Of all the masks we may encounter on Purim, the most intriguing is the one worn by Purim itself… Behind the feasting and merriment that accompany the day of Purim lie some of the most profound and meaningful ideas of Judaism. Drawing on a fascinating array of sources, renowned teacher and author Rabbi Immanuel Bernstein guides the reader on an eye-opening journey toward a deeper appreciation of the Jewish People’s most colorful festival.
Following on from "The Israeli Magical Scarecrow's Chanukah Adventure," Jaffa, the Israeli Magical Scarecrow, and his friend Moshe the mule decide to join in the Purim festivities. Jaffa sets about making a mask so none of the grown ups will discover his true - secret - identity and heads towards the Great Synagogue in Jerusalem. As the story of Purim is gradually revealed, Jaffa decides to take some hamantaschen out for his friend, Moshe. A suspicious member of the congregation spots what he thinks is someone stealing the children's Purim treats and follows Jaffa demanding to know his true identity. If Jaffa is forced to remove his mask the secret he has promised to keep will be exposed threatening to end the special mission Jaffa, and other Magical Scarecrows around the world, have sworn to carry out. Can Rabbi Yisrael and the great power that brought Jaffa to life do something in time to save the day? Find more Magical Scarecrows stories at
Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz ¿ renowned scholar, philosopher and spiritual guide ¿ here reveals the essence of the Jewish calendar. With a unique combination of intellectual brilliance and accessibility, Rabbi Steinsaltz probes the meaning of Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur, Hanukka, Purim, Pesah and the other Jewish holidays. His insights provide whole new ways of understanding the holidays, appreciating their depth, and experiencing them to their fullest: ¿Our festivals and holidays, remembrance days and special occasions, ensure that the paths of our lives do not remain merely dusty roads lacking meaningful points of distinction¿ These special days are the landmarks, signposts, and lights along the way¿openings through which we may emerge from the stagnancy and rut of life¿s routine. They provide us with opportunities not only to celebrate and mourn, but also to renew and change ourselves¿¿
Wake up your Jewish spiritual life and restore your soul. “Has your heart ever been broken—by loss, divorce, disappointment, awe, fear, hope? Have you multitasked, worked past the level of your endurance, accumulated possessions, jumped the hurdles, and gotten the grades only to wonder, “Is that all there is?” Do you wish for a life that is physically grounded, emotionally satisfying, intellectually expansive, and profoundly connected? These are the qualities Judaism can provide when you understand how to practice it.” —from the Introduction This inspiring guidebook is your wake-up call for understanding the powerful intellectual and emotional tools that are essential for a lively, relevant, and fulfilling Jewish spiritual practice. Designed to become a lifelong resource for holy days and Shabbat, it presents Judaism as an evolving tradition in which you are the entrusted heir. The exercises and practices draw from the foundations of Judaism and empower you to create meaningful, satisfying, contemporary Jewish experiences for how you live today.
Batsheva’s Wonder-Weave By: Barbara Hantman Batsheva’s Wonder-Weave: Jewish-Themed Verse promotes a deep appreciation for Hebraic heritage, including the holiday cycle, nobility of ancient ancestors, and contributions of contemporaries—both familiar and famous. The beauty of nature and vibes of a great city also provide thematic for this book.
2022 Top Ten Book from Academy of Parish Clergy The teachings of the great twentieth-century Jewish thinker Martin Buber empower us to enter a spiritual dimension that often passes unnoticed in the daily routine. In A Year with Martin Buber, the first Torah commentary to focus on his life's work, we experience the fifty-four weekly Torah portions and eleven Jewish holidays through Buber's eyes. While best known for the spiritual concept of the I-Thou relationship between people, Buber graced us with other fundamentals, including Over Against, Afterglow, Will and Grace, Reification, Inclusion, and Imagine the Real. And his life itself--including his defiance of the Nazis, his call for Jewish-Arab reconciliation, and his protest of Adolf Eichmann's execution--modeled these teachings in action. Rabbi Dennis S. Ross demonstrates Buber's roots in Jewish thought and breaks new ground by explaining the broader scope of Buber's life and work in a clear, conversational voice. He quotes from the weekly Torah portion; draws lessons from Jewish commentators; and sets Buber's related words in context with Buber's remarkable life story, Hasidic tales, and writing. A wide variety of anecdotal illustrations from Buber as well as the author's life encourages each of us to "hallow the everyday" and seek out spirituality "hiding in plain sight."
For twelve year-old Motti, growing up in Israel in the 1960s, the world is full of mysteries to be solved, while his town is full of spies to be caught. His parents are Holocaust survivors, struggling to build a new life for themselves but, to Israeli-born Motti, they are nothing but an embarrassment. Unlike them, he will not be a victim; he will be bold and strong and fearless. So, when Motti and his best friend Reuven identify a suspicious, elderly man in the neighbourhood as a potential German spy, they set out to unmask him, determined to root out the enemy and defeat him. Thus ensues a series of adventures, investigations, near misses and the repeated appearance of a green dress. Aided by Reuven’s sister Aviva, they finally solve the case and, in the process, Motti uncovers some secrets closer to home, secrets like: what does his mother hide away in her private drawer? Why did she have to go on a trip to Germany? And what exactly is she refusing to say about her past? An homage to classic children’s mystery books such as Enid Blyton’s Secret Seven, this is a tightly-plotted, funny, and complex story which explores heavy themes – the Holocaust, trauma, mental health and poverty – with nuance, a lightness of touch and a cast of compelling young characters.
Guide for teachers and parents who are considering which project to use with their children and how to plan and carry out these projects most effectively.
A firsthand, personal view of a family on the front lines of war in Israel “An outstanding work . . . powerfully and movingly written.”—Jerusalem Post WINNER OF THE “BOOKS FOR A BETTER LIFE” AWARD In the summer of 1998, Daniel Gordis and his family moved to Israel from Los Angeles. They planned to be there for a year, but a few months into their stay, Daniel and his wife decided to remain in Jerusalem permanently, confident that their children would be among the first generation of Israelis to grow up in peace. Immediately after arriving in Israel, Daniel had started sending out e-mails about his life to friends and family abroad. These missives—passionate, thoughtful, beautifully written, and informative—began reaching a much broader readership than he’d ever envisioned, eventually being excerpted in The New York Times Magazine to much acclaim. An edited and finely crafted collection of Daniel’s original e-mails, If a Place Can Make You Cry is a first-person, immediate account of Israel’s post-Oslo meltdown that cuts through the rhetoric and stridency of most dispatches from that country or from the international media. Above all, If a Place Can Make You Cry tells the story of a family that must cope with the sudden realization that they took their children from a serene and secure neighborhood in Los Angeles to an Israel not at peace but mired in war. This is the chronicle of a loss of innocence—the innocence of Daniel and his wife, and of their children. Ultimately, through Daniel’s eyes, Israel, with all its beauty, madness, violence, and history, comes to life in a way we’ve never quite seen before.