This book will enthusiastically be sought after by Jews who were not born Jewish, and those on the path to becoming Jewish. It has received glowing approbations from the Sudilkover Rebbe, Bostoner Rebbe, Hornsteipler Rebbe, Rabbi Yitzchok Meir Morgenstern, Rabbi Dovid Meisels, and Rabbi Lazer Brody. Unlike numerous books already published in English on conversion to Judaism, this book is not a personal narrative, how-to manual, digest of relevant laws, or academic historical overview. This book presents the story behind the story — the mystical teachings found within Chassidic literature that illuminate the hidden inner world of the ger. Until now, these teachings were scattered in an unorganized manner throughout countless volumes and inaccessible to those unfamiliar with the Hebrew language. With this book, "Bnei Avraham Ahuvecha: Gerim in Chassidic Thought”, relevant Chassidic teachings are collected, translated from Hebrew into English, organized topically, and further elucidated, when needed. Interspersed with these translated teachings, stories- both old and new - are included to help bring them to life. In addition, this book includes supplementary essays written by Rabbi Chaim Kramer, Rabbi Ozer Bergman, Rabbi Dovid Sears, Rabbi Avraham Chaim Bloomenstiel, and Mrs. Talya Lipshutz (based on conversations with Rav Elazar Mordechai Kenig of Tsfat). Excerpts from the book’s approbations: • A jewel in any Jewish bookcase for generations to come, [this book] will greatly benefit all those who study it. -- Sudilkover Rebbe • I am delighted to recommend the book as a meaningful contribution to the growing body of Torah information available to the Chareidi world. Indeed, the project is intriguing both for its timeliness and for its superb scholarship. -- Hornsteipler Rebbe of Milwaukee • Well researched ... provides many novel ideas from primary sources that are not available to the general public. -- Bostoner Rebbe of Jerusalem • I have one blessing for my precious friend [the author]: may he see blessings from what he has accomplished and increase the honor of God in the world with his great book. -- Rabbi Dovid Meisels • This wonderful book is unique in the world of Torah literature. -- Rabbi Lazer Brody • It is my hope and prayer that learning and internalizing the teachings in this book will sensitize our community to the greatness of the mitzvah to love gerim. -- Rabbi Yitzchok Meir Morgenstern
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Dov ben Avraham has written a book that is truly a "first," in any language. With this readable, well-organized volume, he has presented a wide range of Chassidic teachings related to converts to Judaism and the conversion process, accompanied by his own insightful explanations of kabbalistic ideas. His work was reviewed by many prominent rabbis, whose letters of approbation appear at the beginning of the book. Plus there are essays relevant to the subject by others, including several well-known Breslov teachers. This should be of great interest to anyone interested in this subject, particularly since much of this material is hard-to-find. It also shows another side of the usually insular Chassidic world: its strong affirmation of those who are "Jewish by choice." For all this, the author deserves our gratitude.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
Too often converts to Judaism encounter opposition, criticism, and questions. This book does the exact opposite: it gives many reasons for the convert to be joyful about his or her new life as a Jew. Containing quotes from many Chassidic rebbim including Rebbe Nachman of Breslov and the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the book shows how Torah and Talmud as well as chassidut praise the convert and encourage Jews to show them love and respect. Of particular interest is the discussion of the convert as a "recycled" Jewish soul who drifted away from Judaism in the distant past and has been reborn in the convert's body.
Inspiring and uplifting, this book should be in every convert's library.
Inspiring and uplifting, this book should be in every convert's library.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Rebecca
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Fascinating look at conversion and converts to Judaism through writings of great Rabbis. Also stories from the gerim themselves. Well worth the cost!
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Neil Harris
While I purchase many books and seforim (Jewish learning books) on Amazon, rarely do I write a review. This time I was compelled and I have only finished about 100 pages of this remarkable collection of teachings about Chassidic thoughts on Gerim (those that convert to Judaism). It is written for the potenial convert, those that converted, those are looking for insights, for the layperson and the scholar alike.
Whenever I get a book that contains any research, I always check out the footnotes first. The notes in this book are an indication of the amount of hard work that Dov ben Avraham put into the labor of love. What's amazing, is that the footnotes reference many Hebrew books and concepts within Judaism and are written in style that is engaging and simple to understand. The truth is, this is how the whole book is. The skill to take complex, hard to define ideas and clearly bring the to a reader in an engaging way is something that is exhibited thoughout the book.
The author has taken ideas and teaching that were only available in Hebrew and has rendered them into English in very readable fashion. The book is organized by topic and has several first-person essays placed thoughout the volume. In edition, the book as additional essays written by some of the most knowledgable people within the English speaking Chassidic world.
Not only does the author (a ger, convert, himself) provide teachings based on the Chassidic tradition, but he offers additional insights, when needed. As he writes in his introduction he, "used his non-existent free time" since the fall of 2009 to work on this project and the result is amazing. BNEI AVRAHAM AHUVECHA fills a void that has been missing within the Jewish world for years.... Read more ›
Whenever I get a book that contains any research, I always check out the footnotes first. The notes in this book are an indication of the amount of hard work that Dov ben Avraham put into the labor of love. What's amazing, is that the footnotes reference many Hebrew books and concepts within Judaism and are written in style that is engaging and simple to understand. The truth is, this is how the whole book is. The skill to take complex, hard to define ideas and clearly bring the to a reader in an engaging way is something that is exhibited thoughout the book.
The author has taken ideas and teaching that were only available in Hebrew and has rendered them into English in very readable fashion. The book is organized by topic and has several first-person essays placed thoughout the volume. In edition, the book as additional essays written by some of the most knowledgable people within the English speaking Chassidic world.
Not only does the author (a ger, convert, himself) provide teachings based on the Chassidic tradition, but he offers additional insights, when needed. As he writes in his introduction he, "used his non-existent free time" since the fall of 2009 to work on this project and the result is amazing. BNEI AVRAHAM AHUVECHA fills a void that has been missing within the Jewish world for years.... Read more ›
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Flowerpot
Amazon Verified Purchase
This book was not only informative, it serves as a emotional crutch for gerim and people going through geirus. If you've ever felt like you stand out, like you're alone, hurt, embarrassed, belittled, misunderstood or frankly never understood by anyone around you, this book will prove that so many other people out there are just like you. You're not alone, you're not crazy and your feelings are felt by many others. This book provides hope and comfort from the author, Jewish sources as well as stories from other gerim.
The writer of this book is a fellow ger and a tzadik for putting this together. He and the sources he quotes have dried my tears many nights and one day I would love to have the opportunity to tell him exactly how much this book means to me and other gerim. If you are in the process of conversion or even a Ger already, please do yourself a favor and buy this book. You will not regret it.
The writer of this book is a fellow ger and a tzadik for putting this together. He and the sources he quotes have dried my tears many nights and one day I would love to have the opportunity to tell him exactly how much this book means to me and other gerim. If you are in the process of conversion or even a Ger already, please do yourself a favor and buy this book. You will not regret it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By RZippy
Amazon Verified Purchase
Really incredible book, we absoutely love it. Highly recommended! Has different sections on various Rabbi's comments on converts in Judaism. I think it's important for everyone - I'm not a convert and I'm glad I read it, because unfortunately some people out there don't realize the many commandments relating to converts.
By Deem
I bought this book as soon as it came out and started writing a review for it. However, I could not find the words to adequately describe how unique, informative and amazing this book is. That this book is must for every Ger is no question. However, I think those of us that were born Jews will benefit just as much as the teachings in here will show how exalted and special every Jewish soul is.
The author has taken material from a large amount of Chassidic texts that teach about the soul of a Jew. While some of these texts are well known, most of them are not known to those outside of the Chassidic world. (For the uninformed the teachings of Chassidism are a wellspring of encouragement, and teach one how to serve G-d with a joy and passion not found anywhere else.) These esoteric sources were painstakingly translated from the original Hebrew into English so the common layman can understand it. While some may think of Gerim - people who weren't physically born Jews - as something other than complete Jews, the teachings contain here inform us how exalted the souls of Geirim are. This volume shows us how every Jewish soul is a diamond, except some of them are hidden, waiting to be revealed.
The author himself is a Ger who passionately put this amazing work together. Another feature that I love is the extensive footnotes and end notes detailing every source so I can always look up the information in the original text. There are glowing approbations from some great Chassidic Rabbis recommending this book, and I would highly recommend this book to every Jew and especially to those that enjoy the teachings of the Chassidic masters.
The author has taken material from a large amount of Chassidic texts that teach about the soul of a Jew. While some of these texts are well known, most of them are not known to those outside of the Chassidic world. (For the uninformed the teachings of Chassidism are a wellspring of encouragement, and teach one how to serve G-d with a joy and passion not found anywhere else.) These esoteric sources were painstakingly translated from the original Hebrew into English so the common layman can understand it. While some may think of Gerim - people who weren't physically born Jews - as something other than complete Jews, the teachings contain here inform us how exalted the souls of Geirim are. This volume shows us how every Jewish soul is a diamond, except some of them are hidden, waiting to be revealed.
The author himself is a Ger who passionately put this amazing work together. Another feature that I love is the extensive footnotes and end notes detailing every source so I can always look up the information in the original text. There are glowing approbations from some great Chassidic Rabbis recommending this book, and I would highly recommend this book to every Jew and especially to those that enjoy the teachings of the Chassidic masters.
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