Wisdom, solace and inspiration from Jewish tradition to bring you hope and healing after loss. "Mourning can open doors you may not have imagined before your life was shaken by loss. This book provides keys to those doors and a way into the rooms beyond them. Whether you stand at grief's threshold or give counsel to someone who does, this book can offer guidance.... With words of wisdom, ranging from comforting to provocative, each author stands at the entrance to one of mourning's doors, extending a hand to offer the key you will need, inviting you into one of these deep conversations." --from the Preface by Rabbi Anne Brener, LCSW Beloved and respected spiritual leaders from across the Jewish denominational spectrum share insights from their experience, Jewish tradition and their personal encounters with grief and healing. This wide range of perspectives, offered with grace and compassion, will be a treasured resource in your time of grief. Whether mourning a recent loss or experiencing pain from old scars, you will be encouraged and challenged to be fully, vulnerably present to your emotions; forgive your own shortcomings and those of others; and remain open to love despite pain and uncertainty. Contributors: Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, DHL - Rabbi Anne Brener, LCSW - Dr. Norman J. Cohen - Rabbi Mike Comins - Rabbi David A. Cooper - Rabbi Rachel Cowan - Rabbi Edward Feinstein - Rabbi Nancy Flam - Rabbi Lori Forman-Jacobi - Rabbi Dayle A. Friedman, MSW, MA, BCC - Debbie Friedman - Rabbi Nancy Fuchs-Kreimer, PhD - Nan Fink Gefen, PhD - Rabbi Neil Gillman, PhD - Rabbi Edwin Goldberg, DHL - Rabbi Arthur Green, PhD - Dr. David Hartman - Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD - Rabbi Margaret Holub - Rabbi Karyn D. Kedar - Rabbi Lawrence Kushner - Rabbi Maurice Lamm - Rabbi Naomi Levy - Rabbi David Lyon - Rabbi Joseph B. Meszler - Rabbi James L. Mirel - Rabbi Kerry M. Olitzky - Rabbi Daniel F. Polish, PhD - Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso - Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis - Rabbi Dannel I. Schwartz - Rabbi Elie Kaplan Spitz - Rabbi Rami Shapiro - Rachel Josefowitz Siegel - Rabbi Shira Stern, DMin, BCC - Rabbi Nancy Wechsler-Azen - Karen Bonnell Werth - Rabbi Nancy H. Wiener, DMin - Dr. Ron Wolfson - Rabbi Sheldon Zimmerman For use by individuals as well as in groups or counseling settings.

"Some losses are so subtle they go unnoticed, some so overwhelming and cruel they seem unbearable. Coping with grief and experiencing loss overwhelms us in ways that seem both hopeless and endless. In painful moments like these, we must make a choice: Will we allow the difficulties we face to become forces of destruction in our lives, or will we find a way to begin learning from loss, transforming our suffering into a source of strength? A theologian with the heart of a poet, Rabbi David Wolpe explores the meaning of loss, and the way we can use its inevitable appearance in our lives as a source of strength rather than a source of despair. In this national bestseller, Wolpe creates a remarkably fluid account of how we might find a way out of overwhelming feelings of helplessness and instead begin understanding grief in all its forms and learn to create meaning in difficult times"--

Valuable insights into marriage and married life. This book presents, in brief form, the psychology and philosophy of the laws of Jewish family purity. A revised and expanded edition.

This revised edition of The Way of Kabbalah with its enriched diagrams opens up in ancient, medieval and modern terms the inner teaching of Kabbalah. Using the Bible, metaphysics and esoteric psychology, the Way is set out for the aspirant to approach the path of development and Self-realisation. The relationship between the body, psyche and spirit to the Divine is shown in the context of the Kabbalistic tradition and how it is relevant to the present. This will enable one to observe the various interior processes that raise the centre of gravity of consciousness up through the seven levels of the mind and into the Halls of Heaven. From here a wider and deeper view of Existence and our place in it can be seen. Here begins a new phase sequence that can change a whole life as one's individual purpose is revealed and may be fulfilled.

"Focusing on a deep metaphysical interpretation of the Torah, Torah as a Guide to Enlightenment presents, for the first time, the original intention of the Jewish tradition: an explicit guide to liberation from the mystical Jewish enlightenment point of view"--Provided by publisher.

Using Jungian and Freudian psychology, the author illuminates the many psychological processes that relate to the structure and dynamics of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. Includes issue encountered by the developing individual, as well as those of madness and pure mystical experience. Formerly titled KABBALAH AND PSYCHOLOGY.

"Why is low self-esteem such a pervasive issue in our generation? What is the Torah approach to balancing humility with embracing one's talents and strengths? Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski, zt"l, renowned for his Torah wisdom, was a master in the complex dynamics of human psychology. His classic work Let us make man offers insights into the root causes of low self-esteem, expertly blending Torah concepts with psychological understanding. In its pages, readers will find practical guidance for overcoming the challenges of self-defeatism and unlocking their true potential."--Page [4] of cover.

Book by Steinberg, Milton

Sovereignty over the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is one of the most difficult problems in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Although it is a present-day bone of contention, its roots go back into the distant past. Israelites, Christians, and Muslims had fought over this holy site, and built on it a succession of shrines. The book leads the reader into the intricate history, geography, and politics of this unique site. It relates the roots of its holiness, describes the succession of temples built on it, and explains how in the twentieth century its sanctity become interwined with the national aspirations of both Jews and Arabs. It explains why the Temple Mount is considered the holiest site for the Jews, and how it became holy also to the Muslims. The book also explores the role of evangelical Christians, who, alongside a segment of the Jewish population, see the Temple Mount as the center of messianic aspirations, fed by the myriad of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim legends and myths which evolved around it. The book is richly illustrated with photographs, sketches, maps, and plans.

It’s sad, isn’t it, that so many people deny the obvious in so many spheres of life. Just as the beginning of knowledge is the acknowledgment that there is much to learn, so the beginning of personal fulfillment is the knowledge that one must improve, can improve, and that there are ways to do what only seems to be impossible, but isn’t. Even sadder is that many people assume that self-mastery and character development are natural by-products of scholarship and observance, that self-improvement will emerge without effort. The Sages of the Talmud knew better. They said, “Who is strong? He who subdues his personal inclination,” for to master one’s passion is better than to conquer a city. And it is harder, as well. They recognized and preached that one must never rest, lest he lose the battle, just as the conqueror of a city must remain ever vigilant. The battle to elevate and ennoble oneself must be ongoing. And the Sages also taught how to win the victory. How? For that one must understand the mystery of the soul, plumb the teachings of the Sages, and heed the counsel of the masters of Chassidus and Mussar, the great artists of personal refinement. A person who incorporates all that plus a thorough knowledge of modern psychiatry and psychology is a rare and priceless human treasure. Such a person is Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D., Torah scholar, psychiatrist and ranking expert in the treatment of substance abuse. In this wise and valuable book, he demolishes the fears and shibboleths that bar the way to mental health for countless good and sincere people. He shows that the principles for today’s most successful techniques for self-improvement are found in the Torah, as expounded by its greatest teachers. Warmly, compassionately, engagingly, he draws us into his world of health, happiness and fulfillment. This is a book for everyone. It is enriching and uplifting. Most of all, it will put its readers on the road to personal success.

Few luminaries in Jewish history, particularly in modern times, have made such a lasting and profound contribution to our spiritual heritage as Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812). His works embrace the entire spectrum of Jewish thought - mysticism, philosophy, psychology, ethics and law - and represent an expression of unparalled creative genius.This richly detailed biography traces Rabbi Schneur Zalman's life from his childhood and formative years to his trials and triumph as a leader who revolutionized Jewish life. It reveals many hitherto unknown facts, and offers the reader considerable insight into his extraordinary strength of character. Vilified by many of his contemporaries and arrested by the Czar, Rabbi Schneur Zalman emerged victorious; today his teachings continue to inspire and vitalize Jewish life all over the world.

This revised edition of The Anatomy of Fate, with its additional pictures, captions and diagrams, sets out the philosophy of astrology. This tradition dates back to Ur of the Chaldees, the home of Abraham the father of Kabbalah, the Jewish mystical line. Applying celestial symbols and archetypal images, the metaphysical background to this ancient form of psychology, human development and cosmic reality fuses the medieval version into a modern comprehension of a profound esoteric system. It is one thing to interpret a birth chart but another to perceive what astrology is really about.

Contemplation is a working method for expanding the mind and deepening one's understanding of Existence. The kabbalistic diagrams called the Tree of Life and Jacob's Ladder set out a metaphysical framework for examining a wide range of themes in this book. As well as considering macrocosmic aspects of the universe, we focus on the crucial role of Self-development in the evolution of humanity in terms of religion, psychology, astrology and schools of the soul. Kabbalistic Contemplations contains short chapters together with a diagram or an image to illustrate each topic. As such, these are designed to be used as a basis for further contemplation in both individual and group work.

"Jewish Cultural Studies charts the contours and boundaries of Jewish cultural studies and the issues of Jewish culture that make it so intriguing-and necessary-not only for Jews but also for students of identity, ethnicity, and diversity generally. In addition to framing the distinguishing features of Jewish culture and the ways it has been studied, and often misrepresented and maligned, Simon J. Bronner presents several case studies using ethnography, folkloristic interpretation, and rhetorical analysis. Bronner, building on many years of global cultural exploration, locates patterns, processes, frames, and themes of events and actions identified as Jewish to discern what makes them appear Jewish and why. Jewish Cultural Studies is divided into three parts. Part 1 deals with the conceptualization of how Jews in complex, heterogenous societies identify themselves as a cultural group to non-Jews and vice versa-such as how the Jewish home is socially and materially constructed. Part 2 delves into ritualization as a strategic Jewish practice for perpetuating peoplehood and the values that it suggests-for example, the rising popularity of naming ceremonies for newborn girls, simhat bat or zeved habat, in the twenty-first century. Part 3 explores narration, including the global transformation of Jewish joking in online settings and the role of Jews in American political culture. Bronner reflects that a reason to separate Jewish cultural studies from the fields of Jewish studies and cultural studies is the distinctiveness of Jewish culture among other ethnic experiences. As a diasporic group with religious ties and varying local customs, Jews present difficulties of categorization. He encourages a multiperspectival approach that considers the Jewish double consciousness as being aware of both insider and outsider perspectives, participation in ancient tradition and recent modernization, and the great variety and stigmatization of Jewish experience and cultural expression. Students and scholars in Jewish studies, cultural studies, ethnic-religious studies, folklore, sociology, psychology, and ethnology are the intended audience for this book"--

Break the Surface of Spiritual Boredom to Find the Reservoir of Meaning Within We need to be bored. When we get bored and take responsibility for our boredom, we arrive at a new level of interest, introspection, or action that has been stirred by the very creativity used to keep boredom away. The relationship between boredom and creativity is far from accidental. Creative minds are often stimulated by boredom, regarding it as a brain rest until the next great idea looms on the horizon of the otherwise unoccupied mind. from Chapter 10 Boredom is a crisis of our age. In religious terms, boredom is sapping spirituality of its mystical and wholesome benefits, slowly corroding our ability to recognize blessing and beauty in our lives, to experience wonder and awe. What happens when our need for constant newness minimizes our interest in prayer, learning, and the mysteries of nature? This intriguing look at spiritual boredom helps you understand just what this condition is, particularly as it relates to Judaism, and what the absence of inspiration means to the present and future of the Jewish tradition. Drawing insights from psychology, philosophy, and theology as well as ancient Jewish texts, Dr. Erica Brown explores the many ways boredom manifests itself within Judaismin the community, classroom, and synagogueand shows its potentially powerful cultural impact on a faith structure that advises sanctifying time, not merely passing it.

Soul Prints speaks to all listeners, regardless of religious beliefs or practices. Using the power of myth--Biblical and folk--and drawing on his own personal highs and lows, Gafni offers advice on how to form bonds based in truth and love.

University professor and social activist Tova Hartman, discouraged by failed attempts to make her modern Orthodox synagogue in Jerusalem more inclusive of women, together with other worshippers, set about creating their own own, Shira Hadasha ("a new song"). Since it opened in 2002, this new synagogue's mission-to develop a religious community that embraces halakhah (Jewish law), tefillah (prayer), and feminism-has drawn thousands to services. The courageous act of creating the synagogue-against amazing odds-is testimony to Hartman's own deeply felt commitment to both feminism and modern Orthodox Judaism.The story of the creation and ongoing development of similar"partnership minyans" in Jerusalem and elsewhere anchors and ties together this book's five essays, each of which explores a vital contact point between contemporary feminist thought and aspects of Jewish tradition. Hartman discusses three feminist analyses of Freudian psychology for reading Jewish texts; modesty and the religious male gaze; the backlash against feminism by traditional rabbis; the male imagery in liturgy; and Orthodox women and purity rituals. Throughout, Hartman emphasizes the importance of reinterpretation, asking her readers to view as "creative tensions" what seem like obvious and insurmountable contradictions between traditional and modern beliefs. Such tensions can offer unexpected connections as well as painful compromises. The conclusion revisits the construction of the synagogue as well as discusses its impediments and actualizing these types of social and religious changes. Hartman's book will speak directly to scholars and students of gender, religion, and psychology, as well as anyone interested in the negotiation of feminism and tradition.

Problems that require resolution from a Halachic perspective are not infrequent, and there is certainly no dearth of dilemmas that should be addressed from a psychological standpoint. However, many problems involve both - and, although much has been written on psychologic-halachic issues, there has been little, if any, example of practical application. Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D., an eminent psychiatrist who is well versed in halachah, has broad experience in both realms, and in their combined applications. In this book, he makes available some of his case material demonstrating an integrated approach to these sometimes thorny issues. Dr. Twerski's lucid responses to questions on specific life situations provide guidelines that can be of much broader relevance. Because he is convinced that most life-adjustment difficulties are the result of a distorted self-perception, with consequent low self-esteem, Dr. Twerski has prefaced his responses with several chapters on the vital role of a personal identity - hence the title, I am I. More than a fascinating review of other people's difficulties and their solutions, this is a book filled with insights that will enlighten countless people about themselves and the world around them. It is an invaluable contribution to self-knowledge in the light of Torah and psychology. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D., is a descendant of the founders of the Chassidic movement, whose philosophy he embraces and applies in his psychiatric practice. An ordained Rabbi, Dr. Twerski is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pitttsburgh School of Medicine and founder and Medical Director of Gateway Rehabilitation Center, Pittsburgh, Pa. Dr. Twerski's earlier works, Living Each Day, Living Each Week, Growing Each Day, and Smiling Each Day, have established his position as a Torah scholar who possesses psychological insights that enhance application of Torah principles to everyday life.