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- Aleph Isn't Tough:
An Introductin To Hebrew For Adults - Urj Press, 2000
- Retail: $16.00 / Softcover (112 pages)
Through the year, we have featured letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Do you have a desire to learn Hebrew? “Aleph Isn’t Tough” by Linda Motzkin and Hara Person is an introduction to Hebrew for adults. Book I introduces the letters and vowels of the Hebrew aleph-bet and helps the reader decode written Hebrew words. When you finish the first lesson, it is thrilling to recognize Hebrew words. Each lesson spurs you on to the next. You may want to start a Hebrew class in your congregation. This is the book for you. It can be ordered from Judaism.com. Happy Reading!
- Kosher Sex:
A Recipe For Passion And Intimacy - Main Street Books, 2000
- Retail: $14.95 / Softcover (304pages)
It’s amazing the reactions I get when I recommend this book for reading! The book is written by an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi who gives Jewish wisdom to people from every walk of life about a subject that affects us all…sex. Although he addresses the issue of sex when used inappropriately and the endless damage caused as a result, his central focus is on the married couple with Kosher Sex being the ‘fire of sexual attraction that creates union in the bedroom and closeness and intimacy in life’. Rabbi Smuley Boteach (beau-tee-awk) has a writing style that flows with humor while hitting some serious subjects dead-on. A must read for anyone pursuing intimacy with their spouse. Happy Reading!
- King Of The Jews
- First Fruits of Zion, 2006
- Retail: $16.00 / Softcover (256 pages)
I have just finished reading “King of the Jews” by D. Thomas Lancaster. In his book, the author quotes a Yiddish Proverb. “The Messiah you are expecting will never come; The Messiah that is coming you never expected.” I think these are appropriate words for us to hear. We all tend to create Yeshua in our own image. The author endeavors to take us back to the time when Yeshua lived, how he would have been received by the people of his day and how they would have interpreted the things he said. He takes the parables of Yeshua and enlightens us from a Hebraic perspective. People today still try to erase the Jewishness of Messiah. Remembering the above Yiddish Proverb, let us try, as best we can, to get a better understanding of Yeshua HaMeshiach. This book is available through Emet HaTorah. Happy Reading!
- The Rebbes Army:
Inside The World Of Chabad-Lubavitch - Schocken, 2005
- Retail: $14.00 / Softcover (368 pages)
“THEY SEEM TO BE EVERYWHERE”, even in Little Rock, Arkansas which is quite near my home. They are responsible for giant Chanukah menorahs being lit in public places, they educate Jewish children by establishing Hebrew schools, they educate women on the laws of family purity with their mikvahs, they stand on street corners and hand out Shabbat candles to non-observant Jewish women with instructions on how to light them and they find Jewish men and teach them how to lay on Tefillin. They do this without offending and manage to draw hordes of people to them for guidance, education and fellowship. They are the Chabad-Lubavitch Jews. Very ultra-orthodox and very passionate about their religion and yet, very non-abrasive. Although we may not agree with them wholeheartedly on every religious doctrine, we can learn much from them on how to teach and evangelize without being offensive; learn how to meet people where they are and bring them into the faith slowly and gently. Rabbi Cohen recommended a book to me for these very reasons entitled “The Rebbe’s Army” by Sue Fishkoff and I wholeheartedly recommend it to you. Happy Reading!
- To Pray As A Jew:
A Guide To The Prayer Book And Synagogue Service - Basic Books, 1991
- Retail: $19.00 / Softcover (384 pages)
I’m hearing a lot from many different Messianic organizations about discovering or rediscovering the ‘Appointed Time of Prayer’. This is exciting to me. For many of us, the Siddur (Jewish Prayer Book) and an appointed time to pray go hand in hand. For those who come into the Messianic movement with a church background, liturgy can seem a little awkward and regiment. I know I struggled in the beginning, but as I began to understand the prayers and where and why they originated, liturgical prayer took on a beautiful and special place in my life and in many of the lives around me. The book that has given me the most information is “To Pray As A Jew” by Rabbi Hayim Halevy Donin. Why do Jews pray? What is the role of prayer in their lives as moral and ethical beings? From the simplest details of how to compose oneself on entering a synagogue to the most profound and moving comments on the prayers themselves. Rabbi Donin guides the reader through the entire prescribed course of Jewish liturgy, passage by passage, ritual by ritual. This is an excellent guide to Jewish prayer. Happy Reading!
- Doing Archaeology In The Land Of The Bible
- Baker Academic, 1999
- Retail: $16.00 / Softcover (128 pages)
Archaeology! What a fascinating subject! Okay, what in the world is archaeology? This is the title of the first chapter in the book “Doing Archaeology in the Land of the Bible” by John D. Currid. The history and practice of archaeological excavation in the Middle East is outlined along with definitions of vocabulary used among archaeologists. How do they know where to dig? Who decides? How do they do it? If you are a beginning student or, if you are planning a trip to Israel to participate in a dig or, if you simply have a curiosity about archeology, this is a great resource. I loved it. Happy Reading!
- The Jews In The Time Of Jesus:
An Introduction - Paulist Press, 1995
- Retail: $16.95 / Softcover (224 pages)
The teachings of Jesus, his life story, his relationships, the things that were said of him by early Christians—all are best understood against the back drop of Jesus’ own time and place. Understanding Jewish life in the first century will help us better understand Jesus’ mission and how it relates to our own religious concerns today. “The Jews In The Time of Jesus” by Stephen M. Wylen gives The Biblical Background of Second Temple Judaism, Hellenism, The Maccabees, From the Maccabees to the Procurators, Political History, Jewish Religion in the First Century, The Festivals, Source of Texts for First Century Judaism, Sects, Hillel, Gospel Titles and Types in First Century Judea, The Parting of the Ways. Now that’s a mouth full. Although I don’t agree with some of the conclusions of the writer, the book does have a wealth of information of the time and world when Yeshua lived. A lover of history will certainly enjoy this one. Happy Reading!
- Torah Club
- First Fruits of Zion
- Monthly subscription
People have been asking me about study courses. I will take this opportunity to say, I have really enjoyed First Fruits of Zion’s “Torah Club”. There are five volumes and they also have Children's Torah Club. It is a good five year course and will help you get acquainted with different reference help for further study. The study follows the weekly parasha readings including one for the haftarah and one for the apostolic scriptures. This allows you to study the subject at hand for each week. It is full of information that would only be available to you if you had access to a hugh library and even then you would need the knowledge of knowing where to look. Torah Club gives you a chance to study from a Jewish perspective. I personally have all five volumes. It never grows dull or uninformative. You can find out more information about “Torah Club”and how to obtain it at www.torahclub.org. Happy Reading!
- The Letter Writer
- First Fruits of Zion, 2002
- Retail: $19.00 / Softcover (332 pages)
The writings of Rabbi Shaul (most recognize him as Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles) are at times confusing to the Torah observant believer. Did Shaul start a new religion? Did he do away with the Law? Did he invent Christianity? “The Letter Writer”, by Tim Hegg, helps put into perspective the letters Shaul wrote to the different congregations. In the “Letter Writer”, Tim Hegg reveals a Shaul who maintains his Jewish identity and love of Torah yet is an Apostle of Yeshua the Messiah both to the Jew and Gentile. Shaul is shown as someone who not only lived in obedience to Torah himself, but expected those he taught to do the same. In the “Letter Writer”, Shaul is seen to be both an Apostle of grace and of Torah, because the Torah, when received in the context of faith in Yeshua, is G-d’s revelation of sanctifying grace. While this book will not answer all your questions it should give you a better understanding of the letters of Shaul. Happy Reading!
- How To Run A Traditional Jewish Household
- Fireside, 1985
- Retail: $17.00 / Softcover (520 pages)
Since becoming a Torah observant believer, have you ever wished you could peek inside a Jewish household to see how things are done? Author Blu Greenberg has opted to give you that opportunity. In her book “How To Run A Jewish Household” she has opened the door of her home and invited you in. She shares a wealth of information on all the aspects of the traditional Jewish way of life including Sabbath, blessings, recipes, prayers, education, parenting, dress, speech, festivals, sex, birth, death and much more. It is an excellent resource for setting up a Jewish household or for the merely curious. I highly recommend it to you.
- Restoration
- First Fruits of Zion, 2005
- Retail: $15.00 / Softcover (193 pages)
A+A+A+ is what I'm hearing about "Restroration" by D. Thomas Lancaster, the latest book published by First Fruits of Zion. I have to agree. If you have recently been called to be a Torah observant believer, this book will answer many of your questions and is an excellent resource for your friends and family who are wondering what in the world you are doing. From personal experience, I cannot began to tell you the hours of research and many resources I have read to understand just a portion of what this book covers. Restoration takes you on a wonderful journey across the years of time. As you travel from the period of the apostles through the church age, you will gain insight into the things that were lost along the way. You will see how gradually new traditions were brought in to replace the old ways until they were forgotten. You will be better for taking the trip. As Boaz Michael said in a recent issue of Messiah Magazine; "If you look carefully, you will notice that the word 'restoration' has 'torah' at the center of it". Happy reading.
- Holy Cow
- First Fruits of Zion, 2005
- Retail: $15.00 / Softcover (161 pages)
Kosher eating! What does this mean? Does God really care about what we eat? So many questions. What’s this I hear about special butchers? Hey, I don’t eat pork and I haven’t had a cup of blood lately so what’s the big deal. At last a book that gently challenges followers of Yeshua to take a fresh look at what obedience looks like. Join Hope Egan in her book “Holy Cow” and let her take you through the bible and interpret what is said about our eating. This book is full of humor, as the title suggests, and is easily understood. Note that while our diets are not an issue of salvation, we are encouraged to be obedient to God’s Word. I think you will be very surprised and even somewhat shocked by some of the information provided in this book. Happy Reading.
- The Mystery of the Gospel
- First Fruits of Zion, 2003
- Retail: $15.00 / Softcover (218 pages)
Forced to face the dilemma of exactly who we are as Gentile believers in a Jewish Messiah, many people coming into an understanding of their Jewish roots have often been faced with an identity crisis. We know we have not replaced Israel—the “natural branches”—as some would teach. So who are we? Are those coming into an understanding of their Jewish roots, really part of the Lost Tribes of Israel? Is this a global “spiritual awaking” of the “natural born” who are simply unaware of their Israelite identities? Or is there another explanation that can be seen in Scripture?
D. Lancaster does an excellent job at presenting this particular dilemma and looking at a rational, Scriptural answer to the problems facing the spiritual identity crisis in the Messianic / Jewish Roots movements. He also does a wonderful job at reconciling the problem of how a “Christianized” Messiah of the last two millennium will ever be embraced by the Jewish people, by taking an insightful look at the story of Joseph. A highly recommended book and an easy read.
