A collection of articles that show how the Jewish heritage underlies the political behavior of Jews and their institutions in all places and at all times. Contents: On the Reconstruction of Jewish Political Theory. The Kehilah: From Its Beginnings to the End of the Modern Epoch. Communal Change and Institutional Resilience: Anglo Jewry 1900-1920. Changing Conceptions of Political Life and their Implications for American Judaism. What a Jewish State Means to Israeli Jews. The Politics of the Religious Parties in Israel. The Israeli Religious Parties in Opposition, 1965-1977. The National Religious Party: Towards a New Role in Israel's Political System?. Public Protest and Systemic Stability in Israel: 1960-1979. 

211 pages, hardcover with dust jacket, good condition: some remarks and underlines.

To speak of Jewish political theory as one might speak of western or Christian political theory, is to sharply dramatize how forlorn and unattended it is. The western tradition has its chroniclers, its devoted students, even its tenured professors; the Jewish tradition by contrast is treated to an occasional foray here, a desultory start there and to assorted pious (and ineffectual) exhortations that "something really should be done" to enrich this vein of unseemly poverty in an otherwise proud intellectual tradition.
(On the Reconstruction of Jewish Political Theory)

342 pages, paperback, good condition: hinges are starting but still tight. possibly inscribed by the author.

Even now, the motivation for the search recorded in these pages appears so pragmatic, almost crass. I seem to have been looking for a kind of supertreasure whose value would not be affected by economic, social, political, nor, indeed, by any external circumstances. Once I came across a few lines written by a poet named Eli Siegel:
substance
is what remains
when everything you can think of
has gone
That seemed to explain what I was after. But then I found a Hebrew word that expressed it better. The word is yesh whuch means, literally, there is.

Even now, the motivation for the search recorded in these pages appears so pragmatic, almost crass. I seem to have been looking for a kind of supertreasure whose value would not be affected by economic, social, political, nor, indeed, by any external circumstances. Once I came across a few lines written by a poet named Eli Siegel:
substance
is what remains
when everything you can think of
has gone
That seemed to explain what I was after. But then I found a Hebrew word that expressed it better. The word is yesh whuch means, literally, there is. The old rabbis used it as a synonym for the treasure which awaits saints in the future life.

A Book of Jewish Concepts offers basic knowledge about Judaism and covers the Hebrew Bible, contents of the talmudic-midrashic literature, the Jewish codes of law and ethics, and in general - the wisdom literature in Judaism. The purpose of the book is to provide in a single handy volume the essential teachings of Judaism. The entries are arranged according to the Hebrew alphabet. First entries: Av, Av-Beth-Din, Av Ha-Rahamim, Father and Mother, Patriarchs, Ethics of the Fathers, Avoth D'Rabbi Nathan, Parents and Children, Our Father Our King, Mourning, Mourners for Zion, Aggadah, Letter to Yemen, Adon Olam, and so on. The scopes of the entries vary from half a page to five pages.

A selection of Jewish thoughts by  figures such as Moses Maimonides, S.M. Dubnow, Henrietta Szold, Yehudah Halevi, Heinrich Heine, Israel Zangwill, Leopold Zunz, Mary Antin, Achad Ha'am, Leo Tolstoy, George Eliot, William Blake, T.H. Huxley,  and many more. The book is divided into the following sections: I Am an Hebrew; The People of the Book; The Testimony of the Nations; The Voice of Prayer; The Voice of Wisdom.  The book was originally produced for the use of British and American Jewish sailors and soldiers.

320 pages, small-sized hardcover 9cmX13cm, good condition: pages are tight and clean, binding is strong with minor rubbing.

The book A Conceptual Approach to the Mekilta allows the reader to obtain a deeper insight into rabbinic literature. It shows, for example, how rabbinic concepts differ from the ideas of the Bible, and yet that tabbinic concepts always possess biblical antecedents. The conceptual approach also solves a major problem of rabbinic literature - How are the midrashic statements related to each other?

215 pages, paperback, 12.5cmX18.5cm, good condition: pages are unmarked and tight, some rubbing to covers.

The Mekilta is a tannaitic Midrash, and it consists of interpretations of extensive portions of the book of Exodus. Lauterbach has pointed out that the Mekilta, unlike other tannaitic Midrashim, contains more haggadic, non-juristic, than halakic, juristic interpretations. This preponderance of Haggadah is to be accounted for, as he says, by the fact that the Book of Exodus ``contains by far more narrative than law.``
(Max Kadushin: A Conceptual Approach to the Mekilta, page 1)

Contents: The Passover in Biblical Times; In Rabbinic and Medieval Times; Laws and Customs; Seder Customs and Practices; The Services of the Synagogue; The Exodus and its Religious Implications; Freedom.

111 pages, hardcover, no dust jacket, 11.5cmX17cm, good condition: pages are clean, binding is tight.

According to Rabbinic calculation the duration of the Israelites` stay in Egypt was 210 years. The fateful events which took place during the last days of this long and harassing period of slavery are vividly described in the early chapters of the Book of Exodus. It was shortly before the day on which the last of the ten plagues was to befall the Egyptians that instructions were issued to prepare for the Passover.

  136 pages, hardcover, good condition: pages are white, clean and unmarked, binding is strong, covers are bright and clean with a few scratches, front endpaper is missing.

The Principles and rules of Jewish Law are based on Scripture. While some rules are mentioned quite explicitly, others are only implied. All are elucidated in the teachings of the Tana`im and Amora`im - the Rabbis of the Mishna and Talmud - and presented systematically in the codes. Thus, over the generations, a comprehensive legal system has developed based on Scripture as elaborated by exegesis and amplification.
(Nahum Rakover: A Guide to the Sources of Jewish Law, page 15)

A guide to Yom Kippur: Why one day a year?;  Why fast?; laws and customs; the history and structure of the services; the prayers;  the confession of sin; repentance.

On this awesome and joyful day of repentance, Jews gather in their Synagogues, their lives intermingled with the past of their people, re-living the tragedies of antiquity, re-encanting the ancient glories. During the long day the saints and martyrs, the poets and prophets of Israel come to life to sing again their song of triunph. Israel`s sweet serenade to its God is heard above the strident noise of wordly pomp. Israel`s spirit is vindicated before the world.

This book is a general account of the origin and cosmic scheme of Creation and its inhabitants. The aim of this work is to set out the macrocosmic order with its different levels of reality, the hierarchy of beings and their function, especially that of mankind which can exist throughout the Worlds. Perhaps the most important theme touched upon is the purpose of the Universe as it unfolds in a great Cosmic Cycle through the separated Image of, then reunion with, its Maker at the End of Time.

How is the indescribable described? It is impossible, and yet mystics of all traditions have attempted it despite the fact they will fail and create only a faint after-image of something direct experience alone can give. Why then do they try? It is because natural man would have no conscious idea of the supernatural Worlds if he were not shown that there is an order and purpose even within the invisible realms.

Contents: Historical Milestones in the Ramban's Lifetime. Nachmanides in the Land of Israel / Rabbi Dr. L. Rabinowitz. The Role of Eretz Israel in Judaism according to Ramban (Selected Texts and Commentary). Ramban on: Aim and Character of Jewish Precept; Jewish Observance - History Relived; Nature is an Illusion - All is Miracle; The Merit of Israel; Pathways to the Messiah. Select Bibliography: Hebrew and English.

A reference book of Jewish festivals, traditions and customs with menus and recipes. The book is written in the form of conversation between a mother and her daughter, Hadassah, who is about to be married.

"Hadassah, I am delighted that you and David have decided on a formal betrothal, before your marriage. Most couples today become engaged without any ceremony."

"We thought it would please you and father and David's folks... Mother, what are the traditional customs in these things?"
(Bessie W. Batist (Editor): A Treasure for My Daughter, page 1)

Called "the tzaddik of Jerusalem," Rabbi Aryeh Levin became a legend in his lifetime. When he discovered Jewish patients in the leper hospital, he took to visiting them every week. Every Sabbath he went to visit the Jewish inmates in the prison. Then, under the British mandate, as the prisons filled with political opponets of the regime, Reb Aryeh's work expanded into a "major operation." He became the prisoners' link with the outside world, carrying (by his phenomenal memory) thousands of messages every week between the men and their families. From his own reminiscences and the recollections of devoted friends and admirers, this book presents a panoramic range of anecdotes and impressions, incidents and episodes in the rich eventful life of Reb Aryeh Levin.Introduction by Chaim Herzog. translated from the Hebrew. Translated from the Hebrew, revised and expanded by Charles Wengrov.
 

469 pages, paperback, good condition. ISBN 0873069862.

On the ninth of Nissan (March 28) 1969, Rabbi Aryeh Levin (of blessed memory) passed on from this world, in holiness and purity. So ended a life that was extraordinary, a matter of wonder in many ways. The inner focal-point in the activities of this "tzaddik of Jerusalem" was his utter dedication, his readiness to give of himself and sacrifice himself, in his love of Jews and Jewry.

This book seeks to present the ideas behind the Jewish faith in today's context. It promotes the idea the Jewish religion is a holistic set of inextricably linked values which together comprise a state of the art system for human potential. It also attempts to demonstrate the relevance of the Jewish faith to men and women of all colours and persuasions.

176 pages, hardcover with dust jacket, very good condition. Inscribed by the author to Shimon Peres.

There is something that the Jews and the British have in common. They are both phenomenal inventors but lousy entrpreneurs. Since moving to Britain eleven years ago, I have read countless articles lamenting the fact that British inventors repeatedly come up with remarkable innovations, only to see their ideas developed and marketed in the United States, where venture capital is more readily available. Take that problem, multiply it a thousand-fold, and you have the history of the Jews.

A selection of articles about the archaeological discoveries of ancient synagogues. From the table of contents: Ancient Synagogues - A Historical Introduction; Ancient Synagogues in Israel: An Archeological Survey; The Synagogue at Masada; The Synagogue at Gamla; The "Galilean" Synagogue and its presecessors; The Late Chronology of the Synagogue of Capernaum; The Art and Architecture of the Synagogues of the Golan; The Synagogue at Gaza; Ancient Synagogue Inscriptions; The Inscription in the 'En-Gedi Synagogue; A Survey of Ancient Diaspora Synagogues; and many more.

199 pages, hardcover, 8''X11'', good condition: cover is a little rubbed.

The emergence of the synagogue constitutes one of the most revolutionary developments in the history of ancient Judaism. This institution represented a wholly new concept of religious observance. Cultic practice was no longer confined to a small coterie of priests and professionals, and the masses of people ceased to be relegated to the outer courtyards of the Temple precincts. Leadership in the synagogue was open to all, and the ceremonies there were conducted in full view of the participants.

This is a book about Kabbalistic astrology. The book pours a light onto the concealed reasons why certain events appear in our lives and the world at large. Exploring the ancient principles of Kabbalistic Astrology reveals that each of us is born into an astrological environment best suited for the completion of the corrections that we must make in our lives.

One of the principal arguments against astral influences relies on the assumption that the science of astrology is either completely unknown or totally incredible. The usual question is: "How can planets possibly influence our day-to-day affaits on this earth?"

This book, published in 1940, includes twenty-three short stories and episodes from fourteen different national literatures, which offer positive expressions about the Jew. The arrangement of the stories follows three central motives: The plea for toleration, the description of Jewish martyrdom, and the potrayal of Jewish life and character. From the Table of contents: Giovanni Boccaccio: A Tale of Three Rings. Anton Chekhov: Rothschild's Fiddle. Maxim Gorky: The Little Boy. Anatole France: An Anti-Semite in the Country. Johan August Strinberg: Peter the Hermit. Stephen Vincent Benet: Jacob and  the Indians. and more.

391 pages, hardcover, no dust jacket, good condition: age marks and some fading to cover, inside in a good condition.

Volume NI/9 of the Inter-faith survey of the Holy Land. This booklet presents the Biblical, historical, geographical, archaeological, architectural and other facts of interest pertaining to the background of Capernaum - Kfar Nachum, a site precious to Jews and Christians alike. Foreword by Yigael Yadin.

102 pages, paperback, fair condition: minor water marks on cover , some age browning to first two pages.

The beautiful Synagogue of Capernaum - famous as the site where Jesus Christ used to pray and preach - is situated on the northwest shores of the Sea of Galilee.

This book offers a critical survey of synagogue art in America. In these pages appear reproductions of works by such artists and architects as Ben Shahn, Abraham Rattner, Percival Goodman, Ibram Lassaw, Frank Lloyd Wright and many others. Against the background of the traditional requirements of the service, and the common notions prevailing about the historical inhibition of the synagogue toward art, unfolds a detailed analysis of the transformation of this attitude as revealed in the work of these artists during the last two decades. The author focuses on the various conceptions and interpretations which sculptors, painters, mosaicists, weavers and workers in stained glass have brought to their task. He deals with their work in terms of its formal esthetic value, its integration into the architectural setting, and the cultural and religious context of the emerging synagogue center in which it functions. He discusses the collaboration between artists, rabbis and architects in reinterpreting ancient Hebrew themese and developing new themes to be incorporated into the repertoire of contemporary synagogue art.

It is customary to speak of the synagogue as fulfilling a triple function: that of a house of prayer, a house of study and a house of assembly. Although these terms describe the synagogue throughout its history, they do not explain it. They fail to reveal the enduring essence of the institution and its revolutionary nature.

The book describes how the Ten Commandments provide excellent lessons in how one can be truly attractive, poised, exciting, and engaging for a new date.

285 pages, hardcover with dust jacket, very good condition: inscribed by the author to Shimon Peres.

I am often asked why I do it. Why give countless lectures, write so many books and essays, join in all those debates, even have the occasional argument with total strangers in the street—and all about sex, marriage, and relationships . . . ? Well, actually, I try to explain, there is a lot more to it than you might think.