The Wisdom of Judaism: An Introduction to the Values of the Talmud
Brand: Jewish Lights
Categories: Books, Religion & Spirituality, Judaism


Used Book in Good Condition

Dimensions: 6 x 0.51 x 9 inches
ISBN-13: 978-1580233279
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1580233279
Publisher: Jewish Lights
Print length: 192 pages
Publication date: February 1, 2007
subtitle: Paperback – February 1, 2007
author: Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins
review: Editorial Reviews From Publishers Weekly The Talmud inaugurated a series of efforts to clarify the Bible that continues to this day. Aptly describing these efforts as "a conversation between generations," Rabbi Elkins adds his commentary to the commentaries, focusing on the implications of the Talmud's teachings for human behavior. Since ethical and moral acts constitute the core of Judaism, Elkins begins by exploring Jews' responsibility for the welfare of others. He goes on to specify the significance of the Golden Rule, following with a chapter on the importance of fairness, humility, flexibility and dignity. Next, Elkins discusses the family, emphasizing the difficulty of finding the right mate, but insisting that it is equally vital to work on maintaining the marital relationship. He also considers connections to parents and children. The penultimate section describes Talmudic views on teaching and learning, stressing the requirement to transmit the Jewish heritage from one generation to the next. Finally, Elkins examines dilemmas humans confront such as the problems of earning a living, rejecting extremism, seeking to grasp too much and recognizing the good things people do despite their imperfections. This introduction to the morality of Judaism contributes significantly to our practical understanding of Talmudic wisdom. (May) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Review "A sturdy craft for sailing the sea of Talmud, and Rabbi Elkins is a fine navigator. His choice of text is solid, his commentary is insightful, and his style is both enlightening and engaging. This is a book to come back to over and again." -- Rabbi Rami Shapiro, author, Ethics of the Sages: Pirke Avot--Annotated & Explained "Clearly and beautifully elucidates important teachings on spiritual concepts like love, charity, kindness and companionship--plus some of life's sticky issues like greed, sin, and belief. A great book for anyone wanting to dip into the pool of Judaism's timeless wisdom." -- Rabbi Elyse Goldstein, editor, The Women's Torah Commentary and The Women's Haftarah Commentary "Filled with wise guidance on the dilemmas humans face every day, mixed with gems from the Jewish tradition. A great book." -- Rabbi Sid Schwarz, founder/president, PANIM: The Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values; author, Judaism and Justice: The Jewish Passion to Repair the World "Wise and accessible, this book shines. Everything you need to know about how to be a `mensch' --a fully evolved, caring human being--is here in this treasure trove of practical inspiration." -- Joan Borysenko, PhD, author, Inner Peace for Busy People About the Author Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins , award-winning anthologist, lecturer, educator and author, is coeditor of the best-selling Chicken Soup for the Jewish Soul . Widely published in the Jewish and general press, he is author of The Wisdom of Judaism: An Introduction to the Values of the Talmud (Jewish Lights), and is editor of Yom Kippur Readings: Inspiration, Information and Contemplation; Rosh Hashanah Readings: Inspiration, Information and Contemplation ; and Jewish Stories from Heaven and Earth: Inspiring Tales to Nourish the Heart and Soul (all Jewish Lights). He is rabbi emeritus of The Jewish Center of Princeton, New Jersey, and a former member of the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards of the Rabbinical Assembly and the Council for Jewish Education. Visit his websites―www.wisdomofjudaism.org and www.eco-judaism.org―for more information. Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins is available to speak on the following topics: A Taste of Eco-Judaism Chicken Soup for the Jewish Soul Shabbat: A Day for the Rest of Your Life Hasidic Wisdom and Modern Psychology A Tale of Two Cities―Jerusalem and Washington DC: The Jewish People's Love Affair with the Holy City Read more