Gateway to Judaism

Gateway to Judaism PDF

Author: Mordechai Becher

Publisher: Mesorah Publications

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 532

ISBN-13: 9781422600306

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Gateway to Judaism is an insider's engaging look at the mindset, values, and practices of Judaism in the 21st century. As a senior lecturer and outreach expert with Gateways Seminars, Rabbi Mordechai Becher has helped thousands of people reconnect with the beauty, wisdom and relevance of their Jewish heritage. Often asked to recommend "just one book" that would explain the essentials of Jewish life and thought , he decided to write it himself! Delving beneath common perceptions of Jewish tradition, Rabbi Becher presents fresh and meaningful perspectives that will educate and inspire you. Among the many intriguing topics he addresses are: Is there spirituality in Judaism? In our age of labor-saving devices, do we still need a Sabbath? What is Judaism's view on death and the afterlife? Why is Judaism so full of laws? Why should I pray? Does God really want to hear my complaints? Can Judaism enhance my marriage? Isn't circumcision just an ancient rite of initiation? Is it still relevant? Why is Israel so central to Judaism? Does a religion need a land? Why does a mourner say Kaddish? Wasn't keeping kosher a health measure? Does it still have a purpose today? How can I add meaning to my Passover Seder? Gateway to Judaism reveals Judaism's power to elevate your life. Whether you are new to Jewish tradition, familiar with its practice, or simply curious, you will find this book an illuminating guide to a joyous and fulfilling lifestyle. -- from dust cover.

Gateway to the Moon

Gateway to the Moon PDF

Author: Mary Morris

Publisher: Anchor

Published: 2019-03-12

Total Pages: 354

ISBN-13: 0525434992

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In 1492, two history-altering events occurred: the Jews and Muslims of Spain were expelled, and Columbus set sail for the New World. Many Spanish Jews chose not to flee and instead became Christian in name only, maintaining their religious traditions in secret. Among them was Luis de Torres, who accompanied Columbus as an interpreter. Over the centuries, de Torres’ descendants traveled across North America, finally settling in the hills of New Mexico. Now, some five hundred years later, it is in these same hills that Miguel Torres, a young amateur astronomer, finds himself trying to understand the mystery that surrounds him and the town he grew up in: Entrada de la Luna, or Gateway to the Moon. Poor health and poverty are the norm in Entrada, and luck is rare. So when Miguel sees an ad for a babysitting job in Santa Fe, he jumps at the opportunity. The family for whom he works, the Rothsteins, are Jewish, and Miguel is surprised to find many of their customs similar to those his own family kept but never understood. Braided throughout the present-day narrative are the powerful stories of the ancestors of Entrada’s residents, portraying both the horrors of the Inquisition and the resilience of families. Moving and unforgettable, Gateway to the Moon beautifully weaves the journeys of the converso Jews into the larger American story.

Understanding Judaism

Understanding Judaism PDF

Author: Mordechai Katz

Publisher: Mesorah Publications

Published: 2000

Total Pages: 408

ISBN-13: 9781578195176

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What does the Torah say that makes it relevant to today? How can we understand the mitzvos? Why should I believe? Why be Jewish? What does a Jew have to do? Is science an enemy of Judaism?JEP has answers. For decades, the Jewish Education Prog

Gateways to Torah

Gateways to Torah PDF

Author: Russell Resnik

Publisher: Messianic Jewish Publishers

Published: 2000

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781880226889

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From before the days of Messiah until today, Jewish people have read from and discussed a prescribed portion of the Pentateuch each week. Messiah Yeshua, when he attended synagogue, joined his people in this practice. Now, a Messianic Jewish rabbi has added his voice to the ancient conversation about the Torah. Russ Resnik, Executive Director of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations has written an excellent commentary on each of the weekly portions. With reference to and respect for the rabbis who have already contributed to this conversation, he brings another perspective on the Torah, that of a Messianic Jew, a Jew who follows Messiah Yeshua. Whether you read Gateways to Torah all in one sitting, pace yourself weekly, or use it as a study text for a discussion group, this book will give you fresh insights into the Word of God. 246 pages.

The Gate to Perfection

The Gate to Perfection PDF

Author: Rabbi Professor Dr. Walter Homolka

Publisher: Berghahn Books

Published: 1994-10-01

Total Pages: 145

ISBN-13: 1800736746

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A timely book: as Israelis and Arabs are moving towards a settlement, this study offers a valuable historical dimension, from the Jewish point of view, to the main issue involved, i.e., the idea of peace. The authors maintain that peace has always played an important role in Jewish thought, that in fact Judaism as a religion is characterized by the striving for peace. They reach this conclusion after having examined a variety of sources, ranging from the biblical texts of Old Israel to the Talmudic tradition and Jewish Philosophy of Religion up until the twentieth century.

At the Foot of the Mountain

At the Foot of the Mountain PDF

Author: Joshua M. Lessard

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2021-06-09

Total Pages: 150

ISBN-13: 1666700630

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Where does a relatively young movement turn for identity and direction when it straddles the fence between two competing major religions? Messianic Jews have done something that for centuries was considered untenable. Like Christians, they have embraced Jesus as the divine Messiah, but they have refused to surrender their place within the Jewish people. How compatible are these two sides of Messianic Jewish faith? Can Messianic Jews participate as full members in both the body of Messiah and the people of Israel? Can they be led by the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised while also following the rulings of the Jewish sages? Did Jesus affirm rabbinic authority, or does that authority now lie elsewhere within the new covenant? In this volume, Messianic Jewish rabbi Joshua Lessard and Messianic Jewish scholar Jennifer Rosner debate the path forward for Messianic Judaism as it grapples with being the child of divorced parents—the church and Israel. Both Lessard and Rosner are committed to the success of Messianic Judaism, though they put forth contrasting visions of what that means. The discussion herein is unique and provocative, not only for Messianic Jews, but for all who have wrestled at the crossroads of Torah, tradition, and Spirit.

The Journey to Your Ultimate Self

The Journey to Your Ultimate Self PDF

Author: Rabbi Shmuel Reichman

Publisher: Mosaica Press

Published: 2022-01-17

Total Pages: 672

ISBN-13: 1952370736

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Everyone will agree that a story needs an ending; unless a story goes somewhere, it’s pointless. The purpose of a set-up is to lead toward a conclusion, toward a destination. A story without an ending, without a purpose, is not a story worth telling. The same is true for our lives: we need a destination. We are all part of a larger story, but we’re also writing our own individual stories. Hashem created us in this world with unlimited potential, but that was only the “set-up” ― the beginning of our story. Without a purposeful destination, a clear goal, and a deeper understanding of who we are and who we are meant to be, the set-up lacks true meaning. We need to make this a meaningful journey ― a story of growth, creativity, and contribution. This book is written to help you along your personal journey, to help you become the ultimate version of yourself. As you learn through this sefer, plant the ideas within your mind and soul, and bring them to life. Make your life a meaningful journey, an extraordinary story.

A Gateway between a Distant God and a Cruel World

A Gateway between a Distant God and a Cruel World PDF

Author: Reut Yael Paz

Publisher: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers

Published: 2012-10-19

Total Pages: 415

ISBN-13: 9004228748

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Through a collective biographical methodology of four scholars 20th century scholars this book investigates how Jewish identity and intellectual ties to Judaic civilisation in the German speaking legal context influenced the international legal discipline.

One God Clapping

One God Clapping PDF

Author: Alan Lew

Publisher: Jewish Lights Publishing

Published: 2001

Total Pages: 337

ISBN-13: 1580231152

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From Zen Buddhist practitioner to rabbi, East meets West in this firsthand account of a spiritual journey. Rabbi Alan Lew is known as the Zen Rabbi, a leader in the Jewish meditation movement who works to bring two ancient religious traditions into our everyday lives. One God Clapping is the story of his roundabout yet continuously provoking spiritual odyssey. It is also the story of the meeting between East and West in America, and the ways in which the encounter has transformed how all of us understand God and ourselves. Winner of the PEN / Joseph E. Miles Award Like a Zen parable or a Jewish folk tale, One God Clapping unfolds as a series of stories, each containing a moment of revelation or instruction that, while often unexpected, is never simple or contrived. One God Clapping, like the life of the remarkable Alan Lew himself, is a bold experiment in the integration of Eastern and Western ways of looking at and living in the world.

Reproducing Jews

Reproducing Jews PDF

Author: Susan Martha Kahn

Publisher: Duke University Press

Published: 2000

Total Pages: 244

ISBN-13: 9780822325987

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Explores the debates about new reproductive technologies in Israel and how they fit with Orthodox Jewish laws concerning parentage and Jewish identity.