Garments of Light is a collection of seventy revealing essays that take you on a deeper journey through the Torah and Jewish holidays. How could Adam have lived 930 years? Was Joseph really sold by his own brothers? Why is Rosh Hashanah the New Year? When is Mashiach coming? How do we deal with apparent contradictions between Torah and science? Find the surprising answers to these and other enigmatic questions in the pages of this book. Unravel ancient mysteries and prophecies, and explore the Jewish perspective on reincarnation and the afterlife, astrology, the Messianic Era, and more.

The festive holiday of Shavuot is best known for its all-night Torah learning. The Jewish Sages teach that staying up all night is more than just a celebration of Torah, it is a tikkun, a spiritual rectification. The 16th-century mystic Rabbi Itzchak Luria, the Arizal, prepared a study guide for the night of Shavuot. This guide is presented here, in both Hebrew and English, together with a selection of penetrating insights and commentaries drawn primarily from the mystical teachings of the Zohar and the Arizal.

Mayim achronim-the washing of the fingers after a meal-is a little-known ritual in Judaism, yet one that carries tremendous significance. Explore the origins and mysteries of mayim achronim in the pages of this book. Along the way, unravel some of Judaism's most enigmatic stories, including the Garden of Eden, the destruction of Sodom and the transformation of Lot's wife into a pillar of salt, the Talmudic narratives of Kidor the innkeeper and the four sages who ascended to Heaven, as well as the angelic child of the Zohar. 'Secrets of the Last Waters' will reveal the mystical dimensions of salt and water, the spiritual purpose of the meal table, the power of hospitality, and the very nature of the Heavens. Learn the secrets of mayim achronim and see why the Jewish sages insisted that this often overlooked practice is mandatory for all-mayim achronim chova!

Garments of Light is a collection of seventy revealing essays that take you on a deeper journey through the Torah and Jewish holidays. What does the Torah say about extraterrestrial life and quantum physics? Where is Mount Sinai? What is the significance of dreams? What does "Israel" really mean, and who exactly were the ancient "Hebrews"? Find the surprising answers to these and other enigmatic questions in the pages of this book. Unravel ancient mysteries and prophecies, and explore the Jewish perspective on reincarnation and the afterlife, astrology, the Messianic Era, and more.

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz ¿ renowned scholar, philosopher and spiritual guide ¿ here reveals the essence of the Jewish calendar. With a unique combination of intellectual brilliance and accessibility, Rabbi Steinsaltz probes the meaning of Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur, Hanukka, Purim, Pesah and the other Jewish holidays. His insights provide whole new ways of understanding the holidays, appreciating their depth, and experiencing them to their fullest: ¿Our festivals and holidays, remembrance days and special occasions, ensure that the paths of our lives do not remain merely dusty roads lacking meaningful points of distinction¿ These special days are the landmarks, signposts, and lights along the way¿openings through which we may emerge from the stagnancy and rut of life¿s routine. They provide us with opportunities not only to celebrate and mourn, but also to renew and change ourselves¿¿

Warning: This book could change the way you see the world. The mysterious group of people called the 'Erev Rav' have stayed hidden in the shadows of Jewish history for more than three millenia. For the first time, this book pieces together some of the deepest Jewish sources and commentaries to paint a picture of the Erev that's complex, engaging and occasionally disturbing. In these pages, you'll find the answer to questions like: Who are the Erev Rav? How are they really connected to the Jewish people? Why have they got such a bad name? How do they behave? Why are they still a problem for the Jewish people, even in our modern times? How are they connected to global redemption, and the coming of Moshiach? What can we do, to meet the challenge they pose to us and our communities? This book is like reading a mystery thriller about the Jewish people, just so much better.

For more than a generation, Rabbi Michael L. Munk, as a sidelight to his busy schedule of educational and communal work, has fascinated audiences with his learned and provocative lectures on the Hebrew alphabet. In the process of opening eyes and raising eyebrows, he has convinced countless people that his contention is true: the Hebrew alphabet abounds in scholarly and mystical meaning. He has developed and proven a profound thesis. The alphabet -- if correctly understood -- is a primer for life. Ethical conduct, religious guidance, philosophical insights, all are nestled in the curls, crowns, and combinations of the Hebrew letters. This is one of those rare books that is both interesting and profound, learned and readable. The wisdom and compassion of the author is evident in those subtle ways that do not intrude on the reader, but give him the satisfaction of knowing that a rich, warm, productive lifetime of experience is flavoring the text.

According to a longstanding interpretation, book religions are agents of textuality and logocentrism. This volume inverts the traditional perspective: its focus is on the strong dependency between scripture and aesthetics, holy books and material artworks, sacred texts and ritual performances. The contributions, written by a group of international specialists in Western, Byzantine, Islamic and Jewish Art, are committed to a comparative and transcultural approach. The authors reflect upon the different strategies of »clothing« sacred texts with precious materials and elaborate forms. They show how the pretypographic cultures of the Middle Ages used book ornaments as media for building a close relation between the divine words and their human audience. By exploring how art shapes the religious practice of books, and how the religious use of books shapes the evolution of artistic practices this book contributes to a new understanding of the deep nexus between sacred scripture and art.

The Cambridge Companion to Judaism and Law provides a conceptual and historical account of the Jewish understanding of law.