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Author: Israel Drazin Publisher: Gefen Publishing House
Price: $29.95 Special Price: $24.45 Format: Hard Cover ISBN 10: 9652294314 ISBN 13: 9789652294319 Catalog Number: 9789652294319 Number of Pages: 308 Year Published: 2009
Description: This thought-provoking and enlightening book uncovers unknown but true facts about Maimonides, his family and his unique, often controversial, but brilliant ideas. The reader is introduced to Maimonides’ family, people who generally failed to share his rational approach to life.
The book addresses provocative questions such as:
did the majority of Jews before Maimonides
believe that God has a body?
Why did Maimonides and many rabbis disparage women?
Why did Maimonides extol intelligent non-Jews?
Why don’t Jews say a prayer before such activities
as having sexual relations or giving charity?
Why doesn’t the Torah condemn the five
suicides committed in its pages?
Why were Jacob and david passive when their daughters were raped?
should rational Jews observe mystical Jewish
practices and say mystical prayers?
This volume contains surprising facts, such as:
not all Jews believe that people have “souls.”
Rabbis know that we do not possess the original Torah text.
Rabbis suggest that Moses’ staff had unusual magical powers.
Jewish judges do not adjudicate cases according to Torah law.
Many rabbis recognize that the ten plagues were not miracles.
The Torah records how innocent people are killed for the misdeeds of their ancestors.
dipping bread in salt is based on a superstitious fear of demons.
Reviews: Praise for A Rational Approach to Judaism and Torah Commentary “In a world which increasingly downplays or even delegitimizes rational, Drazin has written the intelligent rationalist’s primer.” -Zvi Grumet, Lookstein Digest
“Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin has placed every thinking person in his debt by providing us with a guide to a rational understanding of the Bible and Judaism.” Rabbi Dr. Stanley M. Wagner, Author Praise for Onkelos on the Torah “In a world which increasingly downplays or even delegitimizes rational, Drazin has written the intelligent rationalist’s primer.” Zvi Grumet, Lookstein Digest “Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin has placed every thinking person in his debt by providing us with a guide to a rational understanding of the Bible and Judaism.” Rabbi Dr. Stanley M. Wagner, Author Praise for Onkelos on the Torah “At last, the English-speaking world will be able to understand why our Sages mandated the weekly reading of Onkelos.” Rabbi Yona Metzger, Chief Rabbi of Israel
“Historical and exegetical perspectives are covered intelligently and helpfully….An important and congenial contribution to the Judaica bookshelf.” Dr. Avivah Zornberg, Author
“It is a pleasure to recommend this new volume…. Rabbis Drazin and Wagner have added an important volume for all those who want to take Torah seriously.” Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm President, Yeshiva University
“An enormous labor, presenting vast qualities of information, handsomely designed, user friendly and an important reference for years to come.” Intermountain Jewish News
