Hillel
Subtitle: if not now, when?
By: Joseph Telushkin
Edition: 1st ed.
Series: Jewish encounters; Jewish encounters
Publisher: Nextbook; Schocken
Published: 2010
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 243
ISBN-13: 9780805242812
Subjects: Teachings; Jewish ethics; Beth Hillel and Beth Shammai
Description: "What is hateful unto you, do not do unto your neighbor. That is the whole Torah, all the rest is commentary. Now, go and study." This is the most famous teaching of Hillel, one of the greatest rabbis of the Talmudic era. Hillel's teachings, stories, and legal rulings can be found throughout the Talmud; many of them share his emphasis on ethical and moral living as an essential element in Jewish religious practice. Perhaps the most prominent rabbi and teacher in the Land of Israel during the reign of Herod, Hillel may well have influenced Jesus, his junior by several decades. In a provocative analysis of both Judaism and Christianity, Telushkin reveals why Hillel's teachings about ethics as God's central demand, and his willingness to encourage converts to Judaism, began to be ignored in favor of the stricter and less inclusive teachings of his adversary, Shammai.--From publisher description.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.
Table of contents: title: Part 1 : "While standing on one foot" : the unique teaching of Hillel. Hillel, the most ardent of students ; Hillel's rise to leadership ; "While standing on one foot" ; Hillel and the three converts ; Repairing the world ; Five traits; title: Part 2 : Hillel versus Shammai : the Talmud's most famous adversaries. Hillel the interpreter, Shammai the literalist ; Thieves, brides, and when lying is a virtue ; Issues regarding women ; Shammai beyond stereotype ; Two Torahs : deciding between Hillel and Shammai; title: Part 3 : Hillel and Jesus. The Jewish sage and the Christian Messiah; title: Part 4 : Lessons from the first century for the twenty-first century; title: and beyond. "Teach everyone" : outreach in the first century ; "The highly impatient person cannot teach" : for today's teachers and parents ; "One who is bashful will never learn" : why it is essential to question ; "Do not say, 'when I have [free] time, I will study,' lest you never have [free] time" : the eternal challenge ; "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And if I am [only] for myself, what am I?" : passionate moderation ; Final thoughts : why we need Hillel now more than ever.