Sefer Yetzira is a sacred book of great antiquity and power, and one of Judaism's oldest texts after the Bible. In this new translation and commentary, Rabbi Worch leads us step-by-step through innermost chambers of Jewish mysticism. We are allowed to listen in to the arguments between Moses and God, to the whispered dialogue between Rabbis Akiba and Ishmael, and to those fervid and passionate practitioners of whose ecstasies these pages remain redolent. In the beginning was God's desire for us. Sefer Yetzira describes the process whereby desire materializes in the Breath of God and thence into the Ten Sephirot and twenty two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Commentaries to the Sefer Yetzira, through the ages, have reflected the spirit and yearning of those times, the genius and romance of the zeitgeist, be it philosophical, mathematical or contemplative. This commentary reflects the strikingly mystical qualities of Hasidism and the post-modern approach to text. In this book, we read how to listen for the breath of the Living God, how to hear it and breathe it back, in the mystery of our sacred kisses.

Moses' Staff and Aeneas' Shield uses two emblems to symbolize the important differences between the tragic but triumphant heroism of Virgil's Aeneid and the kenotic heroism of Moses in the Exodus story of Aeneas' shield and Moses' staff. The shield of Aeneas represents Rome's imperial destiny to rule the earth's peoples by strength, and Aeneas' personal destiny to end in triumph as a warrior. In contrast, the staff of Moses represents the saving wonders the Lord works through him to save the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt and bind them to himself in covenant, and his mission to go beyond being simply a wonder worker to "a man of words" who preaches the Lord's Torah.

Throughout the ages and across religious traditions, people have yearned to personally experience God and deeply connect with the Creator. In Mysticism in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Ori Z. Soltes traces the sweep of mysticism-this search for oneness with God-throughout the three Abrahamic traditions. This unique comparative overview begins with a definition of mysticism and a discussion of its place within religion as a whole. Soltes then explores the history of mysticism from Biblical times through the present day, highlighting the emergence of mysticism within the three traditions and how beliefs and practices converge and diverge over time. The final chapters discuss the growing interest in mysticism today through practices such as Kabbalah and how people publicly express their private encounters with God through art, literature, and other modern media.

There were fifteen important prophets in Israel, whose lives covered nearly four centuries, beginning about 750 B.C.E. Known as the literary prophets because they wrote down their prophecies, they were chosen by God at a time of social and political crisis in the community. Their task was to warn, criticize the morals and ethics of their day, and counsel and comfort the Israelite people. This book presents an overview of the literary prophets and the nature of their prophecies. They include Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Joel, Obadiah, Nachum, Habbakuk, Zephaniah, and Jonah. In addition to the so-called literary prophets, there were other people in the Bible referred to as prophets as well. Gideon, in the Book of Judges, was referred to as a prophet, Deborah is called a prophetess in the Book of Judges. Moses was twice called a prophet in the Bible and even Abraham is once referred to as a prophet in the Book of Genesis. Messengers of God: A Jewish Prophets Who's Who explores these prophets as well. Topics in this volume include: what is a prophet; varieties of prophets; commissioning of the prophet; preliterary prophets; false prophets; Moses; Deborah; prophetic signs and visions; values of the prophets; prophecy in the Talmud, philosophers and prophets, and prophets in the liturgy and rabbinic sources. Messengers of God: A Jewish Prophets Who's Who will enable the reader to have a better understanding of the nature of the prophets and their works.

40 Devotions for Knowing Who You Are and Whose You Are Far too many of us drift through life, grasping for occasional clues to our God-given purpose and identity. But it doesn't have to be this way. As a child of God, you can live from your identity instead of constantly searching for it. This 40-day devotional was written to help close the gap between wherever you find yourself now and the life you were created to enjoy. Each devotion explores both a facet of who God is and what that particular facet means for your transformation as his son or daughter. With keen insights from Scripture, encouraging reflections and declarations, and daily actions you can take to live out what you're learning, these devotions will unlock what has been placed inside of you so you can flourish in your God-given identity.

In Midrash for Beginners, Rabbi Edwin Goldberg presents English readers with an easily accessible entrance into the fascinating and insightful world of Midrash. Instead of trying to explain or define the Midrash and the midrashic process, Rabbi Goldberg gives beginning students the opportunity to explore and study Midrash themselves by focusing exclusively on the biblical character of Joseph. The story of Joseph is one of the best-known and most-loved tales in the Bible. From his rivalry with his brothers, and his father's apparent favoritism, to his being sold into slavery and rising up to become the second most powerful man in Egypt, Joseph's story contains lessons and symbolism that are as relevant to Jews today as they were to the rabbinic commentators of more than a thousand years ago

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Saint Leander, Archbishop of Seville describes the life of Leander, who brought the Catholic faith to Spain in the late sixth century, becoming a saint after his death in c. 600 AD. Despite inheriting great wealth and his sister's exposure to high society, Leander became a monk and persuaded his sister to give up wealth and opportunities for marriage in order to become a nun. Detailing how he persuaded her to join a convent and his celebration of his country's acceptance of the true faith, this book provides a new perspective of Leander's Byzantine parents and two brothers, Fulgentius and Isidore. When besieged by the Arian king, Liuvigild, Leander's parents and sister escaped to Carthage. Later in life, Leander taught Isidore to take over after him in Seville.

Professionalisation of Journalism has been a subject under global scrutiny since the nineteenth century. Contemporary studies show how journalism profession grapples with the implementation of standard journalism education and practices across the globe. The author discovered that the development of journalism has remarkable link with the advent of Christianity, however, an apparent decline of ethical values in higher education and professional practices abound thereby revealing the type of quality of education provided and the substandard nature of journalistic Professionalisation. Empirical research conducted in this regard geared towards assessing the socio-ethical relevance of Professionalisation as beneficial to democratic development, and the challenges journalists encounter that hinder the implementation of professional ethics and cultural values as a contribution to human dignity, rights, justice, solidarity and the common good. To critically examine these phenomena, this research study is anchored of scientific materials. It adopted the "see-judge-act" (A Theological methodology approach used in appraising socio-ethical situations) as well as qualitative and quantitative methods. The researcher conducted thirteen semi-standardised interviews as well as analysed 200 data samples (twenty-three questions) with Mayring model and (SPSS) was used to evaluate the quantitative data. The research results showed the thirteen different interview partners unanimously consented that "journalism in Nigeria must be professionalised" and "there is need to integrate Christian social ethics and culture driven values into the training curriculum" if journalists are to regain their credibility and integrity. The tested hypotheses showed statistical significance (p<0,05) among several others tested. Data interpreted illustrate huge consensus from the samples that 46,5% (agree) 29% strongly agree while, 11,5% (disagree), 2,5% (strongly disagree) and 10,5% responded with neutrality to the above statements. Founded on this, the author proposes integrating Christian social ethics and culture driven values in journalism to reinforce its social responsibilities, to serve as guidelines for the practical handling of low Professionalisation in Nigeria and across the globe

With your lives moving in fast forward and no known chance of slowing down, finding time to devote to your marriage can seem nearly impossible. Quality time is incredibly important for maintaining a healthy marriage in this quick-paced society where you run (sometimes literally) from errands to appointments to activities and back again. One of the best ways to strengthen your relationship is to spend time together with God-especially when you are busy. This daily devotional offers inspiring reflections on relationships, encouraging Scriptures, and thought provoking questions to help you intentionally engage with God and each other. When you prioritize spending a few moments to grow together in your relationship with God, you will quickly learn that it is the best way to begin or end your day.

In the brutal fight that has raged in recent years over the reputation of Pope Pius XII_leader of the Catholic Church during World War II, the Holocaust, and the early years of the Cold War_the task of defending the Pope has fallen primarily to reviewers. These reviewers formulated a brilliant response to the attack on Pius, but their work was scattered in various newspapers, magazines, and scholarly journals_making it nearly impossible for the average reader to gauge the results. In The Pius War, Weekly Standard's Joseph Bottum has joined with Rabbi David G. Dalin to gather a representative and powerful sample of these reviews, deliberately chosen from a wide range of publications. Together with a team of professors, historians, and other experts, the reviewers conclusively investigate the claims attacking Pius XII. The Pius War, and a detailed annotated bibliography that follows, will prove to be a definitive tool for scholars and students_destined to become a major resource for anyone interested in questions of Catholicism, the Holocaust, and World War II.

African religion is ancestor worship; it revolves around the dead, now thought to be alive and well in heaven (the Samanadzie) and propitiated by the living on earth. For the Akan, the ancestors' stool is the emblem of the ancestors (Nananom Nsamanfo). Led by their kings and queen mothers as living ancestors, the Akan periodically propitiate the ancestors' stools housing their ancestors. In return, the ancestors and deities influence the affairs of living descendants, making ancestor worship as tenably viable as any other religion. This second edition updates the scholarship on ancestor worship by demonstrating the centrality of the ancestors' stool as the ultimate religious symbol. In addition, all chapters have been expanded. A new chapter has been added to show how ancestor worship is pragmatically integrative, theologically sound, teleological as well as soteriological, with a highly trained clerical body and elders as mediators.

In the wake of the 9/11 tragedy recent political and religious conflicts, attention to religious violence has increased exponentially. Although violence in the name of religion has been around for centuries, there is increasing need to examine the roots of religious violence, with the hope of working for peace. In More Moral than God, Charlene Burns takes a unique look at the psychological motivations behind religious violence. Drawing from psychology, philosophy, and theology, Burns illuminates the interplay between our images of God, our individual egos, and our collective selves, and brings to light the degree to which each of us can and must take responsibility for the religious landscape. In addition to her own perspective on religious violence, Burns provides a brief history of religious violence and addresses other possible motivations, including politics, economics, globalization, family dynamics and more.

This learned, highly personal, and blunt devotional commentary on selected passages in the four gospels is intended for both devotional and educational purposes. It showcases a number of archetypal images of Jesus found in the gospels, including Jesus as Wildman; Jesus as feminine man; Jesus as wounded healer; Jesus as fiery prophet; and Jesus as Trickster. Contemporary readers, churched and unchurched, will find The Gospels with Salt very informative and stimulating.

This edition updates the scholarship on ancestor worship-with the addition of three new chapters. Beginning with Akan theology and ending with sacrifices, the study examines Akan conception of God, the abosom (gods and goddesses) relative to creation, centrality of the ancestors' stool as the ultimate religious symbol housing the soul of the Akan, and organized annual propitiatory festivities carried out among the Akan in honor of the ancestors (Nananom Nsamanfo) and abosom. The book, therefore, serves as an invaluable resource for those interested in the phenomenon of African religion, because it provides real insight into ancestor worship in ways that are meaningful, practical, systematic, and as a way of life by an Akan Traditional ruler ( dikro) and a professor of Africana studies.

Awaken your heart and mind to see your own capacity for wisdom, compassion and kindness. "When we awaken to our own light, it becomes possible to develop real wisdom about our life. As wisdom allows us to see clearly, our hearts break open with compassion for the struggles of our own lives and the lives of all beings. Awakened with wisdom and compassion, we are impelled to live our lives with kindness, and we are led to do whatever we can to repair the brokenness of our world." —from the Introduction At last, a fresh take on meditation that draws on life experience and living life with greater clarity rather than the traditional method of rigorous study. Based on twenty-five years of bringing meaningful spiritual practice to the Jewish community, well-known meditation teacher and practitioner Rabbi Jeff Roth presents Jewish contemplative techniques that foster the development of a heart of wisdom and compassion. This contemporary approach to meditation—accessible to both beginners and experts alike—focuses on using the distilled wisdom of Buddhism and Judaism as a way to learn from life experience. By combining these two traditions, he presents a model that allows westerners—both Jews and non-Jews—to embrace timeless Eastern teachings without sacrificing their birth traditions.

First Published in 2000. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

"In the Rabbi's Garden" is a contemporary reflection on the midrashic responses to the story of Adam and Eve. It interprets the midrashim that touch on the basic aspects of the human condition: guilt, responsibility, God, death, and sexuality--all rooted in the primal experience of Eden.

This book is a sequel to Biblical Historiography and Historical Geography; published in 1998. It comprises further studies in the field of biblical historiography, literary history of the biblical historical narratives and the quest for their veracity. They rely on a study of the tangible data of territorial history and the testimony elicited from the patterned historical concepts that figure in the texts. This line of research is based on a historical evaluation of literary testimonies interrelated with the archaeological evidence and regional history.

This is a rich, informative, and inspiring compendium of the Christian tradition of prayer and contemplation from the earliest days of the Church to the present day. Included are selections from St. Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, St. Clement of Rome, St. Gregory of Nyssa, John Cassian, St. Augustine, St. Gregory of Sinai, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Bonaventure, St. Ignatius Loyola, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Julian of Norwich, Brother Lawrence, St. Francis de Sales, St. Vincent de Paul, Lancelot Andrewes, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, St. Edith Stein, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Hans Urs von Balthasar and Pope John Paul II. Levering has selected readings that capture how Christian saints and spiritual leaders through the ages have understood what prayer is, why we pray, and how we pray. The selections also integrate the Eastern Orthodox and Western understandings of prayer and contemplation. The book is perfect for study, meditation, and inspiration.

God is life. His words impart life. A sermon should be an intimate encounter with the life-giving essence of the Word Himself. How do we as preachers extend such an encounter to our listeners? How can we offer words that transform? James T. Flynn unpacks the power of preaching to change lives and provides a new way to consider sermon preparation and delivery. Words That Transform re-images sermon-making as an experience of incarnation. A sermon begins as a seed sown in the womb of the preacher's heart through intimacy with God. That word takes upon itself flesh in the preacher's life, changing the preacher first. When proper delivery is married to imagination, the sermon's potential to transform others is realized. Using scholarship, practical teaching, and personal narrative, this book will lead preachers toward personal renewal and new power in their preaching ministry. eBook can be found on Apple iBooks.