Jewish book reviews

One cannot overstate the great intellectual heights reached by Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein, one of the greatest of the twentieth century Rabbis. He came from a background stooped in religious and secular greatness, coming from the infamous 'Brisk' tradition of talmudic analysis and biblical exegesis of Rabbi JB Soleveitchik, and a PhD in English Literature from Harvard University. In this beautiful work, touching both the mind and the soul, a collection of essays, culled from the infamous talks (sichot) of Rabbi Lichtenstein, are presented. Essentially, it is a collection of his thought on the issue of divine service. But don't be fooled! This is interpreted in the broadest possible sense, encompassing 'classic' questions like modes of serving God, and also more probing issues like the role of faith (bitachon), mutual responsibility (aravut) and character refinement. A breathaking range of issues that will be of pertinent interest especially to religious Jews, but I...

One of the most outstanding pieces of scholarship I have ever read, Judaism and Homosexuality: An Authentic Orthodox View is the product of a long and intensive period of research and analysis by one of the top Judaic scholars in the UK. Rapoport manages to succinctly combine research and information coming from both Jewish and secular (especially psychological) sources to create an orthodox Jewish approach to sexual ethics. Prefaced with a foreword by the Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks, and endorsed by well known figures in the Jewish world like Dayan Berkowitz, Rapoport has divides his book into sensible chapters, each tackling the issue from a different perspective. It begins with a biblical approach to the subject, quoting from the contemporary Halachik authorities, to build a timeless perspective. On every page, you can 'read between the lines' to sense Rapoport's highly sensitive and nuanced approach, both from an intellectual and relationships-based perspective.  Eac...