The second installment in the Ariel's Bible Commentary Series. In his action packed, culturally relevant exegesis of the Book of Judges, Dr. Fruchtenbaum opens a portal where formerly unfamiliar names and places come alive with meaning. Armies clash, heroes rise, and human affection for other gods multiplies with soul-numbing impact. We see in his exegesis of the Book of Ruth a contrasting, in-depth picture of life among the true believers living in Bethlehem during this ancient time. These two history books are set in the time when Israel was in the Land but not yet a unified nation. Although God continues to hear the cry of the children of Israel each time they fall away and face turmoil, they fall ever further into spiritual blindness because of their disobedience. Eventually, even the spiritual leaders become immune to their own glaring indifference to God s Word. In all, God sent twelve Judges to save the children of Israel. Seven of these Judges are treated in detail as Israel goes through each cycle of apostasy, oppression, repentance, and salvation by a Judge. The Book of Ruth, an appendix to the Book of Judges, presents enormously touching portraits of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. They are pictured as part of the faithful community of Messianic Jewish believers of their own time, worthy ancestors of King David and the promised King Messiah yet to be revealed.

Hope and Healing for FamiliesOut of his own experience and the experience of many of those he has served in his counseling practice, Richard Cohen sets out a step-by-step plan that offers a path toward renewed family relationships grounded in love, faith and mutual respect."Richard is movingly candid about the brokenness in his own family life, and he's not afraid to get down in the trenches and cry, mourn and laugh with everyone else who struggles. This book offers sound practical advice for healing family relationships."Joseph Nicolosi, author of Reparative Therapy of Male Homosexuality and Preventing Homosexuality: A Parent's Guide"This book helped us go from shock and disbelief to an understanding of what happened to our son who experiences same-sex attractions. It showed us how to develop an action plan to help heal the wounds of his heart . . . and gave us real hope."Bob & Sue"We all want the best for our children. Please read this book and follow Richard's suggestions for building a healthy parent-child relationship, one based on unconditional love and mutual respect."Regina Griggs, national director, PFOX"I enthusiastically recommend Gay Children, Straight Parents as a must-read for every parent facing the difficult discovery of their child's homosexuality. Richard's compassionate approach relieves the stigma and shame often associated with a loved-one's homosexual struggle."Janelle M. Hallman, LPC"A helpful resource for parents who are intentional about loving their children well."Katherine M. Allen, LPC and director, Sought Out, Inc."It is with gratitude to Richard for filling so many voids in the world of healing same-sex attraction, and for his continuing leadership and distinctive insights, that I highly recommend this long-awaited text."Arthur Goldberg, codirector, JONAH, and president, PATH"Words cannot express the gratitude that we feel in our hearts for the incredible enlightenment that we have received from Gay Children, Straight Parents. This book has changed the life of our family and helped our daughter heal from same-sex attractions."Michael & Linda

A fun-filled introduction to the joys of doing good deeds and mitzvot. Join Mitzvah Meerkat and friends as they introduce children to the everyday kindnesses that mark the beginning of a Jewish journey and a lifetime commitment to tikkun olam (repairing the world). Through lively illustrations and playful dialogue, children engage with Jewish wisdom as they share in welcoming new friends, forgiving mistakes, respecting elders, sharing food with the hungry, and much, much more.

Once there was a town called Chelm where there was no luck. If something could go wrong, it did. The roofs of the houses always leaked. The sidewalks were cracked. The gardens grew only weeds. Nothing was ever right. So begins best-selling children's author, Sandy Eisenberg Sasso (nearly 500,000 copies of her books are in print) in this charming, original story inspired by a Jewish folktale.

For fans of All-of-a-Kind Family , here is the true story of how Sarah Brenner, a poor girl from New York City’s Lower East Side, became Sydney Taylor: dancer, actress, and successful children’s book author. Sarah Brenner might have come from an all-of-a-kind family (five sisters who all dressed alike), but she was always one of a kind. Growing up in a Jewish immigrant family on New York’s impoverished Lower East Side, Sarah loved visiting the library, celebrating holidays with her family, and taking free dance classes at the Henry Street Settlement. But she was always aware of things that weren’t fair—whether it was that women couldn’t vote, or how girls were treated in her school, or that her parents had had to leave Europe because they were Jewish. When she grew up, Sarah changed her name to Sydney and became an actress and a dancer, but she never forgot the importance of fighting unfairness, whether it was anti-Semitism at her job or the low wages of workers. And when her daughter complained that it wasn’t fair that there were no books about Jewish children like her, Sydney put pen to paper and wrote a one-of-a-kind children’s book. From well-known Jewish children’s author Richard Michelson, this is the story of how Sarah became Sydney and how she showed children the joy of seeing their culture reflected on the page.

Continuing the adventures of the lovable "fools" of Helm begun in "The Wise Men of Helm", this book is illustrated with whimsical drawings. These humorous stories are just right for children.

One of the greatest gifts we can pass on to our children and our grandchildren is the legacy of faith. In Judaism, this is known as l’dor v’dor, “from generation to generation,” and expresses how faith is passed down from one generation to the next through the holy observances and traditions that happen within the life of the family. In "Generation to Generation," author Yael Eckstein shares the lessons of faith instilled in her by her parents that helped her to persevere following the sudden death of her father, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, and gave her the hope and courage she needed to follow in his footsteps as President and CEO of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. "Generation to Generation" unlocks these holy observances and traditions and reveals the key values each one reinforces. These are the values that Yael Eckstein and her husband are now passing on to their four children, and that will allow you to pass on a strong and living faith to your children and grandchildren.

Here is a book of spiritual adventure. From the miracle at the Red Sea to the miracle of waking up this morning, this intriguing book introduces young people to a way of spiritual thinking to last a lifetime. Kushner, whose award-winning books have brought spirituality to life for countless adults, here reveals the essence of Judaism in a way kids can understand and enjoy. Easy to read and imaginatively illustrated by the author, The Book of Miracles helps young people make--and treasure--the connections between religion, spirituality and everyday life. For parents to read to their children, for children to read to their parents, The Book of Miracles encourages kids' awareness of their own spirituality, and shows young people how to use Judaism as a foundation on which to build their lives.

"Suppose there is something going on in the universe which is to ordinary, everyday reality as our unconcious is to our daily lives? Softly, but unmistakably guiding it. Most of the time, we are unaware of it. Yet, every now and then, on account of some 'fluke, ' we are startled by the results of its presence. We realize we have been part of something with neither consciousness nor consent. It is so sweet--and then it is gone. You say, 'But I don't believe in God.' And I ask, 'What makes you think it matters to God?"' --from Lawrence Kushner, whose previous books have opened up new spiritual possibilities, now tells us stories in a new literary form. Through his everyday encounters with family, friends, colleagues and strangers, Kushner takes us deeply into our lives, finding flashes of spiritual insight in the process. Such otherwise ordinary moments as fighting with his children, shopping for bargain basement clothes, or just watching a movie are revealed to be touchstones for the sacred. This is a book where literature meets spirituality, where the sacred meets the ordinary, and, above all, where people of all faiths, all backgrounds can meet one another and themselves. Kushner ties together the stories of our lives into a roadmap showing how everything "ordinary" is supercharged with meaning--if we can just see it.

A window into the Jewish idea of responsibility to care for the world--written especially for Christians. The concept of repairing the world (tikkun olam) is an integral part of Jewish life. It helps shape Jewish social and family relationships, and even mandates how Jews should speak to others. But why is it important for Christians to understand this Jewish approach to life? And what kind of impact can understanding this fundamental aspect of Judaism have on Christians seeking to develop a deeper understanding of their own faith? With insight and wisdom, award-winning author Rabbi Elliot Dorff provides an accessible, honest and thorough exploration of this important Jewish concept. With easy-to-understand explanations of Jewish terms, practices and history, each chapter explores a different facet touched by the tradition of tikkun olam. Rabbi Dorff also addresses parallel themes and practices in the Christian tradition, helping you better understand the roots of Christianity and how the fundamentals of Judaism relate and reflect your own aspirations to repair the world. Caring for the Poor The Power of Words The Ministry of Presence Duties of Spouses to Each Other Children's Duties to Their Parents Parent's Duties to Their Children The Traditional Jewish Vision of the Ideal World

Mention 1492 and most people conjure up images of three stout ships making their way west. But 1492 was the year in which the vibrant Jewish community of Spain came to an abrupt and tragic end. This book details the expulsion of the Jews from Spain and Portugal and their early immigration to the New World. European anti-Semitism followed the Jews but the newcomers persevered and made a home for themselves in the New World. Starred Review and Editor’s Choice, Booklist, NCCS/CBC Notable Children’s Trade Book and American Bookseller Pick of the Lists, 1990.

". . . a remarkable book. . . . A most penetrating study of education."--Saturday Review of Literature". . . an admirable defense of the critical mind in education . . . Sidney Hook is among the the Children of the Light, that is to say, of the Enlightenment."--Albert Guerard, New York Herald Tribune". . . Mr. Hook has put his finger . . . upon the profound fallacy of most of the current attempts to 'reorganize' higher education . . . exciting reading"--Howard Mumford Jones, New York Times". . . needed by anyone who wishes to have a comprehensive view of the problems of modern education."--Wendell Johnson, Chicago Sun"Sidney Hook brings . . . a new high standard of sanity and clarity. . . . For sheer excellence of logic, and for magic of comprehensiveness, the book is head and shoulders above all recent competitors."--William Randel, St. Louis Post-Dispatch". . . a fine book . . . it has the advantage of Mr. Hook's dissecting mind, operating with the cleanness of a surgical instrument."--Jerome Nathanson, The New Republic"Wisely sane."--John Dewey

In John 5:39 and 46, Yeshua (Jesus) emphatically stated that the Torah was written about Him! Furthermore, in Luke 24:27 and 44-47, He stated that the following truths were prophesied in the Torah, the Prophets and the Psalms: He would suffer, die, be buried in the grave, resurrected, and finally, repentance and remission of sins would be preached in His name among the nations. With Yeshua's statements in mind, would you be able to find one such prophecy? Unfortunately, most who believe that Yeshua is the Messiah are hard pressed to point to any such prophecies. Even so, The Scroll of the Gospel of David will introduce you to an entire world of Messianic prophecy in the Old Testament and will help you understand how the death, burial and resurrection of Yeshua in three days is the most prophesied event in the Old Testament! Tony Robinson is a writer, teacher, worship leader and songwriter who has been involved in Messianic ministry for the past seven years. He graduated from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in chemistry and from Kansas State University with a M.S. in analytical chemistry. He is director of Restoration of Torah Ministries, a non-profit organization established to 1) teach the Hebraic roots of the faith, 2) lead Messianic worship and 3) write Messianic songs that celebrate the Torah. Furthermore, he is author of the web page, Restoration of Torah. The web page contains many articles and a complete set of Torah lessons. He currently attends Beth Abara Hebraic Assembly in Cleveland, TN, and lives in Ringgold, GA, with his wife, Tina, and four children, Sean, Evan, A.J. and Erica. Restoration of Torah Ministries http: //www.restorationoftorah.org [email protected]

'In 1786, Giuseppe Coen presented his bride with an exquisite gift: a book of psalms, blessings, and prayers. The volume focused on the concerns of the married woman, in particular her responsibility to create a Jewish home and bear children. In Out of the Depths I Call to You: A Book of Prayers for the Married Jewish Woman , Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin translates these prayers and provides insightful commentary, bringing to light the essence of Jewish women's liturgical and ritual experiences that have long been overlooked by scholars.' - Women's League Outlook

Our Challenge, published in April 1974, offers a plan to infuse Jewish youth with an iron-clad sense of identity to make them impervious to modern Western influences and strong enough to overcome the weariness of an interminable struggle with the Arabs. Rabbi Kahane maintains that the State of Israel's foreign policy should include its role as the guardian of all Jews throughout the world. The government must realize that there are no permanent allies for Israel among the other nations. Jewish interests come first, no matter what the world may say. He wrote: The great tasks of our day are ... to define clearly and precisely the purpose and destiny of the Jewish people.... Our State must not seek merely to be like all the rest, but a distinctively Jewish one. The Jewish people stands or falls on the knowledge that it is NOT like other people... A review of the book by Rabbi Isaac L. Swift states that it shows "a serious mind grappling with problems of serious magnitude." 19 Professor Arnold Ages noted that Rabbi Kahane's "candor on the question of the Arabs in Israel is refreshing.... Kahane feels that Israel's future depends ultimately on the spiritual regeneration of the Israelis.... If this return to mitzvah Judaism is not accomplished, there is a danger that Israel's people will slip into the quagmire of leftist ideology which inevitably saps the life of a nation." The evaluation in Kirkus Reviews began: "When it comes to righteous wrath, Moses has nothing on Rabbi Kahane. The militant leader of the Jewish Defense League damns the "assimilationist rot" contaminating both young Israeli leftists and the children of Jews in the Diaspora. Strident and uncompromising, he hammers away at his fundamentalist precepts: divine ordinance guides Jewish destiny.... The Arabs are bent on the destruction of Israel; not an inch of the territory conquered in 1967 must be surrendered: only armed might can insure the political survival of the Jewish state." Ever since reading Ha'etgar, I've been amazed as events have proven, over and over, the extent of your foresight. You have a lot to contribute to the Israeli scene, if only as a catalyst.... It may take a while to get used to the Israeli mentality, but you have definitely touched a responsive chord. ... Besides the general need for spreading Jewish values, I think the most important problem you could tackle now is, once more, the problem of "Who is NOT a Jew" - the question of Arab residents of the State of Israel and your program for its solution.... The best thing is to take one issue and get people first to think about it.... Stepping on toes, even intellectual ones, gets action - You've already proven that. Choice, a journal for librarians, stated simply: ... This slim volume presents Kahane's views in their bluntest expression. He believes the Emancipation to have been a failure, trusts only Jewish self-defense, and predicts a coming wave of anti-Semitism in the U.S. Repudiated by the government of Israel and by large sectors of American Jewry, Kahane yet deals with real problems and issues.

The three Kosky children help their parents prepare for and celebrate the beginning of Passover.

Faithwalking In Our Time is a candid autobiographical account of my battle with human injustice. My book begins with an old friend, now known as Deacon Jim, meeting me in an unlikely location--Grafton Correctional--during the summer of l993. From there I provide my account of the events that brought me unjustly into prison. I recount the difficulties with an adopted son, including his eventual accusation of sexual abuse. I attempt to take the reader through the maze of social work froth with racial prejudice, and mental stereotyping. Also included is a background of my life leading up to the criminal charges, along with my courtship and marriage to Diane and the birth of our children. Faithwalking In Our Time seeks to raise awareness of the injustices I encountered which permeate both the social justice system and religious minded individuals. Utilization of detailed descriptions and characterizations enhance the presentation of those themes. The primary theme is, through this desert walk full of horrible experiences and overwhelming odds, I gradually discovered I was traveling this road with God at my side.

Throughout history the heritage of faith has been conveyed within the family and the congregation. In the New Covenant, the primary expression of spiritual life is the congregation, under godly elders, teaching, exhortation, and discipline. However, the first institution in the Bible is the family and only the family can raise children with an adequate appreciation of our faith and heritage. This guide exists to help families learn how to pass on the heritage of spiritual Messianic Jewish life. It is not an exhaustive or fully adequate guide, but is one that each family should complement with their own creativity.

In volume one of this multi-volume series, Marc Ellis explores the essence of the prophetic by intertwining the context of ordinary life and the explosive reality of Jewish identity, the Holocaust and Israel-Palestine. But Ellis's prophetic challenge extends to people of all faiths and backgrounds. For Jews, Christians and Muslims, where does the prophetic come from and how do we define it? Is the heartbeat of the prophetic, God or our own commitment? In our time where belief in God is more difficult does the prophetic suggest only the possibility of God? With or without God is the prophetic worth the suffering that comes the exile's way? Ellis's unfolding narration of the prophetic is unique and probing for those who take life, justice and faith seriously. ""Marc Ellis has demonstrated great courage, integrity, and insight in the very important work he has been doing for years. It has been an inspiration for all of us."" Noam Chomsky ""Marc Ellis is a brilliant writer, a deeply thoughtful and courageous mind, an intellectual who has broken the death-hold of mindless tradition and unreflective cliche to produce a superb account of post-Holocaust understanding with particular reference to the Palestinian people and the moral obligation of Israeli and diaspora Jews. He is a man to be listened to with respect and admiration."" Edward Said ""Anytime I think of my brother Marc Ellis, I think of quiet dignity, spiritual integrity, moral consistency, fierce fortitude, and an unstoppable determination to tell the truth, expose lies, and bear witness."" Cornel West Marc H. Ellis is retired University Professor of Jewish Studies and Director of the Center for Jewish Studies at Baylor University. He is the author and editor of more than twenty books including Toward a Jewish Theology of Liberation, Unholy Alliance: Religion and Atrocity in Our Time a, Future of the Prophetic: Israel's Ancient Wisdom Re-Presented and, Burning Children: A Jewish View of the War in Gaza. Professor Ellis's writings have been translated into more than a dozen languages and he has lectured around the world. Currently he is writing an almost daily commentary series, Exile and the Prophetic, which can be found at mondoweiss.net.

In 1852, the British H.M. troopship Birkenhead foundered. More than 400 men chose to drown or be eaten alive by sharks rather than allow one woman or child to suffer. This is the story of the bravery and heroism that has come to be known as the Birkenhead drill. - Cover. The British H.M. Troopship Birkenhead was the crowning glory of her generation. The first iron-hulled vessel of war, she was believed to be unusually resilient and seaworthy. On the night of February 26, 1852, she was sailing for the coast of South Africa with about 638 men, women, and children aboard, including a large contingent of military reinforcements for the troops engaged in the Kaffir Wars. At about 2:00 a.m., the vessel struck a ledge off Cape Danger. Twenty minutes later, she was submerged. Before she sank, an important decision was made. The men would sacrifice their lives for the women and children. They would willingly die rather than even possibly capsize the overloaded boats on which the women and children sought refuge. Over the next few hours, wives and children watched as their loved ones drowned or were consumed by man-eating sharks engaged in a wild feeding frenzy. The heroism of these men not only established the maritime principle of "women and children first," but served to inspire generations of men and women to stand by the ancient Christian principles of heroic manhood