Scripture as Logos Rabbi Ishmael and the Origins of Midrash Azzan Yadin "This is perhaps the most significant and innovative scholarly work on the halakhic midrashim in the past thirty years. The claims are extremely convincing, the scholarship is rigorous, and the writing is engaging. The conclusions repeatedly break new ground and dispel mistaken ideas that have been accepted among scholars. Most impressive, Yadin consistently displays a command of both textual expertise and theory."--Jeffrey L. Rubenstein, New York University The study of midrash--the biblical exegesis, parables, and anecdotes of the Rabbis--has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years. Most recent scholarship, however, has focused on the aggadic or narrative midrash, while halakhic or legal midrash--the exegesis of biblical law--has received relatively little attention. In "Scripture as Logos," Azzan Yadin addresses this long-standing need, examining early, tannaitic (70-200 C.E.) legal midrash, focusing on the interpretive tradition associated with the figure of Rabbi Ishmael. This is a sophisticated study of midrashic hermeneutics, growing out of the observation that the Rabbi Ishmael midrashim contain a dual personification of Scripture, which is referred to as both "torah" and "ha-katuv." It is Yadin's significant contribution to note that the two terms are not in fact synonymous but rather serve as metonymies for Sinai on the one hand and, on the other, the rabbinic house of study, the bet midrash. Yadin develops this insight, ultimately presenting the complex but highly coherent interpretive ideology that underlies these rabbinic texts, an ideology that--contrary to the dominant view today--seeks to minimize the role of the rabbinic reader by presenting Scripture as actively self-interpretive. Moving beyond textual analysis, Yadin then locates the Rabbi Ishmael hermeneutic within the religious landscape of Second Temple and post-Temple literature. The result is a series of surprising connections between these rabbinic texts and Wisdom literature, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Church Fathers, all of which lead to a radical rethinking of the origins of rabbinic midrash and, indeed, of the Rabbis as a whole. Azzan Yadin teaches in the Department of Jewish Studies at Rutgers University. Divinations: Rereading Late Ancient Religion 2004 248 pages 6 x 9 ISBN 978-0-8122-3791-7 Cloth $69.95s 45.50 ISBN 978-0-8122-0412-4 Ebook $69.95s 45.50 World Rights Religion, History

By the author of the comprehensive, illustrated and now acclaimed Rudolf Steiner Handbook. The Way to the Sacred is for those interested in Rudolf Steiner's meditative path. Practical advice is given to esoteric students about problems encountered along the way. Sourced from thousands of pages of handwritten notes made by members of Rudolf Steiner's Esoteric School, (1902-1914). These provide a context for the 1924 Class lessons. Illustrations of the soul and the spirit, and other spiritual dynamics, derived from Steiner's indications. Evocative of ancient Egypt is Steiner's meditation on the Spiritual Sun. Also included is his Prayer to God, a Rose-Cross verse and his interpretation of the Beatitudes. The Way to the Sacred is an in-depth and illuminating guide to the process and problems encountered in meditating, coupled with helpful suggestions for the novice and the experienced meditant.

For more than forty years there was a single synagogue in the quiet town of Williamette, Oregon. But then disagreements over gender roles, homosexuality, Israeli politics, and other issues tore the synagogue in two. Where there was once one Jewish community under one roof, there are now two hostile congregations one Reconstructionist, one Orthodox across the street from one another. Through a year as a participant in both congregations and in-depth interviews, Zuckerman tells a mesmerizing story of this religious schism. Strife in the Sanctuary then contemplates why religious groups split apart and how religious symbols come to mean different things to different groups. The first book-length study of a single congregation breaking in two, Strife in the Sanctuary provides a welcome ethnographic study for sociologists of religion. Plus, its moving story makes it an excellent read for undergraduate classes or anyone interested in religious divisions.

This wonderful booklet has helped over 700,000 people implement a daily prayer routine. The author provides a quick and easy method of spending five minutes per prayer 12 times a day. Imprimatur.

A deeply biblical and relevant Advent study that focuses on Mary, her song of deliverance and hope (the Magnificat), and her significance beyond the story of Jesus' birth.

The "I Ching" originated in China as a divination manual more than three thousand years ago. In 136 BCE the emperor declared it a Confucian classic, and in the centuries that followed, this work had a profound influence on the philosophy, religion, art, literature, politics, science, technology, and medicine of various cultures throughout East Asia. Jesuit missionaries brought knowledge of the "I Ching" to Europe in the seventeenth century, and the American counterculture embraced it in the 1960s. Here Richard Smith tells the extraordinary story of how this cryptic and once obscure book became one of the most widely read and extensively analyzed texts in all of world literature.

In this concise history, Smith traces the evolution of the "I Ching" in China and throughout the world, explaining its complex structure, its manifold uses in different cultures, and its enduring appeal. He shows how the indigenous beliefs and customs of Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Tibet "domesticated" the text, and he reflects on whether this Chinese classic can be compared to religious books such as the Bible or the Qur'an. Smith also looks at how the "I Ching" came to be published in dozens of languages, providing insight and inspiration to millions worldwide--including ardent admirers in the West such as Leibniz, Carl Jung, Philip K. Dick, Allen Ginsberg, Hermann Hesse, Bob Dylan, Jorge Luis Borges, and I. M. Pei. Smith offers an unparalleled biography of the most revered book in China's entire cultural tradition, and he shows us how this enigmatic ancient classic has become a truly global phenomenon.

Rabbi Matityahu Glazerson has used his unique approach to uncover the exalted ideas that the words and letters of the holy language, Hebrew, convey. This approach is especially suited to the study of Haggadah, for the holiday of Passover does not only symbolize our redemption but is also symbolic of the holy language. Pharaoh's underlying motive was to break down the barriers that separated the Jew from the Egyptian, thus effecting our spiritual downfall through assimilation. The sages teach that one of the reasons why the Jews in Egypt deserved to be redeemed was that they continued to speak Hebrew. In this way they guaranteed their distinctiveness and their sanctity.

A book of powerful stories about cancer patients and their families who have been touched by God in miraculous ways--some in their bodies, others in their minds, all in their spirits--offers inspiring testimony that, when God and cancer meet, cancer is conquered. The author, herself a cancer survivor, gives us a behind-the-scenes glimpse of 18 personal encounters with God.

Here's what others are saying about When God and Cancer Meet:
"Lynn has captured the essence of hope in this book; captured hope in ways that I have always taught in my professional world as well as in my spiritual community. This book is a treasure to those who struggle with the fears of cancer and I want to keep it close at hand for those reasons."

--Judy Lentz, RN, MSN, OCN, NHA
Executive Director, Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association

"I co-lead a cancer support group at my church, and we have been looking for "just the right book" to study and discuss. Guess what?! Lyn wrote it! I was truly touched by all the stories; of course being a cancer-survivor myself, I saw myself in one of the stories, as if Lyn were writing my own personal story. I was truly impressed with the way she incorporated scripture, and God's viewpoint into every story. I think that is of utmost importance for anyone facing this disease.
Lyn's book is "Real-Life"; some quickly are healed of the cancer, some deal with it over a prolonged period, some deal with recurrences, some, mercifully, die rather quickly. I share Lyn's belief that GOD sometimes chooses to heal in different ways: physically, emotionally and spiritually.
In the process of surviving a primary brain tumor, surgery, Chemo, and radiation, I gave my life to Christ, realizing that my physical health was not GOD's main concern, my Spiritual health was the biggest victim of a disease that needed attention and this was the way He FINALLY got my attention. Lyn's book alludes to this fact in every one of her stories. In this day and age that we are living, where it is against the rules to even mention GOD ( unless we mention His name in vain) it is refreshing to have a book written, praising Him for His care and concern for us; written by a woman who has experienced the disease firsthand, and continues to minister to others with cancer, and to work for a Doctor! who isn't ashamed of his Faith ! WOW!!
Obviously, Lyn's book has my highest reccomendation, and my support group will be purchasing multple copies, and we plan to invite Lyn to speak with us. Lyn is a wonderful person, and I thank God for allowing our paths to cross. I'm sure this book will touch many lives,and give many a new perspective and hope with their cancer."

--Chris Winand, cancer survivor

"Has the life of God's people reached the utmost limit of what God is willing to do for them? Surely Not!" With that bold statement, Andrew Murray challenges believers to practice the art of waiting only on God. In thirty-one brief chapters, arranged as readings for each day of the month, Murray leads us in the school of waiting -- of being silent before God in complete trust and dependence. The lessons learned and the answers received through this act of faith far exceed the time spent, and build in us a trust, confidence in God and patience. Invest thirty-one days with Murray in waiting upon God -- the results will be mre than you could ask for.

We all long for an ever-deepening fellowship with God. But how do we find it? The mystery is not great. Experience shows that those who are close to God have set time aside each day with him. Over a million Christians have turned again and again to this classic introduction to daily devotions. Here they have found simple, sound and practical advice on quiet time with their Lord.

"Aren't You Glad Jesus Asked" contains 12 questions the Lord asks those who follow him. (Christian Religion)

The Talmud is one of the most important holy books of the Hebrew religion and of the world. No English translation of the book existed until the author presented this work. To this day, very little of the actual text seems available in English -- although we find many interpretive commentaries on what it is supposed to mean. The Talmud has a reputation for being long and difficult to digest, but Polano has taken what he believes to be the best material and put it into extremely readable form. As far as holy books of the world are concerned, it is on par with The Koran, The Bhagavad-Gita and, of course, The Bible, in importance. This clearly written edition will allow many to experience The Talmud who may have otherwise not had the chance.

Baby Blessings Catholic Bible gives parents and caregivers a positive and enjoyable way to learn about the Bible. From Creation through Easter, some of the best loved stories from the Old Testament and New Testament are presented in delightful rhyme and illustrated in glowing color. There are special prayers and discussion questions, which makes it a rich interactive experience for parents and children. Size 6 3/4 X 8 20 pages.

You pray for your own needs and for the needs of others. You pray in the face of conflict, and you pray for forgiveness. You pray to pour out your heart to God and to gain a glimpse of God's heart for you. As David Healey leads you through the prayers of men and women in the Bible (Mary, Abraham, Moses, Daniel and more ), you will gain new insights into why, what and how to pray. And you will experience more fully the adventure that prayer can be. Now available in IVP's revised LifeGuide Bible Study format, Prayer features questions for starting group discussions and for personal reflection, as well as a new "Now or Later" section following each session.

Steve Harper exhorts us not to have just a devotional time, but to have a devotional life. The seven weekly sessions in this workbook illustrate how John Wesley's devotional life can be applied to our own. The devotionals cover scripture, prayer, and fasting, among other topics.

Contemporary Muslims face a challenge: how should they define the relationship between normative Islamic jurisprudence-worked out by classical jurists over the course of centuries-and the reality that confronts them in their everyday lives. They have to reckon with how religion can regulate and serve the needs of a changing community. Is there a need for reformation in Islam? If so, where should it begin and how should it proceed? So far, these challenging questions have received little attention from Western scholars. Shi'ism Revisited will address this gap. In order to address pressing religious and social questions-on topics ranging from women's rights to bioethics and the challenges facing diasporic Muslims-legal scholars have sought to apply ijtihad, or independent reasoning. The lack of a central authority in Islam means the interpretations and edicts of scholars are frequently challenged, resulting in diversity and plurality in Islamic law. This makes Islamic law capacious, but also suggests the critical importance of examining not just the theory of law, but its application. Shi'ism Revisited moves beyond theoretical questions of reformation to address specific ways that Islamic law is being revisited by jurists. Tracing the origins and development of Shi'i jurisprudence and legal theory, Liyakat Takim analyzes how underlying epistemologies can be revised in order to create a moral and coherent legal system.