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ReviewsinBrief By Gil Student

Confronting Scandal: chotomy is often Where the classics leave unanswered How Jews Can Respond overlooked. Academ- questions, Rapoport fills in the holes When Jews Do Bad Things ics tend to empha- through modern literary analysis and By Dr. Erica Brown size the exceptional creative storytelling. Without over- Jewish Lights cases which do not reaching (generally), she suggests pos- Vermont, 2010 reflect the larger cor- sible motivations and emotional 192 pages pus, while tradition- reactions of the characters that fit with alists reactively focus the overall plot development. The re- nyone reading on the unchanging sult is a sensitive, penetrating analysis Athe news regu- center. In truth, of Biblical stories often overlooked. De- larly sees images there is a natural and uncontroversial spite the provocative title and subject, and stories of Or- development that occurs throughout the author’s care with words and avoid- thodox Jews, occa- Jewish law. Rabbi Michael J. Broyde, ance of innuendo free the book from sionally even rabbis, associate professor of law at Emory any salacious undertones. Rapoport’s misbehaving. How is a member of the University and a dayan in the Beth Din writing is compelling, and her ques- Jewish public to react? In this head-on of America, studies the rule rather than tions are always important points attack of an explosive topic, Dr. Erica the exception. He selected the mini- around which to analyze the text. Brown, a writer and educator who prayer called Havineinu, about which serves as the scholar-in-residence for there are numerous apparent contra- The Poetry of Prayer: the Jewish Federation of Greater dictions within the Talmud. Who can Tehillim in Tefillah Washington, sensitively asks tough recite it instead of the standard She- By Rabbi Avi Baumol questions and gives thoughtful an- moneh Esrei prayer? Under what cir- Gefen Publishing House swers. This is not a book of apologetics. cumstances? Through Rabbi Broyde’s Jerusalem, 2009 It is the exact opposite, because it de- analysis, we see the changes in ha- 100 pages tails many unsavory aspects of Jewish lachah that occur in the normal course life today. It is a book about sober per- of Torah study, as commentators debate or a book on spectives, living in the real world in- the merits of different interpretations Fprayer to be stead of the ideal, and working to and rule accordingly. successful, it has change the flaws in our community that to be smart but allow these misdeeds to occur. One Biblical Seductions: Six Stories Re- not too smart. A leaves this book thankful for encounter- told Based on Talmud and Midrash book that is too ing a voice of sanity, less disillusioned By Sandra E. Rapoport intellectual may than disappointed, and ready to de- Ktav Publishing engage your mand change. Dr. Brown is a legend of House mind, but as it adult education, a groundbreaker in at- New Jersey, 2011 delves into the tracting and sustaining the interest of 540 pages details of history and philology it gener- busy laypeople in Torah study. With ally becomes a book that takes the mind this book, she will have no problem or many peo- too far from the heart. On the other finding interested readers. Fple, engaging hand, a book that inspires superficially in modern Biblical may add to the power of the readers’ Innovation in Jewish Law: scholarship means prayers in general, but it fails to educate A Case Study of Chiddush ignoring all previ- the readers about what the prayer in Havineinu ous attempts to un- means. Rabbi Avi Baumol carefully By Rabbi Michael J. Broyde derstand the Bible. Recent trends, treads that fine line. He analyzes the el- Urim Publications however, incorporate modern and an- ements of Tehillim that can be found in Jerusalem, 2010 cient explanations, allowing the con- five sections of the prayer service. His 163 pages temporary scholar to join the style is informed of scholarship, includ- commentarial discussion with his new ing the history of prayer and the liter- alachah, Jewish law, evolves but tools and perspectives. Sandra E. ary structure of Tehillim, but the Honly in a limited way. It has a Rapoport, an author and a teacher, analysis isn’t too complex. Rabbi Bau- static core whose applications and combines literary analysis with mol does an excellent job at making his many details vary based on time, place, midrash and classical commentaries to study uplifting and relevant to someone circumstance and authority. This di- tell these Biblical stories in full color, who prays. After reading this book, you studying in detail the characters’ moti- come away not just knowing prayer Rabbi Gil Student writes frequently on Jew- vations and feelings at each step. better, but praying better. ish issues and blogs at TorahMusings.com.

80 I JEWISH ACTION Fall 5772/2011