Urim PublicationsJerusalem · New York celebrating 20 yearsof publishing Summer 2017 TOPICS Bible Commentary Biography Children Contemporary Issues Education Encyclopedia Fiction Hebrew Historical Fiction History Holidays Holocaust After the Holocaust Inspirational the Bells Still Ring Israel by Joseph Polak Jewish Law foreword by Elie Wiesel Jewish Thought Winner of the National Jewish Book Award 2015 in the category of Biography/Autobiography Lifecycle “This gem of a book, 70 years in the making, is already a classic, Passover Haggadah riveting in what it reveals, in the questions it releases.” –Merle Feld Prayer “As one of the last witnesses to the Shoah, certainly one of Psychology and Judaism the youngest, Joseph Polak has written a memoir that is an essential contribution to the body of Holocaust literature . Science and Judaism This is a must read for anyone not afraid of grappling with the unfathomable.” –Blu Greenberg Tikkun Olam “. Joseph’s voice originates from within Bergen-Belsen, and Women and Judaism perhaps poses the questions and challenges to G-d that Anne [Frank] might have posed, had she survived. His story and Title Index her story merge. These two youngsters from Holland, Anne forever a teenager, Joseph approaching the status of elder, provide a perspective of unusual insight from within the Holocaust, and from within survival.” –Robert Krell, MD Publishing since 1997 Urim Publications, 2015, Hardcover, 141 pages $19.95 (70 nis), isbn 978-965-524-162-4 2 www.UrimPublications.com American Interests World War I in the Holy Land in the Holy Land Revealed in Early Photographs Revealed in Early Photographs From 1840 to 1940 From 1914 to 1919 by Lenny Ben-David by Lenny Ben-David "I congratulate Lenny Ben-David on the publica- World War I in the Holy Land presents this his- tion of this major work illustrating over a century tory of the “great war” in short essays with more of American support for the Jews of the Holy Land. than 100 photographs found in archives around For over 30 years, Lenny and I have cooperated on the world. While the Western Front seemingly projects in our respective professional lives. His attracted the most interest among journalists and knowledge and experience dealing with U.S.-Israel historians, the Eastern Front was just as brutal. relations, Middle East affairs, and Jewish history Reaching the Jewish community in the Holy Land in Eretz Yisrael is rich and vast." as well as Jewish fighters in neighboring areas, -Ambassador Dr. Dore Gold World War I in the Holy Land brings to light new facts and images of the region before the founding “Lenny Ben-David’s essays and collection of more of the modern State of Israel. than 100 photographs portray the special relation- ship between the United States and the Jewish Urim Publications, 2018, Hardcover population of the Holy Land from a unique and $44.95 (170 nis), isbn 978-965-524-279-9 memorable perspective.” -Senator Joseph I. Lieberman Urim Publications, 2017, Hardcover, 183 pages $44.95 (170 nis), isbn 978-965-524-235-5 www.UrimPublications.com 3 Jewish Law as Scholarly Man of Faith Rebellion Studies in the Thought and Writings of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik A Plea for Religious Authenticity and Halachic Courage edited by Ephraim Kanarfogel and Dov Schwartz by Nathan Lopes Cardozo Scholarly Man of Faith is comprised of essays which “Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo is a unique intel- delve into the Rav’s approach toward understand- lectual presence in the rabbinical world today. His ing biblical figures, his views on emotions and new book raises profound questions that disturb intellect, appreciation of R. Yehudah ha-Levi, our complacency and demand the attention of understanding of medieval history and the im- our hearts and minds. To think with him and the plications for modernity. All of this is presented challenges he raises is one of the great experiences along with an overview of his writings on Jewish of modern Jewish thought.” thought which have appeared over the past three –Professor Susannah Heschel decades. Despite the many books that have been “Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo has written a chal- published on the thought of Rav Soloveitchik, a lenging, even provocative book, inviting us to collection of this breadth and depth is a rare find. restore the iconoclasm with which Judaism was Contributions from Shalom Carmy, Ephraim born as a religion of protest against the status quo. Kanarfogel, Daniel Rynhold, Dov Schwartz, Da- Agree or disagree, you will find yourself thinking vid Shatz, Alex Sztuden, and Shira Weiss. hard and deep about the current state of Jewish law and life, and that makes it a work well worth Urim Publications and KTAV, 2017 reading – a new chapter in one of the great Jewish Hardcover, $28.95 (120 nis) traditions: the dignity of dissent.” isbn: 978-965-524-281-2 –Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks Urim Publications, 2017 Hardcover, $28.95 (120 nis) isbn: 978-965-524-276-8 4 www.UrimPublications.com The Importance of the Rabba, Maharat, Community Rabbi Rabbanit, Rebbetzin Leading with Compassionate Halachah Women with Leadership Authority According to Halachah by Rabbi Daniel Sperber by Rabbi Daniel Sperber The contemporary rabbi nowadays is influenced by the modern rabbinic establishments throughout Rabba, Maharat, Rabbanit, Rebbetzin: Women the world, especially the rabbinate in Israel. This with Leadership Authority According to Halacha monopoly on opinions and interpretations of examines in detail the legitimacy for feminine Talmudic texts prevents individual rabbis from leadership in Jewish law. Exploring the various creating their own independent positions out manifestations of female leadership, whether of fear of critique. The current structure gives a as women clergy or other forms of female negative impression on the rabbinic establish- halachic adjudication, Rabba, Maharat, Rabbanit, ment. Importance of the Community Rabbi tries Rebbetzin responds to the standard criticisms to describe and delineate key requirements for a leveled at the recent phenomenon of female good rabbi, i.e., one who can give socially accept- authority within the Orthodox community. able halachic solutions within the parameters of Orthodox thinking. In order to do this, Sperber In this ground-breaking book, Rabbi Professor points out the halachic techniques and mecha- Daniel Sperber argues the halachic, political, and nisms that may be used toward this goal. These are sociological levels of female leadership in Judaism. illustrated with stories from rabbinic literature and Urim Publications, 2017 examples from the responsa literature. Hardcover, $24.95 (90 nis) Urim Publications, 2017 isbn: 978-965-524-246-1 Hardcover, $24.95 (90 nis) isbn: 978-965-524-238-6 www.UrimPublications.com 5 Conversion, Carmel College in Intermarriage, and the Kopul Era Jewish Identity A History of Carmel College: September 1948–March 1962 (The Orthodox Forum) edited by Robert S. Hirt, by Rabbi Dr. Chaim Simons Adam Mintz and Marc Stern In 1947, Rabbi Kopul Rosen, a graduate of the Mir Yeshivah and the then Principal Rabbi of Questions of conversion have been amongst the the British Federation of Synagogues, began to most fraught issues on the internal Jewish agenda develop his dream of establishing a residential in Israel, the United States, and elsewhere. The boys school which would combine the ideals rifts have grown wider given increasing rates of of the British Public School with the study and intermarriage in the United States and the collapse practice of traditional Judaism. As a result, Carmel of opposition to intermarriage almost everywhere College was born. Despite financial problems and but the Orthodox community and some sections administrative obstacles, Rabbi Rosen succeeded of Conservative Judaism. The spectacular success remarkably well with his project. This is the story of the Soviet Jewry movement, and the critically of Carmel College during that time. important aliyah of roughly a million Soviet Jews, brought a new urgency to the problem. Urim Publications, 2016 This monograph represents the first collection Softcover, 670 pages, $39.95 (130 nis) of essays and articles by leading scholars and rabbis isbn 13: 978-965-524-236-2 on the topics of intermarriage, conversion, and Jewish identity. These issues stand at the forefront of the Jewish world in the 21st century. Yeshiva University Press, KTAV Publishing, and Urim Publications, 2015 Hardcover, 501 pages (includes index) $36.95 (140 nis), isbn 978-965-524-197-6 6 www.UrimPublications.com Nefesh HaTzimtzum, Nefesh HaTzimtzum, Volume 1 Volume 2 Rabbi Chaim Volozhin’s Understanding Nefesh HaChaim Nefesh HaChaim through the Key Concept of Tzimtzum with Translation and Commentary and Related Writings by Avinoam Fraenkel “Rav Fraenkel’s . translation and elucidation of the Nefesh HaChaim is outstanding.” –Rabbi Dovid Cohen “There is much pseudo-depth in this generation and it is a true pleasure and comfort to encounter a writer who invests maximal effort towards reaching the truth of the Torah and of wisdom.” –Professor Jonathan Garb “R. Avinoam Fraenkel . has proven at length . that everyone agrees that the concept of Tzimtzum is not to be understood literally . .” –Rabbi Yitzchok Meir Morgenstern “We owe Avinoam Fraenkel an immense debt of gratitude for a monumental labour of scholarship. Truly this is a work by which, at every level, we are enriched.” –Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks “Many will now begin to properly study this holy book [Nefesh HaChaim].” –Rabbi Hershel Schachter “Nefesh HaTzimtzum