Best Reform Judaism
Clever marketing has led us to believe in chasing happiness down a path that doesn't lead anywhere. No matter where you are in life, finding purpose is easier than you think. Rabbi Evan Moffic knows the power of prayer . You will discover those words in this book and the ten life-changing practices it reveals. "Rabbi Evan Moffic masterfully invokes ancient Jewish wisdom to help us find happiness in our modern world."". Rabbi Evan Moffic masterfully takes us on a powerful journey through the wisdom of our tradition and the complexities of the human heart. Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, author of Nurture the Wow: Finding Spirituality in The Frustration, Boredom Tears, Poop, Desperation, Wonder and Radical Amazement of Parenting. "The longer I live, and the more I'm faced with the inescapable reality of pain in life, the more I search for and surround myself with people who exude joy. My husband, Aaron, and I have treasured the time we've spent around the table with them-they're wise and kind and funny, and the depth and richness of their faith bleeds into every conversation." "Dr. Tal Ben Shahar, author of New York Times bestseller Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment ". "One of our truly thoughtful and charismatic young leaders, Evan Moffic provides in captivating prose the wisdom and comfort of Jewish teachings for Jews and Gentile alike." A graduate of Stanford University, he is known for his stories and scholarship, connecting ancient traditions with modern audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Rabbi Moffic also appears regularly on cable news stations as a commentator on Israel and political and social events in America.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I have read many self-help books, religious books, and so forth that largely were written for one real reason, to make the author a lot of money, while providing very little in the way of real help to the reader. I have literally spent most of the past 2 decades struggling to overcome a lot of issues, and this small book has done more to help me than most of the other things I have tried combined."
"This is a warm, engaging, and at times beautiful book, in which author Rabbi EvanMoffic acquaints us with the Hebrew prayer, "El Devarim," which means "These are the Words," written down 2000 years ago and still so meaningful today. I found his words about marriage, learning, and celebration to be very moving, but above all, I was deeply touched by his words about death, grief, recovery from devastating loss, and the ways we can support , uplift, and strengthen each other at the most difficult times. Rabbi Moffit decribes the Eilu Devarim as "not only a happiness prayer, but a checklist for a meaningful life.""
"He says , It is a prayer for healing, The words are simple: May the source of strength , Who blessed the ones before us, help us find the courage to make our lives a blessing. and let us say, Amen. Bless those in need of all healing by picturing thinking of friends, and family who are ill etc."
"From this prayer, known as the “Eilu Devarim”, Moffic takes ten lessons and elucidates on using each to brighten lives. For those old enough to remember Rabbi Harold Kushner (author of the classic “When Bad Things Happen To Good People”), Moffic attempts to walk in those giant footsteps, not as an imitation but more as the voice (to my ears) as a Jewish Everyman. His stories of his interactions with members of his congregation and examples he draws from elsewhere are moving and persuasive, as are the lessons he tries to impart."
Including services for Shabbat, weekdays and festivals, as well as other occasions of public worship, and texts for more than a hundred songs, Mishkan T'filah reflects the full diversity of our Movement.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A beautiful, functional siddur that reflects Reform's relentless move back to traditional worship, but with a thoroughly contemporary approach to interpretation, transliteration, and translation."
"Disappointed that it will only open on my Ipad, Not on my Kindle reader!"
"As described - used but in like new condition."
"So great to have this on my IPad."
"I ordered the Kindle edition of this siddur, however, it doesn't work with a regular Kindle."
"The printed book can be heavy for some, in those cases I think use of a small lectern as some use in orthodox shuls to position the book up closer to the reader."
"Can increase size of letters so those with vision issues can use the prayer book."
"This will work on Windows PCs, but only with the Desktop version of Kindle reader, not with the mobile app."
In this guidebook we are going to learn the basics of using Stoicism in your daily life and how this ancient philosophy is going to work to make you feel happier.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"With this book I'm not only able to know more about this philosophy but also learn how to adopt it."
"It changed my lifestyle, pulled me from negative vibes, taught me how to be calm when there was a problem."
"I was surprised to learn that affirmation culture has its roots in Stoicism."
"A great book, I learned much and will be going back to read it again."
"Stoicism is an excellent practice to adopt but I would not recommend this book to learn more about it unfortunately."
"I totally enjoyed this book and have already started recommending it to others."
"Easy to follow and apply principles right away!"
"It is ok, however it should present the thinkers better."
Best Conservative Judaism
Told in understated, crystalline prose, Lax begins her story as a young teen leaving her liberal, secular home to become a Hasidic Jew, then plumbs the nuances of her arranged marriage, fundamentalist faith, and Hasidic motherhood, as her creative, sexual, and spiritual longings shimmer beneath the surface. With memorable, passionate detail, Leah Lax recounts a unique search for wholeness and healing that paradoxically plunged her into the quicksand of shame. Written in poetic prose whose color and savor will linger long after you finish the book, this memoir makes the flickering appeal of a life of inflexible rules as seductively clear as it is claustrophobic―a remarkable achievement. Dramatic, revelatory, deeply moving, and ultimately inspiring, this is a truly one-of-a kind memoir about the universal longing to discover, nurture, and celebrate one’s authentic self.”. “In this courageous, important book, Leah Lax reveals a voice once doubly silenced by orthodox religion―as a woman and a lesbian―on a deeply moving journey to selfhood. “In Uncovered , Leah Lax remembers in rich detail how she moved from loneliness through what promised to be a new family and a new community, into a pure appreciation of the world―and how, instead, it suppressed her deepest needs. Her book is a profound and poignant story of innocence and experience, those ancient universals, and transforming joy at the end.”. “Dealing with abortion, LGBT identity, and Hasidic life, this story is too complex to fit neatly into the ‘ex-Hasidic memoir craze’—but that makes it all the richer.”. “Lax’s gifts―uncommon intelligence, a poetic sensibility, an eye skilled at discerning the telling detail―make her story lyrical, ruminative, and profound; she is able to impart the events of her life with a spiritual glow that shimmers long after the last page has been turned.”. Her work for stage has been reviewed in The New York Times , and Rolling Stone magazine, and has been broadcast on NPR.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This fascinating book is a look into an unknown, secret world right in our back yards."
"We may live in many different houses in our lifetime—at least, I have—and stay in each as long as it provides mutual companionship and nurture and love. Lax has thrown open the doors and shown other women, wherever they may be, covered still and huddled with their secrets, there is another way."
"Lyrical, universal memoir about yearning and identity, and the unexpected places the search leads: for Lax, into the Hasidic community and, thirty years later, out again."
"Being raised as a Conservative/Reformed Jew, I often wondered what it was like to be raised as an Ultra Orthodox Jew."
"It shows both the beauty and hard part of living a life based on a fundamentalist approach to religion."
"This book takes you inside the Hassidic community and answers a lot of questions about the way they think and live, and is often raw with emotion."
"Really enjoyed this story."
"In addition to leaving the Hasidic movement and coming out as a lesbian, Leah Lax has created an authentic voice which is evident on every page."
Best Court Rules Procedures
Described by many lawyers as the bible of New York practice, Siegel's Hornbook on New York Practice serves as the complete guide to civil practice in New York state courts, with a broad perspective in each subject.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"New York deviates from the federal civil procedure model in a number of ways so this book will help an attorney come to grips with the unusual aspects of New York civil practice. I recommend it for attorneys as well as pro se litigants who lack the resources and training to navigate New York civil practice and motions without some help."
"A fundamentally sound book on courtroom procedure."
"Excellent companion for the new practitioner."
"Could be more concise."
"Very useful as fundamental overview or refresher of NYS practice protocols with due emphasis on the prevalence and application of the CPLR in civil litigation, as well as how that omnibus statute is adjusted by or supersedes case law."
"This manual is a must seek for any person looking for true facts of a matter, and how matters are handled by law."
"Purchased by mistake."
Best Jewish Religious Movements
In My Grandfather's Blessings , Rachel Naomi Remen , a cancer physician and master storyteller, uses her luminous stories to remind us of the power of our kindness and the joy of being alive. When doctor and author Rachel Naomi Remen ( Kitchen Table Wisdom ) was young, she was caught between two different views of life: that of her rabbi grandfather and that of her highly academic, research-oriented parents, who believed religion was the opiate of the masses. Through a series of unpretentious, affecting vignettes, the author of the bestseller Kitchen Table Wisdom encourages readers to recognize and celebrate the unexpected blessings in their own lives. Many of her recollections are linked to her experiences as a medical student and a physician working with cancer patients, but the most memorable ones relate to Remen's deep engagement with her grandfather, who died when she was seven.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I was very moved by many of the stories as I, like most people, have also been touched by terminal illness and loss in my life."
"The introduction to this book should be required reading for anyone serving in the nonprofit world or the helping professions."
"The condition of the book was excellent & service was wonderful."
"I really love this book."
"It's one I don't want to pass on, because I know I will read it again and again and even mark special pages that will help in challenging times."
"So if you want goosebumps as well as a soul-full book, this is a must read!"
"I am glad I bought the book to read all these stories."
"I read this book a few months ago and enjoyed it."
Best Orthodox Judaism
Named one of "forty-three books to read before you die" by the Independent (UK). 2015 National Jewish Book Award Winner. 2016 Winner of the GLCA New Writers Award in Nonfiction. One of Star Magazine's "Fab 5 Can't-Miss Entertainment Picks". A moving and revealing exploration of Hasidic life, and one man's struggles with faith, family, and community. “With this book Deen has laid to rest the idea that a Hasid from New Square could never become a great writer in English, or an articulate chronicler of his own experiences.” ― The New Republic. “In this moving book, Deen lays bare his difficult, muddled wrestling with his faith, the challenges it posed to everything he thought he knew about himself, and the hard-won redemption he eventually found.” ― Library Journal. “I understand that even if I did visit New Square I would have no greater access to Hasidic life than my occasional walk through Williamsburg, where I can see but can't penetrate its appeal, or its secrets. It is the book's ticket to mass appeal as well as the seat of his disquiet in its writing.Though he writes because he has a story to tell, Deen's work, especially in his memoir, is clearly crafted to benefit others dealing with a wavering faith.” ― Tablet Magazine. All Who Go Do Not Return gives us not only an insider's glimpse into a shrouded world few outsiders get to see, but also a movingly told narrative of one man's struggle toward intellectual integrity. The setting may be the world of Hasidic Judaism, but the drama and the insights are universal.” ―Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, 36 Arguments for the Existence of God: A Work of Fiction. “ All Who Go Do Not Return is a deeply honest and moving story about a man's decision to do something both so simple and so radical - to live in accordance with his own beliefs.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"[SPOILER ALERT: I found it difficult to write this review without discussing some of the major aspects and events of the book. Moreover, it has intrinsic interest because it opens the door to the inner sanctum of the insular, Skverer Chassidic community located in New Square, New York. (For those who are not in the know, this moniker cuts a large swath, describing anyone from the most liberal Jewish Orthodoxy--just to the right of Conservative--to a graduate of Yeshiva University's rabbinical school. For most of us that live in the United States, we tend to think of communities like New Square as quaint, anachronistic, recreations of the Eastern European shtetl. Hasidim who live in places like New Square, the Amish, the Hutterites, and other similar types of communities have their joys but also have their strife. As we see with Deen's account, however, there is little wiggle room and those who do not fit in are destined suffer a life of repression or need to leave. In desperation, he resorts to moonlighting as an elementary school teacher and a tutor, jobs where it is expected to falsify documents so that he will get a paycheck cut by the government. He buys a car for a job and finds himself enjoying the forbidden radio and driving outside of New Square, exploring a vast new world. He has had glimpses of the outside world, but has lived within the Hasidic community and is unacquainted with modern American social conventions and culture. Deen's wife, Gitty, makes a valiant attempt to stay loyal to her husband but she is too moored in the Skverer community to embrace a larger world. The account of his wedding night, where as a student he was learned in the Jewish laws of intimacy but completely ignorant of the actual physics of the act, is a perfect example of this. Nevertheless, even though Deen takes great pains to describe his experience in a distanced, journalistic way, he is unable to completely do so. This is, perhaps, the greatest strength of the book and the thing that makes it stand out from the crowd in what appears to be a new genre of non-fiction describing an authors 'escape' from ultra-orthodoxy. Some have questioned the truth of some of the claims in Feldman's book and Vincent actually came from a far less insular brand of Orthodoxy than Deen. Those who have a drum to beat on these issues will use the book as a way to reinforce their negative stereotypes of Hasidism and by extension Orthodox Judaism. For example, he is repeatedly dismissive of what he considers the triviality of Talmud study--for example having in depth knowledge of just exactly how to write a legally binding contract in 5th century Babylonia. Another interpretation, closely aligned to this, would be an admonishment against using one of the secret names of God to elevate one's soul to a higher level than one is able to tolerate. It makes sense that a more modern interpretation might be used as leverage to deter people from secular culture or philosophy, but that seems far flung from the original meaning of the story. Of course, given that Deen felt forced to adhere to Jewish law and tradition, he did lead a perfunctory existence that lacked any real soul. He mentions the portrayals of Hasidim by Martin Buber, Abraham Joshua Heschel, and Elie Wiesel and 'wincing' at how these authors 'romanticized' Hassidic life. It is ironic that such a problem exists within Hasidus today: that specific branch of Judaism was started in the late 1700s by Rabbi Yisroel ben Eliezer (known as the Baal Shem Tov or 'Good Master of the Name') specifically as a spiritualist backlash against the rationalist brand of Judaism practiced in Eastern Europe at the time. There are those in the Orthodox Jewish community who will want to censure Deen and will decry his book, but I think that this would be a grave mistake."
"I gave up on religion after starting to read the Bible , which to me is really a history of a people (whatever name one wants to attach to them) - so I could relate to the writer and his turmoil, in that he dared to think differently. The loss of his family was painful, the loss of his children and having to 'give up' the way of life that included his relationship with his children, one would think he was a child molester.....all because he could not accept what his religion was teaching - he dared to question!"
"He weaves his tale, wrought with the difficulties of finding your true self, then the ugliness of the reality when the true you no longer fits. The entire core of this work is an honest look at his internal and external struggles, as well as the heartbreaking consequences he faced for being free and choosing his own path. Leaving all you have ever known is a brave act, to be sure, but he doesn't gloss over the pain, loneliness, doubts, costs, worries, or staggering weight these life-changing decisions bring with them."