The Jewish Exponent
New Book Tries to Rev Up the Ruach
When Rabbi Baruch HaLevi took over as spiritual leader of Congregation Shirat Hayam in Swampscott, Mass., which is just outside Boston, Shabbat attendance was anemic. These days, 300 to 500 people take part in the Conservative congregation’s Shabbat offerings and the place is now considered among the most dynamic in the country. read on
The Jewish News
Temple Emanuel uses grant to enrich the entire community
A Synagogue Federation Partnership allows a congregation in Virginia Beach to dig into community building through a collective study of Dr. Ron Wolfson’s The Spirituality of Welcoming: How to Transform Your Congregation into a Sacred Community and an invitation to the author to join in the conversation. read on
An authentic prayer requires mental preparation and deep concentration. The Hebrew term for this is kavanah, meaning “intention” or “directing the heart (to God).” As Rabbi Lawrence A.
Hoffman, professor of liturgy at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion and author of The Way Into Jewish Prayer, indicates,* ancient rabbis used this term to refer to “the spontaneous and creative” aspect of prayer, as opposed to keva, the fixed aspect of the service. read on
“Profound questions are posed that have the potential to motivate young people to continue to develop their Jewish identities and to think further about who they are as people.”
—Jewish Book Council
“Gives us a feeling ... that the letters of the alphabet are not just letters but symbols of our history.”
—Isaac Bashevis Singer
“Compelling reading. Wide ranging in perspective ... a rich, bold, meaningful, intense and joyful vision emerges.”
—New York Jewish Week
“Rabbi Salkin and Jewish Lights did it again! A must for lovers and dreamers of Zion around the world ... and a great resource for anyone who explores a contemporary engagement with Israel.”
—Rabbi Uri Regev, president, Hiddush for Religious Freedom and Equality
“This is a page-turner, a fast-paced archaeological mystery, a globe-trotting adventure and a wonderful story.”
—Dr. Ron Wolfson, Fingerhut Professor of Education, American Jewish University; president, Synagogue 3000; author, Relational Judaism: Using the Power of Relationships to Transform the Jewish Community
“A stunning accomplishment.... This volume is a treasure.”
—Rabbi Neil Gillman, professor of Jewish philosophy at The Jewish Theological Seminary, New York; author, The Death of Death: Resurrection and Immortality in Jewish Thought
“Bravo!... Takes us on a roller coaster roll through the history of chocolate, from the beginning when it was only used as a drink to the present day.... A great read.”
—Joan Nathan, award-winning cookbook author, Jewish Cooking in America; Quiches, Kugels, and Couscous: My Search for Jewish Cooking in France; and other books
Approaches writing as a way to turn the spiral of body, heart, mind, soul and spirit that leads to spiritual awakening.
An authentic prayer requires mental preparation and deep concentration. The Hebrew term for this is kavanah, meaning “intention” or “directing the heart (to God).” As Rabbi Lawrence A.
Hoffman, professor of liturgy at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion and author of The Way Into Jewish Prayer, indicates,* ancient rabbis used this term to refer to “the spontaneous and creative” aspect of prayer, as opposed to keva, the fixed aspect of the service. 
