Download or read book Happiness in Premodern Judaism written by Hava Tirosh-Samuelson and published by Hebrew Union College Press. This book was released on 2003-12-31 with total page 609 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It is not common to think that Jews were interested in happiness or that Judaism has anything to say about happiness. On the contrary, the concept of happiness was a central concern of Jewish thinkers. Hava Tirosh-Samuelson shows that rabbinic Judaism regarded itself primarily as a prescription for the attainment of happiness, and that the discourse on happiness captures the evolution of Jewish intellectual history from antiquity to the seventeenth century. These claims make sense if one understands happiness as human flourishing on the basis of Aristotle's thought in the Nichomachean Ethics. Linking virtue, knowledge, and well-being, Aristotle's analysis of happiness can be traced in Jewish understanding of human flourishing as early as the Greco-Roman world, but the fusion of Greek and Judaic perspectives on happiness reached its zenith in in the Middle Ages in the thought of Moses Maimonides and his followers. Even the controversies about Maimonides' ideas could be viewed as discussions about the meaning of happiness and the way to attain it within Judaism. Much of this book, then, concerns the reception of Aristotle's Ethics in medieval Jewish philosophy. This book shows how a certain notion of happiness reflects the intellectual culture of a given period, including cultural exchanges among Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. Demonstrating the discourse on happiness as a dramatic interplay between Wisdom and Torah, between philosophy and religion, between reason and faith, Hava Tirosh-Samuelson presents, to specialists and non-specialists alike, a fascinating tour of Jewish intellectual history.
Download or read book Varieties Of Jewish Happiness written by Joseph Heartland and published by Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.. This book was released on 2022-08-01 with total page 113 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Varieties of Jewish Happiness uses an ancient Jewish wedding blessing and biblical sources as the vehicles to understand what kindles feelings of Happiness in us and how these feelings can be experienced within marriage. The task can be compared to holding a gemstone up to the light and examining it from various angles; neuroscience, history, and language are just some of the observational tools used to examine these complex subjects. Marriage is a doubly "complex" phenomenon because it intertwines two already very complex entities""the marriage partners. But as described in Varieties of Jewish Happiness, among its advantages, marriage can provide individuals with relative stability in a world that is anything but stable. If we are smart and lucky, we can gain not only stability, but a partner who can provide a lifetime of insights, smiles, eye contact, humor, backrubs, and safety. The most common alternative to marriage-like arrangements is living alone, which requires far less energy expenditure, but produces unwanted and even strange mental states that strongly suggest that we were not designed to live that way. Yes, we have to fight to maintain our unions through compromises and self-denial. But through our efforts we acquire some merit by supplying a model of stability to and for our children. In this way, we may say to ourselves that we have done our part in sustaining human existence on earth, where, frankly, our presence is not a given unless we properly apply ourselves to the task.
Download or read book Consumer Culture and the Making of Modern Jewish Identity written by Gideon Reuveni and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2017-08-07 with total page 281 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book investigates the intersection between consumption, identity and Jewish history in Europe.
Download or read book Positive Judaism for a Life of Happiness and Well Being written by Rabbi Darren Levine and published by Behrman House Publishing. This book was released on 2019 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "How can we increase happiness and well-being in our lives, using modern science and ancient wisdom? Psychology teaches us that positive emotions and character traits promote happiness, health, and well-being. Jewish wisdom and practice have long taught the merits of optimism and resilience. Positive Judaism combines these powerful understandings into a practical and spiritual approach to increasing well-being for ourselves and our communities. In Positive Judaism, you will find: proven activities to deepen your relationships, practices for personal transformation in the face of challenges, character strengths that build physical and mental health We have so many challenges and opportunities for growth in our daily lives. The good news is that we have the tools, both ancient and modern, to guide our way. This is Positive Judaism"--
Download or read book Light from the Darkness written by and published by . This book was released on with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Happiness Prayer written by Evan Moffic and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "At age 30 Evan Moffic became the leader of a large congregation. He had great success. But he couldn't find happiness. Then he found a 2000-year-old prayer. In it were hidden elements of Jewish wisdom. They became a part of his life and those of his congregation and transformed them and him. In the tradition of Rabbi Harold Kushner, Moffic opens up wisdom that has been at the heart Judaism for thousands of years. He distills the "Eilu Devarim" an ancient prayer for happiness found in the Talmud into ten practices that empower us to thrive through setbacks, so nothing can hamper our happiness. The ten practices are simple: Honor Those Who Gave You Life, Be Kind, Keep Learning, Invite Others into Your Life, Be There When Others Need You, Celebrate Good Times, Support Yourself and Others During Times of Loss, Pray with Intention, Forgive, and Look Inside and Commit. The rabbi unpacks these practices of the 2000-year-old prayer with insights for today, that will help you find ways to live with greater happiness and meaning. He draws from interactions with thousands of congregants, as well as his own experience. His conclusion that these actions bring happiness is corroborated by science: people who conduct authentic lives of faith live, on average, seven years longer than others, have more friends and are healthier. Filled with relatable stories of real people, accessible commentary from contemporary psychologists, and warm humor, this rabbi of a new generation sheds light on an enduring prayer that captures the means and meaning of joyous living that will appeal to everyone"--
Download or read book An Ode to Joy written by Erica Brown and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2023-12-13 with total page 381 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Before his rather sudden passing in 2020, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks was one of the most eloquent and influential religious leaders of the generation. As Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth for over two decades, he offered a universal message cultivated from the Jewish and Western cannons he knew so well. One concept that figured prominently in his work was joy. “I think of Judaism as an ode to joy,” he once wrote. “Like Beethoven, Jews have known suffering, isolation, hardship, and rejection, yet they never lacked the religious courage to rejoice.” In this volume, organized by the Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks-Herenstein Center for Values and Leadership, academics and writers explore the significance of joy within the Jewish tradition. These essays and reflections discuss traditional Jewish primary sources, including Biblical, Rabbinic and Hebrew literature, Jewish history and philosophy, education, the arts, and positive psychology, and of course, through the prism of Lord Sacks’ work.
Download or read book Religious and Non Religious Perspectives on Happiness and Wellbeing written by Sharada Sugirtharajah and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2022-04-26 with total page 246 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book explores the theme of happiness and well-being from religious, spiritual, philosophical, psychological, humanistic, and health perspectives. Taking a non-binary approach, it considers how happiness in particular has been understood and appropriated in religious and non-religious strands of thought. The chapters offer incisive insight from a variety of perspectives, including humanism, atheism and major religions such as Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism. Together they demonstrate that although worldviews might vary substantially, there are concurrences across religious and non-religious perspectives on happiness that provide a common ground for further cross-cultural and interreligious exploration. What the book makes clear is that happiness is not a static or monolithic category. It is an ongoing process of being and becoming, striving and seeking, living ethically and meaningfully, as well as arriving at a tranquil state of being. This multifaceted volume makes a fresh contribution to the contemporary study of happiness and is valuable reading for scholars and students from religious studies and theology, including those interested in interreligious dialogue and the psychology of religion, as well as positive psychology.
Download or read book The Invention of Jewish Identity written by Aaron W. Hughes and published by Indiana University Press. This book was released on 2010-10-29 with total page 202 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Jews from all ages have translated the Bible for their particular times and needs, but what does the act of translation mean? Aaron W. Hughes believes translation has profound implications for Jewish identity. The Invention of Jewish Identity presents the first sustained analysis of Bible translation and its impact on Jewish philosophy from the medieval period to the 20th century. Hughes examines some of the most important Jewish thinkers -- Saadya Gaon, Moses ibn Ezra, Maimonides, Judah Messer Leon, Moses Mendelssohn, Martin Buber, and Franz Rosenzweig -- and their work on biblical narrative, to understand how linguistic and conceptual idioms change and develop into ideas about the self. The philosophical issues behind Bible translation, according to Hughes, are inseparable from more universal sets of questions that affect Jewish life and learning.
Download or read book A Short History of Jewish Ethics written by Alan L. Mittleman and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2012-01-17 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Short History of Jewish Ethics traces the development of Jewish moral concepts and ethical reflection from its Biblical roots to the present day. Offers an engaging and thoughtful account of Jewish ethics Brings together and discusses a broad range of historical sources covering two millennia of writings and conversations Combines current scholarship with original insights Written by a major internationally recognized scholar of Jewish philosophy and ethics
Download or read book Friendship in Jewish History Religion and Culture written by Lawrence Fine and published by Penn State Press. This book was released on 2021-02-04 with total page 326 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The ubiquity of friendship in human culture contributes to the fallacy that ideas about friendship have not changed and remained consistent throughout history. It is only when we begin to inquire into the nature and significance of the concept in specific contexts that we discover how complex it truly is. Covering the vast expanse of Jewish tradition, from ancient Israel to the twenty-first century, this collection of essays traces the history of the beliefs, rituals, and social practices surrounding friendship in Jewish life. Employing diverse methodological approaches, this volume explores the particulars of the many varied forms that friendship has taken in the different regions where Jews have lived, including the ancient Near East, the Greco-Roman world, Europe, and the United Sates. The four sections—friendship between men, friendship between women, challenges to friendship, and friendships that cross boundaries, especially between Jews and Christians, or men and women—represent and exemplify universal themes and questions about human interrelationships. This pathbreaking and timely study will inspire further research and provide the groundwork for future explorations of the topic. In addition to the editor, the contributors are Martha Ackelsberg, Michela Andreatta, Joseph Davis, Glenn Dynner, Eitan P. Fishbane, Susannah Heschel, Daniel Jütte, Eyal Levinson, Saul M. Olyan, George Savran, and Hava Tirosh-Samuelson.
Download or read book Encountering the Medieval in Modern Jewish Thought written by James A. Diamond and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2012-08-01 with total page 346 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How does the 'medieval' function as a bearer of Jewish identity in a changing secular world? Each chapter in this work addresses a different Jewish return to the medieval by using a language of renewal.
Download or read book Jewish Mysticism and Kabbalah written by Frederick E. Greenspahn and published by NYU Press. This book was released on 2011-11 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This title describes recent discoveries and insights into the various expressions of Jewish mysticism from antiquity to the modern day. From mystical outpourings in ancient Palestine to the Kabbalah Centre, this volume explores the various expressions of Jewish mysticism from antiquity to the present day.
Download or read book H written by Gregory R. Hansell and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2011-01-25 with total page 278 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Folktales of the Jews V 3 Tales from Arab Lands written by Dan Ben Amos and published by Jewish Publication Society. This book was released on 2011-05-01 with total page 873 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Thanks to these generous donors for making the publication of the books in this series possible: Lloyd E. Cotsen; The Maurice Amado Foundation; National Endowment for the Humanities; and the National Foundation for Jewish Culture Tales from Arab Lands presents tales from North Africa, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq in the latest volume of the most important collection of Jewish folktales ever published. This is the third book in the multi-volume series in the tradition of Louis Ginzberg?s timeless classic, Legends of the Jews. The tales here and the others in this series have been selected from the Israel Folktale Archives (IFA), named in Honor of Dov Noy, at The University of Haifa, a treasure house of Jewish lore that has remained largely unavailable to the entire world until now. Since the creation of the State of Israel, the IFA has collected more than 20,000 tales from newly arrived immigrants, long-lost stories shared by their families from around the world. The tales come from the major ethno-linguistic communities of the Jewish world and are representative of a wide variety of subjects and motifs, especially rich in Jewish content and context. Each of the tales is accompanied by in-depth commentary that explains the tale's cultural, historical, and literary background and its similarity to other tales in the IFA collection, and extensive scholarly notes. There is also an introduction that describes the culture and its folk narrative tradition, a world map of the areas covered, illustrations, biographies of the collectors and narrators, tale type and motif indexes, a subject index, and a comprehensive bibliography. Until the establishment of the IFA, we had had only limited access to the wide range of Jewish folk narratives. Even in Israel, the gathering place of the most wide-ranging cross-section of world Jewry, these folktales have remained largely unknown. Many of the communities no longer exist as cohesive societies in their representative lands; the Holocaust, migration, and changes in living styles have made the continuation of these tales impossible. This series is a monument to a rich but vanishing oral tradition. This series is a monument to a rich but vanishing oral tradition.
Download or read book Finding Joy written by Daniel I. Schwartz and published by Turner Publishing Company. This book was released on 2012-05-09 with total page 154 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Searching for happiness in our modern world of stress and struggle is common; finding it is more unusual. This guide explores and explains how to find joy through a time-honored, creative—and surprisingly practical—approach based on Kabbalah and the teachings of Jewish mystics. The very core of the Jewish mystical tradition is centered on the belief that if our focus is spiritual, then true appreciation of our lives, and true joy, are possible. Step by step, Finding Joy describes the basis of happiness in the context of Jewish mystical tradition and shows, in an easy-to-understand way, how we can use its concept of the 10 divine “rays of light,” the Sefirot, to remedy the everyday unhappiness in our lives. Clear, creative, personal, and down-to-earth, Finding Joy introduces the ancient insights of the Jewish mystics, and offers practical week-by-week exercises for the soul which bring them into our daily routines. Finding Joy is not an instant cure for modern life’s burdens. Instead, it’s a guide to a time-honored method for thinking and living ... and finding real joy.
Download or read book Lenn E Goodman Judaism Humanity and Nature written by Hava Tirosh-Samuelson and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2014-11-06 with total page 255 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lenn E. Goodman is Professor of Philosophy and Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Trained in medieval Arabic and Hebrew philosophy and intellectual history, his prolific scholarship has covered the entire history of philosophy from antiquity to the present with a focus on medieval Jewish philosophy. A synthetic philosopher, Goodman has drawn on Jewish religious sources (e.g., Bible, Midrash, Mishnah, and Talmud) as well as philosophic sources (Jewish, Muslim, and Christian), in an attempt to construct his own distinctive theory about the natural basis of morality and justice. Taking his cue from medieval Jewish philosophers such as Maimonides, Goodman offers a new theoretical framework for Jewish communal life that is attentive to contemporary philosophy and science.
