Pacaritambo

ABRAHAM ON TRIAL: The Social Legacy of Biblical Myth
by Carol Delaney. Condition: UNREAD 1998 Princeton Univ. Press hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first edition, first printing. Content: The story of the sacrifice of Isaac is at the heart of the three monotheistic religions that see Abraham as their father in faith: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Writing from a feminist perspective, Delaney considers the traditional interpretation, i.e., that Abraham's faith is proved by his willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac at God's command. Delaney then examines the role this story has played in modern ideas of paternal authority, taking as an example the case of a father who killed his daughter and claimed at his trial a few years ago that he did it because God told him to. Delaney examines the role the story plays in the psychological literature as well as in religion and argues against its perpetuation. While not all readers will agree with her interpretations, she certainly offers a thought-provoking argument. Questions welcome. [1 copy availaable]
$ 22.79 + $ 3.39 media shipping. [Email for shipping charges on international orders.]

JEWISH RENEWAL: A Path to Healing and Transformation
by Michael Lerner (Editor of Tikkun. Condition: UNREAD 1995 HarperPerennial Trade Paperback, first printing. Tiny edgewear & tanning to interior page edges. Content: Lerner posits that Judaism is a framework for the transformation of the self and the world. His interpretation of the classic texts, leaning heavily on the ideology of the "Jewish Renewal" movement, is much influenced by both the Kabala and New Age thinking. For example, he ingeniously explains why the male image of the deity in the Bible is grounded in an inaccurate perception of the text. And he deduces that the biblical injunctions that conflict with his own theological stance reflect a misunderstanding of God's true will. There is a lengthy polemic offering his vision of the State of Israel. [1 copy available]
$ 6.50 + $ 3.19 media shipping. [Email for shipping charges on international orders.]

JUDAISM: The Key Spiritual Writings of the Jewish Tradition (Revised Edition)
edited and interpreted by Arthur Hertzberg. Condition: NEW 1998 Free Press Trade Paperback, revised edition, first printing. Content: The first edition of this work (1991) appeared as part of a six-volume set of commentary and biblical text "explaining the spirit and values of the great religions of modern man." Now, 30 years later, using the same style and format, Hertzberg reexamines Judaism's moral and ethical values as they relate to today's major issues. Through a unique blend of ancient and modern scholarly commentaries, the role of Judaism is explored and interpreted in its relation to Jewish identity, equality of the sexes, rites of passage, the Holocaust, homosexuality, vegetarianism, medical procedures, politics, and more. Regardless of the era and world tensions, one theme from the original edition has prevailed--unity. Judaism, Hertzberg suggests, is best described as a confident religion whose disciples strive to return to traditional practices in a modern world. Interesting and thought provoking. [1 copy available]
$ 7.50 + $ 3.09 media shipping. [Email for shipping charges on international orders.]

THE KOSHER COMPANION: A Guide to Food, Cooking, Shopping, and Services
by Trudy Garfunkel. Condition:NEW 1998 Birch Lane Press hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket) first edition, first printing. Content: The Kosher Companion is the first consumer guide to the ever-growing world of kosher food and kosher products. It explains the origin and meaning of kosher dietary laws and tells how to identify kosher products by the symbols used to designate them. Buying kosher meats and poultry, and identifying kosher products for vegetarians and for those who are lactose intolerant or allergic to other dairy ingredients, becomes easy using the information given here. There are tips on how to buy foods that are both healthful and kosher and a selection of scrumptious, easy-to-prepare kosher recipes, as well as information on kosher wines, and on mail-ordering kosher foods. Also included are lists of hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and caterers that meet kosher requirements. Today, only twenty-five percent of the purchasers of kosher food are Jews. Why has kosher become so popular? One reason is that a growing number of health-conscious consumers accept kosher certification (with its strict labeling laws and stringent meat inspection) as a kind of "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval". Other religious groups besides Jews have turned to kosher foods because of their beliefs. Some five-and-a-half million American Muslims follow dietary laws similar to those of Orthodox Jews, and the 800,000 American Seventh-Day Adventists are encouraged to follow the dietary guidelines given in the Old Testament - the basis of kosher. [2 copies available]
$ 12.49 + $ 3.19 media shipping. [Email for shipping charges on international orders.]

THE LIFE STORY OF ADAM AND HAVAH: A New Targum of Genesis 1:25 - 5.5
by Shira Halevi. Condition: Gently pre-read 1997 Jason Aronson hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first edition, first printing. Content: The story of Adam and Havah (Eve), the first man and woman as told in the Bible, has greatly influenced our ideas about relations between the sexes, reward and punishment, and free will versus predestination. An imaginative approach to this well-known yet enigmatic myth. Targum is a late Hebrew word meaning "translation" - actually a "translation from the Aramaic." In the act of translating from the original Hebrew text, the way in which certain words are rendered is in itself a form of interpretation. Because many Hebrew words have an ambiguous meaning, and often more than one meaning, the opinion of the interpreter as to how the word appears in the secondary language colors the understanding of the translation's reader. It is common practice for scholars to use biblical translations as a form of commentary and interpretive resource on the text. In this targum, Shira Halevi follows tradition by doing much more than simply translating the biblical text into English; she offers the full-range of possible translations from the Hebrew, clearly aligning the alternate meanings so that the English reader can comprehend the inherent complexity of many Hebrew words. [1 copy available]
$ 7.50 + $ 3.19 media shipping. [Email for shipping charges on international orders.]

THE LOST MESSIAH
by John Freely. B&W photos and drawings illustrate. Condition:NEW 2001 Viking Press (London) hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first edition, first printing. [The US Edition is a first thus.] Content: The idea of a messiah who will come to offer salvation and heal the world remains one of Judaism's most enduring yearnings. Freely focuses on one who assumed the mantle of Messiah. In the mid-seventeenth century a messiah appeared, a rabbi named Sabbatai Sevi. As Freely describes him, Sabbatai would be described in modern terms as manic-depressive. In his own time, his "illuminations" (which alternated with moods of deep despair) and his knowledge of the Torah and kabbalah allowed Sabbatai to attract followers. When the respected Nathan of Gaza, serving as Sabbatai's John the Baptist, proclaimed him the Messiah, his fame grew throughout the Jewish world. Freely, quoting extensively from primary sources, follows Sabbatai's movements up to his shocking conversion to Islam [after he was threatened with beheading], which, perhaps even more shockingly, did not dissolve all of his support. Freely paints a portrait of the Jewish community in the Ottoman Empire that brings time and place alive. He is less successful in describing Sabbatai the man. Although Freely makes us understand the circumstances that made the masses long for a messiah, he fails to show how Sabbatai, a not particularly appealing figure, could have successively assumed that role. Still, this volume gathers the threads of many sources into one fabric, providing a valuable interweaving of history and biography. [I love this book!!!] [1 copy available]
$ 10.49 + $ 3.19 media shipping. [Email for shipping charges on international orders.]

THE MIRACLES OF EXODUS: A Scientist's Discovery of the Extraordinary Natural Causes of the Biblical Stories
by Colin J. Humphreys. B&W maps, charts, & photos illustrate. Condition: UNREAD 2003 HarperSanFancisco hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first edition, first printing. Remainder. Content: Humphreys, a Cambridge University physicist, takes a look at the story of the Exodus through the prism of science. Using ancient maps and employing such disciplines as geology, astronomy, and agriculture, he attempts to ground the stories in Exodus in the natural world, even to the point of positing a precise location for Mt. Sinai. It's not on the Sinai Peninsula, as many scholars assume, but instead, it's an active volcano in Arabia, Mt. Bedr. Although the complexity of some of the techniques he employs (and the scrutiny with which he examines the most minute details) may prove taxing for some general readers, most of the time the narrative is nicely paced and thoroughly intriguing. Certainly, Humphreys' enthusiasm is infectious. When he explains, for instance, the scientific reasons for the Ten Plagues and how the plagues are linked through science, readers will be carried along on the excitement of discovery. There are, of course, other books that offer theories about the Exodus, but this one deserves a place in the forefront. [1 copy available]
$ 8.50 + $ 3.29 media shipping. [Email for shipping charges on international orders.]

THE PROPHETIC FAITH
by Martin Buber. Condition: UNREAD 1986 Collier Books Trade Paperback, second printing. Tiny edgewear. Content: Central to Buber's studies of Judaism is his concern with the relationship between Jews and their G-d - a concern that changed the course of philosophical thought and religious studies. In illuminating the development of religious ideas among the Israelites, Buber begins with the Song of Deborah as the first authenticated written expression of Israel's faith in G-d. He also explores the evolving messages of the foremost prophets. [1 copy availaable]
$ 8.49 + $ 3.19 media shipping. [Email for shipping charges on international orders.]

SECRETS OF JERUSALEM'S TEMPLE MOUNT
by Leen and Kathleen Titmeyer. B&W detailed drawings, photos, plus color drawings. Condition: UNREAD 1998 Biblical Archaeology Trade Paperback, reprint. Content: This book is a reprint of the Ritmeyer's articles in Biblical Archaeology magazine. Reviewer: "This book is Ritmeyer's archeological analysis of the construction and remodelings of the Temple Mount. From that perspective, this short, small paperback booklet is a very informative analysis as to the various peoples who worked in developing the Temple Mount over several centuries (Jews, Romans, Muslims, Seleucids, Turks). There are numerous photographs that are very helpful in noting the various construction differences, and location maps showing how the Temple Mount and the Muslim Platform were laid out, and nice 3D drawings depicting how the Jewish Temples might have looked -- based upon the stone foundations. Also of interest is some detailing as to how the buildings were constructed; how different stones were used during different periods. Some nice history is presented by explaining the excavations occuring during the 1880s. Ritmeyer's analysis is great, but his claiming that he can show where the "Ark" itself rested does require more "faith" than what he provides as "proof." Only 116 paperback pages of text, but each one is very informative, from an archeologist's perspective. [1 copy available]
$ 8.69 + $ 3.19 media shipping. [Email for shipping charges on international orders.]

The SIGN AND THE SEAL (Lost Ark of the Covenant)
by Graham Hancock. Four B&W photo sections. Condition: NEW 1993 Touchstone Trade Paperback, 13th printing. Content: The History Channel has a program based on Hancock's book and they still show it periodically. It's great! Look for it! Not only is this book history, religion, & archeology, but adventure and mystery as well. "The fact of the Lost Ark of the Covenant is one of the grant historical mysteries of all time. To believers, the Ark is the legendary vesel holding the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments. The Bible contains hundreds of references to the Ark's power to level mountains, destroy armies, and lay waste to cities. The Ark itself, however, mysteriously disappears from recorded history sometime after the building of the Temple of Solomon. After ten years of searching through the dusty archives of Europe and the Middle East, as well as braving the real-life dangers of a bloody civil war in Ethiopia, Graham Hancock has succeeded where scores of others have failed. This intrepid journalist has tracked down the true story behind the myths and legends -- revealing where the Ark is today, how it got there, and why it remains hidden. Part fascinating scholarship and part entertaining adventure yarn, tying together some of the most intriguing tales of all time -- from the Knights Templar and Prester John to Parsival and the Holy Grail -- this book will appeal to anyone fascinated by the revelation of hidden truths, the discovery of secret mysteries." [608 pages] [1 copy available]
$ 12.50 + $ 3.49 media shipping. [Email for shipping charges on international orders.]

SIMPLE KABBALAH (A Simple Wisdom Book)
by Kim Zetter. Foreword by Ira Steingroot. Condition: NEW 2002 Castle BookS hardcover (pictorial boards - no DJ issued), first printing. Content: To convert complex spiritual ideas to clear, lucid terms, Conari Press established the Simple Wisdom series. This book attempts to make esoteric topics readily accessible. Kabbalah, or "received tradition," is the Jewish mystical answer to all questions about God, people and the universe, supposedly hidden within the Hebrew Scripture. Kabbalists devote themselves to unraveling these s ecrets. Zetter, a journalist who specializes in Jewish affairs, began studying Kabbalah 10 years ago when she lived in Israel. She provides a straightforward explanation of Kabbalah and then offers a brief history, beginning in the 12th and 13th centuries, when the canonical text of Kabbalah, the Book of Zohar, appeared. Next, she sets forth key principles of Kabbalah and examines the text of Genesis to demonstrate the techniques Kabbalists use to unearth deeper meanings in received traditions. A chapter is devoted to the Tree of Life, the crucial symbol of Kabbalah, and the book concludes by exploring Kabbalah's significance for human behavior. The labyrinthine mysteries of Kabbalah remain perplexing, but this book is a useful introduction for those who wish to investigate elements of Jewish theology and philosophy. [1 copy available]
$ 7.50 + $ 3.29 media shipping. [Email for shipping charges on international orders.]

TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT GOD: A Modern Jewish Approach
by David J. Wolpe. Condition: UNREAD 1994 HarperPerennial Trade Paperback, first thus, second printing. Perfect but for light tanning to page edges. Content: Convinced that "a spiritual education is as important to a full life as an intellectual and emotional education," Wolpe, a rabbi, offers a sensitive and informed guide to explaining God to children from ages four to 14. He asserts that "belief in God affects self-esteem, and searching for God together can help draw a family close." Questions about God come "fast and furious" from young children: questions about who and what God is, what God expects of us, how we can reach God, and why seemingly senseless things happen despite God's existence. Wolpe directs himself specifically to Jews and is particularly eloquent in his spiritual insight and explication. Highly recommended. [1 copy available]
$ 5.50 + $ 2.89 media shipping. [Email for shipping charges on international orders.]

THE TRUTH ABOUT CABALA
by David Godwin. Condition: NEW 1994 Llewellyn Publications small softcover, first printing. Content: This little book will tell you what you should know about Cabala - or so it says. [1 copy available]
$ 3.49 + $ 2.94 media shipping. [Email for shipping charges on international orders.]

THE VANISHING AMERICAN JEW: In Search of Jewish Identity for the Next Century
written and read by Alan M. Dershowitz. Condition: UNUSED 1997 Time Warner Audio Books 2 cassette audio book, most likely abridged, but the cover does not say so. Still shrink-wrapped. 3 hours playing time. Content: Famed attorney & law professor Alan M. Dershowitz is a powerful advocate for the liberal Jewish tradition in this country. In an earlier book, Chutzpah, Dershowitz celebrated an end to Jewish isolation and institutional anti-Semitism in America; in his latest book, The Vanishing American Jew, he decries the perhaps inevitable result of this desegregation: assimilation. Dershowitz writes powerfully about his fear that, with nothing to struggle against and no powerful motivation to maintain traditions, American secular Jews will, within a few generations, lose their Jewishness. The author writes from a privileged position: raised an Orthodox Jew, he embraced secular Judaism in his young adulthood and thus comes equipped with an intimate understanding of what he has chosen to reject and accept. Though Dershowitz has no definitive answers for the problem of the Vanishing American Jew, the questions he raises may be the first step in discovering a solution. [1 copy available]
$ 4.50 + $ 2.89 media shipping. [Email for shipping charges on international orders.]

WHAT ARE THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS AND WHY DO THEY MATTER?
by David Noel Freedman and Pam Fox Kuhlken. Foreword by Weston Fields. B&W photos and maps illustrate. Condition: NEW 2007 Wm. Eerdman's Trade Paperback, first printing. Content: The Dead Sea Scrolls are again on exhibit, and thousands of people will journey to see them. But will these folks understand what they see? There are plenty of scholarly volumes on the Dead Sea Scrolls, full of indexes, footnotes, and jargon for those in the know. But what about the majority of the population -- nonspecialists who just want a basic understanding of what the Dead Sea Scrolls are and why they're so important? That's where this little book comes in. Freedman and Kuhlken here offer an informed, inside look at these significant ancient texts. Full of humor and behind-the-scenes glimpses into research on the Scrolls, this is a fascinating, accessible guidebook -- perfect for any reader seeking a brief, quality introduction to this inscrutable subject. Questions addressed run the gamut from general to paranoid to somewhat cynical. Here's a sampling: What are the Dead Sea Scrolls all about?; Who wrote them, why, and in what languages?; How do scholars reconstruct a biblical text?; Have the Scrolls changed our understanding of any passages in the Bible?; Do the Scrolls tell us when the world will end?; - How has technology improved our ability to study the Scrolls?; How much would a Scroll fragment sell for on eBay today? Informative, teachable, readable, "understandable." Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 10.00 + $ 2.94 media shipping. [Email for shipping charges on international orders.]

THE WISDOM OF THE KABBALAH
translation by S L MacGregor Mathers. Foreword by Dagobert Runes. Condition: NEW 2001 Citadel Press Trade Paperback, first printing. Content: The Kabbalah, the classical expression of Jewish mysticism and the third of the great literatures of the Faith, was handed down in the oral tradition for thousands of years before it was first transcribed. A classic of the philosophy of ethics, as well as an exploration of man's relationship with God, the present selection from The Book of Splendor explores the nature of God before the Creation, and the soul of man after it. [1 copy available]
$ 4.49 + $ 3.19 media shipping. [Email for shipping charges on international orders.]