The present book, the second of a six-volume series, is an adaptation into readily accessible English of 11 fundamental discourses--one for each weekly Torah portion in the book of Exodus--from Rabbi Schneur Zalman's classic work, Torah Or. It is thus an unprecedented presentation of chassidic philosophy and mysticism as explained in detail in their original source. Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812), founder of the intellectual branch of Chassidism--Chabad--is credited with bringing the deepest secrets of Jewish mysticism and Kabbalah "down to earth," so they could be read and understood by even the average person. He broke the paradigm: it was no longer, "first perfect yourself spiritually, then you will be fit to study this"; now it was, "study this and it will help you to perfect yourself spiritually." The worldwide spread of Chabad-appealing to people of all backgrounds, and in every conceivable culture-in the centuries since bears elegant testimony to the power of these ideas to tap the very Jewish soul. And yet, written in scholarly Hebrew, these keys to the essential core of Judaism were locked away, untranslated, for almost 200 years. In this series, Rabbi Yitzchok Wagshul, a master teacher, does not merely translate the original material, he clearly explains it in friendly, articulate English for scholar and lay person alike. No background in Jewish knowledge is required; just a willingness to think. If Rabbi Schneur Zalman were teaching today, this book is what he might well say. Book jacket.

Guthrie presents a layperson's guide to understanding how to read the Bible in context so that its teachings are illuminated and can be fully applied to every facet of daily life.

What is a Messiah? We have heard this word a lot, echoing down through the centuries. It is used by three major religions on this planet: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Who is the Messiah? What is, or what will his purpose be? And if he has already come, then what was his purpose? Will he return? If you ask this question to clerics of the three monotheistic religions, they each will give you a different answer and a different name. Each of these clerics will have a different concept of Messiah. In this book, Messianic Jewish moreh (teacher), cantor, and writer YEHOIAKIN BEN YAOCOV explores each of the concepts in detail, in an easy-to-read format. Bet Doresh Messianic Jewish Ministries of New Mexico 2622 West Texas Street Carlsbad, New Mexico 88220 [email protected]

The Bible reveals glorious things. And yet we often miss its power because we read it the same way we read any other book. In Reading the Bible Supernaturally, best-selling author John Piper teaches us how to read the Bible in light of its divine author. In doing so, he highlights the Bible's unique ability to reveal God to humanity in a way that informs our minds, transforms our hearts, and ignites our love. With insights into the biblical text drawn from decades of experience studying, preaching, and teaching Scripture, Piper helps us experience the transformative power of God's Word—a power that extends beyond the mere words on the page. Ultimately, Piper shows us that in the seemingly ordinary act of reading the Bible, something supernatural happens: we encounter the living God.

"According to the Hebrew Bible, God made the world with words. God just spoke and the world became reality. (The Aramaic for 'I create as I speak' is avara k’davara, or in magician’s language, abracadabra.) . . . This does not protect words from the numbing effects of overuse in any religious tradition. . . . We need to dust off the words, shake away the accretions, wonder again about what they originally might have meant and enable ourselves to live in the word." —from the Introduction With creativity and poetry (and occasional heresy) Kushner dusts off thirty classical Hebrew words, shakes them free of the effects of generations of overuse, “re-translates” them, and liberates their ancient holy power. The result is a contemporary spiritual guide for your personal religious life. According to the Hebrew Bible, God made the world with words. God just spoke and the world came into being. Words therefore are not merely sounds signifying something else; they are instruments of creation, primary reality itself. They need only to be read, spoken, and interpreted. And to know them is to know reality itself. Kushner has designed the book himself, seamlessly blending graphics and content. In doing so he evokes the aesthetics of an ancient manuscript and a vision of our power to shape the future. Each finely crafted chapter begins with a Hebrew word and Kushner’s provocative English translation. At the bottom of the page is a transliteration of the Hebrew along with its more customary English rendering. In addition to his own intriguing definition, he includes a biblical citation anchoring the word, along with a more recent text showing the word’s evolution. Finally, we are offered a personal, meditative exercise designed to enable you to “live in the word.”

Brought down in fire and set in stone, the commandments are inscribed, too, in the soul of every Jew. This fascinating work reveals the magnificence of Jewish living as experienced through mitzvah observance. The author presents profound insights into many of the commandments that define and enrich Jewish life. Topics include: tzitzis, mikveh, arbah minim, kashrus, and lashon hara.

Questions of ecclesiology abound, and Karl Barth has been regarded as an unhelpful conversation partner and guide for those who care about ecclesiology and the place of the church in the academic pursuit of theology. The Only Sacrament Left to Us recovers Barth's doctrine of the threefold Word of God and shows that it is at the heart of his ecclesiological commitments, and that he offers a distinct and robust doctrine of the church worthy to be carried forward into the twenty-first-century debates about the church's place in God's economy. Thomas Christian Currie explores the central role of the threefold Word of God in Barth's theology of the church, explains its place in Barth's later doctrine of reconciliation, and seeks to engage the field of Barth studies with contemporary ecclesiological questions.

Now available in paperback, this volume offers a close reading of the historical books of I and II Kings, concentrating on not only issues in the history of Israel but also the literary techniques of storytelling used in these books. Marvin A. Sweeney provides a major contribution to the prominent Old Testament Library series with dvanced discussions of textual difficulties in the books of Kings as well as compelling narrative interpretations. The Old Testament Library provides fresh and authoritative treatments of important aspects of Old Testament study through commentaries and general surveys. The contributors are scholars of international standing.