Torah Book Reviews

Pioneers of Religious Zionism Raymond Goldwater Urin Publications / 158 pages Pioneers of Religious Zionism explores the life of the six most prominent leaders of religious Zionism in the 19 th and early 20 th century. These are Rabbis Yehuda Alkali, Zvi Hirsch Kalischer, Samuel Mohliver, Jacob Reines, Abraham Isaac Kook, and Judah Leib (Fishman) Maimon.  There is roughly thirty pages devoted to each of these rabbis, where we learn about their early years and education, political opinions, and their relationship and influence within the Zionist movement.  A central feature of all these rabbis’ lives is that that by collaborating with the secular Zionist movement, they were victim to fierce opposition, condemnations, and defamations from their colleagues in Europe and the Land of Israel.  The biographies are well written and balanced. The author is trying to present these rabbis’ lives in a historical context in an easy to digest scholarly format that i...

Rabbinic Authority: The Vision and the Reality Rabbi Yehuda Warburg Urim Publications / 341 pages In Rabbinic Authority: The Vision and the Reality, Rabbi Yehuda Warburg, a practicing dayan, among other impressive credentials in both Jewish and secular law, shares with readers actual cases that transpired in his Beit Din. There are both Even Ha’ezer and Choshen Mishpat related cases, though the latter is primary. Topics include, marriage, divorce, spousal abuse, contractual law, agents, inheritance (a brother being sued by two sisters!), commission, and more.  There is much reference and comparison to precedents and principles in secular law. The book begins with an important presentation of the role and authority of the local rabbi (mara d’atra) and when he need and need not be listened to. There is a very interesting piece in which the author argues that one who causes emotional damage and distress (in this case, a victim of emotional spousal abuse) should be made to pay...

The Shidduch Crisis: Causes and Cures Dr. Michael J. Salamon  Urim Publications / 141 pages That the shidduch world has gone mad is not news to anyone, but that there are competent and credible individuals within the frum world who don’t fear tackling the issue, might just be. Dr. Michael J. Salamon’s “The Shidduch Crisis: Causes and Cures” takes a frank look at what young religious ‘daters’ are going through. From the nauseating questions that parents and shadchanim have no shame asking, to the real life shidduch experiences, this book is full of shidduch stories that should have been written in a fiction novel or a book of Jewish humor. Sadly, however, they are the true stories that so many young men and women are experiencing. One of the many things that I was pleasantly surprised to see was that the author is not scared to encourage young men and women to meet through social activities and mingling: “The more social exposure we have, the more likely we are to find a t...

Acts of the Mind in Jewish Ritual Law Rav Isaac Cohen z"l Urim Publications / 870 pages It is very difficult for me to write a book review on Rabbi Isaac Cohen’s: Acts of the Mind in Jewish Ritual Law. This is because it is a book that I would love to see succeed. However, there a number of deficiencies preventing this from happening. First let’s discuss what’s good in the book. The book is devoted to explaining the abstract and theoretical concepts in the Talmudic law. There is also much emphasis on contractual law and legal fictions. There book focuses on 14 different units including, emunah , kedusha , kavana , teshuva , middot , Shabbat, marriage, and more. In each of the units, one will find all the many different terms, principles, and concepts that fall under that category. For example, in the unit on kavana , one will find discussions, explanations, and definitions of topics such as the role of kavana in: yibum , shofar , shechita , prayer , responding ame...

Journey Together Sarah Hermelin Urim Publications / 523 pages Following the order of the “sefirot” that are a popular study during the Sefirat Ha’omer period, Journey Together is a guide for building and repairing relationships during the 49 days of the sefira count. Consistent with the themes of the individual sefirot, the primary attributes that are focused in the book are: loving kindness, strength/restraint, harmony/truth, endurance, humility, foundation/bonding, and leadership/nobility. The book opens with a great introduction on the importance if counting the omer, and a primer about the concept of the sefirot. Each of the seven content-packed chapters opens with an explanation of what that week’s sefira emanation represents. For example, week one opens with a discussion of “chessed” and its ramifications on creation and the world. We then examine examples of the day’s sefira in the context of the Biblical figure who is associated with it, and then move on into the m...

It Could Have Been M. Safra Feldheim / 65 pages I’ve never written a book a review on a children’s book before, but this was the right book, at the right time, to start. A comic book, no less. It Could Have Been is a really cool life like story of how life in Jerusalem would be today if we had a functioning Beit Hamikdash. For example, the Jerusalem light rail would have a “Beit Hamikdash” stop, korbanot would be inspected for any disqualifying blemishes by means of an MRI machine, and visitors to the Temple Mount could leave items not permitted on the Mount in special lockers accessible through biometrics authentication.  Midrash and Aggada are woven throughout the story. For example, we find children petting a poisonous snake based on the teaching that snakes and scorpions did no harm in Jerusalem. So too, there is endless room for guests based on the teaching that there is room for everyone in Jerusalem. After about 50 pages of Beit Hamikdash type experie...

The Ohr Olam Edition of the Mishna Berura Volume 3 and 4 have just been released! This is a great time to remind readers of the Keter Hatora online semicha program in hilchot Shabbat led by my dear friend Rabbi Dr. Shmuel Katz. With the Ohr Olam Mishna Berura, along with Shmuel's online shiurim and study aids, it has never been easier or more meaningful to receive semicha in hilchot Shabbat. See here for more: www.keterhatorah.com Whether it’s baalei teshuva, yeshiva graduates rusty on their textual skills, or simply those seeking to cover as much ground in as little time as possible, there is a tremendous thirst for advanced Torah texts in the English language. Indeed, in the last decade tremendous inroads have been made in this area. It would be remiss not to mention the most visible of such projects, namely, the Artscroll Gemara series, which has allowed so many people to enjoy the beauty and wisdom of the Talmud who would otherwise be unable to do so. And there are oth...

Guest Post by Miriam Pinksy  Pillars of Faith By Rabbi Pinchas Taylor Mosaica Press / 428 pages For too long, educators have struggled to find a book to recommend to those looking for a solid introduction to Jewish thought or to clarify fundamentals to those already informed. A book has just been published that will now satisfy this need! Pillars of Faith, by Rabbi Pinchas Taylor, an erudite young scholar, has something that is sure to please all palates, whether a beginner exploring Judaism for the first time or a well-seasoned Torah student. In its over 400 pages, Rabbi Taylor methodically explains a reasonable approach to why we believe and do the things we do as Jews. A logical approach to G-d, evolution, evil and suffering, the Torah’s divinity, the soul, the afterlife, kashrus and Shabbos, Moshiach and resurrection, are just a few of the topics of which the reader will gain a comprehensive understanding. See here for some sample chapters and excerpts:  http:...

Aggadah: Sages, Stories, & Secrets Rabbi Immanuel Bernstein Mosaica / 266 pages The Talmudic and Midrashic texts known as Aggadah are the stories, folklore, historical anecdotes, moral exhortations, and practical advice, words of inspiration, and most importantly, Jewish wisdom on how to best live our life in the service of God. In Aggadah: Sages, Stories, & Secrets, Rabbi Immanuel Bernstein, a rebbe in a number of yeshivot and seminaries, takes us on journey through 18 different Haggadic pieces. Some of the topics include free will, inspiration, gratitude, prayer, torah study, mitzva observance, Shabbat, and much more. It is also worth mentioning that the Introduction includes a primer (based on the Rambam [1] ) on the role and authority of Aggada, especially with regard to Aggadic pieces that are sensational, completely unrealistic, or otherwise difficult to digest. Every chapter begins with an Aggadic reading. Then, after asking a number of compelling q...

Noah: The Flood and the Failure of Man According to the Midrash Rabbah Rabbi Wilfred Shuchat Devora Publishing/Urim Publications / 462 pages The story of Noah is certainly one of the most distinct and compelling stories in all of Genesis, and perhaps in the entire Torah. There are many reasons why I say this. For example, Noah wasn’t Jewish, we’re not completely sure how righteous he was, he is criticized for his inactivity before the flood, and his poor choice of activities after the flood. He is seen as both selfish and selfless. He maintained the requirement of chastity while on the Ark, yet he was suspected of impure intentions with a bird. And the list goes on. Noah: The Flood and the Failure of Man According to the Midrash Rabba, is a valuable work which opens the all-too-often closed book of Midrash to one and all. This is not a parsha book. It is a word-for-word translation of the entire Midrash Rabba on parshat Noah. The book is arranged and ordered just as the o...

The A.R.K. Report: Secret for the Century Harry H. Moskoff 245 Pages There are many theories as to where the Ark of the Covenant can be found today. Some claim that it is extant in the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Ethiopia (careful: the site is guarded by tribesmen 24/7) and some say it is somewhere on Mt. Nebo in Jordan ( see 2 Maccabees 2:4-10, a theory apparently supported by the prophet Jeremiah). The South African Lemba people claim to have the Ark (though they also claim that they are Jewish) and some say that the Knights Templar took the Ark to France or the UK. There are many other theories, as well. Well, speculate no more. My friend and fellow former Torontonian, Harry Moskoff, claims that the Ark of the Covenant is right under the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. With maps, charts, and interviews –along with a pinch of Lubavitch and Zionist influence- Harry uses both his rabbinic and filmmaking background to take us on an easy to read adventure for the search...

Things Overheard in the Synagogue Ira Bedzow Urim Publications (Penina Press) / 151 pp. I’ve never read poetry in my life before, and frankly, I have no interest in it. But I grabbed the opportunity to examine “religious poetry.” I know of no other work of Torah poetry in the orthodox world. Ira Bedzow’s new book “Things Overheard in the Synagogue” is a beautiful and quaint collection of over seventy pieces of poetry reflecting his thoughts and emotions and many different issues in the Jewish world in general, and the synagogue world in particular. It’s a work where the author “gets things off his chest.” There are also a number of pieces where the author uses poetry as a springboard for Talmudic and Midrashic commentary. There are also about twenty short essays in the section “Remarks and Reflections.” Here’s a sample: Regrets Upon a cliff on Mount Nebo out to the east, north, south, and west, I see a place I’ll never go even though it’s been my life’s qu...

Afterlife: The Jewish View Jonathan Morgenstern with Rabbi Sholom Kamenetsky Mosaica Press / 102 pp. There is no one who doesn’t ponder what happens to them when life comes to an end. What is the afterlife like? What is the Messianic Era all about? What will it be like when we are resurrected and brought back to this world? Jonathan Morgenstern has done a tremendous service explaining the normative [1] Jewish view of what happens to us after we die. The Afterlife is an exceptionally clear and easy to read presentation of all the relevant issues such as, the purpose of life, what happens when we die, reincarnation [2] , resurrection, the Messianic era, the world to come, and more. Analogies are a prominent tool in making the concepts more understandable. Here’s an excerpt: When we hear the term “reincarnation,” we naturally thinks that upon death, the person’s soul – in its entirety - comes back to earth for another life; albeit in a different body.  This ...

Hegyonei Haparasha: Bamidbar Rabbi Ari Wasserman Distributed by Feldheim / 504 pages (Heb.) R' Ari Wasserman recently released the Bamidbar volume of his “Hegyonei Haparasha” series. For those unfamiliar with his original and trailblazing style, each volume of Hegyonei Haparasha (one volume per Chumash) discusses three to five halachic issues that are relevant to every Parsha. The topics covered in the Bamidbar volume are especially relevant and practical for the modern Jew, such as the halachot of: reproduction, shaking hands/touching members of the opposite sex, women’s hair covering, neighborly relations, eating with gentiles, and some kashrut related issues, among many others. Every chapter opens up with an introduction of the topic at hand. The topic is then presented in a chronological order beginning with the original sources, usually biblical, moving on to the Talmudic sources along with the relevant rishonim and achronim (clearly explaining the differences...

There’s a Shark in the Mikvah! Penny Harow Thau & Naava Pasternak Swirsky 109 pp. There’s a Shark in the Mikvah! (“A light-hearted look at Jewish women’s dunking experiences”) is a local Beit Shemesh release. It contains about fifty short stories on the adventures women have experienced in the course of keeping this very special mitzvah. Some of the adventures include: finding a mikva late at night, hiding ‘mikva night’ from family members, the cleanliness of mikvas, mikva ladies, husbands driving their wives to the mikva (and waiting for them to come out!), Friday night mikva experiences, hiding from your mother-in-law in the next room, and much more. The stories are quite cute and have a very personal touch. Most of the stories are certain to crack a smile out of you, some are even inspiring. It’s a fun read. While the book is tastefully done, with the stories anonymous and not overly revealing, some of the more orthodox may be uncomfortable with a book whose every ...