Torah Book Reviews

Pshuto Shel Mikra Rabbi Yehuda Copperman z”l Translated by Rabbi Immanuel Bernstein Mosaica Press Although I shy away from “parsha books” I was excited to receive a copy of Rabbi Yehuda Copperman’s “Pshuto Shel Mikra” which has now been translated into English by Rabbi Immanuel Bernstein. For those who may not be familiar with the author, Rabbi Copperman was the founder of the Jerusalem College for religious women ( Michlalah ) , and was an extremely beloved teacher, mentor, and friend to all who knew him. He was a pioneer in the idea of combining advanced Torah education with advanced secular education, an idea that many went on to adapt. He was a formidable scholar in his own right. Pshuto Shel Mikra reflects Rabbi Copperman’s educational approach of encourag ing his students to focus on the simple meaning of texts. The current English edition (although Rabbi Copperman was an English speaker, born in Dublin, he wrote almost entirely in Hebrew) is a two-volume set w...

Roots and Rituals: Insights into Hebrew, Holidays, and History by Mitchell First (Kodesh Press, 2018) https://amzn.to/2KQziXO SPECIAL GUEST POST Reviewed by Rabbi Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein I must say that once again, First comes in first place. This book is not simply comprised of three separate sections, rather every chapter is chock-full of insights into history, liturgy, and the Hebrew language. I must also say that I admire Mr. First's daring use of alliteration (the literary device which joins alimony with allegory) in his book's title. Of course, only two-thirds of that title mirrors that of my first book  Lashon HaKodesh: History, Holiness, & Hebrew . Mr. First's book appeals to and is readable by the scholar and layman alike, to the  Talmid Chacham  and  Am HaAretz , to the serious scholar and the cynical boor. As an avid reader of Mr. First's weekly articles in the  Jewish Link of New Jersey , I appreciate the humor in his ever-c...