Kenneth Seeskin is Philip M. and Ethel Klutznick Professor of Jewish Civilization at Northwestern University. He is the author of several books, including Searching for a Distant God: The Legacy of Maimonides, winner of the Koret Jewish Book Award, and is … Continue reading From the Desk of Kenneth Seeskin
Alan T. Levenson is the Schusterman/Josey Professor of Jewish History at the University of Oklahoma. He is the author or editor of numerous essays and books, including The Making of the Modern Jewish Bible: How Scholars in Germany, Israel, and … Continue reading From the Desk of Alan Levenson
The following excerpt comes from Jonah and the Meaning of Our Lives: A Verse-by-Verse Commentary (June 2016) by Rabbi Steven Bob. From Chapter 9: Overcoming Despair—Why Does He Sleep So Deeply? He lay down and fell asleep. The captain went over to … Continue reading EXCERPT: Jonah and the Meaning of Our Lives
The following post is from Zev Eleff, chief academic officer of the Hebrew Theological College in Chicago, Illinois, and author of Modern Orthodox Judaism: A Documentary History (Jewish Publication Society, 2016). A Touchy Subject: A Short History of the Rise and Fall … Continue reading From the Desk of Zev Eleff: A Touchy Subject
The following post is from Zev Eleff, chief academic officer of the Hebrew Theological College in Chicago, Illinois, and author of Modern Orthodox Judaism: A Documentary History (Jewish Publication Society, 2016). Orthodox Economics and the Pre-Day School Time-Crunch In a … Continue reading From the Desk of Zev Eleff
The following is an excerpt from A Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism Reader (JPS, April 2016) by Daniel M. Horwitz. Today Kabbalah is associated with celebrities, expensive seminars, and the broader spiritual quest. It is even seen as a shortcut to wisdom, largely … Continue reading EXCERPT: A Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism Reader
The month of March commemorates women’s significant contributions to history. Here are some of UNP’s favorite books celebrating women. Westerns: A Women’s History by Victoria Lamont (August 2016) The Blue Tattoo by Margo Mifflin Fuchsia by Mahtem Shifferraw … Continue reading Reading List: Women’s History Month
An excerpt from Jews and Genes: The Genetic Future in Contemporary Jewish Thought (JPS, 2015) edited by Elliot N. Dorff and Laurie Zoloth, a finalist for the 2015 National Jewish Book Awards. From “Summary of the Science of Stem Cell Research” In the … Continue reading EXCERPT: Jews and Genes
Jewish Publication Society author, long serving JPS board member, and JPS Scholar of Distinction Professor, Eugene Borowitz passed away on Friday. In a Forward obituary, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, called Borowitz “a larger-than-life figure in postwar … Continue reading Remembering Rabbi Borowitz
An excerpt from Akiva: Life, Legend, Legacy (Jewish Publication Society, October 2015) by Reuven Hammer. ONE Akiva’s Early Life From Temple Worship to Torah Study When the Great Revolt was over, much of Judea recovered swiftly. Landowners there had capitulated and were permitted … Continue reading Excerpt: Akiva
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