Torah Book Reviews

The Foundation of Judaism Akiva Aaronson Feldheim / 216 pp It was a nice surprise to unexpectedly receive a copy of “The Foundation of Judaism” by Akiva Aaronson. A better name for the book may have been “The Basics of Judaism” as that is what the book is entirely about. It covers the most absolute basics of Judaism such as: principles of faith, founders of the Jewish people, basic Jewish history from Creation to the current era, prayer, kashrut, and more. Originally published in 1997, the book’s style and flavor reflect its age, though its content is timeless. It is perfect for ba'alei teshuva and others with little or no background in Jewish essentials.

The Torah: Make It Personal The Interface of the Weekly Torah Portion with Everyday Life Rabbi Herbert J. Cohen /  326 pages Rabbi Herbert J. Cohen, originally from Mt. Vernon, New York, has been a congregational rabbi and pioneering educator for over forty years, with a distinctive 23 years as Principal of the Yeshiva High School of Atlanta. He made Aliyah in 2010, and since then, it seems like he’s moved onto writing books!   In this latest release, his seventh book, I believe, Rabbi Cohen goes through each parsha and shares a personal message from each one related to his life. From his life before and after widowhood, personal relationships, the professional life of a High School principal, his children, and more, "The Torah: Make it Personal" is just that – a glimpse into the personal experiences of Herbert Cohen. There are 2-5 entries on every parsha.  The writing style is somewhat “old school” and most people under 50 might not “get” some of the references and p...

Outreach in the Torah Rabbi Dovid S. Asher Mosaica / 130 pp Rabbi David Asher, rabbi of the Knesset Beth Israel synagogue in Virginia, has put together a warm and inspirational sefer on examples of outreach in the Torah. Outreach, or “Kiruv” as it is colloquially called, is the act of teaching and inspiring non-observant Jews about Orthodox Judaism. “Outreach in the Torah” brings to light examples of Kiruv in every single Torah portion. For example, on the Torah portion of Teruma there is a discussion on how even   the “Erev Rav” troublemakers were included in the communal commandment to contribute funds for the construction of the Mishkan. If the Erev Rav were included in the community how much more so should we also include those who are not fully observant. On the Torah portion of Vayikra, there is a discussion on how “korban,” sacrifices, is related to “kiruv,” bringing people closer to God. On the Torah portion of Shlach, we read how the tragedy of the evil spies was tha...