The following contribution comes from Helen Kiyong Kim and Noah Samuel Leavitt, authors of JewAsian: Race, Religion, and Identity for America’s Newest Jews (Nebraska, 2016). JewAsians celebrate Father’s Day, too We have recently completed a multi-year study of couples in which … Continue reading Lessons for Father’s Day
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
Books Redskins by C. Richard King Recommendation from the Guy Who Reviews Sports Books: “This book is one that should be read by anyone who cares about the use of this name by the team, no matter on what side of the issue the reader currently sits. It is compelling, persuasive and will certainly make the reader think about what is truly meant by the name ‘Redskins.’” Stolen Words by Mark Glickman Praise from the Washington Book Review: “It makes you cry if you have even a little love for books, new ideas and the future of humankind. It affords humankind … Continue reading NEWS AND REVIEWS
Books Sublime Physick by Patrick Madden Review from Publishers Weekly: “Like many essayists before him, Madden (Quotidiana) makes a habit of finding the transcendent in the transient. In this new, sometimes moving collection, he ranges over topics including spit, plagiarism, empathy, and middle age . . . Madden’s work combines elegance with a bumptiousness, illustrating the messy character of human language and lives.” This Benevolent Experiment by Andrew Woolford Praise from the Washington Book Review: “This Benevolent Experiment is a must-read for the experts and students of North American history and Native Americans alike. It is a highly scholarly and … Continue reading NEWS AND REVIEWS
Books My Wife Wants You to Know I’m Happily Married by Joey Franklin Praise from Reading Glutton: “Franklin’s essays are just deep enough not to be trivial, just light-hearted enough not to be heavy, and readable enough not to be dull. Highly recommended!” The Kitchen-Dweller’s Testimony by Ladan Osman Review from Rain-Taxi: “Ladan Osman conveys a language and logic that is disturbingly fresh; it leaps from one observation to another and speaks familiarly yet obliquely enough to make us listen a little harder.” Remembering French Algeria by Amy L. Hubbell Recommendation from CHOICE: “Hubbell’s Remembering French Algeria is an intriguing and important contribution to scholarship on … Continue reading NEWS AND REVIEWS
Books Stolen Words by Mark Glickman Praise from Kirkus Reviews: “Glickman has produced a provocative history that preserves this important yet often overlooked aspect of the Holocaust, and readers will come away with a valuable perspective on how the written word can be abused for the sake of cultural genocide.” “The text is approachable and the material is invaluable. The written word prevails.” Return to Zion by Eric Gartman Recommendation from Library Journal: “It can often be difficult to understand how precarious Jewish life was in a world without a Jewish state. Focusing on the strong personalities involved in Israel’s … Continue reading NEWS AND REVIEWS
Books Falafel Nation By Yael Raviv Applause from the Kirkus Reviews: “What’s in a falafel? By the lights of food-studies and nutrition adjunct professor Raviv, it’s not just chickpeas and pita bread, but also identity . . . The author is particularly good on pressing the point that such cuisines are seldom fixed but instead constantly adapt as new groups enter and as time changes.” The Heart of the Matter By Arthur Green Recommendation from CHOICE: “The why rather than the how of practicing Judaism is the central focus that draws together this collection of literary essays . . . Green engages with the intricacies of Kabbalah, Hasidic masters, classical … Continue reading NEWS AND REVIEWS
Our reading list this week features the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. As part of the Jewish New Year, these days are a call to self-examination, repentance, and new life. Whether a long-time observer or simply a curious … Continue reading Reading List: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
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