Download or read book JEWISH LAWS CUSTOMS TRADITIONS TOPICS FOR ADULT EDUCATION written by Kalman Dubov and published by Kalman Dubov. This book was released on 2021-12-12 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In civilian and military Jewish communities, together with recent voyages on the high seas, I had the privilege of preparing, writing, and presenting topics of relevance to Jewish persons. These opportunities were a special privilege and I took extra care when I put ideas to paper. It was also a thrill to present these topics to the very different communities I was privileged to lead and for them to benefit from this material. This book begins with an outline, of Jewish symbolism and faith, followed by how our perceptions have changed over time, as practiced by the Jewish community. The main section is on the topic of the Jewish Life Cycle, reviewing how life milestones are celebrated in the Jewish community, from birth through death. These traditions and practices are presented from the Ashkenazic tradition, rather than from the Sephardic one. The majority of Jews in the United States derive from and practice the Ashkenazic rite, though Sephardic traditions are present as well. I have roots in the Sephardic heritage but since the Spanish Expulsion in 1492, those traditions were gradually lost and melded into the Ashkenazic communities and practices. I am therefore, more aware of Ashkenazic traditions and focus on this rite exclusively. I also include a reflection on the Bar/Bat Mitzvah, how the younger generation assumes responsibility by becoming full members of the Jewish community. The Study of Vexillology, on flags, is a brief review how flags were used in the ancient and modern Jewish communities together with their descriptions. The last two sections are scholarly expositions. The first is on the Mystic View of God and how Jewish mysticism imbues meaning into spirituality, with the awareness of mystic ideas in Jewish belief. The second topic reflects on the idea of God's five 'purchases', each of which provides insight into Jewish belief into how we relate to Deity. I conclude with a tribute to Robert Certain, a man I knew at the United States Air Force Academy. He was a prisoner of war at the Hanoi Hilton, and offers a perspective of the World as it Really Is versus the World as it Should Be. These poignant words reflect our place in the universe and how we go about daily life.

Download or read book Journey to Albania Land of Besa written by Kalman Dubov and published by Kalman Dubov. This book was released on 2024-02-18 with total page 204 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Although tiny in comparison with other European countries, Albania looms large in terms of its people, culture and history. Blessed by an abundance of natural resources, together with the resourcefulness of its people, it stands strong in the face of much larger countries that have tried to control it and subjugate its people. In the face of overwhelming odds, Albania stood firm, refusing to be subdued to others despite that dominant country remaining on its soil for centuries. Descendants from the ancient Illyrians, a relatively unknown group, together with an obscure language unlike any other in Europe, its people are a mystery and a conundrum in the face of larger and more powerful countries. The Ottoman Empire, for example, dominated Albania and the Balkans for five centuries, but were unable to subjugate these people. Albanian embers for independence were nurtured and kept alive until, in the end, it achieved its national aspirations. Its core identity remained unchanged and strong in the face of such challenge. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Albanian is the concept of besa, a term denoting a code of honor. Once given to another, whether an Albanian or a stranger, the Albanian would rather forfeit his life than violate this code and promise. It was due to this concept and code that Jews in Albania, were protected and every manner of succor was extended to them. Albania remains the only country in Nazi-occupied Europe when at the end of that world war there was an increase in its Jewish population rather than the reverse. The Nazis considered the Jewish population in Albania to be about 200 persons. In fact, by war’s end, 2,000 people emerged, relating tales of the extraordinary courage and heroism extended to them by either Muslim or Christian Albanians. To date the State of Israel’s Yad Vashem has recognized 75 Albanians for its prestigious award of Righteous Among the Nations. Ironically, the very same code of honor that protected Jews during World War Two is now used by Albanians to perpetrate criminality across the world. The Albanian Mafia controls a vast international enterprise, overseeing every form of crime. At its basest element, the clannish hallmark of its membership is based on familial connections, with the code of besa given to its leadership and other members. Thereby, all in the clan are considered family for whom the code connects and protects, demanding total unquestioned obedience. Efforts to infiltrate these clans has proven an impossible task because of the interconnected webs of duty and control exerted on all in that organization. Betrayal of the clan is a violation of family and community so that total obedience is a given at all times. Hence, the same nobility of besa is also used negatively, against society and normative social frameworks. In addition, Albania still retains the cultural phenomenon of the ‘third sex’ where women become ‘sworn virgins.’ They are released from their traditional feminine role and become a ‘man,’ doing so by a formal oath given to twelve elders in the community. Afterwards, none may remind this ‘man’ of a previous life as a woman. Though the number of sworn virgins in Albania is small, it is still present and any woman may assume this transformation despite modernity and its claims of equality. The Albanian diet reflects its Mediterranean culture, using olive oil and an array of vegetables that provides an abundance of health to its people. There is much to learn from this ancient society. I hope this book does justice to the many traditions and culture of this unique people.

Download or read book History of the Iberian Peninsula written by Kalman Dubov and published by Kalman Dubov. This book was released on 2023-04-24 with total page 182 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Jewish history of the Iberian Peninsula begins during Roman times, followed by the Visigoths, a Germanic presence that was initially favorable towards the Jews. In 589 CE, their king Recarred converted to Roman Catholicism resulting in the Edicts of Toledo, a series of laws designed to create many difficulties for Jews who refused to convert to Christianity. Visigoth rule ended in 711 when Muslims from North Africa invaded. Tariq ibn Ziyad, a North African general, for whom Gibraltar is named (Jebel Tariq) found Visigoth armies weak and soon reached the Pyrenees and beyond. Muslim rule on Iberia lasted from 711 to 1492, as Christian armies reconquered and gained southern territories. During Islamic control of the peninsula, a conviviality (convivencia) existed amongst the three Abrahamic religions resulting in a vast seminal growth with translations of ancient Greek and Roman texts and advances in every area of human thought. The scholarship that grew from this period later fueled the Renaissance, benefiting modern scholarship. But in 1492, Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile promulgated the Alhambra Decree, expelling all Jews from the kingdom. This was followed by the establishment of the Spanish Inquisition, an institution that tortured and murdered thousands of men, women, and children, even as young as twelve years old. The Inquisition extended to the New World. In Mexico City as in Lima Peru, victims of the Inquisition faced merciless tribunals and faced the same fate as in Spain. The Inquisition was finally abolished in 1968. Transitioning to 2015, Spain began offering dual nationality to Jewish descendants of the expelled. I analyze the requirements to do so, noting its extensive detail, even demanding support of the Spanish constitution and culture as well as tests in Spanish with proof of marriage in the Jewish-Castilian tradition. This book offers a tableau of the harsh, zealous, and intolerant past to an effort by Spain to amend that violent historic record by offering an open hand to Jews. I leave the reasoning why Spain is doing so to the pessimist and cynic or to the optimist and hopeful.

Download or read book Journey to the Republic of Guatemala Land of the Maya written by Kalman Dubov and published by Kalman Dubov. This book was released on 2023-05-10 with total page 291 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Central American country of Guatemala was populated by the Maya people whose empire extended from Honduras to the south to today's southern Mexico. Remnants of their presence are found throughout this region, with monumental architecture, cities, palaces, and great pyramids. Wherever one looks, the explosion of growth and development captures the viewer in its thrall. Even the many glyphs adorning these sites with their unique writing style are a marvel to behold. They lived here for an estimated two thousand years, and then, in the early 16th century, the Spanish came and conquered these people. By then, their greatness had already ended in the midst of the 10th century, when their culture and civilization collapsed. But they retained their culture by way of thousands of pictographic books which detailed their way of life and their advancements. But the Spaniards, zealous in their Catholicism, sought out and destroyed every such book they could find and burned them all. Except for three such books, known as the Maya Codices. Historians and scholars began the slow process of deciphering the Maya past. Great effort was expended and the reality of their lives, culture, kings, wars and daily practice began to emerge. And the world was astounded by the emerging picture. Perhaps a first in the world, was their mathematical calculation with 'zero,' a phenomenal achievement. Interestingly, the glyph of the zero depicted a woman - what mathematical genius was she to use zero in calculations? Their astronomy of the heavenly spheres was astoundingly precise, as was their knowledge of geometry and trigonometry. Their religion, however, included human sacrifices, following the practice of other nearby civilizations, such as the Aztecs, the Inca in South America, and others. The Spaniards stopped such worship and offerings and now subjugated these people into serfdom called encomiendas, or enforced working for the conquistadors and their descendants. Independence from Spain came in 1821, but the Mayan living conditions did not change. The country became divided between the Spanish descendants, now known as the Criollos, the middle class, known as Ladinos (not to be confused with Jews in 9th century Castilian Spain), and the Maya and other indigenous. The social distance from the upper to lower classes was immense. And that distance came forward during Guatemala's Civil War, from 1960 to 1996. The violence and massacres during this period was so evil, the president of the country, Rios Montt, was charged and convicted of Genocide, the first time a country charged its own leader with this crime. At a previous age and time, the face of Guatemala presented immense achievements. Today, violence, crime, and cultural penury is self-evident. Guatemala is a third-world country, where the majority of its people live in great poverty while the upper class has the land, its abundance and vast wealth.

Download or read book Journeys to the Great Canals of the World Suez Panama Hangzhou written by Kalman Dubov and published by Kalman Dubov. This book was released on 2023-05-21 with total page 195 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Human ingenuity has created three great canals in different locations on our planet. Each of these transformed the country and the world in its own way and time. The oldest canal to be constructed was the Grand Canal, an important Chinese waterway, connecting Suzhou and Beijing, a distance of 1,104 miles (1,776 km). This is the longest artificial canal in the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Not as well known as the other great canals, this important waterway enabled merchants to bring grain and other goods over this long distance so that merchants could transport goods throughout the kingdom. The Grand Canal was first constructed by Fuchai, King of the State of Wu, whose capital is in present-day Suzhou, in 486 BCE. Over the centuries, the Grand Canal was expanded and rebuilt and is still in use in China. The second oldest canal was constructed in ancient Egypt when the waterways of the Nile River were expanded to ease shipping goods throughout the country. Much later, modern engineers reconstructed the Suez Canal, an effort that required much ingenuity and effort to bring this project to fruition. This waterway, at 120.1 miles, was opened in 1869, transforming modern shipping of goods by reducing the journey by between Britain and India by 4,500 miles. Up to this time, ships had to travel around Africa's Cape of Good Hope or past the tip of South America (Magellan or Drake Passages) to reach the other side of the world. Both of these points are dangerous with many ships lost at sea. The Suez Canal completely bypassed this difficulty. However, the territorial disputes and enmities between the Egyptians and Israelis soon saw conflict across these placid waters. In each of the major wars fought between these two countries, the passage of mercantile ships through the Suez Canal became dangerous. Once peace was established between Egypt and Israel, maritime traffic resumed and the world benefited from that peace. Today, there is peace between these two countries, and I recount the instances when I sailed on the Suez Canal. The last canal to be built was in Panama, making travel between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans possible. French engineers tried to construct this canal but failed for various reasons. The United States then took over the project and in vast effort, saw the project to completion. Two years of preparatory effort was necessary to construct infrastructure for the thousands of workers who would toil in the earthworks being moved to create the Panama Canal. A notable effort was addressing the lethal malaria, yellow fever, and other tropical diseases endemic in this country. In the end, yellow fever was completely eradicated from Panama, though malaria cases, though low, continue to be present. The Panama Canal is 50 miles in length and opened on 15 August 1914. Today, thousands of ships, carrying passengers and goods, travel through this, and the other canals, thereby transforming our world.

Download or read book Letters to Josep written by Levy Daniella and published by . This book was released on 2016-03-30 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is a collection of letters from a religious Jew in Israel to a Christian friend in Barcelona on life as an Orthodox Jew. Equal parts lighthearted and insightful, it's a thorough and entertaining introduction to the basic concepts of Judaism.

Download or read book Modern Conservative Judaism written by Elliot N. Dorff and published by U of Nebraska Press. This book was released on 2018-01-01 with total page 382 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A major Conservative movement leader of our time, Elliot N. Dorff provides a personal, behind-the-scenes guide to the evolution of Conservative Jewish thought and practice over the last half century. His candid observations concerning the movement's ongoing tension between constancy and change shed light on the sometimes unified, sometimes diverse, and occasionally contentious reasoning behind the modern movement's most important laws, policies, and documents. Meanwhile, he has assembled, excerpted, and contextualized the most important historical and internal documents in modern Conservative movement history for the first time in one place, enabling readers to consider and compare them all in context. In "Part 1: God" Dorff explores various ways that Conservative Jews think about God and prayer. In "Part 2: Torah" he considers different approaches to Jewish study, law, and practice; changing women's roles; bioethical rulings on issues ranging from contraception to cloning; business ethics; ritual observances from online minyanim to sports on Shabbat; moral issues from capital punishment to protecting the poor; and nonmarital sex to same-sex marriage. In "Part 3: Israel" he examines Zionism, the People Israel, and rabbinic rulings in Israel.

Download or read book Jewish Paideia written by Jason M. Zurawski and published by Augsburg Fortress Publishers. This book was released on 2023-10-10 with total page 409 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Jewish Paideia examines the diverse and complex views on education in the Hellenistic and early Roman Diaspora and how these understandings of education were inextricably bound to continually evolving constructions and reshapings of self- and communal identity.

Download or read book Jewish Traditions written by Ronald L. Eisenberg and published by U of Nebraska Press. This book was released on 2020-06-22 with total page 713 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Thanks to these generous donors for making the publication of this book possible: Miles z"l and Chris Lerman; David Lerman and Shelley Wallock The bestselling guide to understanding Jewish traditions, now in paperback This is a comprehensive and authoritative resource with ready answers to questions about almost all aspects of Jewish life and practice: life-cycle events, holidays, ritual and prayer, Jewish traditions and customs, and more. Ronald Eisenberg has distilled an immense amount of material from classic and contemporary sources into a single volume, which provides thousands of insights into the origins, history, and current interpretations of a wealth of Jewish traditions and customs. Divided into four sections--Synagogue and Prayers, Sabbaths and Festivals, Life-Cycle Events, and Miscellaneous (a large section that includes such diverse topics as Jewish literature, food, and plants and animals)--this is an encyclopedic reference for anyone who wants easily accessible, accurate information about all things Jewish. Eisenberg writes for a wide, diversified audience, and is respectful of the range of practices and beliefs within today's American Jewish community--from Orthodox to liberal.

Download or read book Jews in Dialogue written by Magdalena Dziaczkowska and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2020-03-17 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Jews in Dialogue discusses Jewish post-Holocaust involvement in interreligious and intercultural dialogue in Israel, Europe, and the United States. The essays within offer a multiplicity of approaches and perspectives (historical, sociological, theological, etc.) on how Jews have collaborated and cooperated with non-Jews to respond to the challenges of multicultural contemporaneity. The volume’s first part is about the concept of dialogue itself and its potential for effecting change; the second part documents examples of successful interreligious cooperation. The volume includes an appendix designed to provide context for the material presented in the first part, especially with regard to relations between the State of Israel and the Catholic Church.

Download or read book Returning to Tradition written by M. Herbert Danzger and published by Yale University Press. This book was released on 1989-04-26 with total page 392 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An outstanding book, original, well written, and incisive. It will become the point of departure for all other research in the area.-William B. Helmreich, author of The World of the Yeshiva Danzger's volume treats a subject that is both fascinating and complex. Especially noteworthy is his exploration of an inclusionary strain in Orthodox Jewish life that is often overlooked by sociologists and other contemporary observers.-Norman Lamm, Yeshiva University The issues raised in this book are critical for our times.-Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, Founding Rabbi, Lincoln Square Synagogue In a clear and lucid style, he examines the reasons for return, the schools established by Orthodox Judaism to deal with this return, and the values and conflicts thus engendered.-Library Journal If one were to select the most important of the books on baalei teshuvah, 'returnees to Judaism, ' the choice would clearly be Danzger's Returning to Tradition. This book goes far beyond the work of Janet Aviad and others. It offers the reader a clear, unified, and comprehensive approach to understanding the world of the baal teshuvah.It is based on many years of careful research into that community, both in Israel and in the United States. The author is intimately familiar with the ins and outs of the group he has chosen to study. He knows where they hang out, what their problems are, and the diversity of backgrounds from which they originate...First rate.-William B. Helmreich, American Jewish Histor

Download or read book The Adult Jewish Education Handbook written by Roberta Louis Goodman and published by Behrman House, Inc. This book was released on 2004 with total page 392 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This comprehensive guide presents theory from the field of secular adult education in light of the questions and concerns of all aspects of adult Jewish education including learning theory curriculum programming planning budgeting and educational philosophy.

Download or read book 850 Intriguing Questions about Judaism written by Ronald L. Eisenberg and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2015-06-17 with total page 323 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Both Jews and non-Jews alike have many misconceptions of Jewish teachings and practices. Some seemingly unusual statements about Jewish teachings and practices are actually true, whereas some apparently reasonable and popularly believed statements are false. Many statements regarding Jewish teachings and practice are partly true and partly false, requiring a more nuanced explanation of the true situation. In 850 Intriguing Questions about Judaism: True, False, or In Between, Ronald L. Eisenberg explores a wide range of Jewish teachings and practices, discussing the degree to which they are true, false or a bit of both. Offered in question-and-answer format, readers are invited to explore with the author what they really know about Jewish life, history, holidays, and scripture. Eisenberg tackles all sorts of topics, from artificial insemination to organ donation and euthanasia, second day festivals in the Diaspora to the why really sound the shofar, from what the ner tamid signifies to Jewish “rules of war.” Throughout, Eisenberg takes a nuanced approach to his topics, laying the groundwork for a useful survey of what we ought to know better about Jews, Judaism, and Jewish teachings and practices. This is perfect reference work for anyone curious about Judaism, Jewish life, and Jewish history, and who has ever wondered what the real answer was to the many questions they might have had.

Download or read book The Apostle Paul With a P A Biographical Study written by Dr. Richard A. NeSmith and published by Power Press. This book was released on 2023-05-02 with total page 496 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In "The Apostle Paul with a 'P': A Biographical Study," Dr. Richard NeSmith presents a comprehensive examination of the life, ministry, and teachings of one of the most influential figures in Christian history. From his early years as Saul of Tarsus to his conversion and later work as the Apostle Paul, the book delves into Paul's experiences, struggles, and triumphs, providing insights into his character and personality. With a detailed analysis of Paul's journeys, cohorts, and doctrine, the book explores his teachings on salvation, grace, and the power of God's love. Through vivid storytelling and engaging prose, Dr. NeSmith creates a compelling narrative that will inspire readers to deepen their understanding of Paul's legacy and its significance for Christianity today. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to gain a deeper appreciation for the strength and impact of Paul's life and teachings. Also available in hardback or softcover: https://www.amazon.com/Apostle-Paul-Biographical-Study-Love/dp/B0C2RX98D2/

Download or read book From Falashas to Ethiopian Jews written by Daniel Summerfield and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-09-25 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the light of the Israeli government's plan to halt Ethiopian immigration, this book provides original research into the transformation of the Falashas to Ethiopian Jews during the twentieth century which made them eligible for immigration into Israel, adding a new dimension to the question of 'Who is a Jew', namely the case of the 'manufactured Jew'.

Download or read book Essential Papers on Jewish Culture in Renaissance and Baroque Italy written by David Ruderman and published by NYU Press. This book was released on 1992 with total page 612 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book represents a sample of the most penetrating Jewish movements.

Download or read book Air Force Chaplains Air Force chaplains 1971 1980 by John E Groh written by United States. Air Force. Office of the Chief of Chaplains and published by . This book was released on 1961 with total page 774 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: