Top 10 New Releases Fall 2019
Looking for some inspiration for the High Holidays? Revamping your Jewish library? Just like to know what's new and available? Check out our Top 10 New Releases Fall 2019
by: Daniel S. Chertoff
Mordecai Chertoff came to Palestine in 1947 as a twenty-five-year-old, determined to make his contribution to the emerging Jewish state. Between 1947 and 1950 he was variously local news editor, foreign news editor, and war correspondent for the Palestine Post, soldier in the Haganah, and resident of Jerusalem. In vivid and often moving letters to his family (annotated and contextualized by his son), Mordecai describes the news of the UN vote for partition, the siege of Jerusalem, the bombing of the Palestine Post, the declaration of the State of Israel, his travels along the dangerous Jerusalem–Tel-Aviv highway, and, inevitably, the loss of friends. The correspondence, filled with details of everyday life in Jerusalem and meetings with famous and soon-to-be-famous people, includes historical information never before disclosed and ranges from passionate discussions about Zionism to the more personal drama of his search for a mate.
Palestine Posts: An Eyewitness Account of the Birth of Israel also reflects the personal journey undertaken by the author to better understand a crucial period in Jewish history as well as his father as a young man.
By: Yemima Mizrachi
Translated by Ilana Kurshan
Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi is one of Israel’s most influential women today. Her weekly shiurim in Hebrew and English attract hundreds of women, where she presents very deep messages with a sense of humor.
In
Yearning to Return, Rabbanit Yemina presents questions and answers about the many aspects of repentance, forgiveness, repairing broken relationships between brother and sister, man and wife, friends, loved ones. This small yet powerful volume is an inspiring read and the perfect gift. It is written with thought-provoking word plays in Hebrew and references from Jewish sources, all which serve to help us repair what has been torn and forgive before
ne’ilah – when the doors of Yom Kippur – and of our hearts – are locked and sealed.
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By: Rabbi Yakov Nagen
The growing search for spirituality is a sign of the time we live in. As materiality becomes more attainable, so is the desire to find meaning in life.
With these existential and spiritual questions kept in mind, Rabbi Yakov Nagen presents a unique reading of the weekly parshah. In
Be, Become, Bless Rabbi Nagen combines the Talmud, Kabbalah and Hassidism with extraordinary personal stories.
The optimistic and sincere outlook of Rabbi Nagen engages in dialogue with the Israeli and global culture and gives the reader an opportunity to achieve a daily renewal and experience the joy that can be found within Judaism. (This title is the English edition of the original Hebrew book, “
להתעורר ליום חדש”).
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By: Alex Israel
The Book of Kings narrates the turbulent history of Israel from the Temple’s construction until its destruction and the national exile. In
II Kings: In a Whirlwind, Bible educator Alex Israel brings the personalities, events, and messages of the second Book of Kings to life. The reader will encounter Elisha, the extraordinary prophet and miracle maker, the bloody mutiny of Jehu, the terrible fall of Samaria and the exile of the Ten Tribes, the nail-biting tension faced by King Hezekiah as he withstands the great Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, the devastating idolatry of Manasseh, and the religious revolution of King Josiah.
This exciting historical period finds Judah and Israel frequently “in a whirlwind,” caught in the turmoil of religious and political forces that threaten the very survival of the kingdoms. Using traditional and modern commentary, literary analysis, archaeology, and Near-Eastern history, this insightful volume leads the reader through the complex lines of the biblical narrative in an enthralling and readable commentary.
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By: Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein
The process of repentance, teshuva, presents each of us with both challenges and opportunities. While self-scrutiny, confession, and commitment to change are among the most difficult human undertakings, the very process of renewing and reconnecting – to ourselves and to God – is a gift that can fundamentally repair us, our communities, and society at large.
In his annual discourses on repentance,
Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein zt”l set out to make the elusive path of teshuva more navigable.
Return and Renewal collects twelve of these public lectures, adapted for print by Michael S. Berger and Reuven Ziegler. In these essays, Rabbi Lichtenstein marshals a broad array of Jewish sources, along with classics of the Western tradition and his own sensitivity to the human condition, to examine the psychological, emotional, and spiritual elements of sin and repentance. By exploring the habits and impulses that may prevent enduring change or abet it,
Return and Renewal provides a high-resolution map of our spiritual lives as we embark on our journeys of religious growth.
Although
Return and Renewalwas published last year the overwhelming response to its release and its publication so close to the hagim last year explains its inclusion in this year's "New Releases."
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By: Rabbi David Brofsky
Hilkhot Avelut: Understanding the Laws of Mourning explores a halakhic, conceptual, philosophical, and historical presentation of the laws of Jewish mourning. Like its companion volume,
Hilkhot Mo’adim: Understanding the Laws of the Festivals, Rabbi Brofsky traces the halakha through its sources, from early to later commentaries and includes relevant debates among the
posekim regarding contemporary applications. At times, historical and philosophical sources, as well as traditional “
lomdus,” are woven into the chapter. This valuable book also discusses the laws of
aninut, burial,
avelut, Kaddish, and
yahrzeit.
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Commentary by Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz
The Steinsaltz Nevi'im the long-awaited English version of
Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz’s pioneering translation and commentary on the Torah. Like his monumental translation and commentary of the entire Talmud, the new Steinsaltz Nevi'im includes a treasure trove of information to make the text clear, fascinating, and relevant to users of all backgrounds.
Here, Rabbi Steinsaltz’s commentary seeks to connect the reader directly to the peshat, the plain reading of the text. He includes references to many commentaries, while he aims to remove any ‘barriers’ to the text, connecting us directly to the ‘voice of the Torah’.
This brand-new volume features several innovative elements including:
- Hebrew verses in clear Koren font, with vowels and punctuation
- Accessible English translation that reflects Rabbi Steinsaltz’s understanding of the text
- Parshiyot divided thematically with introductory explanations
- Color photos that identify biblical objects and illustrate complicated concepts
- Notes and photos of modern archaeological and scientific findings
- Maps, illustrations, and charts to clarify locations and concepts
- Supplemental background materials, cross-references to the Torah
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A Source Book edited by Meir Y. Soloveichik, Matthew Holbreich, Jonathan Silver, Stuart W. Halpern
Turning to the Hebrew Bible for inspiration, solidarity, comfort, and purpose, as the members of the First Continental Congress did, is a common theme in American history. In fact, one cannot understand the American political tradition without understanding America’s relationship with the Five Books of Moses. This sourcebook assembles the primary sources of American public history and allows the reader to hear the Hebraic echoes that have formed the cultural vocabulary of the Puritan settlers, revolutionaries, African slaves, leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, and the broader population.
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By: Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
Maggid Books, the division of contemporary Jewish thought of Koren Publishers Jerusalem, is proud to announce the completion of Covenant & Conversation: A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible by
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks.
The fifth and final installation of the series is “Deuteronomy: Renewal of the Sinai Covenant”.
The Covenant & Conversation series consists of multiple essays on every Torah portion. Like the preceding volumes, “
Deuteronomy: Renewal of the Sinai Covenant” fuses Jewish tradition, Western philosophy and literature to explore the biblical narrative as it relates to universal concerns of freedom, love, responsibility, identity and destiny.
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by: Rabbi Shalom Rosner
Over the course of many years, Rabbi Shalom Rosner has given hundreds, if not thousands of shiurim on a variety of Torah topics. Known for his ability to clarify complex Talmudic sugyot, his insightful, dynamic derashot, and his warm demeanor, he has developed a popular reputation both online and in person that continues to engage students of all ages around the world.
Shalom Rav is a compilation of
Rabbi Rosner’s ideas on the weekly parasha. Clear and concise, these essays incorporate a wide spectrum of both classic and modern sources that convey refreshing insights for the entire family.
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