu is abbreviated and in English. Includes English Grace After Meals, Counting of the Omer, and an abbreviated Hallel. Includes Adir Hu, Echad Mi Yodea, Chad Gadya, A Fifth Cup for Israel, and Hatikva. Most of the readings are in English. See details