Philosophy

The earliest rabbinic commentary to the Book of Leviticus, the Sifra, is generally considered an exemplum of Rabbi Akiva's intensely scriptural school of interpretation. But, Azzan Yadin-Israel contends, the Sifra commentary exhibits two distinct layers of interpretation that bring dramatically different assumptions to bear on the biblical text: earlier interpretations accord with the hermeneutic principles associated with Rabbi Ishmael, the other major school of early rabbinic midrash, while later additions subtly alter hermeneutic terminology and formulas, resulting in an engagement with Scripture that is not interpretive at all. Rather, the midrashic terminology in the Sifra's anonymous passages is part of what Yadin-Israel calls a hermeneutic of camouflage, aimed at presenting oral traditions as though they were Scripture-based injunctions.

Scripture and Tradition offers a radical rereading of the Sifra and its authorship, with far-reaching ramifications for our understanding of rabbinic literature as a whole. Using this new understanding of the Sifra as his starting point, Yadin-Israel demonstrates a two fold break in the portrayal of Rabbi Akiva: hermeneutically, the sober midrashist who appeared in earlier rabbinic sources is transformed into an inspired, oracular interpreter of Scripture in the Babylonian Talmud; while the biographically unremarkable sage is recast as a youthful ignoramus who came to Torah study late in life. The dual transformations of Rabbi Akiva--like the Sifra's hermeneutic of camouflage--are motivated by an ideological shift toward a greater emphasis on scriptural authority and away from received traditions, an insight that sheds new light on the vexing question of midrash and oral tradition in rabbinic sources. Through this close examination of a notoriously difficult text, Scripture and Tradition recovers a vital piece of the history of Jewish thought.

Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra is one of the most important Jewish personalities of all time. Aside from being a Bible commentator of great consequence, his works in Jewish philosophy - though less famous - impacted many of his successors, including Maimonides' Guide for the Perplexed, Nahmanides, and Rabbi Joseph Albo, as well as the Jewish mystics and Kabbalists. The Yesod Mora is one of the first books of Jewish philosophy written in Hebrew, which blazed the trail for philosophy to enter those parts of the Jewish world that were unfamiliar with Arabic.

Highlights of Ibn Ezra's Yesod Mora include

This edition of Yesod Mora is based on a version originally published in 1995, with additional notes and critical analysis. The original Hebrew text has been supplied as well.

Editor, interpreter, and translator H. Norman Strickman is Rabbi emeritus of the Marine Park Jewish Center in Brooklyn and is a Professor emeritus of Jewish Studies at Touro College in New York City. He earned his ordination from Rabbi Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik and Rabbi Dr. Samuel Belkin of Yeshiva University. Dr. Strickman received his B.A. and M.H.L. degrees from Yeshiva University, and his Ph.D. from Dropsie University.

From the team that brought us the bestselling classics Mesillas Yesharim and Shaarei Teshuvah comes another monumental work, Shaar HaBitachon of Chovos HaLevavos. The Jaffa Edition Shaar HaBitachon of Chovos HaLevavos includes: Phrase-by-phrase translation, in the format of the Schottenstein Talmud, the Sapirstein Rashi, and Ramban, which shows us the richness and depth of the sefer, a classic work of both mussar and Torah hashkafah. Extensive explanatory notes, based on a broad range of commentaries, as well as Torah and mussar classics, give us a deeper understanding of this classic work. The unique Insights section brings the words of Shaar HaBitachon into our lives, showing us how we can live in tranquility when we fully trust in Hashem's goodness - and how to achieve that trust.

Song of Riddles is an inquiry into the meaning behind the metaphors that animate the Song of Songs, based on a wide range of source materials and scholarship. The core question prompting this inquiry into the Song of Songs is whether, given the opaque literary confines of the text, it is possible to access the Song's intended subtext, using the text itself as a guide in uncovering its underlying theological message. The nexus between metaphor and meaning in the Song lies at the point at which the three planes of dream-fantasies, riddles, and love wisdom intersect. Understanding how the Song functions simultaneously on these independent trajectories is the first step toward arriving at the concealed meaning of the Song's seemingly impenetrable metaphors.
The research presented in this book demonstrates the Song to be part of the rare literary genre of riddles and points to the two lovers in the Song as hinting to the Temple keruvim. These angelic figurines were the sequestered keepers of the Holy Ark and the Divine law, as well as the representatives of the nation of Israel before the Divine presence. The approach to understanding the Song presented in Song of Riddles seamlessly and authentically merges the traditional rabbinic allegorical approach to the Song with the plain sense of the text.

Song of Riddles is an inquiry into the meaning behind the metaphors that animate the Song of Songs, based on a wide range of source materials and scholarship. The core question prompting this inquiry into the Song of Songs is whether, given the opaque literary confines of the text, it is possible to access the Song's intended subtext, using the text itself as a guide in uncovering its underlying theological message. The nexus between metaphor and meaning in the Song lies at the point at which the three planes of dream-fantasies, riddles, and love wisdom intersect. Understanding how the Song functions simultaneously on these independent trajectories is the first step toward arriving at the concealed meaning of the Song's seemingly impenetrable metaphors.
The research presented in this book demonstrates the Song to be part of the rare literary genre of riddles and points to the two lovers in the Song as hinting to the Temple keruvim. These angelic figurines were the sequestered keepers of the Holy Ark and the Divine law, as well as the representatives of the nation of Israel before the Divine presence. The approach to understanding the Song presented in Song of Riddles seamlessly and authentically merges the traditional rabbinic allegorical approach to the Song with the plain sense of the text.

Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaKohen Kook's seminal work on repentance, Oros HaTeshuvah, is recognized as a classic of Jewish thought but has, because of its difficult language and its theological depth, remained inaccessible to many. This book presents readers with the original Hebrew text of Oros HaTeshuvah with a new translation into English, as well as expert commentary in English from Rabbi Moshe Weinberger. Weinberger draws on his extensive knowledge of Jewish philosophical and inspirational literature to provide profound, moving, and fresh insights into the text, richly explicating the ideas in Oros HaTeshuvah in an accessible and clear but not superficial manner. Readers will come away with a firm grasp on the profound truth at the heart of Kook's classic work: that teshuvah--repentance--is not a somber process of self-deprivation but a joyful journey back to God and to the core of each individual. This volume covers chapters 14 through 17 of Oros HaTeshuvah and is the final volume in this series.

In a time where radical and extreme religion threatens to destroy the entire world, Rav Kook's spiritual revolution provides a much needed answer, combining a deep love of God with an uncompromising compassion for all human beings Rav Kook (1865-1935) was one of the most spiritual and open minded leaders in all of Jewish history. He combined a deep love of God with an uncompromising compassion for all of human beings.

A person who reads the writings of Rav Kook will discover a man who rejected superficial labels of religious verses secular, right wing verses left wing. Rav Kook was one of the most spiritual and open minded thinkers in modern Jewish history. God's presence in the world was so real to Rav Kook that he believed spirituality must focus on the transformation of the individual, the nation, humanity, and all of existence.

Rav Kook (1865-1935) was one of the most influential thinkers in Jewish history, but his revolutionary writings are mostly unknown to the general public. This book contains many new and accessible translations, as well as an in-depth spiritual biography. Each chapter is introduced and broken up into a variety of topics, including the individual, Torah, God, teshuvah, prayer, creativity, Zionism, science, and vegetarianism.

One of the most unexpected and provocative critiques of Spinoza comes from Leo Strauss.
Strauss grew up in a nominally Orthodox home and emigrated from Germany to the United States in the 1930s. He taught at the University of Chicago and was one of the most influential political philosophers of the twentieth century until his death in 1973.

Though Strauss was not an Orthodox Jew, in a well-known essay that prefaced his study of Spinoza, he critically examines modern philosophy's challenge to traditional religion. There he argues that while the Enlightenment had failed to decisively refute Orthodoxy, at the same time, Orthodoxy could only claim to believe its core tenets were true but could not claim to know they were true. Strauss leaves the question at an impasse; both the Enlightenment and Orthodoxy rest on axioms that neither side can fully prove or fully refute.

Curiously, Strauss never asks Orthodox Jewish thinkers if his approach to defending Judaism against the claims of the Enlightenment is the same as theirs. This volume poses the question to a group of serious Orthodox Jewish thinkers in an attempt to find out if Orthodoxy has a better answer to the questions raised by Strauss than the one Strauss advanced on its behalf.

The seventeen essays in this volume use a variety of approaches, drawing on traditional primary Jewish sources like Scripture, Talmud, and Midrash; medieval rationalists like Maimonides; Enlightenment-era Orthodox sources; Jewish mystical writings like Kabbalah and Chasidut; modern philosophical movements including postmodernism and analytic philosophy; and contemporary Jewish Bible interpretation. While the answers differ, what unites these essays is the willingness to take Strauss' question seriously and to provide "inside" answers, that is, answers given by Orthodox Jews.

Much of modern thought tries to square the circle of how to live in a world without belief. The better question is whether it is possible to recover authentic religious belief in the modern world. This volume is an Orthodox Jewish attempt to answer that question, one that no serious person can approach with indifference.

"Full of investigative chutzpah and laughter, poetic like a bird flapping its wings, and sensual like a man loudly enjoying his meal...mixing British wit and Talmudic subtleties."
Die Weltwoche (Switzerland) The Taming of the Jew, Israel's number one best-selling e-book, is Tuvia Tenenbom's funniest and most disturbing book to date. For months on end, Tuvia roamed through the four nations that make up the United Kingdom Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales. He interacted with anyone and everyone who came his way throughout his journey: from the terrifying ghosts long dead to the highly esteemed lords and baronesses very much alive, most of whom happened to be anti-Semites. But that's not all. While wandering around, Tuvia caught a nap in Winston Churchill's room, curled up in Hillary Clinton's European bed, played cat-and-mouse with the most infamous British politician, Jeremy Corbyn, and enjoyed excellent tobacco with the Brexit architect, Nigel Farage. In between, he drank the blackest of coffees with a well-known bank robber, maintained close contact with an eagle, swallowed a monster, and chatted with Jewish leaders who fervently defended every anti-Semite in Her Majesty's Kingdom.

An explanation of the mitzvah of tefillin. Includes photos of tefillin being made and how they should be worn.