Friday, March 26, 2010

Health, Medicine and Judaism: Resources in our Library and Beyond

Library Print and Multimedia Resources

Judaism has tackled medical problems from biblical times to modern medical technology. This pathfinder offers resources on Jewish law (halacha) and medical ethics, as well as varying Jewish approaches to healing and an exploration of medicine and healing in traditional Jewish sources. Most of our resources are located under the call numbers R-RG and BM500-600. Jewish Lights Publishing has produced many books on the art of healing and modern medicine and integrated these ideas with Judaism. Authors such as Immanuel Jakobovitz and Fred Rosner appear frequently in this pathfinder with a more traditional approach rooted in Jewish law. This pathfinder touches upon topics such as sexual morality, drug use, AIDS, and mental health issues as well as general wellness and healing guides and women’s health issues.

Alternative Healing, Alternative Medicine and Judaism
Print Resources
  • Siegel, Bernie S., Peace, Love and Healing: Body-mind Communication and the Path to Self-Healing: An Exploration, , Walker, New York, NY, 1990. Summary: An alternative approach to healing, combining Judaism and mysticism with modern self-help. LP R726.5 .S55
Multimedia Resources
  • Kleiman, Nancy, A Guided Journey to Healing with the Harp, , Nancy Kleiman, Temple Israel, Boston, 2008, Summary: Soothing harp music set to a guided meditation visualizing healing one’s DNA to reach a strong, healthy and vibrant wholeness. CD MUSIC Kle
Health and Medicine in Jewish Law
Print Resources
  • Abraham, A.S., The Comprehensive Guide to Medical Halacha, , Feldheim Publishers, Jerusalem, Israel, 1990. Summary: An update of an earlier work “Medical Halacha for Everyone”, this book is a large scale guide to the treatment of medicine in Jewish law. R694 .A2C6
  • Bleich, David J., Judaism and Healing: Halakhic Perspectives, Ktav Publishing House, New York, 1981. Summary: This book is useful in providing the perspective of Jewish law on a very wide range of issues spanning 27 chapters, including taboo topics, and using real-world examples. BM515 .B61
  • Freudenthal, Gad, AIDS in Jewish Thought and Law, Ktav Publishing House, New York, 1998. Summary: This work contains responses from rabbis and other interdenominational commentary regarding the AIDS virus. BM538 .H43J4
  • Rosner, Fred and Tendler, Moshe, Practical Medical Halachah, Jason Aronson Inc., Northvale NJ, 1997. Summary: A conservative Orthodox perspective on Jewish medical ethics, covering a wide range of topics from sexual taboos to mental illness to dentistry. R694 .R6
  • Steinberg, Avraham, Jewish Medical Law: A Concise Response, Beit-Shamai Publications, Woodmere, 1989. Summary: Based on the response of Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Waldenberg, chief justic of the Rabbinical District Court of Jerusalem, author of Tzitz Eliezer. Deals with medical issues including: physician & patient; medical services and the Shabbat; contraception, fertility, abortion; surgery, psychiatry, death and dying and more. R694 .S74J4 1989
  • Various Authors, Medicine and Jewish Law, J. Aronson, Northvale, NJ, 1990, Summary: Proceedings of a conference on medicine and Jewish law sponsored by the Raphael Society of the Association of Orthodox Jewish Scientists. R694 .R53M4 1990 v.1
  • Various Authors, Jewish Law in Ancient and Modern Israel: Selected Essays, Ktav Publishing House, New York, 1971, Summary: Includes the essay Jewish Law and Modern Medicine by H. H. Cohn. BM520 .C66
Health and Medicine in Jewish Sources
Print Resources
  • Cutter, William, Healing and the New Jewish Imagination: Spiritual and Practical Perspectives on Judaism and Health, Jewish Lights Publishing, Woodstock, VT., 2007 Summary: A practical perspective on using spiritual methods for healing. BM538 .H43 H43 2007
  • Feldman, David M., Health and Medicine in the Jewish Tradition: L’hayyim – to life, Crossroad, New York, NY, 1986. Summary: A guide to Jewish tradition regarding various modern health issues. R694 .F4H4 1986
  • Freeman, David L., and Judith Z. Abrams, editors. Illness and Health in the Jewish Tradition: Writings from the Bible to Today, The Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia, 1999. Summary: A wide-ranging book from rabbis, survivors and physicians regarding Jewish values and modern medical advances. BM538 .H43I45
  • Greenblatt, Robert B., Search the Scriptures: A Physician Examines Medicine in the Bible, Lippincott, Philadelphia, PA, 1963. Summary: A Physicians’ take on the flaws and remarkable prescience of medicine as told in the Bible. R135.5 .G7S4
  •  Maimonides, Moses Ben, Maimonides’ Medical Writings, The Maimonides Research Institute, Haifa, Israel, 1984, Summary: The writings of Moses Maimonides regarding health and medicine in five volumes. R694 .M54 v.1-5
  •  Odell, Wesley, Towards a Recovery of Prayer: A Reform Response to Healing, Cincinnati: Hebrew Union College, 1994. 
  • Summary: The senior thesis of Wesley Odell (who later changed his name to Lev Baesh) on Jewish attitudes towards healing, broken down into an analysis of practice in biblical times, Talmudic times and the attitude of modern Reform Jews.The author received rabbinic ordination in 1994. R726.5 .O3
  • Press, Julius, Biblical and Talmudic Medicine, Sanhedrin, New York, NY, 1978. Summary: A scholarly examination of biblical and Talmudic attitudes towards sickness, medicine and healing. R135.5 P7413
  •  Rosner, Fred, Encyclopedia of Medicine in the Bible and the Talmud, Jason Aronson, Inc., Northvale CA, 2000. R135.5 .R663
     
  • Rosner, Fred, Medicine in the Mishneh Torah of Maimonides, Ktav Publishing House, New York, NY, 1984. Summary: A Scholarly examination of Maimonides’ view of medicine as expressed in the Mishneh Torah. R135.5 .R675
Multimedia Resources
  • Mehlman, Bernard H., The Jewish Perspective, WNEV-TV, Boston, 1995, Summary: A show in three parts: in part 1, participants discuss Project Yad, a program for the terminally ill. JPERSP COLL VIDEO BM700 v.172
  • Friedman, Ronne, The Jewish Perspective. WNEV-TV, Boston, 2000, Summary: In Part 2, Dr. David L. Friedman talks about his book, Illness and Health in the Jewish Tradition: Writings from the Bible to Today. JPERSP COLL VIDEO BM700 v.234
Jewish Approaches to Health Problems and Healing
Print Resources
  • Berman, Robin, The Hadassah Jewish Family Book of Health and Wellness, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, 2006. Summary: A comprehensive guide to Jewish approaches to modern problems of health and wellness; this is a comprehensive book that covers a very wide range of medical and personal issues. BM538 .H43 B47 2006
  • Cutter, William, Healing and the Jewish Imagination: Spiritual and Practical Perspectives on Judaism and Health, Jewish Lights Publishing, Woodstock, VT., 2007. Summary: A collection of thirteen essays regarding Jewish perspectives on healing and bioethics. BM538 .H43 H43 2007
  • Jaffe, Hirshel L., Gates of Healing: A Message of Comfort and Hope, Central Conference of American Rabbis, New York, 1988. BM665 .G31
  • Landman, Leo, Judaism and Drugs, Hermon Press, New York, NY, 1973, Summary: Various essays regarding the Jewish approach to drug culture and drug addiction, including methods on reaching alienated youth who turn to drugs. R694 .L23
  • Lown, Bernard, The Lost Art of Healing, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, MA, 1996. Summary: A book examining the doctor-patient relationship and a critique of modern medical practice, explaining how doctors excessively focus on diagnosing and fixing rather than healing. R733 .L684
  • Meszker, Rabbi Joseph B., Facing Illness, Finding God: How Judaism Can Help You and Caregivers Cope When Body or Spirit Fails, Jewish Lights Publishing, Woodstock, VT, 2010. Summary: A personal book designed to help readers focus on ‘spiritual well-being as an essential aspect of physical healing and wholeness’ (from the book jacket) for the ill and caregivers alike. This book combines real life experiences with traditional Jewish sources to comfort the ill and those caring for them. BM538 .H43M4
  • Moyers, Bill D., Healing and the Mind, Doubleday, New York, NY, 1993. R726.5 M69
  • Person, Hara, The Mitzvah of Healing: An Anthology of Essays, Jewish Texts, Personal Stories, Meditations and Rituals, UAHC Press and Women of Reform Judaism, New York, NY, 2003. Summary: A Reform perspective on using traditional Jewish texts as well as modern meditation for healing, including personal stories. BM538 .H43M5
  • Various Authors, A Time to Prepare: A Practical Guide for Individuals and Families in Determining a Jewish approach to making personal arrangements, establishing the limits of medical care and embracing rituals at the end of life, , UAHC Press, New York, NY, 2002. R726. A3 2002
Jews in Medicine and Health Practice
Print Resources
  • Berger, Natalia, Jews and Medicine: Religion, Culture, Science, Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia, 1997. R135.5 .J49
  • Block, Irvin, Neighbor to the World: The Story of Lillian Wald, Crowell, New York, 1969, Summary: A biography of the nurse whose many campaigns, including her reestablishment of the settlement house on Henry Street in New York, introduced the concept of public health nursing to America. BIOG WALD
  • Freeman, David, An Act of Worship: Moses Maimonides on Excellence in the Practice of Medicine, JIMA, 1999. Summary: A study of Maimonides’ thoughts on medicine and its linkage to religious practice. VERT FILE FREEMAN
  • Heynick, Frank, Jews and Medicine: An Epic Saga, Ktav Publishing House, Hoboken, NJ, 2002. Summary: An exhaustive history of Jewish participation in healing and medical practice, from the court Jews of medieval times to the modern day doctors. R694 .H4
  • Rosner, Fred, The Medical Aphorisms of Moses Maimonides, Bloch Publishing, New York, 1970. BM545 .M54 v.1
  • Rosner, Fred, The Medical Encyclopedia of Moses Maimonides, Jason Aronson Inc., Northvale, CA, 1998. R135 .R66
  • Siegel, Beatrice, Lillian Wald of Henry Street, Macmillan, New York, 1983, Summary: A biography of an urban pioneer who evolved new concepts of public health, led the movement for peace, and pressed governments to assume responsibility for the economic well-being of its citizens. BIOG WALD
  • Siegel, Rachel and Cole, Ellen, Jewish Women in Therapy: Seen but not Heard, Harrington Park Press, New York, NY, 1991. Summary: A survey of Jewish woman therapists and patients who examine the cultural effects of Jewishness in therapy, treatment and their personal lives and passions. RC451.5 .J4J49
Judaism and Medical Ethics
Print Resources
  • Dorff, Elliot N., Matters of Life and Death, Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia, 1998. Summary: A Jewish professor approaches moral and sexual issues as well as end of life care in Jewish law and tradition. R694 .D6
  • Jakobovits, Immanuel, Jewish Medical Ethics: A Comparative and Historical Study of the Jewish Religious Attitude to Medicine and its Practice, Bloch Publishing Company, New York, NY, 1975. Summary: An academic, historical approach to the study of Jewish medical treatment, focusing on traditional and medieval practices. R694 .J21
  • Meier, Levi, Jewish Values in Health and Medicine, University Press of America, Lanham, 1990. Summary: A survey of Jewish responses and tradition regarding modern medical dilemmas. R725.57 J493 1990
  • Rosner, Fred, Modern Medicine and Jewish Ethics, Ktav Publishing, Hoboken, N.J., 1986. Summary: A traditionalist view of the effects of Jewish traditions on modern medicine. R724 .R624
Multimedia Resources
  • Mehlman, Rabbi Bernard, Chapin, David and Levin, Susan, Medical Ethics Symposium: The Beginning of Life – Ethical Dilemmas for Families and Physicians, Temple Israel, Boston, 1991. Summary: Topics: Ethical Dilemmas from a physician’s perspective, the conflicts families present to clinicians and a reform rabbi’s response to Jewish/medical/ethical issues surrounding the beginning of life. AUDIO ARCHIVE R724 1991
  • Mehlman, Bernard H. and Terry Bard, Medical Ethics Symposium, Temple Israel, Boston, 1993. Summary: Health Care Rationing?: Presented by Rabbi Bernard Melman and Rabbi Terry Bard at Beth Israel Hospital, Boston in two volumes. AUDIO ARCHIVE R724 1993 v.1-2
  • Various Participants, Medical Ethics Symposium: The Right to Die, Temple Israel, Boston, 1990. Summary: Part I Side A: What Judaism teaches us about decisions near the end of life; Rabbis Bernard Mehlman and Ronne Freidman. Side B: Forum: A time to die – how do we decide? Panel with Dr. Lowell Schnipper, Chief of Oncology, Beth Israel Boston, Alex Moschella, Esq., Board Member of Law Medicine Inc., Naomi Stearns, LICSW, Dir. Of Social work at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. AUDIO ARCHIVE R724 1990 v.1-2
Mental Health Resources
Print Resources
  • Address, Richard F, Caring for the Soul: R’fuat hanefesh: a Mental Health Resource and Study Guide, UAHC Press, New York, NY, 2003. Summary: Caring for the Soul: R’fuat hanefesh was created as a response to the need to raise awareness of and reduce the stigma within congregations regarding individuals and families who are dealing with mental health issues. RC541 .C3
  • Clark, David C., Clergy Response to Suicidal Persons and their Family Members: An Interfaith Resource book for Clergy and Congregations, Exploration Press, Chicago, Ill., 1993. BV4330 .C54
  • Siegel, Rachel and Cole, Ellen, Jewish Women in Therapy: Seen but not Heard, Harrington Park Press, New York, NY, 1991. Summary: A survey of Jewish woman therapists and patients who examine the cultural effects of Jewishness in therapy, treatment and their personal lives and passions. RC451.5 .J4J49
  • Wechsler, James, In a Darkness, Norton, New York, 1972. Summary: A memoir about a man facing a severe mental illness and his eventual suicide. f. Wec
Women’s Health Resources
Print Resources
  • Butler, Sandra, Cancer in Two Voices, Spinsters Book Co., San Francisco, CA, 1991. Summary: From book jacket: ‘This collaboration began when Barbara Rosenblum was diagnosed with breast cancer. Using essays, journal entries and letters, Sandy and Barbara share the experience of living with cancer and being the partner who survives. Cancer in Two Voices is a subversive book in the best sense of the word – it provokes you to be engaged with all of your life’s choices: goals and values, work and friendship, lovers and family. It will nourish and sustain you, leaving you with fewer certainties but more compassion and generosity.’ RC280 .B8B85
  • Cardin, Rabbi Nina Beth, Tears of Sorrow, Seeds of Hope: Jewish Spiritual Companion for Infertility and Pregnancy Loss, Jewish Lights Publishing, Woodstock, VT, 1999. BM667 .W6T4
  • Falk, Sandy and Judson, Rabbi Daniel, The Jewish Pregnancy Book: A Resource for the Soul, Body and Mind during Pregnancy, Birth and the First Three Months, Jewish Lights Publishing, Woodstock, VT., 2004. RG525 .F34 2004
  • Frymer-Kensky, Tikva, Motherprayer: The Pregnant Woman’s Spiritual Companion, Riverhead Books, New York, NY, 1995. Summary: A book of prayers and history that covers Jewish tradition regarding motherhood and pregnancy. BM667 .W6F78.
  • Temple Israel/Beth Israel Hospital Panel, Women Helping Women: a Women’s Health Program, Temple Israel, Boston, 1992. Summary: A women’s health group discussing various issues with patients at the Beth Israel Hospital. VISUAL ARCHIVE R694
Web Resources
  • Hebrew Union College Kalsman Institute, http://huc.edu/kalsman/, HUC’s organization dedicated to dialogue between rabbis and health care professionals. 
  • JPsych, Judaism and Mental Health, http://www.jpsych.com/, Summary: A premier site on research regarding Judaism and mental health; it is frequently updated and contains advanced research.
  • Judaism, Science and Medicine Group, Arizona State University Jewish Studies Program, http://jewishstudies.clas.asu.edu/science, Summary: This is an international group of physicians, rabbis and scholars who debate together over Jewish values and medicine. The group publishes articles and anyone can join.
  • National Association of Judaism and Medicine, http://www.nijm.org/, Summary: A Chabad-funded group bringing together Judaism and modern health and medical professionals through annual conferences
  • Pathfinder by Library Intern Jonathan Cohen, March, 2010.

For more information about any of these resources, please contact Ann Abrams, Librarian, aabrams@tisrael.org.

Friday, March 05, 2010

Resources for Torah Study - Advanced List

Torah Study Pathfinder
As among the oldest and perhaps the most fundamental activities of Judaism, Torah study holds a special place for most Jews. It is one of the most important rites of passage, bonding for Jewish communities and also among the most important ways to learn about Judaism. This pathfinder will focus on advanced resources, including scholarly examination of the Torah and advanced and medieval commentaries. This pathfinder will include a diverse array of resources to help students of all ages further their study of Torah through audio, visual, print and online sources of Torah, as well as a wide variety of commentaries.


Print Sources

• Torahs:

o English Torahs:

 Friedman, Richard Elliott, Commentary on the Torah with a new English Translation and the Hebrew Text BS1225 .3 .F7 Harper


 Plaut, Gunther, “The Torah: A Modern Commentary”, BS1225.3 P55 UAHC, New York, NY, 1981



 Stein, David, “The Contemporary Torah: A Gender-Sensitive Adaptation of the JPS Translation”, BS1223 .S74 2006, Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia, PA, 2006



 Various Authors, “The Jewish Study Bible: A Tanach Translation”, BS895 .J4 2004, Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia, 2004



• Medieval Commentaries:

o Moses Maimonides:

 Hartman, David, “Maimonides: Torah and Philosophic Quest”, B759 .M34H36 2009, Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia, PA, 2009

 Maimonides, Moses, “The Code of Maimonides, (A translation of Mishneh Torah),” BM545 .M54 v.2-4, 8-9, 11-12, 14-16, 19, 21, New Haven, Yale University Press, Volumes 2-5, 8-9, 11-12, 14-16, 19, 21

o Nachmanides:

 Nachman, Rabbi Moses ben, “Ramban: Comentary on the Torah”, BS490 .C40 v.1-5, Shilo Publishing House, New York, NY, 1971, edited by Rabbi Doctor Charles B. Chavel, in 5 volumes

o Rashi:

 Isaiah, Rabbi Abraham ben and Sharfman, Rabbi Benjamin, “The Pentateuch and Rashi’s Commentary”, BS1225 .B4 v.1-5, “Rashi’s Commentary on the Torah in five volumes”, Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia, PA, 1976

o Other Medieval Commentaries:

 Pelcovitz, Rabbi Raphael, “Sforno: Commentary on the Torah”, BS1225 .S44, Mesorah Publications, 2001, “A Commentary by 16th century Italian Rabbi Ovadiah ben Josef Sforno”

 Loez, Me-am, “The Torah Anthology: MeAm Loez”, BS1225 .M4 v.1-19, Moznaim Publishing, New York, NY, 1987, “A nineteen-volume Sephardic Torah commentary, translated from Ladino”



• Modern and Women’s Commentaries:

o Modern Commentaries:

 Kasher, Menahem, “Encyclopedia of Biblical Interpretation: A Millenial Anthology”, BS1225 K363 v.1-9, New York, American Bible Encyclopedia Society, “The Text of the Pentateuch with Commentary and Talmudic-Midrashic Interpretations, Volumes 1-9

 Kripke, Rabbi Myer, “Insight and Interpretation: Reflections on the Weekly Sidrah”, BS 1225 .K75 1988, Town House Press, Chestnut Ridge, NY, 1988

 Kushner, Lawrence S., “Sparks Beneath the Surface: A Spiritual Commentary on the Torah”, BS 1225.3 .K87 1993 Northvale, N.J. Aronson, 1993

 Various Authors, “The JPS Bible Commentary: Volumes 1-7”,

BS1225 .J4 v.1-7, Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia, 2001



o Women’s Commentaries:

 Antonelli, Judith, “In the Image of God: A Feminist Commentary on the Torah”, BS1225.3 .A58, Jason Aronson Inc., Northvale, NJ, 1995

 Goldstein, Rabbi Elyse, “The Women’s Torah Commentary: New Insights from Women Rabbis on the 54 Weekly Torah Portions”, BS1225.3 .G6, Jewish Lights Publishing, Woodstock, VT, 2000

 Newsom, Carol A. and Ringe, Sharon H., “Women’s Bible Comentary: Expanded Edition”, BS491.2 .W66 1998, Westminster John Knox Press, Lexington, KY, 1998



• Torah Study

o Torah Study and the Broader World:

 Carmell, Aryeh, “Challenge: Torah Views on Science and its Problems”, BM538 .S3C45, London: Association of Orthodox Jewish Scientists, 1976

 Lamm, Norman, “Torah Umadda: the Encounter of Religious Learning and Worldly Knowledge in Jewish Tradition,” BM 538 .S3L34 1990, Northvale N.J. Aronson, 1990

 Petuchowski, Jakob Josef, “Ever Since Sinai: A Modern View of Torah”, BM560 .PK44, New York, Scribe Publications, 1961



o Critical and Historical Scholarship of the Torah:

 Fishbane, Michael, “Biblical Interpretation in Ancient Israel”, BS1186 .F57 1984, Clarendon Press, New York, 1984

 Friedman, Richard Elliot, “The Hidden Book in the Bible: The Discovery of the first Prose Masterpiece”, BS1181.4 .F72, Harper, San Francisco, 1998

 Friedman, Richard Elliot, “Who Wrote the Bible?”, BS1225.2 .F75 1997, Harper, San Francisco, 1997

 Knohl, Israel, “The Divine Symphony: The Bible’s Many Voices”, BS1192.5 .K545 2003, Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia, PA, 2003

 Levenson, Jon D., “The Hebrew Bible, the Old Testament and Historical Criticism”, BS476 .L48, Westminster/John Knox Press, Louisville, KY 1985



o Resources on Torah Study:

 Rosenak, Michael, “Tree of Life, Tree of Knowledge: Conversations with the Torah”, BM103 .R635, Boulder Westview Press, 2001

 URJ Press, “Living Torah: Selections from Seven Years of Torat Chayim”, BS1225.52 L58, URJ Press, New York, NY, 2005

 Heschel, Abraham Joshua, “Heavenly Torah: As Refracted Through the Generations”, BM504.3 .H4713 2005, Continuum Publishing, New York, NY, 2007

 Sipure Hasidim, “A Treasury of Chasidic Tales on the Torah: A Collection of Inspirational Chassidic Stories Relevant to the Weekly Torah Readings”, BM532 .Z2 v.1-2, Mesorah, New York, NY, 1980, in Two Volumes

 Zolty, Shoshana, “And all your Children Shall be Learned: Women and the Study of Torah in Jewish Law and History”, BM726 .Z65 1993, Northvale, N.J. Aronson, 1993



o Women’s Resources:

 Bach, Alice, “Women in the Hebrew Bible: A Reader”, BS1199 .W7W65, Routledge, New York, NY, 1999

 Goldstein, Elyse, “ReVisions: Seeing Torah Through a Feminist Lens”, BS1199 .W7G6, Jewish Lights Publishing, Woodstock, VT, 1998

 Meyers, Carol, “Women in Scripture: A Dictionary of Named and Unnamed Women in the Hebrew Bible, The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books, and the New Testament”, REF BS575 .W5, Houghton-Mifflin, Boston, 2000

 Ronson, Barbara, “Women in the Torah: Commentaries from the Talmud, Midrash and Kabbalah”, BS680 .W7R66, Jason Aronson Inc., New Jersey, 1999

 Shanks, Hershel, “Feminist Approaches to the Bible”, BS521.4 .F44 1995, Biblical Archaeology Society, Washington D.C., Various Authors, 1995



Multimedia



• Audio (also see Audio Meah Lectures)

o Ba’esh, Rabbi Lev, “Introduction to Judaism”, AUDIO ARCHIVE BM700 .I59 v.4 no.1, Temple Israel Boston/Union for Reform Judaism, 2004, Volume 4: Jewish History: Biblical to Rabbinic, Torah and Jewish Texts



o Carmell, Aryeh, “Challenge: Torah Views on Science and its Problems”, BOCD DS 113 .R8 v.2 London, Association of Orthodox Jewish Scientists, 1976



o Firestone, Reuven, “Burstein Scholar in Residence-2007,” Temple Israel Boston, 2007, Summary: “The Torah portion that will be read this morning is Lekh L’kha when God calls to Abraham and he answers Hineni I am here, I will follow you, God. So was he really the first Jew, or does Muslim tradition have equal or superior claim to him as the first Muslim? Using eerily similar Muslim and Jewish midrashic texts, Dr. Firestone will uncover the roots of Abraham’s stature in both religions. Light refreshments to follow.”



o Rosen, Jonathan, “Torah and the Internet”, AUDIO ARCHIVE Ros, Temple Israel, Boston, 2000, “Jonathan Rosen Speaks about his New Book, Torah and the Internet”



o Zecher, Elaine, “Torah: A Woman’s Commentary”, AUDIO ARCHIVES Torah Study


• Software

o Kolel, “Gates of Torah”, CD-ROM BM657 .G3, Kolel, 1999



Websites



• Advanced Torah Study Websites:

o Chaver.com, http://www.chaver.com/
 “An innovative resource with online ‘woven text’, displaying simultaneously Torah portions and the entire Mishnah in Hebrew”

o Jewish Agency for Israel, “Iyunim – Weekly Insights on the Parsha with Nehama Liebowitz”, http://www.jafi.org.il/education/torani/nehama/indexgil.html
 “An advanced-level commentary on weekly Torah portions”

o Tanach.org, http://www.tanach.org/
 “An expert-level, comprehensive resource in English and Hebrew on Torah Commentary”


• Torah Study from a Reform Perspective:

o Bluethread, “Torah Portions”, http://www.bluethread.com/torah.htm
 “A list of Torah portions and commentary, as well as other Jewish resources, from a Reform/non-denominational perspective”

o Temple Emanu-el, “Weekly Torah Commentary: Archive”, http://www.emanuelnyc.org/torah_archive.php
 Weekly Reform commentaries on the Torah from a large NYC Temple”

o Union for Reform Judaism, “Torah Study”, http://urj.org/learning/torah/
 “Torah portions and Rabbinical Commentary from the official Reform Jewish website”

o Westchester Reform Temple Torah Study Blog, http://wrttorahstudy.blogspot.com/
 “A blog mixing Reform Jewish torah study with practical advice on daily matters – an excellent, frequently updated blog”

o Women of Reform Judaism, “Torah Study Website”, http://www.womenofreformjudaism.org/the-Torah-a-womens-commentary/the-torah-a-womens-commentary-study-guide-program
 “The Women of Reform Judaism organization’s website on Torah commentary; a useful general resource”



• Torah Study from a Non-Denominational Perspective

o My Jewish Learning, “Torah Study: Jewish Learning”, http://www.myjewishlearning.com/practices/Ritual/Torah_Study.shtml
 “Resources on the practice of Torah Study and actual commentaries, including valuable guides to writing a D’var Torah or independent commentary”

o Shamash.org, “Divrei Torah – Commentaries” http://shamash.org/tanach/dvar.shtml
 “A search engine featuring a large section of full-text Torah commentaries, mostly at advanced levels”,

o Torah from Dixie, “A selection of Torah commentaries from Atlanta, GA”, http://www.tfdixie.com/


o Torahnet.org, http://torahnet.org/
 “A very comprehensive, multidenominational list of online Torah resources”



• Additional Resources

o I Love Torah Learning Site, http://www.ilovetorah.com/, “A website featuring hundreds of video and audio lessons on the Torah, from a Kabbalist/Orthodox perspective”

o Torah Educational Software, http://www.jewishsoftware.com, “A website with a large selection of educational materials for all ages and study levels”

Resources for Torah Study - Beginner's List

Torah Study Pathfinder – Beginner’s List



As among the oldest and perhaps the most fundamental activities of Judaism, Torah study holds a special place for most Jews. It is one of the most important rites of passage, bonding for Jewish communities and also among the most important ways to learn about Judaism. This pathfinder will include a diverse array of resources to help students of all ages further their study of Torah through audio, visual, print and online sources of Torah, as well as a wide variety of commentaries. This beginner’s version will focus on introductory, easy to read, and newer English-language materials.



A note: This pathfinder includes Torahs and resources on Torah study and scholarship, but not books and scholarship on individual portions of the Torah.


Print Sources

• Torahs:

o English Torahs:

 Friedman, Richard Elliott, Commentary on the Torah with a new English Translation and the Hebrew Text, BS1225 .3 .F7 Harper



 Plaut, Gunther, The Torah: A Modern Commentary, BS1225.3 P55 UAHC, New York, NY, 1981



 Scharfstein, Sol, The Five Books of Moses: An Easy-to-Read Torah Translation, BS1223 .S43, Ktav Publishing House, Jersey City, NJ, 2005



 Stein, David, The Contemporary Torah: A Gender-Sensitive Adaptation of the JPS Translation, BS1223 .S74 2006, Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia, PA, 2006



 Various Authors, The Jewish Study Bible: A Tanach Translation, BS895 .J4 2004, Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia, 2004



• Modern and Women’s Commentaries:

o Modern Commentaries:

 Grishaver, Joel Lurie, Learn Torah With…5756 Torah Annual: A Collection of the Year’s Best Torah, BS1225 .L35 5756, Alef Design Group, 1999

 Rossel, Seymour, The Torah: Portion-by-Portion, BS1225 .R6, Torah Aura Productions, LA, 2007



o Women’s Commentaries:

 Antonelli, Judith, In the Image of God: A Feminist Commentary on the Torah, BS1225.3 .A58, Jason Aronson Inc., Northvale, NJ, 1995

 Frankel, Ellen, The Five Books of Miriam: A Woman’s Commentary on the Torah, BS1225.3 .F67, Grosset/Putnam, New York, 1996

 Goldstein, Rabbi Elyse, The Women’s Torah Commentary: New Insights from Women Rabbis on the 54 Weekly Torah Portions, BS1225.3 .G6, Jewish Lights Publishing, Woodstock, VT, 2000



• Torah Study

o Introductory Materials for Torah Study

 Cohen, Norman, The Way into Torah, BM71 .C64, Jewish Lights Publishing, Woodstock, VT, 2000

 Cherry, Shai, Torah Through Time: Understanding Bible Commentary from the Rabbinic Period to Modern Times, BS 476 .C477 2007, Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia, 2007

 Isaacs, Rabbi Ronald H., Entering the Biblical Text: Exploring Jewish Values in the Torah, BS1225.3 .I82, Ktav Publishing House, Hoboken, NJ, 2001

 Kugel, James L., How to Read the Bible: A Guide to Scripture, then and Now, BS 1171.3 .K84 2007, Free Press, San Francisco, 2007

 Mandel, David, Who’s Who in the Jewish Bible, BS 570 .M36 2007, Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia, 2007

 Reis, Pamela, Reading the Line: A Fresh Look at the Hebrew Bible, BS1188 .R45 2002, Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody, MA, 2002

 Wolbe, Rabbi Shlomo, Pathways, a Brief Introduction to the world of the Torah, BM560 .W83, Feldheim, New York, 1993



o Resources on Torah Study and Critical Scholarship:

 Carmell, Aryeh, Challenge: Torah Views on Science and its Problems, BM538 .S3C45, London: Association of Orthodox Jewish Scientists, 1976

 Friedman, Richard Elliot, Who Wrote the Bible?, BS1225.2 .F75 1997, Harper, San Francisco, 1997

 Knohl, Israel, The Divine Symphony: The Bible’s Many Voices, BS1192.5 .K545 2003, Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia, PA, 2003

 Lamm, Norman, Torah Umadda: the Encounter of Religious Learning and Worldly Knowledge in Jewish Tradition, BM 538 .S3L34 1990, Northvale N.J. Aronson, 1990

 Rosenak, Michael, Tree of Life, Tree of Knowledge: Conversations with the Torah, BM103 .R635, Boulder Westview Press, 2001

 URJ Press, Living Torah: Selections from Seven Years of Torat Chayim, BS1225.52 L58, URJ Press, New York, NY, 2005

 Zolty, Shoshana, And all your Children Shall be Learned: Women and the Study of Torah in Jewish Law and History, BM726 .Z65 1993, Northvale, N.J. Aronson, 1993



o Women’s Resources:

 Bach, Alice and Exum, J. Cheryl, Miriam’s Well: Stories about Women in the Bible, j .BS551 .2 .B23, Delacorte Press, New York, 1991

 Bach, Alice, Women in the Hebrew Bible: A Reader, BS1199 .W7W65, Routledge, New York, NY, 1999

 Goldstein, Elyse, ReVisions: Seeing Torah Through a Feminist Lens, BS1199 .W7G6, Jewish Lights Publishing, Woodstock, VT, 1998

 Ronson, Barbara, Women in the Torah: Commentaries from the Talmud, Midrash and Kabbalah, BS680 .W7R66, Jason Aronson Inc., New Jersey, 1999



o Other Resources

 Frankel, Ellen, The Illustrated Hebrew Bible: 75 Selected Stories, BS550.2 .F73, Stewart, Tabori and Chang, New York, 2000



Multimedia

• Audio (also see Audio Meah Lectures)

o Ba’esh, Rabbi Lev, Introduction to Judaism, AUDIO ARCHIVE BM700 .I59 v.4 no.1, Temple Israel Boston/Union for Reform Judaism, 2004, Volume 4: Jewish History: Biblical to Rabbinic, Torah and Jewish Texts


o Rosen, Jonathan, Torah and the Internet, AUDIO ARCHIVE Ros, Temple Israel, Boston, 2000, Jonathan Rosen Speaks about his New Book, Torah and the Internet


o Zecher, Elaine, Torah: A Woman’s Commentary, AUDIO ARCHIVES Torah Study


• Software

o Kolel, Gates of Torah, CD-ROM BM657 .G3, Kolel, 1999



Websites

• Introductory Websites/Articles on Torah Study

o The Movement for Reform Judaism, A to Z of Reform Judaism: Torah, http://www.reformjudaism.org.uk/a-to-z-of-reform-judaism/?id=154
 A quick, introductory article on the Torah and Torah Study from a Reform Jewish perspective

o Jewish Virtual Library, Torah Study, http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/talmudtorah.html
 An article introducing the history and ideas of Torah Study to the learner

 Torah Study from a Reform Perspective:



Bluethread, Torah Portions, http://www.bluethread.com/torah.htm


A list of Torah portions and commentary, as well as other Jewish resources, from a Reform/non-denominational perspective



Temple Emanu-el, Weekly Torah Commentary: Archive, http://www.emanuelnyc.org/torah_archive.php


Weekly Reform commentaries on the Torah from a large NYC Temple



Union for Reform Judaism, Torah Study, http://urj.org/learning/torah/


Torah portions and Rabbinical Commentary from the official Reform Jewish website



Westchester Reform Temple Torah Study Blog, http://wrttorahstudy.blogspot.com/
A blog mixing Reform Jewish torah study with practical advice on daily matters – an excellent, frequently updated blog



Women of Reform Judaism, Torah Study Website, http://www.womenofreformjudaism.org/the-Torah-a-womens-commentary/the-torah-a-womens-commentary-study-guide-program
 The Women of Reform Judaism organization’s website on Torah commentary; a useful general resource







Torah Study from a Non-Denominational Perspective



My Jewish Learning, Torah Study: Jewish Learning, http://www.myjewishlearning.com/practices/Ritual/Torah_Study.shtml


Resources on the practice of Torah Study and actual commentaries, including valuable guides to writing a D’var Torah or independent commentary



Torah from Dixie, A selection of Torah commentaries from Atlanta, GA,

http://www.tfdixie.com/






• Additional Resources



Torah Educational Software, http://www.jewishsoftware.com/


A website with a large selection of educational materials for all ages and study levels