The Soul of Chanukah


Book Description

“When the lowest person in the world was a child, he was dreaming about being the holiest, most glorious person in the world. But something happened. Someone destroyed his dreams, and he gave up on the world. It is so easy to lose our dreams. Why? Because nobody really encourages them. “If someone can bring me back to the dreams I once had, he is my best friend in the world. This is what Chanukah does. This is why Chanukah is the greatest, deepest holiday in the world. On Chanukah, God gives us back our dreams.” In this volume, the unique teachings and insights of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach are shared with a depth and relevance that is rarely appreciated. Eight days of fascinating and important ideas — a lifetime of inspiration and connection.




Chanukah


Book Description

A fun-filled, insightful resource for the whole family combines a step-by-step guide to celebrating Chanuka, with lucid insights that reveal how the holiday speaks to people's lives today. Includes The Story of Chanukah for the Historically Challenged; Eight Questions People Ask About Chanukah; Eight Stories for Eight Nights; Tips, Hints and Secrets for Parents to Create a Great Family Experience, and more.




The Soul of Jerusalem


Book Description

There is a little land. In that little land, there is a little city. In that city there is a little street, and on that street there is a little wall. When you stand by that Holy Wall, you can hear the footsteps of our father Abraham, and you can hear the trumpet of the Great Day to come. You hear the past and you can hear the future. You can hear the singing of the Levites. Or, you can hear us crying, going into exile. You can hear the six million crying out of the gas chambers, and you can hear the trumpet of the Great Day to come. I was standing one early morning by the Holy Wall, and I was saying Kaddish for my father. But when you stand by that Holy Wall, you say Kaddish for the whole world. Sometimes you feel like saying Kaddish for your own soul, and sometimes you feel like saying Kaddish for tomorrow. Then you hear the words “Yisgadal V’yiskadash Shmei Raba — May G-d’s Name become great and sanctified,” and you remember there is one G-d, and you know that the Great Morning is coming. You know that day and night will get together. The living and the dead, we and the whole world. This is my song, the song of tears, because on that Great Day the tears will march through the world, and the whole world will join them. The tears will clear the world and prepare the world. Everything will come together. We will all come together. It will be a new morning – a new beginning. In this remarkable and life-changing work, the reader is transported to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem to be inspired by the teachings of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach zt”l. Masterfully adapted by Rabbi Shlomo Katz (renowned musician and creator of the best-selling and acclaimed The Soul of Chanukah: Teachings of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach), these teachings touch the soul.




Eight Lights


Book Description

With his trademark spiritual sensitivity and deep understanding of tradition, Rabbi Pinson illuminates the holiday of Chanukah in an entirely new way. In the format of a meditation for each night of the observance, this edition is both a guide to the lighting of the menorah and celebrating of Chanukah and a manual for a deeper understanding of the holiday.




The Soul of Jewish Social Justice


Book Description

The Soul of Jewish Social Justice offers a novel intellectual and spiritual approach for how Jewish wisdom must be relevant and transformational in its application to the most pressing moral problems of our time. The book explores how spirituality, ritual, narratives, holidays, and tradition can enhance one’s commitment to creating a more just society. Readers will discover how the Jewish social justice ethos can help address issues of education reform, ethical consumption, the future of Israel, immigration, prison reform, violence, and business ethics.







Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins


Book Description

The classic Hanukkah tale, shared by families all around the world-- now available in a beautiful anniversary edition. A Caldecott Honor book. A gift edition of this title is also available, featuring a slipcase and fold-out poster. (ISBN: 9780823452552) An original tale featuring a traditional Jewish folk hero, this clever story, which received a Sydney Taylor Honor, has been a family favorite for decades! On the first night of Hanukkah, a weary traveler named Hershel of Ostropol eagerly approaches a village, where plenty of latkes and merriment should warm him. But when he arrives not a single candle is lit. A band of frightful goblins has taken over the synagogue, and the villagers cannot celebrate at all! Hershel vows to help them. Using his wits, the clever trickster faces down one goblin after the next, night after night. But can one man alone save Hanukkah and live to tell the tale? Trina Schart Hyman’s leering goblins are equal parts terrifying and ridiculous as they match wits with Hershel, trying to keep him from lighting the menorah and celebrating Hanukkah. This beautiful 25th Anniversary Edition includes an insightful afterword from the author and publisher explaining the book's origins, and remembering Trina Schart Hyman, the illustrator who brought the tale to life. This classic picture book is a perfect Hanukkah gift and a wonderful read-aloud. For more tales of this clever folk hero, read The Adventures of Hershel of Ostropol— another collaboration between master storyteller Eric A. Kimmel and Trina Schart Hyman. Caldecott Honor Book ALA Notable Children’s Book NCTE Notable Children’s Book in the Language Arts A Sydney Taylor Award Honor Book Colorado Children’s Book Award Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award




The Book of Life After Life


Book Description

What is a soul? What happens to us after we physically die? What is consciousness, and can it survive without a physical brain? Do Near-death Experiences prove immortality? What is Heaven? Who Reincarnates? Can we remember our past lives?Overcoming the fear of death...?Drawing from all sources of Jewish wisdom coupled with a modern and scientific understanding of consciousness, Rav Pinson will explore the possibility of surviving death, the near-death experience and a glimpse into what awaits us after this life.




The Soul of Solomon Siegel


Book Description

This book has no story plot and is about only one person. It is different from other books that may be described as action-packed or "a page turner". It is an inspirational and emotional biographical book that puts you into the life of an orthodox Jew, Solomon Siegel, living in Brooklyn, New York from 1910 until his death in 1951. Through speeches, poems, songs, parables, jokes and Torah stories he is able to present his moral values and philosophy. Many of his writings are so thought provoking and informative that it may require you to sit and contemplate his meaning. His views on the coming of the State of Israel give us the historical view of the Jewish community when he served as a synagogue president. We see his heartfelt obligation and devotion to the survivors of the Holocaust in his support of The Hachnosas Kallah (Bridal Fund) for the young Jewish immigrants arriving here without funds to marry and start a new life. Many of his writings are a powerful and poignant reminder for today's Jewish community if they are to survive the current secular world we live in. The theme of his writings is the keeping of the Sabbath and the Holidays that will define us as Jews. My adventure into the literary world is not a creative attempt to become a famous author. Through this book I want my family to have a strong connection to a person that, to my own regret, I never had. I believe I have achieved this goal. When my twin brother, Martin, and I visited Suwalki Poland his home town, and also through my research of the area and time he was there it was reinforced. I now know this inspiring and perceptive person. I also now know "The soul of Solomon Siegel".




The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol


Book Description

From an imaginative team comes a new holiday myth for all families to enjoy, especially those celebrating both Christmas and Hanukkah. Nate Gadol is a great big spirit with eyes as shiny as golden coins and a smile that is lantern bright. He can make anything last as long as it is needed, like a tiny bit of oil that must stretch for eight nights, a flower that needs to stay fresh to cheer up someone ailing, or a small lump of chocolate that grows to allow the Glasers to treat their children over the holiday and, during a harsh winter when medicine is needed more than sweets, spurs them to share what little they have with the O’Malleys. In this charming holiday hybrid story, well-known children’s author and editor Arthur A. Levine pairs with award-winning illustrator Kevin Hawkes to offer a mythical, magical take on the way Jewish families came to give and receive gifts over Hanukkah, just as their Christian neighbors do at Christmas, thanks to a loving spirit named Nate Gadol working behind the scenes—together with a certain jolly old soul.