Title: Halakhic Morality: Essays on Ethics and Masorah by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik
The Rav begins his project with an in-depth examination of the first four mishnayot of Pirkei Avot, raising topics such as the sources of ethics, power and persuasion, elitism and democracy, educational philosophy, freedom and coercion, among others.
The Irony Of The Purim Shpiel
Esther is the only Megillah read twice, once in the evening synagogue service of Purim and a second time during the morning services on Purim
Title: Alone in Africa
Alone in Africa, by Avigail Sharer, is an original adventure story about three siblings named Nesanel, Penina and Chezky Feiner, who are, well, alone in Africa. Except they aren't entirely alone – they have animals and two battling African tribes to keep them company.
Rav Sacks On Spirituality
While halacha is often determined by rabbinic consensus, spirituality is personal.
An Israel Love Story With a Twist
"Fields of Exile" provides a glimpse into the horrors of academic anti-Israelism, experienced by one firmly rooted in the left.
Heartbreak, Heartache, And Healing
The book does not hold back. The honesty of its prose is as refreshing as it is validating.
A Non-Cynical View Of Halachic ‘Loopholes’
Cynicism is corrosive. It affects your faith in leaders, in friends, in family and even in G-d. A more sober look at the so-called halachic loopholes shows that rabbis are deeply concerned with following the divine will.
Tisha B’Av Kinnos Made Accessible
It’s not just the language barrier that poses a problem. I consider myself to be proficient in Hebrew when it comes to ordinary tefillos, but I routinely find myself stumped by the extremely difficult Hebrew of the liturgical poets.
Masters of Deceit
For the Arabs and their supports throughout the world, Deir Yassin has become a rallying cry against the state of Israel.
A Meeting Of Two Worlds
The writer is a bit snarkier than either of his main characters. Sometimes he writes from the vantage point of the man, and sometimes from the woman.
Empowerment Through The Jewish Calendar
Within the context of Shabbos and each festival, Muskat-Brown discusses many important issues such as education, parenting, relationships, and lifestyle and, more importantly, gives us points to ponder and discuss.
A Deep Dive Into A Short Essay
You might think that this is a collection of essays, at first glance. Upon further examination, you realize that R. Naor is examining every aspect of the phrase souls of the world of chaos.
Lessons From Someone Who Has Seen It All
In his immigrant social circles, he hadn’t even known anyone who went to college, as finishing high school was considered the highest possible achievement for his peers.
A Timely Review: The Taming of The Jew by Tuvia Tenenbom
Read it and weep--AND laugh
Israel’s Secular And Religious Divide
In a little over 100 pages, Friedman does a good job detailing the myriad tensions in the Israel secular and religious divide.
From The Depths
Their memoirs capture these experiences through a Torah-faith point of view.
Genuinely Funny Jewish Jokes
This book is good for kids, and seems to be less good for adults. It has a lot of puns, and when I told some of them to my parents they didn't think that they were funny. (But maybe my parents just don’t have a sense of humor.)
Title: Scholarly Man of Faith: Studies in the Thought and Writings of Rabbi Joseph...
As to the lack of written work by Rav Soloveitchik, Rabbi Shatz notes that this was a common lament during the Rav’s lifetime.
Title: Suzanne’s Children: A Daring Rescue in Nazi Paris
Her buried records have never been retrieved but it is strongly believed that her efforts prevailed and that those who were rescued by her survived the Holocaust.
The Importance Of The Beit HaMikdash In Our Daily Prayers
Each chapter focuses on a unique aspect of temple service and how it relates to a unique aspect of our daily prayers.
Shedding A Modern Light On Tanach
This series wasn’t conceived in a vacuum. A cluster of converging phenomena have contributed to the vibrant interest in Tanach among North American modern Orthodox Jews.
Title: Sparks From the Fire
A recurring theme in the book is that life has its challenges, and struggling with those challenges is what life is about.
An Interesting Take On The Talmud
While the Talmud is 2,711 pages, in a little over 200 pages, Kirsch does a good job of detailing the main topics and themes of the various tractates.
All The Lincoln That’s Fit To Print
It’s almost pointless to try to summarize all of the fascinating information that Holzer’s research unearthed.
Re-Discover Your ‘Why’
One can only be a strong and effective team player to the extent that one has worked on oneself.
The Kiruv Expert Who Was ‘Too Shy To Talk’
While anyone can find Rav Schuster’s story inspiring, I think shy children will get an extra dose of inspiration.
2015 Jewish Children’s Book Roundup
Not only do books make great Chanukah presents, but you may just instill a love for the printed word in your kids, a gift that can last a lifetime!
Defending G-d And Our Patriarchs
One of the most challenging questions posed is whether there are fundamental differences between divine justice and human justice.
Title: The Haftara Handbook: Lessons from the Prophets for the Contemporary Jew
This 381-page paperback belongs in Jewish homes and libraries. It would make a nice textbook for classrooms, too. Rabbi Jonathan Shooter's skill at interpreting archaic language, then presenting it in contemporary parlance, is a gift from Heaven.