RECOMMENDED BOOKS
In spite of TV and the internet, good books are still a key to inspiration and wisdom. You can take a book to the beach. You can pull out a book while waiting in line. You can share a book with a friend. You can write in a book, underline, highlight. Even the most inspiring, spiritual class or experience can fade with time, but a good book in hand keeps on giving. For all of these reasons, JSL promotes the use of user-friendly paperbacks as a follow-up tool to any kind of Jewish programming. Below are some of our recommendations.
By using the links below to purchase books on Amazon, Jewish Spiritual Literacy receives a recommendation fee.
The Art of Amazement How do you feel when watching a breathtaking sunset? Why are such moments so fleeting? This book is a step-by-step manual on how to nurture that sense of amazement every day, in every area of life. This path is from ancient Jewish wisdom, includes extensive endnotes and bibliography.
The Art of Amazement- Hebrew Edition ( אמנות ההתפעלות) Know an Israeli or Hebrew speaker who is looking for a deeper Jewish spiritual connection without becoming “religious”? This ground-breaking new book is for them. Click here for a Hebrew description and ordering information.
The Art of Kavana The foundation of pleasure and the basis of Jewish spirituality is the discipline of mental control, of focusing the mind at will.
Jewish Meditation by R. Aryeh Kaplan. Presents a guide to a variety of meditative techniques.
Meditation and the Bible by R. Aryeh Kaplan. This is what they should have taught us in Sunday School – that meditative techniques were central to Biblical personalities.
Worldmask by R. Akiva Tatz. Rabbi Tatz presents the fundamental Jewish philosophy that our senses deceive us reality is very different than what we perceive. He then shows how our life circumstances and various Jewish practices are designed to teach us this wisdom.
The Soul Diet:Ten Steps Towards Metaphysical Health by R. Yitzchak Goldman.This book presents an method to restricting the invasion of pseudo-wisdom that is shaping core values and causing a general state of confusion in the minds of many.
Jewish Matters by R. Doron Kornbluth (ed). In this lightweight, pocketsize book, twenty-three Jewish leaders, thinkers, and educators offer their insights and knowledge on topics as varied as relationships, prayer, mysticism and happiness.
Jewish Women Speak about Jewish Matters by R. Doron and Sarah Tikvah Kornbluth (ed). Each of the twenty-four hand-picked essays illuminates a different issue affecting Jewish women of today.
The Little Book of Big Jewish Questions:130 Questions About Life, the Universe & Everything by R. David Ordan. This book is for people who ask questions.
Between Silence and Speech:Essays on Jewish Thought by R. Nathan T. Lopes Cardozo. One of the most renowned author and lecturers from Jerusalem examines some of the most controversial topics in Jewish thought and law.
The Lonely Man of Faith by R. Joseph B. Soloveitchik. A profound philosophical approach to existentialism.
Do One Nice Thing:Little things you can do to make the world a lot nicer by Debbie Tenzer. An upbeat collection of easy ideas for small deeds that anyone can do to make the world a better place.
The Anthology of Jewish Mysticism by R. Raphael Ben Zion. An upbeat collection of easy ideas for small deeds that anyone can do to make the world a better place.
Book of Our Heritage by R. Eliyahu Ki Tov. Greatest introduction to Jewish lifecycle ever written.
The Glue Factor by R. Tzvi Gluckin. This book is everything you ever wanted to know about word-of-mouth recruitment on a college campus.
Remember My Soul by Lori Palatnik. A comforting voice of wisdom at life’s most painful moment. A guided journey through shiva and the stages of Jewish mourning.
The First Hebrew Primer: The Adult Beginner’s Path to Biblical Hebrew, Third Edition Nothing beats a great live teacher, but for going it alone, this book is the best we’ve seen.
The Science of God by Dr. Gerald L. Schroeder. This account of creation…drags science and religion within shouting distance of each other.
To Become One by R. Ezriel Tauber. The secret to a successful marriage is contained in Genesis 2:24, and those who know the secret can improve their relationship with their spouse immediately.
The Palm Tree of Deborah by R. Moshe Cordevero. A classic work of Jewish philosophy and Mussar (ethics) by the famed Safed Kabbalist.
The Wisdom in the Hebrew Alphabet by R. Michael L. Munk. This fascinating best-seller weaves these golden threads into a glorious tapestry, presenting hundreds of ideas and comments on the Aleph-Beis.
Etymological Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew: Based on the Commentaries of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch by R. Matityahu Clark. This dictionary, based on the commentaries of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, is a monumental work and guide to understanding the Biblical commentary of Rabbi Hirsch.
The Word: The Dictionary That Reveals The Hebrew Source of English by R. Isaac E. Mozeson. This landmark book features overwhelming data suggesting that the roots of all human words are universal, and that words have related synonyms and antonyms that must have been intelligently engineered.
Soveya’s Incredibly Easy & Healthy Cookbook: 300 No Sugar, No Flour Recipes (Gluten Free) by Zakah Glaser. This cookbook is for people who would ideally like to eat healthier food, but are daunted by the prospect of extensive or complicated food preparation.
On the Reliability of the Old Testament by Kenneth A. Kitchen. In this fascinating new book, noted ancient historian K. A. Kitchen takes strong issue with today’s “revisionist” critics and offers a firm foundation for the historicity of the biblical texts.
Pharaohs and Kings by David Rohl. By re-examining the reigns of the pharaohs and concluding that some ruled simultaneously, Egyptologist Rohl has shifted the established scheme of things by several centuries.
Angels at the Table: A Practical Guide to Celebrating Shabbat by Yvette Alt Miller. An introduction to all aspects of a traditional Jewish Shabbat, providing both an inspirational call to observe this weekly holiday and a comprehensive resource.
Knee Deep in the Funk: Understanding the Connection Between Spirituality and Music by Tzvi Gluckin. Music is spiritual – find out how.
Spice and Spirit: The Complete Kosher Jewish Cookbook This cookbook is a staple in most Jewish homes.
Judaism’s Forgotten Spirituality (New 2010 Edition)
By Rabbi Alexander Seinfeld
This new edition has been fully revised and expanded, including a new comprehensive index.
How do you feel when watching a breathtaking sunset? Why are such moments so fleeting? This book is a step-by-step manual on how to nurture that sense of amazement every day, in every area of life. After reading this book, you will see Judaism as a masterful ancient spiritual system for unleashing the power of amazement. You will be astonished to discover:
A challenging philosophical approach to the search for meaning.
A practical system for cultivating amazement based on ancient sources.
The happiness that comes from developing an expanded awareness.
The kind of spirituality associated with Eastern religions.
The latent transcendental potential everywhere, all the time.
Whether you are a seeker or merely intellectually curious, this book is a unique doorway to the depths of Jewish tradition. The curious will be satisfied merely to look while the seeker will want to step inside.
- Backpack-friendly paperback.
- Illustrated.
- Extensive endnotes for further reading and in-depth study.
“A tremendous resource for anyone concerned with Jewish education, whether professionally, in the family or for themselves.”
- Rabbi Dr. Nathan Lopes Cardozo, author of Thoughts to Ponder: Daring Observations about the Jewish Tradition
“Judaism has always seemed dry, lacking in real spirituality. In my heart, I knew that there must be more to it. Then I encountered Rabbi Seinfeld. His approach is deep, spiritual and ‘wet’. Seinfeld provides much of what modern American Judaism is missing.”
- Nat Goldhaber, 40-year practitioner of Transcendental Meditation
By Rabbi Alexander Seinfeld
Art of Amazement- Hebrew Edition ( אמנות ההתפעלות)
Do you know an Israeli or Hebrew speaker who would benefit from "The Art of Amazement"? Here is the new Hebrew edition!
Click here for the Hebrew description. $14.95
The Art of Kavana
By Rabbi Alexander Seinfeld
Contrary to most people’s understanding of Judaism, the Torah’s philosophy includes physical pleasures: that is, any experience that a person enjoys with one of the five senses. Either you smell it, touch it, taste it, see it, or hear it. Judaism views physical pleasure as central to living a good life. Hashem made a physical world not to frustrate us, but for us to enjoy. In fact, the tradition considers it a moral obligation to enjoy life’s physical pleasures. For instance, consider the very first mitzvah of the Torah. What is the Torah’s first mitzvah? It is not “Be fruitful and multiply.” Nor is it “Do not eat from the tree of knowledge.” Upon a close reading, the text plainly states that the very first mitzvah is”From every tree of the garden you must eat.” However, the foundation of pleasure and the basis of Jewish spirituality is the discipline of mental control, of focusing the mind at will. To develop such a discipline requires a systematic development of mental focus, also known as meditation. This is the Art of Kavana.
Jewish Meditation
A Practical Guide
By Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan
This is the book that inspired The Art of Amazement. Jewish Meditation: A Practical Guide is more advanced; for someone who has read and digested The Art of Amazement, this book is a natural follow-up.
“Presents a guide to a variety of meditative techniques: mantra meditation (with suggested phrases and Bible verses to use as mantras); contemplation; visualization; experiencing nothingness (which he does not recommend for beginners); conversing with God; and prayer. His instructions are clear and explicit, and his advice is informed and sound, advocating that a simple 20-minute-a-day program can indeed help make the practitioner a better person and a better Jew, and develop a closer relationship to God and things spiritual. Recommended for general collections.” -Marcia G. Fuchs, Guilford Free Lib., Ct. (c) 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc. (from Amazon.com)
Meditation and the Bible
By Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan
Another amazing book.
This is what they should have taught us in Sunday School – that meditative techniques were central to Biblical personalities.
As one amazon.com reviewer writes, “Rabbi Kaplan, arguably the most prolific, cogent, and accessible of writers on Jewish esoterica and mysticism, explores how the Torah’s Prophets used meditation as a tool to foster their prescience. The book also serves as an incisive gloss on aspects of the Torah, explicating the esoteric meaning underlying various elements of it. The section on Psalm 119 alone is worth the price of the book. Kaplan’s objective in all of his works is to get at the heart of Judaism, to use the form to understand the substance. Meditation and The Bible is an important part of his oeuvre. Irrespective of one’s religion, this book instils the sense that the reader is being let in on secrets of The Bible previously unknown to all except true Initiates, whoever they might be. Add it to your Kaplan collection. If you don’t have a collection of his other books, this should inspire you to start one..” -Louie Napolie
Worldmask
By Rabbi Akiva Tatz
OK, we’re breaking the rule and recommending a hardcover book.
We don’t like recommending hardcover books because they tend to stay at home, and we like portable books for follow-up. But this book is worth it.
Rabbi Tatz presents the fundamental Jewish philosophy that our senses deceive us reality is very different than what we perceive. He then shows how our life circumstances and various Jewish practices are designed to teach us this wisdom.
The Soul Diet:
Ten Steps Towards Metaphysical Health
By Rabbi Yitzchak Goldman
Many people are unfocused, filled with ideas randomly plucked from their periphery and are too quick to change their environment rather than change themselves.
This book presents an method to restricting the invasion of pseudo-wisdom that is shaping core values and causing a general state of confusion in the minds of many. It is not an easy journey, but anyone weary of cosmetic and clichéd self-help literature, will find this book an exciting adventure to the rediscovery of oneself.
Jewish Matters
Edited by Rabbi Doron Kornbluth
In this lightweight, pocketsize book, twenty-three Jewish leaders, thinkers, and educators offer their insights and knowledge on topics as varied as relationships, prayer, mysticism and happiness.
Jewish Women Speak about Jewish Matters
Edited by Rabbi Doron and Sarah Tikvah Kornbluth
The power-packed sequel to the bestselling Jewish Matters. Each of the twenty-four hand-picked essays illuminates a different issue affecting Jewish women of today. JWS is popular with women from across the religious spectrum. Topics discussed include: women in the workplace, women and spirituality, and the Biblical view of women.
The Little Book of Big Jewish Questions
130 Questions About Life, the Universe & Everything
By Rabbi David Ordan
Some people ask questions. Others want answers. This book is for people who ask questions. (And want to have fun along the way!).
Between Silence and Speech
Essays on Jewish Thought
By Rabbi Nathan T. Lopes Cardozo
One of the most renowned author and lecturers from Jerusalem examines some of the most controversial topics in Jewish thought and law.
The Lonely Man of Faith
By Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik
A profound philosophical approach to existentialism. The Book of Genesis has two versions of the creation of Adam. R. Soloveitchik shows how comparing and contrasting these two stories can explain the full essence of what it means to be human.
Do One Nice Thing:
Little things you can do to make the world a lot nicer
By Debbie Tenzer
An upbeat collection of easy ideas for small deeds that anyone can do to make the world a better place. Wonderful gift book.
The Anthology of Jewish Mysticism
By Rabbi Raphael Ben Zion
This fascinating collection includes some of the major ideas in Jewish mysticism. From the intriguing 16th century work by Rabbi Moshe Cordovero to the complex Ma’amar Patach Eliyahu (The Speech of Elijah). A superb introduction to some of the greatest works of Jewish mysticism.
Book of Our Heritage
By Rabbi Eliyahu Ki Tov
Greatest introduction to Jewish lifecycle ever written. No matter what your level of Jewish knowledge, you will find that this wellspring of information and stories will engage you year after year.
The Glue Factor
By Rabbi Tzvi Gluckin
This book is everything you ever wanted to know about word-of-mouth recruitment on a college campus. You will learn about the 12 standard recruitment techniques: what works, what doesn’t, and why.
Remember My Soul
By Lori Palatnik
A comforting voice of wisdom at life’s most painful moment. A guided journey through shiva and the stages of Jewish mourning.
The First Hebrew Primer
The Adult Beginner’s Path to Biblical Hebrew, Third Edition
Want to learn to read Hebrew but no idea where to start? Nothing beats a great live teacher, but for going it alone, this book is the best we’ve seen. You will be reading and understanding Biblical passages in only a couple weeks.
The Science of God
By Dr. Gerald L. Schroeder
From Kirkus reviews: “This account of creation…drags science and religion within shouting distance of each other. Schroeder, a physicist and Bible scholar, attempts to reconcile the Genesis account of creation with current scientific knowledge about the origin of life…. His biblical interpretations draw on an exclusively Jewish tradition, including Kabbalah, Maimonides, and selected passages from the Talmud…. Admittedly, some of his arguments (for instance, that the sequence of Genesis creation is congruent with evolution’s progression from prokaryotic to human life) are compelling.”
To Become One
By Rabbi Ezriel Tauber
The secret to a successful marriage is contained in Genesis 2:24, and those who know the secret can improve their relationship with their spouse immediately. For over three decades, Rabbi Tauber has been counseling and helping couples, from newlyweds to those married for many years.
The Palm Tree of Deborah
By Rabbi Moshe Cordevero
A classic work of Jewish philosophy and Mussar (ethics) by the famed Safed Kabbalist. Hebrew text with facing translation.
The Wisdom in the Hebrew Alphabet
By Rabbi Michael L. Munk
From the very first Kabbalistic work, through the Talmud, through an impressive array of rabbinic literature, great minds have found the Aleph-Beis to be a gold mine of wisdom and guidance. This fascinating best-seller weaves these golden threads into a glorious tapestry, presenting hundreds of ideas and comments on the Aleph-Beis, including: the Aleph-Beis as the force of Creation, as a primer for Jewish living, and as a fountainhead of Torah insight and mystical meaning. The product of decades of learning, thinking, and teaching by the revered educator, lecturer, and community activist Rabbi Michael L. Munk. A treat not to be missed.
Artscroll: The Wisdom in the Hebrew Alphabet
Etymological Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew:
Based on the Commentaries of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch
By Rabbi Matityahu Clark
This dictionary, based on the commentaries of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, is a monumental work and guide to understanding the Biblical commentary of Rabbi Hirsch. This work analyzes the deep concepts inherent in Hebrew, the Divine language, revealing how every word’s root contains connotations essential to a greater understanding of Torah.
The Word:
The Dictionary That Reveals The Hebrew Source of English
By Rabbi Isaac E. Mozeson
Genesis II supports a Mother Tongue thesis, and the Bible also claims that Adam named the animals. This may seem difficult to accept, but then why do the translations of the following animals’ names: Skunk, Gopher, Giraffe and Horse actually have corresponding meanings in Biblical Hebrew, such as: Stinker, Digger, Neck and Plower? This landmark book features overwhelming data suggesting that the roots of all human words are universal, and that words have related synonyms and antonyms that must have been intelligently engineered. The current hypothesis that language evolved from grunting ape-men may seem like the flat earth theory, after reading this book. Ideal for word buffs and anyone learning Hebrew vocabulary.
Soveya’s Incredibly Easy & Healthy Cookbook:
300 No Sugar, No Flour Recipes (Gluten Free)
By Zakah Glaser
The recipes included in this cookbook are very easy and simple and do not include any sugar, artificial sweeteners, wheat, or flour. Neither do they include any obscure or unusual ingredients. Most recipes should not take much time to prepare. This cookbook is for people who would ideally like to eat healthier food, but are daunted by the prospect of extensive or complicated food preparation. If you don’t enjoy spending hours in the kitchen, or simply don’t know much about how to cook healthy items- then this cookbook is for you. Soveya is a non-profit organization providing educational and coaching services to adults, children, communities and schools regarding the issues of nutrition, wellness and obesity prevention. Proceeds from the sale of this book will be used to support and expand the many programs and activities of SWITCHH (Soveya Wellness Initiative to Create Healthy Habits). SWITCHH is an educational initiative for schools, educating parents, teachers and students about proper nutrition and the imperative to take care of our bodies through healthy eating habits. SWITCHH doesn’t just combat the growing epidemic of childhood obesity, it helps children understand the pleasure and importance of appropriate eating before they develop unhealthy behaviors with food.
On the Reliability of the Old Testament
By Kenneth A. Kitchen
For more than two hundred years controversy has raged over the reliability of the Old Testament. Questions about the factuality of its colorful stories of heroes, villains, and kings, for example, have led many critics to see the entire Hebrew Bible as little more than pious fiction. In this fascinating new book, noted ancient historian K. A. Kitchen takes strong issue with today’s “revisionist” critics and offers a firm foundation for the historicity of the biblical texts.
In a detailed, comprehensive, and entertaining manner, Kitchen draws on an unprecedented range of historical data from the ancient Near East — the Bible’s own world — and uses it to soundly reassess both the biblical record and the critics who condemn it. Working back from the latest periods (for which hard evidence is readily available) to the remotest times, Kitchen systematically shows up the many failures of favored arguments against the Bible and marshals pertinent permanent evidence from antiquity’s inscriptions and artifacts to demonstrate the basic honesty of the Old Testament writers.
Enhanced with numerous tables, figures, and maps, “On the Reliability of the Old Testament” is a must-read for anyone interested in the question of biblical truth.
Pharaohs and Kings
By David Rohl
This volume, a companion to the current Learning Channel TV series of the same name (first known in Britain as A Test of Time: The Bible from Myth to History), intends to upend current chronology as it pertains to the Middle East. By re-examining the reigns of the pharaohs and concluding that some ruled simultaneously, Egyptologist Rohl has shifted the established scheme of things by several centuries. Along the way, he claims to have found better and/or possible historical matches for such biblical characters as Joseph and Moses, who continue constantly to disappear into the land of legend for lack of archeological evidence. Despite its simplicity and first-person familiarity, Rohl’s prose does not sacrifice substantive content. Overflowing with high-quality illustrations, charts and maps and with a running glossary, the volume (as well as the series) will appeal to a broad public.
Angels at the Table:
A Practical Guide to Celebrating Shabbat
By Yvette Alt Miller
An introduction to all aspects of a traditional Jewish Shabbat, providing both an inspirational call to observe this weekly holiday and a comprehensive resource.
Knee Deep in the Funk:
Understanding the Connection Between Spirituality and Music
By Tzvi Gluckin
Music is spiritual – find out how. Learn about the power of the intuitive experience in music; the link between music, sex, drugs, and spirituality; the role of music in meditation and prayer; music as a universal language; and so much more.
Spice and Spirit:
The Complete Kosher Jewish Cookbook
Keeping kosher and celebrating the Jewish holidays receive an added, joyful dimension, with practical guidelines interwoven with spiritual insights into many aspects of Jewish life and observance. Recipes range from traditional favorites such as blintzes and chicken soup to Szechuan chicken, aduki-squash soup and many other international, gourmet and natural specialties. All in a clear, easy-to-use format with helpful symbols and numerous charts and illustrations. This cookbook is a staple in most Jewish homes.