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February 2024 MBR The Judaic Studies Shelf
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Midwest Book Review
Feb 18, 2024, 1:56:23 PMFeb 18
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The Judaic Studies Shelf
From Time to Time: Journeys in the Jewish Calendar
Rabbi Dalia Marx
CCAR Press
www.ccarpress.org
9780881236132, $32.95, HCJ, 400pp
https://www.amazon.com/Time-Journeys-Jewish-Calendar/dp/0881236136
Synopsis: Time is fundamental to the human experience, and in Judaism it is even more, because to the Jewish people, time is sanctified. Understanding the Jewish calendar is thus essential for fully comprehending Judaism.
With the publication of "From Time to Time: Journeys in the Jewish Calendar" from CCAR Press, Rabbi Dalia Marx, PhD, presents a fascinating exploration of the treasures of the Jewish year. This coffee-table style large format volume artfully blends traditional and contemporary perspectives on each Hebrew month and its holidays.
Rabbi Marx's insights are paired with striking illustrations; each month also features a diverse selection of poetry, prayers, and songs and takes a distinctively Israeli, feminist, and progressive approach to the meaning of time within Judaism.
Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of a six page Glossary, a two page Diagram of the Hebrew Calendar Year, and twelve pages of Sources, Permissions, and Notes, "From Time to Time: Journeys in the Jewish Calendar" is especially and unreservedly recommended for family, synagogue, community, and college/university library Judaic Studies collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, members of the Jewish community, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "From Time to Time: Journeys in the Jewish Calendar" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Rabbi Dalia Marx (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalia_Marx) is Professor of Liturgy and Midrash at Hebrew Union College-JIR in Jerusalem. She received her rabbinic ordination at HUC-JIR (Jerusalem and Cincinnati) in 2003 and earned her PhD at the Hebrew University in 2005.
Loaves of Torah: Exploring the Jewish Year through Challah
Rabbi Vanessa M. Harper
CCAR Press
www.ccarpress.org
9780881233797, $31.95, HC, 360pp (Ages 10 and up)
https://www.amazon.com/Loaves-Torah-Exploring-through-Challah/dp/088123379X
Synopsis: Challah is a special bread of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, usually braided and typically eaten on ceremonial occasions such as Shabbat and major Jewish holidays (other than Passover). Ritually acceptable challah is made of dough from which a small portion has been set aside as an offering. Challah may also refer to the dough offering. The word is biblical in origin, meaning "loaf".
Braided and spiral loaves of Challah have long been a delicious centerpiece of the Jewish table, but with a few extra twists, the beloved Shabbat bread can become a work of art that teaches Torah. With the publication of "Loaves of Torah: Exploring the Jewish Year through Challah", Rabbi Vanessa M. Harper (creator of the hit Instagram account @lechlechallah) shapes interpretive challot for each weekly Torah portion and Jewish holiday.
A creative journey through the Jewish year, "Loaves of Torah" pairs gorgeous color photographs with insightful commentary, in-depth questions for reflection and discussion, as well as beautiful kavanot. Rabbi Harper also includes blessings, recipes, and tips for creating your own interpretive challot.
A fresh, contemporary commentary on our holiest text, "Loaves of Torah" will inspire you to think outside the braid and take Torah into your own hands.
Critique: Inherently fascinating, impressively informative, as well as thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Loaves of Torah: Exploring the Jewish Year through Challah" is especially and unreservedly recommended for family, community, synagogue, and academic libraries Judaic Studies collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Loaves of Torah" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Rabbi Vanessa M. Harper (https://www.ccarpress.org/content.asp?tid=622), is passionate about shaping creative, joyful, and meaningful Jewish learning and living experiences for people of all ages. She currently serves as Assistant Rabbi at Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, MA, and Reform Rabbi-in-Residence at Gann Academy. Rabbi Harper was ordained in 2021 by the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in New York, where she also received a Master's in Hebrew Literature and numerous awards for academic achievement. In 2017, she created @lechlechallah - an Instagram-based education project using challah as an artistic medium for interpreting and teaching Torah and the Jewish calendar -- which evolved into kinetic midrash classes that she taught all over the country.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.
The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com
Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number, and list price).
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
From Time to Time: Journeys in the Jewish Calendar
Rabbi Dalia Marx
CCAR Press
www.ccarpress.org
9780881236132, $32.95, HCJ, 400pp
https://www.amazon.com/Time-Journeys-Jewish-Calendar/dp/0881236136
Synopsis: Time is fundamental to the human experience, and in Judaism it is even more, because to the Jewish people, time is sanctified. Understanding the Jewish calendar is thus essential for fully comprehending Judaism.
With the publication of "From Time to Time: Journeys in the Jewish Calendar" from CCAR Press, Rabbi Dalia Marx, PhD, presents a fascinating exploration of the treasures of the Jewish year. This coffee-table style large format volume artfully blends traditional and contemporary perspectives on each Hebrew month and its holidays.
Rabbi Marx's insights are paired with striking illustrations; each month also features a diverse selection of poetry, prayers, and songs and takes a distinctively Israeli, feminist, and progressive approach to the meaning of time within Judaism.
Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of a six page Glossary, a two page Diagram of the Hebrew Calendar Year, and twelve pages of Sources, Permissions, and Notes, "From Time to Time: Journeys in the Jewish Calendar" is especially and unreservedly recommended for family, synagogue, community, and college/university library Judaic Studies collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, members of the Jewish community, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "From Time to Time: Journeys in the Jewish Calendar" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Rabbi Dalia Marx (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalia_Marx) is Professor of Liturgy and Midrash at Hebrew Union College-JIR in Jerusalem. She received her rabbinic ordination at HUC-JIR (Jerusalem and Cincinnati) in 2003 and earned her PhD at the Hebrew University in 2005.
Loaves of Torah: Exploring the Jewish Year through Challah
Rabbi Vanessa M. Harper
CCAR Press
www.ccarpress.org
9780881233797, $31.95, HC, 360pp (Ages 10 and up)
https://www.amazon.com/Loaves-Torah-Exploring-through-Challah/dp/088123379X
Synopsis: Challah is a special bread of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, usually braided and typically eaten on ceremonial occasions such as Shabbat and major Jewish holidays (other than Passover). Ritually acceptable challah is made of dough from which a small portion has been set aside as an offering. Challah may also refer to the dough offering. The word is biblical in origin, meaning "loaf".
Braided and spiral loaves of Challah have long been a delicious centerpiece of the Jewish table, but with a few extra twists, the beloved Shabbat bread can become a work of art that teaches Torah. With the publication of "Loaves of Torah: Exploring the Jewish Year through Challah", Rabbi Vanessa M. Harper (creator of the hit Instagram account @lechlechallah) shapes interpretive challot for each weekly Torah portion and Jewish holiday.
A creative journey through the Jewish year, "Loaves of Torah" pairs gorgeous color photographs with insightful commentary, in-depth questions for reflection and discussion, as well as beautiful kavanot. Rabbi Harper also includes blessings, recipes, and tips for creating your own interpretive challot.
A fresh, contemporary commentary on our holiest text, "Loaves of Torah" will inspire you to think outside the braid and take Torah into your own hands.
Critique: Inherently fascinating, impressively informative, as well as thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Loaves of Torah: Exploring the Jewish Year through Challah" is especially and unreservedly recommended for family, community, synagogue, and academic libraries Judaic Studies collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Loaves of Torah" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Rabbi Vanessa M. Harper (https://www.ccarpress.org/content.asp?tid=622), is passionate about shaping creative, joyful, and meaningful Jewish learning and living experiences for people of all ages. She currently serves as Assistant Rabbi at Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, MA, and Reform Rabbi-in-Residence at Gann Academy. Rabbi Harper was ordained in 2021 by the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in New York, where she also received a Master's in Hebrew Literature and numerous awards for academic achievement. In 2017, she created @lechlechallah - an Instagram-based education project using challah as an artistic medium for interpreting and teaching Torah and the Jewish calendar -- which evolved into kinetic midrash classes that she taught all over the country.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.
The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com
Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number, and list price).
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
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