Torah Book Reviews

Ask Rabbi Jack Rabbi Jack Abramowitz Kodesh Press / 295 pages  In his seventh publication, Rabbi Jack Abramowitz, a career educator and educational professional at the O-U, has just come out with “Ask Rabbi Jack.” Ask Rabbi Jack is a collection of well over 100 questions and answers on all areas of Judaism, Jewish law, philosophy and more. The categories include Science Fiction and Fantasy, Mashiach and the Messianic Era, Troubling Questions, Jewish History and Jewish Holidays, and even a Corona Questions section (talk about hot off the press!).  Some of my favorites thus far include the debate on who truly wrote the Zohar, interactions with the opposite sex, davening on airplanes, the lost tribes, kashrut in the messianic era, theodicy, and others. This book is, simply put, a joy to read. Not overly scholarly yet sourced, thorough yet clear, normative yet fearless. It is of use to the scholar and invaluable to the layman. I would certainly say that this sefer is to be made priority

Chanukah: Capturing the Light Rabbi Immanuel Bernstein Mosaica Press / 175 pages Rabbi Immanuel Bernstein, a British born Rebbe at a number of Yeshivot in Jerusalem, has done it again  with his “Chanukah: Capturing the Light.” As the title conveys, this latest offering is intended to get us inspired for Chanukah. With sixteen chapters, including a treatment on the famous “Beis Yosef Question" as to why Chanuka is observed for 8 days if the miracle was only 7 days (they did, ultimately, find one day’s worth of oil!) Rabbi Bernstein covers all the major themes and rituals of Chanuka. Here are some of the highlights that I have already enjoyed having received the sefer less than 24hrs ago. There is a great interpretation of the “mehadrin” theme in candle lighting, a nice chapter on the special relevance Chanukah has for kohanim and leviim, the importance of gratitude, and just having come out of Parshat Lech Lecha, there is a niece piece on how the “four Kings” correspond to the fo