Torah Book Reviews

DMC: Deep Meaningful Conversation THE AMIDAH Rabbi Ira Kosowsky Mosaica / 223 pages In this refreshing reader authored by Rabbi Ira Kosowsky, director of the Machon Maayan Women's Seminary in "Givat Washington", we are treated to a new and modern look at the Shemoneh Esrei we recite three times a day. Each of the nineteen blessings of the Shemoneh Esrei are examined in individual chapters complete with thoughts, readings, and advice on how to make our prayer experience even better. Much of the material was gathered by "Rav K" (as he's called) from his students over the years. This unique angle, of a work on prayer being authored by a Torah scholar, combined with the input and ideas of students from diverse backgrounds (to say the least), makes for a very unique perspective on the Shemoneh Esrei. What I found most distinctive in this work and what impressed me the most, compared to other works of this nature, is the outstanding and strategic use of secular so...

Nishmat Ha-Bayit Contemporary Questions on Women's Reproductive Health Maggid/Nishmat/OU  - 370 pp  The “Nishmat Habayit” is an incredibly impressive and urgent collection over of 60 sheilot u’teshovot related to Niddah and Taharat Hamishpacha that were authored by Yoatzot Halacha – women who have undergone extensive training in Hilchot Nidda in the Nishmat women’s seminary led by Rabbi Yehuda (z”l) and Chana (ly”t) Henkin. The sefer is divided up into the categories of pregnancy, birth, nursing, contraception, and more. The material is exceptionally well-written, clear, and appropriate for readers of all levels. After every question is presented, a brief answer is given. This is then followed by a “halachic expansion” that discusses all the sources and reasonings for the ruling, from its Talmudic origins right through to modern-day poskim. Everything is clearly explained and footnoted. While most of the rulings are extremely practical and within normative halacha, there a...

The Anatomy of Jewish Law Rabbi Edward Reichman, MD Maggid/OU/YU / 564 pp An absolute jaw dropper, The Anatomy of Jewish Law is a fresh look at the intersect "between medicine, medical history, and Rabbinic Literature." I am attaching the table of contents below. But frankly, the TOC does not do justice to the amount of information and the sub-topics that are covered in each chapter. From biblical precedents to Talmudic passages, from the the Shulchan Aruch to modern day poskim, there is no more thorough or more clear work than this. Having received the sefer about a week ago, I have not yet gone through it cover to cover. However, I did not want to delay the publicization of this gem in order to ensure that others could promptly acquire their own copy and begin to enjoy it as I have. What I did read was amazing and much of it I even enjoyed reading twice. The chapter on Corona and all the halachic issues that accompanied it are presented with their historical precedents and ...

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...

Bridging Traditions: Demystifying Differences Between Sephardic and Ashkenazic Jews   Rabbi Haim Jachter Maggid/OU Press / 515pp Rabbi Haim Jachter’s “Bridging Traditions: Demystifying Differences Between Sephardic and Ashkenazic Jews" is an amazing collection of customs where Ashkenazi and Sephardi practices differ. Rabbi Jachter, a well-rounded and formidable authority in halacha from Teaneck, NJ, who I have enjoyed correspondence with over the years, goes through the history of each community’s practice in each of these areas with an emphasis on the modern-day practice. He also often shows us where the respectful and healthy boundaries for each community lies.  One example which is dear to my heart, is whether a Sephardi who is praying in an Ashkenazi synagogue should recite kaddish in accordance with the Sephardic wording or with the Ashkenazi wording. As Rabbi Jachter points out, respectful boundaries and normative halacha should dictate that “when in Rome do like the Rom...

Aruch Hashulchan in English Orach Chaim Chapters 242-292 Edited by Rabbi Ilan Segal Translated by Rabbis: Michael Broyde, Ilan Segal, Mordechai Torczyner Urim Publications / 520 pp I am completely blown away by the English Aruch HaShulchan that was just published by Urim Publications. This outstanding volume covers chapters 242-292 of Orach Chaim, the laws of Shabbat. Specifically, these chapters primarily discuss preparing for the arrival of Shabbat, Jewish/Non-Jews partnerships, preparing the stove/oven for Shabbat (shehiya, chazara, and hatmanan), kiddush, the Shabbat meals, and more. For those less familiar, the Aruch Hashulchan is a code of law written by Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein (1829–1908). The Aruch Hashulchan is incredibly unique in that before discussing the relevant halachot of each chapter, it first cited the relevant Talmudic passages and the view of the Rishonim. Most such Rishonim are only accessible to the advanced student of halacha. With this English translatio...

Food: A Halachic Analysis Rabbi Yehuda Spitz Mosaica, 480 pp I am unsure whether “outstanding,” “remarkable,” or “spectacular,” best describes Rabbi Yehuda Spitz’s sefer “Food: A Halachic Analysis”  -- though all three adjectives may not do justice. In over 30 chapters discussing various food and kashrut related halacha, Rabbi Spitz, a sho’el u’meishiv at Yeshivat Ohr Somayach in Jerusalem, presents unprecedented clarity in explaining and demystifying the issues. Some of these issues include waiting between cheese and meat, using dishwashers for both milk and meat, fish and milk, eggs and onions left uncovered overnight, chalav Yisrael, marit ayin, and much much more. It is thorough, clear, and makes everything easy to understand. Definitely one of his flagship chapters is the appendix on the history of Gelatin and its kosher status. These chapters are not merely regurgitations of what readers have certainly seen in so many other places, but rather, original compositions in the aut...

Torah IQ: The Great Torah Riddle Book By David Woolf SC/400 pp I was really excited to get a copy of David Woolf’s “Torah IQ: The Great Torah Riddle Book.” David (and Fran!) Woolf have been a leading Toronto name in everything related to tzedakah, chessed, and especially, kiruv, since before I was born. In fact, my first ever time spending Shabbat overnight in a “stranger’s” home as a Jewishly/religiously "exploring" public-high school teenager was at the Woolf home, thanks to their daughter Zahava who had befriended me and had gotten me further interested in Judaism than I had been. So back to the sefer. Torah IQ is a sefer full of riddles and brainteasers. Most of the sefer follows the parshiot of the Torah. For every parsha there are about 20 brain twisting, brain teasing, trivia questions. The answers are given on the next page. Following the parsha section is a section on “General Torah Questions”. Following that there is a section on “Halacha and Minhag” (my favorite!...

Incredible Insights – Inspiring Insights on Unique Torah Topics Rabbi Yehoshua Alt / 310 pages In yet another installment of his unique sefarim, Rabbi Yehoshua Alt, a Torah teacher based in Jerusalem, sent me a copy of his “Incredible Insights – Inspiring Insights on Unique Torah Topics.” Faithful to its title, there are dozens and dozens of entries ranging from one to ten pages on lesser-known and lesser-thought of topics. Every chapter contains insights from the entire spectrum of Torah texts and there are many stories and anecdotes from Gedolim and Tzadikim. Some of the chapter topics include: what the future is going to look like, the importance and effects of Torah study, defining Judaism, a chapter all about fish, mikva, prayer, and so much more. Too many topics to list! My favorite chapter is the one on proper eating and healthy lifestyle which is so neglected in our community (there are actually at least two such chapters). The book is nicely compiled and sure to teach read...

A Concise Guide to Halakha Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz Maggid / 640 pages I was very excited to receive the new, “A Concise Guide to Halakha” by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz. This one volume encyclopedia is essentially divided into five sections: Life Cycle, Holidays, Shabbat, Daily Routine, and “Other”. An example of the entries include birth, bar mitzva, weddings, death, all the holidays, kashrut, family purity, and charity. Each chapter deals with its topic by giving background information, basic requirements, common customs and the prominent prayers that are recited on the occasion. All the prayers are transliterated, which could come in handy, say, if someone would like to recite the Shabbat Kiddush in the original but doesn’t have the Hebrew reading skills to do so. The book is crisp and clear and is esthetically appealing. While this volume is truly lovely and worthwhile, I have to admit that by the sound of the title, I thought that it would be more of an immersion and focus o...

It’s All the Same to Me Rabbi Moshe Gersht Travel size / 145 pp As readers of this blog know, “self-help” books are not my genre. Nevertheless, I was very intrigued by Rabbi Moshe Gersht’s recent release for a number of reasons. First of all, it’s a self-help book written by a talmid chacham based largely, (but not exclusively!) on Torah sources. Indeed, the weave between the secular sources with the Torah ones is very impressive. Most orthodox rabbis probably wouldn't even attempt a book of that nature due to the apparent, though non-existent, taboo on combining Torah and secular sources into a single book. Second, it is a drastic genre change from his first book (see here for more about that: http://torahbookreviews.blogspot.com/2015/09/succos-inspired-rabbi-moshe-gersht.html ). As such, I wanted to give it a shot and requested a review copy. It’s all the Same to Me is a work on finding internal peace and tranquility. The book opens and spends a few chapters on the conce...

Learn Shabbos...in just 3 minutes a day Rabbi Daniel Braude Adir Press / 630 Pages Rabbi Daniel Braude presents a very user-friendly guide for learning Hilchos Shabbos in a simple manner. The sefer is divided into over 400 sections to allow  the reader to read one section, a page or two, per day. Hence the “3 minutes a day” concept. In impressive breadth, the sefer covers most of the practical questions that arise on Shabbos. This includes everything from preparing for Shabbos on Friday, to all the melachos and their practical ramifications, through to Havdalah and Melaveh Malka. All the rulings cited generally follow Shulchan Aruch, Mishna Berura, and Shemiras Shabbos K’hilchasa, and are of course, normative. Lot’s of great things on medicine, Amira L’akum, Muktza, Bishul, and Borer. All the common questions and more. While this sefer is extremely useful and a blessing to those who will study from it, I would have enjoyed the sefer even more if the author would have expa...

Mikra'ot Peshutot Rabbi Lewis (Yehuda) Sherby Beit Shemesh (Anglo Author, Hebrew Sefer) 180 Pages      למה פרשן התורה הכי מאוחר במקראות הגדולות הוא ספורנו מהמאה החמש עשרה  למה צריכים לעיין בעוד עשרה ספרים או יותר כדי "לעדכן" את היקף הפרשנות לתורה שנכתבה במאות השנים האחרונות עכשיו אין צורך, לפחות לפרשיות שמות - וארא  ספר "מקראות פשוטות ריכז לכם -- מתחת  לקורת גג אחת -- את אברבנאל, הרב הירש, שד"ל ואחרים ביחד עם חוקרי התנ"ך מהעולם האקדמי (כמו קאסוטו) ובלי לוותר על רש"י, רשב"ם וראב"ע ושאר המפרשים הקלאסיים לתורה. ולא רק זה. בכל עמוד מופיעות השאלות על הפרשה שאליהן מתייחסים המפרשים השונים לדורותיהם מי שמעוניין בפנים חדשות של מקראות גדולות ירכוש עכשיו את הכרך הראשון של מקראות פשוטות

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 ...

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...

The Importance of the Community Rabbi Leading with Compassionate Halacha By Rabbi Daniel Sperber Urim / 367 pp. In "The Importance of the Community Rabbi" Rabbi Daniel Sperber, whose prominence and accomplishments need no introduction, argues vigorously for today's rabbis to rule more leniently. He presents a fascinating and engaging treasury of hundreds of lenient halachic rulings throughout the ages. Rabbi Sperber argues that issues like sensitivity to people’s feelings, human dignity, "changing circumstances" and "ko'ach d'heteira" should be given more weight in halachic decision making. The precedents are there, clearly presented one after the other with seemingly no end. This book is ultimately amazing. It is one of the few halachic books of recent vintage that have kept me engaged from cover to cover. I was simply blown away by the "bekius" and variety of rulings in this book.  His arguments for leniency are power...

Don't Tell Ima Lisa Barness Jewish Self Publishing Guest Post by Shira Yael Klein It’s clear from the start (ok, even from the blub on the back) that the husband, Efraim, is the Bad Guy. No surprises there. This complex, compelling book pulls us into the twisted world Efraim creates and we watch as things go from bad to worse. It’s a dark, disturbing read. Interestingly, while at first the book attempts to get into Efraim’s psyche and figure out what motivates him, what core of goodness he has or at least had, it quickly moves to hammering home the message that “He can’t change. You must divorce him.” I will note that Efraim is a Bad Guy par excellence, a clear candidate for immediate divorce. There are plenty of cases where a divorce is necessary where the guy is not “as bad” as Efraim. By the same token, Shifra is a near-perfect Good Person. Her only crimes are doubting herself and not getting out fast enough. OK, once she lost her cool and smacked (a genuinely diffi...

With Truth and Love Rabbi Yaakov Greenwald Feldheim Distribution / 420 pp With Truth and Love is an outstanding guidebook and manual for improving one’s life in various ways. Some of the topics include: Chinuch (this chapter –a topic affecting virtually every Torah family today- was extraordinarily impressive), Emunah, Self-Confidence, Punishment, Tznius, Thought, Self-respect and more. One can see rather quickly how every chapter is lovingly written in a manner of arousing " devarim hayotzim min halev….nichnasim l’lev.” Each of the 17 chapters chapter is made up of two sections: “The Principles” and the “The Practical.” The Principles section is a beautiful weave of Torah sources relating to the subject matter from the Torah and Talmud to rabbinic literature of every era. The Practical section then builds on the principles and offers practical strategies for incorporating the subject -and change- into our lives. The book is written in an extremely clear and del...