5053 results for "Biography"

The Maiden of Ludmir: a Jewish holy woman and her world

Deutsch, Nathaniel
Hannah Rochel Verbermacher, a Hasidic holy woman known as the Maiden of Ludmir, was born in early-nineteenth-century Russia and became famous as the only woman in the three-hundred-year history of Hasidism to function as a rebbe—or charismatic leader—in her own right. Nathaniel Deutsch follows the traces left by the Maiden in both history and legend to fully explore her fascinating story for the first time. The Maiden of Ludmir offers powerful insights into the Jewish mystical tradition, into the Maiden’s place within it, and into the remarkable Jewish community of Ludmir. Her biography ultimately becomes a provocative meditation on the complex relationships between history and memory, Judaism and modernity. History first finds the Maiden in the eastern European town of Ludmir, venerated by her followers as a master of the Kabbalah, teacher, and visionary, and accused by her detractors of being possessed by a dybbuk, or evil spirit. Deutsch traces the Maiden’s steps from Ludmir to Ottoman Palestine, where she eventually immigrated and re-established herself as a holy woman. While the Maiden’s story—including her adamant refusal to marry—recalls the lives of holy women in other traditions, it also brings to light the largely unwritten history of early-modern Jewish women. To this day, her transgressive behavior, a challenge to traditional Jewish views of gender and sexuality, continues to inspire debate and, sometimes, censorship within the Jewish community.
University of California Press 2003-10-06 310 pages

Yes to Ron Paul and Liberty

Walter E. Block
Earlier this year, 2012, I published a book with Ishi Press entitled, Ron Paul for President in 2012: Yes to Ron Paul and Liberty. That book title has been overtaken by the press of events. I write, now, on August 31, 2012, and Mitt Romney has just been chosen as the standard bearer for the GOP in the upcoming November election. I persist in believing that had the Republican Party played fair, to say nothing of the mainstream media, Dr. Paul might have had a real chance to beat Governor Romney for that nomination. If Paul had won the GOP nomination, I still maintain that the Congressman from Texas would have easily overwhelmed President Barack Obama in the fall vote. Recent head to head surveys between the two resulted in a dead heat. My thought is that when the Obama voters realize that Paul stands with them on peace, on legalization of drugs, on opposition to bail outs to those to the fat cat crony capitalists who are “too big to fail,” on the closure of Guantanamo, on personal liberties, there would not have been much of a contest between the two of them. But this is not to be. So, I am coming out with another book, exactly like the previous one, except for this preface to what might be considered the second edition of that publication, and also except for the change in title. This new book is now entitled: Yes to Ron Paul and Liberty. Did Ron Paul fail in his presidential bid? When the Republican primaries began, these were the candidates: Michele Bachman, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, John Huntsman, Gary Johnson, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty, Rick Perry, Buddy Roemer, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. Guess who, after a long grueling contest, were the last two standing? Despite the fact that Ron Paul was the last one to leave the race, obviously, yes, he “failed.” He received more votes from Democrats and Independents than any other person in the primary race, and more financial contributions from members of our armed forces, but Dr. Ron Paul will still not be on the November ballot. So why publish this “new” book? Because our beloved rEVOLution goes on. Ron Paul will continue to expose millions of Americans, and billions of people all around the world, to the evils of imperialistic war-mongering, to the mischief of the Federal Reserve System, to the benefits of true free market capitalism. He will again and again make the case in favor of Austrian economics, the gold standard and private property rights. He will demonstrate, again and again and yet again, the evils of the National Defense Authorization Ac, of murdering American citizens without a trial, of water boarding, of indefinite detention. He will defend whistle blowers such as Bradley Manning and Julian Assange. He will make the case that the war on drugs is no more justified, nor pragmatic, than alcohol prohibition. He will make the case that American troops in 900 foreign military bases in some 140 different countries does not at all constitute “defense”; that had any other country done anything like this, we would all see it for the imperialism that it really is. He will convince people that the best course of action is to “legalize freedom.”
Ishi Press International 2012-09 396 pages

Stanley K. Sheinbaum A 20th Century Knight's Quest for Peace, Civil Liberties and Economic Justice : a Memoir

Stanley K. Sheinbaum,William A. Meis
The memoir of an exceptional man who began life as an unexceptional young boy growing up on the Upper East Side of Manhattan when the Crash of 1929 brought disaster, but whose later life reads like a chronicle of major events of the late 20th century. Secret CIA involvement in Vietnam, running for Congress, organizing Daniel Ellsberg's defense for the Pentagon Papers trial, engineering freedom for Andreas Papandreou jailed by a Greek military junta about to execute him. He married Betty Warner, daughter of Harry Warner of Warner Bros., then he and Betty became the nexus of a powerful group of liberal Hollywood notablesessential to the campaigns of Eugene McCarthy, George McGovern, Bill Clinton and so many others. Stanley personally committed to seeking peace in the Middle East and was vilified for his contacts with Yassar Arafat which led to the Oslo Accords. He later became president of the Los Angeles Police Commission and was instrumental in removing the infamous L.A.police chief, Daryl Gates. Includes numerous photos of significant events and the people who made them so. "Stanley has devoted his life to the preservation of our most cherished personal freedoms. He has worked for civil liberties for Americans and advanced the cause of human rights abroad" - President Bill Clinton "Stanley Sheinbaum, a man beloved by all straight-thinking people who know him." - Jane Fonda "Stanley has witnessed history up close and personal, leaving an indelible mark on some of the most defining political moments of our time. He is fortunate to have lived a life filled with intellectual curiosity, generosity, and wit." - Barbra Streisand "He's addicted to fairness and justice. All of us start off as the proverbial grain of sand on the beach of life. In that context, Stanley Sheinbaum has moved mountains." - Norman Lear "Stanley is a fearless activist, a genuinely honest and humble student of what is going on and smart as hell." - Warren Beatty
Fairtree 2011 181 pages

Modigliani Man and Myth (Classic Reprint)

Jeanne Modigliani
Excerpt from Modigliani: Man and Myth Certificate of the Institute of 'fine Arts, Venice The Bateau Lavoir, Montmartre, Paris Passage de l'elysée des Beaux Arts. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
1kg Limited 2018-10-03 302 pages