Torah Book Reviews

From Sinai To Ethiopia Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom Gefen / 300 pages Sharon Shalom’s book, From Sinai to Ethiopia, is a fascinating and unprecedented look into the halachic challenges facing Ethiopian Jews as they continue to struggle for integration into Israel's social and religious society.  Sharon is a musmach of Yeshivat Har Etzion, received a Ph.D. from Bar Ilan university, and leads a congregation in Kiryat Gat where he lives. He is one of the gentlest and patient people I have ever met (well, spoken to on the phone and emailed…we hope to meet face to face soon!) who is working with all his heart toward helping Ethiopian Jews find their places within normative Judaism. The author’s intention is to support the spiritual authenticity and respect for Ethiopian Jewish customs and he works valiantly in an attempt to do so. Pluralism, acceptance, tolerance and mutual respect are the dominate themes of every page. It is the first book that I have ever seen with both rab...

Sexuality and Jewish Law Yaakov Shapiro 430 pages In his Sexuality and Jewish Law, Yaakov Shapiro, an ordained rabbi and non-conformist Lubavitcher chassid, offers a thorough, unapologetic, and uncensored presentation of everything relating to sexual activity and Jewish law.  All rabbinic texts that deal with sexual matters are cited along with the interpretations and comments of all the relevant rishonim , achronim , and poskim . There is also a full presentation of the various halachic opinions and resolutions to the contradictions between them. The exhaustive endnotes are essentially an additional book in their own right. While the book is extremely well researched and impressive in its scope, the author clearly has an agenda and bone to pick. As he writes in the introduction, the book was born out of a bad experience and frustrations with what he was being taught in chattan classes and the “one-sided” approach to the laws of intimacy. The author seeks to put a...

Nefesh Hatzimtzum Rabbi Avinoam Fraenkel Urim Publications I am at a loss for words to describe how blown away I am by the magnitude of Avinoam Fraenkel’s Nefesh Hatzimtzum. Nefesh Hatzimtzum is a translation and study guide to R’ Chaim Volozhin’s Nefesh Hachaim.  For those unfamiliar, Nefesh Hachaim is the “Shulchan Aruch” of  hashkafa  and philosophy. The concepts presented by R. Chaim are a basic platform to give us knowledge of the closest that is humanly achievable in relating to God and by extension, our ability to serve Him. Nefesh Hatzimtzum is simply outstanding. It is a crisp and clear presentation of what has essentially been a closed book. Now Nefesh Hachaim is not only accessible, but in Fraenkel’s two volume set (over 1600 pages!), one also enjoys the benefits of a spoon fed education on the material.  In addition to being the best translation of Nefesh Hachaim that I have yet to see, volume one of Nefesh Hatzimtzum includes the full fa...

The Weekly Mitzva Rabbi Binyamin Tabory Maggid / 229 pages In his “The Weekly Mitzva,” Rabbi Binyamin Tabory treats us to over fifty exciting topics in halacha. Each topic is somehow related to the weekly Torah portion, though in some cases it isn’t always obvious. Some of these topics include the halachot of: Inheritance Mutual Responsibility Living in the Land of Israel Chol Hamoed Jewish Language and Clothing Yibum Consuming Human Flesh Pru U’rvu This book is great as a reference volume on halachic topics of interest and not simply a weekly reader.

Esther Unmasked Mitchell First Kodesh Press / 241 pages In his “Esther Unmasked”, Mitchell First presents eleven outstanding essays on common topics of contemporary relevance whose true origins are lesser-known, or otherwise full of misconceptions and dubious folklore. The eleven topics are (in my words): 1. The Aleinu Prayer 2. The Origins of the Word Mechila 3. All about the Mysterious Source and Meaning of “Ani Vaho” 4. The Meaning and Origin of the word “Maccabee” 5. The Meaning and Origin of the word “Chashmonai” 6. Why Antiochus Hated the Jews 7. The Origins of Taanit Esther 8. Identifying Esther and Achashverosh in Secular Sources 9. The Orginal Mah Nishtana 10. All about “arami oved avi” 11. The Orginal Order of the Hebrew Alphabet. In every essay, First unapologetically sets the record straight in an honest and balanced manner, supporting virtually every sentence with the relevant sources from both Torah and secular sources. To give y...

A River Flowed from Eden Rabbi Ari D. Kahn Kodesh Press / 210 pages In his "A River Flowed from Eden," Rabbi Ari Kahn presents a delightful and easy to read collection of short essays on the weekly Torah portion. Focusing on a specific central question or thought from the weekly reading, the essay expands to offer interesting food for thought and discussion on the matter, making it great “Torah for the Shabbat Table.” Examples of such questions include: What are we doing in this world? What is the goal of our hard work? (Bereishit) Why was the Tower of Babel built in a valley? (Noach) Why does Avraham seem to contradict his traditional trait of chessed in so many instances? (Lech Lecha) What events are being referred to in the “…after these events” of the Akeida? (Vayeira) Why is there seemingly no concern for Rivka’s religious beliefs? (Chayei Sara) My only complaint with this worthwhile contribution to parsha discourse is that there is only one...

Prophecy & Divine Inspiration Rabbi Avraham Arieh Trugman Ohr Chadash / 495 pages In what may very well be his best work yet (but they’re all good! really!), the ever prolific Rabbi Avraham Arieh Trugman presents “Prophecy & Divine Inspiration.” This work is essentially an encyclopedia on everything to do with prophecy, making it a valuable reference book in addition to its content as a “commentary on the prophets.” On the encyclopedic side, (which interests me most), the book thoroughly discusses many of the mysterious and lesser-known topics in the world of prophecy such as: ruach hakodesh , bat kol , prophecy throughout Tanach, prophecy and music, the realities of being a prophet, false prophets, the end of prophecy, divine inspiration and contemporary sages said to have such powers, how to achieve prophecy today, and much more. Rabbi Trugman enlightens us on what these concepts are all about, pushing aside the common misconceptions surrounding them. In add...