Books

When A Return to Modesty was first published in 1999, its argument launched a worldwide discussion about the possibility of innocence and romantic idealism. Wendy Shalit was the first to systematically critique the "hook-up" scene and outline the harms of making sexuality so public.

Today, with social media increasingly blurring the line between public and private life, and with child exploitation on the rise, the concept of modesty is more relevant than ever. Updated with a new preface that addresses the unique problems facing society now, A Return to Modesty shows why "the lost virtue" of modesty is not a hang-up that we should set out to cure, but rather a wonderful instinct to be celebrated.

A Return to Modesty is a deeply personal account as well as a fascinating intellectual exploration into everything from seventeenth-century manners to the 1948 tune "Baby, It's Cold Outside." Beholden neither to social conservatives nor to feminists, Shalit reminds us that modesty is not prudery, but a natural instinct--and one that may be able to save us from ourselves.

A Sephardic Passover Haggadah
With Translation and Commentary Prepared by
Rabbi Marc D. Angel
Translation and commentary by Rabbi Marc D. Angel includes a running commentary drawn from the teachings of Sephardic sages throughout the generations.

“Can you share a quick dvar Torah?”

Have you ever been asked this question but were at a loss for something to say?

Now you can speak with confidence to any audience while keeping it short and sweet!

A Splash of Torah is perfect for anyone looking to deliver a short and inspiring insight on the Parashah.

Product Description

Day after day. Week after week. Year after year. Neshamah after neshamah -- Rabbi Meir Schuster was at the Kosel, the Central Bus Station, the Hebrew University campus, searching for people who were searching for meaning -- and bringing them to places where they would find it.

He was the most unlikely of outreach professionals. He was shy, tongue-tied, inarticulate and decidedly “uncool.” And yet, more than almost anyone, he brought Jews -- thousands, perhaps tens of thousands -- back to their Torah heritage.

A Tap on the Shoulder brings us the stories (so many stories!) of the young men and women who traded their backpacks for Torah. It brings to life a magical moment, the decades when searching youth found meaning and a “baal teshuvah movement” was born.

A Tap on the Shoulder shows us how one man -- with absolute dedication, boundless caring, and almost unbelievable siyata d’Shmaya -- can change the world. One neshamah at a time.

The stunning, full-color photography and clear, easy-to-read layout are a treat for the eyes; while delicious, mouthwatering recipes are a treat for the palate.

Using familiar ingredients, A Taste of Pesach offers fabulous, easy-to-prepare recipes and gourmet presentations that family and friends will find irresistible on Pesach and year round.

A Taste of Pesach incorporates timeless classics that have been used for generations and modern cuisine to present a cookbook that appeals to young and old alike.

These are recipes that you will love to cook, serve and enjoy year after year.

On both Purim and Chanukah, we were threatened by an enemy that struck at our core values. The Amaleki championed the world view of mikreh - haphazardness, and the Yevanim dared to suggest there could be a replacement for Torah, chalilah. In both cases, our eyes were darkened and our spirituality assaulted.

However, the courageous Mordechai and Esther, and the bold and gallant Chashmona'im withstood the test. They avowed with great pride that our relationship with Hashem is never haphazard - and our Torah is never replaceable.

Only Hashem decides when it is A Time to Conceal His presence and when it is A Time to Reveal it. With this deep and inspirational book, we can remove the façade of teva and uncover the Glory of Hashem.

A close talmid of Harav Shlomo Freifeld zt"l, Rabbi Yehoshua Kurland is a venerated Jewish educator and the author of seven books.(Including the great seller A Time to Dance (Mosaica, 2016).

Powerful and moving, A Visit to Moscow is inspired by the true experience of an American rabbi who travels to the Soviet Union in the 1960s, a dangerous time of uncertainty and fear for Jews in the nation.

One of Jewish Insider's Ten Books to Read in May

Yevgenia Nayberg has been longlisted for the 2022 Brightness Illustration Awards!

"With starkly dramatic text and haunting images, author and illustrator convey the devastating oppression of Soviet Jewish life, and the commitment of one Jew to bring their horrifying reality into the light [...] Whether readers are familiar with the harrowing subject matter or learning about it for the first time, Rabbi Grossman's story will immerse them in a harsh world and in the persistent truth-telling needed to bring about change. A Visit to Moscow is highly recommended."
--Jewish Book Council

"Finally, it's worth mentioning a soon-to-be-released graphic narrative called A Visit to Moscow. Adapted by Anna Olswanger from an account by Rabbi Rafael Grossman (1933-2018), the book was inspired by Grossman's actual 1965 journey to the Soviet Union to investigate the persecution of Soviet Jews. That A Visit to Moscow is beautifully illustrated by Yevgenia Nayberg, who was born in Ukraine and now lives in New Jersey, makes this encounter with the history of the Soviet Jewry movement, which was so much a part of the later 20th-century American Jewish experience, especially poignant and timely."
--Moment Magazine

"Inspired by real events, the eye-opening and important narrative in this graphic novel are punctuated by the phenomenal illustrations, showing Jewish life in the Soviet Union. Set in 1965, readers will see the power of antisemitism and the incredible courage it takes to live a life of faith under oppression. It shows that, despite living with tyranny and unimaginable sacrifices, one can hold on to their soul and that there is beauty to be found. It's my hope readers will see how critical it is for us to advocate for others and do whatever we can to make a positive difference in this world."
--Wisonsin Jewish Chronicle

"Yevgenia Nayberg's art is evocative and claustrophobic and lives in that liminal space between simple children's book illustration and profound abstract comics work. Her choices in coloring are particularly well-matched to the emotional tone of the narrative. This is ultimately a story of hope--how the actions of one person can reverberate through generations to come--and as story, this is appropriate and uplifting."
--SOLRAD

In 1965, an American rabbi travels to the Soviet Union to investigate reports of persecution of the Jewish community. Moscow welcomes him as a guest--but provides a strict schedule he and the rest of his group must follow.

One afternoon, the rabbi slips away. With an address in hand and almost no knowledge of the Russian language, he embarks on a secret journey that will change his life forever.

Inspired by the true experience of Rabbi Rafael Grossman, A Visit to Moscow captures the formidable perseverance and strength of the Jewish people during the "Let My People Go" movement, a modern exodus that is often overlooked.

Traditional Judaism considers the hair of a married woman erotic. As a result, married Jewish women are generally expected to cover their hair, except in front of her husbands, and sometimes in the company of other women. For most of Jewish history this practice was not disputed - mainly because society at large also considered it immodest for women to let their hair down in its city streets. However, as the general definition of modesty has changed in the last two centuries, Jewish women have followed suit, debating the necessity of covering their hair in a world that remains 'uncovered.' Today, most observant, married Jewish women cover their hair in some way although a vocal minority declines to do so at all. Hair covering has, therefore, become the bellwether for religiosity, turning practice into politics. Sources dispute the when,

A pioneer of ideas and action--teaching that "Judaism is a civilization" encompassing Jewish culture, art, and peoplehood; demonstrating how synagogues can be full centers for Jewish living (building one of the first "shuls with a pool"); and creating the first-ever bat mitzvah ceremony (for his daughter Judith)--Kaplan transformed the landscape of American Jewry. Yet much of Kaplan's rich treasury of ethical and spiritual thought is largely unknown.

Rabbi Steven Carr Reuben, who studied closely with Kaplan, offers unique insight into Kaplan's teachings about ethical relationships and spiritual fulfillment, including how to embrace godliness in everyday experience, our mandate to become agents of justice in the world, and the human ability to evolve personally and collectively. Quoting from the week's Torah portion, Reuben presents Torah commentary, a related quotation from Kaplan, a reflective commentary integrating Kaplan's understanding of the Torah text, and an intimate story about his family or community's struggles and triumphs--guiding twenty-first-century spiritual seekers of all backgrounds on how to live reflectively and purposefully every day.

Sabbath songs and Grace After Meals. Translation and marginal notes