This book is a beautiful and concise discussion of Judaism s place in humankind, and the role of the individual Jew in contributing to the tapestry of Judaism. In every generation, Jews covenant with God as partners to be a shining example of righteousness, based upon the lessons of the Torah. The tapestry of Judaism represents the interweaving of all of the individual threads of Jews past and present who have used their God-given talents toward this end. Every Jew needs to weave his/her thread so that the tapestry s brilliance may continue to shine for all humankind. This book would be of interest to any Jew seeking a better understanding of Judaism s place in humankind and our place in Judaism.
Most books are like visitors. They come and go. This book can be a long-term companion and assistant as you weave prayer into the tapestry of your life. Weaving Prayer Into the Tapestry of Life pictures each of us as a weaver at a loom, creating in every moment our life's tapestry. The transformative thread of prayer is always available to be woven into our life's design. In this weaving, we experience in wonder the creative presence of God. The chapters of this book gives an overview of Christian understanding and practice of prayer. The author combines Scripture, voices and sources from the tradition of the church, poetry, stories, and accounts of personal experience to explore ten of the most familiar ways Christians pray. These are: centering, praise, confession, meditative reading of Scripture, petition, intercession, dedication, silence, and benediction. Nine sets of Prayer Prompts, one with each chapter, invite you to move from thinking to doing. They provide a framework for personal devotion that includes all of the dimensions of Christian prayer discussed in the chapters. Resources from Scripture, prayers of the church, and contemporary materials offer structure and stimulus for expressing the prayers of your heart. These Prayer Prompts are adaptable for repeated use. Members of a prayer group or spiritual growth group may enjoy sharing experiences with this book. "Martha Rowlett deeply understands Christian thinking, Christian living, Christian prayer, and, dare I say it, God. She shares her wisdom with utmost simplicity. Those who use her book will find themselves becoming better Christians." -John Cobb, professor emeritus, Claremont School of Theology
A child survivor of the Holocaust, Trudie Strobel settled in California, raising a family and never discussing the horrors she witnessed. After her children grew up, the trauma of her youth caught up with her, triggering a paralyzing depression. A therapist suggested that Trudie attempt to draw the memories that haunted her, and she did--but with needle and thread instead of a pencil. Resurrecting the Yemenite stitches of her ancestors, and using the skills taught by her mother, whose master seamstress talent saved their lives in the camps, Trudie began by stitching vast tableaus of her dark and personal memories of the Holocaust. What began as therapy exploded into works of breathtaking art, from narrative tapestries of Jewish history rendered in exacting detail to portraits of remarkable likeness, and many of her works are now in public and private collections. InStitched & Sewn, Jody Savin tells the dramatic story of how a needle and thread saved Trudie Strobel's life twice, and Ann Elliott Cutting's photographs showcase Trudie's remarkable works of art. With a foreword by Michael Berenbaum, author of eighteen books, co-founder of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and co-producer of the Academy Award-winning documentaryOne Survivor Remembers.
A how-to book on creating an heirloom quality tallit/prayer shawl, challah or bread cover, or even a table runner using Swedish weaving and Jewish designs. Using meaningful fabric to create a family heirloom can add to the spiritual value of the creation. Photos and descriptions with detailed explanations make this a unique craft book.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “A powerfully imagined novel . . . [a] profoundly moving book that engages the heights and depths of human experience.”—Los Angeles Times It is September 8, 1943, and fourteen-year-old Claudette Blum and her father are among the thousands of Jewish refugees scrambling over the Alps toward Italy, where they hope to find safety now that the Italians have broken from Germany and made a separate peace with the Allies. The Blums will soon discover that Italy is anything but peaceful, as it quickly becomes an open battleground for the Nazis, the Allies, Resistance fighters, Jews in hiding, and ordinary Italian civilians trying to survive. Tracing the lives of a handful of fascinating characters—a charismatic Italian Resistance leader, a priest, an Italian rabbi’s family, a disillusioned German doctor—Mary Doria Russell tells the little-known story of the vast underground effort by Italian citizens who saved the lives of 43,000 Jews during the final phase of World War II. A Thread of Grace puts a human face on history. Praise for A Thread of Grace “An addictive page-turner . . . [Mary Doria] Russell has an astonishing story to tell—full of action, paced like a rapid-fire thriller, in tense, vivid scenes that move with cinematic verve.”—The Washington Post Book World “Hauntingly beautiful, utterly unforgettable.”—San Francisco Chronicle “Rich . . . Based on the heroism of ordinary people, [A Thread of Grace] packs an emotional punch.”—People “[A] deeply felt and compellingly written book . . . The progress of each character’s life is marked or measured by acts of grace. . . . Russell is a smart, passionate and imaginative writer.”—Cleveland Plain Dealer “A feat of storytelling . . . an important book [that] needs to be widely read.”—Portland Oregonian “Mary Doria Russell’s fans (and aren’t we all?) will rejoice to see her new novel on the shelves. A Thread of Grace is as ambitious, beautiful, tense, and transforming as any of us could have hoped.”—Karen Joy Fowler, author of The Jane Austen Book Club “A story of love and war, A Thread of Grace speaks to the resilience and beauty of the human spirit in the midst of unimaginable horror. It is, unquestionably, a literary triumph.”—David Morrell, author of The Brotherhood of the Rose and First Blood
This book is a beautiful and concise discussion of Judaisms place in humankind, and the role of the individual Jew in contributing to the tapestry of Judaism. In every generation, Jews covenant with God as partners to be a shining example of righteousness, based upon the lessons of the Torah. The tapestry of Judaism represents the interweaving of all of the individual threads of Jews past and present who have used their God-given talents toward this end. Every Jew needs to weave his/her thread so that the tapestrys brilliance may continue to shine for all humankind. This book would be of interest to any Jew seeking a better understanding of Judaisms place in humankind and our place in Judaism.
Out of the Narrows: The Artists' Haggadah was created during the modern plague of our time, Covid-19, which inspired the authors to connect current issues to Passover themes. We created a text rich in meaning and beauty, one that would engage visually and thematically and evoke in-depth discussions at Seder connecting the traditional text and rituals of Passover to contemporary issues. Out of the Narrows is a complete Passover Haggadah with the Passover Seder in Hebrew, transliteration, and English, including all steps of the ceremony, rituals, prayers, liturgy, and commentary, and beautified with artwork. It is also a Fine Arts book with art as commentary, featuring artwork by 11 members of Jewish Artist Collective Chicago (JACC)-- a community of multidisciplinary artists connected through common heritage and committed to sharing ideas, enriching practices, and creating dialogue with community.
Rabbi Cardin--writing as a religious leader, friend, neighbor, wife, mother, and daughter--guides us toward a fuller understanding of Judaism. She invites us to become weavers of tradition; to knit our personal stories together with those of our ancestors and our community; and to honor, savor, and celebrate the sacred in our lives. This important addition to the Jewish family library presents detailed explanations of each ritual, along with historical, cultural, and scriptural background. By describing traditional rites as well as contemporary innovations--the Passover seder and Miriam's Cup, baby-naming ceremonies and the practice of wrapping the newborn in a tallit--Rabbi Cardin shows how we can honor and add to our tradition. Supplementary margin notes offer: Examples of ethical wills Personal anecdotes Rabbinic stories, folk tales, and poetry Tips on addressing the December Dilemma Enhancing the volume are exquisite drawings by Ilene Winn-Lederer, a mini-prayerbook of blessings for home observance, and a 20-year calendar of Jewish holidays. Rabbi Cardin invites us to record details of our observance in Personal Weavings--favorite holiday recipes, family rituals, and prayers of the heart--so that the Jewish tradition may be renewed and enriched. The Tapestry of Jewish Time reflects a profound spirituality that inspires us all to contribute to the lush weave of Jewish life.
Based on archival and primary sources in Persian, Hebrew, Judeo-Persian, Arabic, and European languages, Between Foreigners and Shi'is examines the Jews' religious, social, and political status in nineteenth-century Iran. This book, which focuses on Nasir al-Din Shah's reign (1848-1896), is the first comprehensive scholarly attempt to weave all these threads into a single tapestry. This case study of the Jewish minority illuminates broader processes pertaining to other religious minorities and Iranian society in general, and the interaction among intervening foreigners, the Shi'i majority, and local Jews helps us understand Iranian dilemmas that have persisted well beyond the second half of the nineteenth century.
