Download or read book This Jewish Life written by Debra B. Darvick and published by . This book was released on 2012-12-01 with total page 340 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In "This Jewish Life: Stories of Discover, Connection, and Joy," fifty-five voices enable readers to experience a calendar's worth of Judaism's strengths-community, healing, transformation of the human spirit and the influence of the Divine. Within these pages are stories of joyous engagement and poignant loss. Readers will meet a teen who followed the path of Judaism after a chance encounter and men and women who turned to Judaism in their struggles with drug addiction and spousal abuse. Structured to mirror a complete year of Jewish life cycle events and holidays, this unique book showcases a bar mitzvah service in rural Illinois, a commitment ceremony in a California metropolis, a Soviet family's first Passover Seder, and much more. These stories will carry readers, Jew and non-Jew alike, through twelve months of Jewish Living

Download or read book Through the Door of Life written by Joy Ladin and published by University of Wisconsin Pres. This book was released on 2012-03-15 with total page 271 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Professor Jay Ladin made headlines around the world when, after years of teaching literature at Yeshiva University, he returned to the Orthodox Jewish campus as a woman—Joy Ladin. In Through the Door of Life, Joy Ladin takes readers inside her transition as she changed genders and, in the process, created a new self. With unsparing honesty and surprising humor, Ladin wrestles with both the practical problems of gender transition and the larger moral, spiritual, and philosophical questions that arise. Ladin recounts her struggle to reconcile the pain of her experience living as the “wrong” gender with the pain of her children in losing the father they love. We eavesdrop on her lifelong conversations with the God whom she sees both as the source of her agony and as her hope for transcending it. We look over her shoulder as she learns to walk and talk as a woman after forty-plus years of walking and talking as a man. We stare with her into the mirror as she asks herself how the new self she is creating will ever become real. Ladin’s poignant memoir takes us from the death of living as the man she knew she wasn’t, to the shattering of family and career that accompanied her transition, to the new self, relationships, and love she finds when she opens the door of life. 2012 Finalist for the National Jewish Book Award for Biography, Autobiography, or Memoir “Wrenching—and liberating. . . .[it] opens up new ways of looking at gender and the place of LGBT Jews in community.”—Greater Phoenix Jewish News “Given her high-profile academic position, Ladin’s transition was a major news story in Israel and even internationally. But behind the public story was a private struggle and learning experience, and Ladin pulls no punches in telling that story. She offers a peek into how daunting it was to learn, with little support from others, how to dress as a middle-aged woman, to mu on make-up, to walk and talk like a female. She provides a front-row seat for observing how one person confronted a seemingly impossible situation and how she triumphed, however shakingly, over the many adversities, both societal and psychological, that stood in the way.”—The Gay and Lesbian Review Worldwide

Download or read book Living Jewish Life Cycle written by Goldie Milgram and published by Jewish Lights Publishing. This book was released on 2009 with total page 314 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The spiritual tools you can use to infuse Jewish life cycle ceremonies with meaning, integrity and joy.

Download or read book The Book of Jewish Values written by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin and published by Harmony. This book was released on 2011-06-01 with total page 546 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Rabbi Joseph Telushkin combed the Bible, the Talmud, and the whole spectrum of Judaism's sacred writings to give us a manual on how to lead a decent, kind, and honest life in a morally complicated world. "An absolutely superb book: the most practical, most comprehensive guide to Jewish values I know." —Rabbi Harold Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People Telushkin speaks to the major ethical issues of our time, issues that have, of course, been around since the beginning. He offers one or two pages a day of pithy, wise, and easily accessible teachings designed to be put into immediate practice. The range of the book is as broad as life itself: • The first trait to seek in a spouse (Day 17) • When, if ever, lying is permitted (Days 71-73) • Why acting cheerfully is a requirement, not a choice (Day 39) • What children don't owe their parents (Day 128) • Whether Jews should donate their organs (Day 290) • An effective but expensive technique for curbing your anger (Day 156) • How to raise truthful children (Day 298) • What purchases are always forbidden (Day 3) In addition, Telushkin raises issues with ethical implications that may surprise you, such as the need to tip those whom you don't see (Day 109), the right thing to do when you hear an ambulance siren (Day 1), and why wasting time is a sin (Day 15). Whether he is telling us what Jewish tradition has to say about insider trading or about the relationship between employers and employees, he provides fresh inspiration and clear guidance for every day of our lives.

Download or read book A Living Lens written by Alana Newhouse and published by National Geographic Books. This book was released on 2008-08-26 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A feast for the eyes...bringing alive a long vanished world that's still eerily present."--Daniel Czitrom, New York Post The premiere national Jewish newspaper has opened its never-before-seen archives, revealing a photographic landscape of Jews in the twentieth century and beyond. This extraordinary volume features classic photographs of the history one has learned to associate with the Jewish Daily Forward--Lower East Side pushcarts, Yiddish theater, labor rallies--along with gems no one would expect. The book also features essays by Leon Wieseltier, Roger Kahn, and Deborah Lipstadt, and a rousing introduction by Pete Hamill.

Download or read book The Joy of Jewish Living written by Saul S. Spiro and published by . This book was released on 1965 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Living in the Presence written by Benjamin Epstein and published by Urim Publications. This book was released on 2020-01-02 with total page 255 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In our frantic, fast paced society, we need constant guidance to remind us that we can only find the peace of mind we sorely lack by looking inward. Judaism, like many other spiritual traditions, offers a unique path to cultivating fulfillment and presence of mind. In cultivating peace of mind, we do not aim to achieve transcendence. Rather, our goal is to enter fully into whatever is occurring in our lives and meet it with full presence. But being a better Jew and a happier person are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, they are mutually interdependent. From the moment we wake to the moment we fall asleep, biblical commandments provide us with guidelines that encourage us to be aware of the present moment. A Guide to Jewish Mindfulness provides concise and clear instructions on how to cultivate peace of mind in order to attain a life of greater commitment and inspiration for the present moment.

Download or read book Happiness the Jewish Way written by Olga Gilburd and published by . This book was released on 2015-06-16 with total page 402 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Happiness the Jewish Way is an easy-to-follow guide to lasting happiness. It offers practical tips sprinkled with witty tales, jokes and quotes from philosophers, scientists, rabbis and comedians. It will help readers of all backgrounds cultivate such traits as self-esteem, positive attitude, and resilience. With clarity and humor, Olga Gilburd shows the path to becoming the master of your happiness, and offers an interesting, inspiring and sometimes surprising insight into the Jewish culture along the way."If happiness is an art, then Olga has mastered it. A perfectly easy guide to living a happy life." - Sabina Singer, MA, life coach, motivational speakerThis is a great self-improvement book for you and it makes a thoughtful gift for any occasion.

Download or read book Gateway to Judaism written by Mordechai Becher and published by Mesorah Publications. This book was released on 2005 with total page 532 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Download or read book Gates of Mitzvah written by Simeon J. Maslin and published by CCAR Press. This book was released on 1979 with total page 180 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This comprehensive guide to Jewish observance throughout the life cycle is the best introduction to Reform Jewish practice available.

Download or read book Seasons of Our Joy written by Arthur I. Waskow and published by Beacon Press. This book was released on 1990 with total page 276 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Circling the Jewish calendar from Rosh Hashanah to Tisha B'Av, this lively, accessible guide includes rituals, recipes, songs, prayers, and suggestions for new approaches to holiday observance."A wonderful blend of information and innovation that will help readers find both traditional a

Download or read book Increasing Wholeness written by Rabbi Elie Kaplan Spitz and published by Jewish Lights Publishing. This book was released on 2015-03-02 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Combines Jewish tradition, contemporary sciences and world spiritual writings with practical contemplative exercises. Will help you balance and integrate mind, body, heart and spirit, reach out to the Divine, and be more fully present and effective in your life.

Download or read book Joys and Oys of Parenting Insight and Wisdom from the Jewish Tradition written by Behrman House and published by Behrman House Publishing. This book was released on 2016 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Inspired by their own experiences as parents authors Maurice Elias Marilyn Gootman and Heather Schwartz bring together their professional expertise and their Jewish commitment in a work designed as a guide for the practice of intentional parentingÔøΩmaking ÔøΩconscious deliberate and value-based parenting choices.ÔøΩ

Download or read book Covenant and Conversation written by Jonathan Sacks and published by Maggid. This book was released on 2010 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this second volume of his long-anticipated five-volume collection of parashat hashavua commentaries, Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks explores these intersections as they relate to universal concerns of freedom, love, responsibility, identity, and destiny. Chief Rabbi Sacks fuses Jewish tradition, Western philosophy, and literature to present a highly developed understanding of the human condition under Gods sovereignty. Erudite and eloquent, Covenant Conversation allows us to experience Chief Rabbi Sacks sophisticated approach to life lived in an ongoing dialogue with the Torah.

Download or read book The Book of Anna written by Joy Ladin and published by Eoagh Books. This book was released on 2021-03-16 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Poetry. Fiction. Jewish Studies. LGBTQIA Studies. Women's Studies. THE BOOK OF ANNA is written in the voice of Anna Asher, a fictional Czech-German Jew who spent her adolescence in a concentration camp and now lives in 1950s Prague answering phones for the secret police. This genre-defying book of prose diary entries and autobiographical poems offers intimate glimpses of Anna's present --her writing process, relationships with neighbors, obsessive sexual behavior, chain-smoking, and idiosyncratic exploration of Jewish tradition --while the poems recount her unsparing efforts to reckon with horror, survival, and their aftermath. Written in the midst of Joy Ladin's gender transition, this book asks provocative questions about the meaning of trauma, gender, suffering and empathy that speak to our current historical moment in haunting and indelible ways. This second edition of a classic text of trans literature features a new afterword by the author, "Anna and Me," reflecting on this book's pivotal importance for the development of the author's poetics and identity. "Part novel, part shattering lyric sequence, THE BOOK OF ANNA presents itself as the work of Anna Asher, a Holocaust survivor living in 1950s Prague who looks back on her pre-war love of a Heidegger-reading yeshiva bocher, on the women who saved her life in Barracks 10 (The Rebbetzin, The Physicist, The Whore), and on the Biblical 'song made of songs' where 'God is so utterly absent that the rabbis decided --what else could they do? --to see Him everywhere.' A stunning, sometimes shocking mix of Jewish learning and daring, THE BOOK OF ANNA was Ladin's breakthrough volume, and scarred, sardonic Anna is an unforgettable contribution to Jewish American poetry." --Eric Selinger "It's nearly impossible to capture the magnificence that is Joy Ladin's THE BOOK OF ANNA, what it begins and what it foretells. There is something deeply familiar in the text. I feel as if I am suddenly sitting on the yellow plastic-covered couch in my grandmother's living room, listening to the conversations while she and her friends play bridge or mahjong. The women speak Yiddish or Hungarian, and their talk is filled with cigarettes, gossip, and the kind of dry side-eyed humor that belies their own survival and the loss of parents, brothers, sisters, entire families, in the genocide that occurred not two decades before in the villages and towns of their birth. These were women trying to live. Through poems and accounts of a friendship with another survivor, Ladin follows Anna's efforts to find some sign that will allow her to go on living. 'And something shaped like a woman / As you are shaped like a man / Waiting in the middle of the Charles Bridge / For death or truth / To make her breathe again.' In the end, Ladin's Anna chooses to breathe, and we are grateful for her journey in all of its reckoning, and for this prescient and gorgeous book of becoming." --Samuel Ace

Download or read book Wise Aging written by Rachel Cowan and published by Behrman House Publishing. This book was released on 2015 with total page 328 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How can Aging be a Good thing? Aging all too often feels like drift, downhill to a place we don't want to go. But each year new doors open with opportunities, even while others close with loss. We have the power to prepare, to become stronger, more resilient, and navigate these challenges. Will we turn toward the opportunities, and find new joy and meaning in life? How can we make the most of this time, and develop into deeper, wiser people? With the same warmth, humor, and wisdom that draw thousands to their innovative workshops on aging, Rabbi Rachel Cowan and Dr. Linda Thai give us the tools we need, delivering practical, real-world suggestions. No subject is off-limits; Rabbi Cowan and Dr. Thai tackle a wide range of issues head-on, including: Relationships with adult children and spouses Romance and sexuality, Living with loss, Cultivating well-being, Shaping our legacy, Whether reading this alone, with a partner, or in a group, Wise Aging will inspire and inform, and show us ways to grow into wisdom with resilience and joy. Book jacket.

Download or read book A Book of Life written by Michael Strassfeld and published by Schocken. This book was released on 2002 with total page 536 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive guide to Jewish spiritual practices, with explanations based on Talmudic and Midrashic texts as well as Hasidic and mystical stories, includes a survey of daily prayers, Shabbat rituals, holidays, Torah study, Jewish meditation, and more.