The Modern Men's Torah Commentary: New Insights from Jewish Men on the 54 Weekly Torah Portions [Hardcover]

Jeffrey K. Salkin (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2009

Reconnect with the power and promise of engagement with Torah--from a modern men's perspective.

This major contribution to modern biblical commentary addresses the most important concerns of modern men--issues like relationships, sexuality, ambition, work and career, body image, aging, and life passages--by opening them up to the messages of the Torah. It includes commentaries by some of the most creative and influential rabbis, cantors, journalists, media figures, educators, professors, authors, communal leaders, and musicians in contemporary Jewish life, and represents all denominations in Judaism. Featuring poignant and probing reflections on the weekly Torah portions, this collection shows men how the messages of the Torah intersect with their own lives by focusing on modern men's issues.

Ideal for anyone wanting a new, exciting view of Torah, this rich resource offers perspectives to inspire all of us to gain deeper meaning from the Torah as well as a heightened appreciation of Judaism and its relevance to our lives.

Contributors:
Rabbi Howard A. Addison
Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson
Doug Barden
Rabbi Tony Bayfield, DD
Ariel Beery
Rabbi Joseph Black
Rabbi Mitchell Chefitz
Dr. Norman J. Cohen
Rabbi Mike Comins
Rabbi Elliot N. Dorff, PhD
Rabbi Dan Ehrenkrantz
Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins
Rabbi Edward Feinstein
Rabbi Mordecai Finley, PhD
Wayne L. Firestone
Rabbi David J. Gelfand
Dr. Sander L. Gilman
Ari L. Goldman
Rabbi Daniel Gordis, PhD
Rabbi Arthur Green
Rabbi Steven Greenberg
Joel Lurie Grishaver
Rabbi Donniel Hartman, PhD
Rabbi Hayim Herring, PhD
Peter Himmelman
Rabbi Walter Homolka, PhD
Rabbi Reuven Kimelman
Rabbi Elliott Kleinman
Cantor Jeff Klepper
Rabbi Peter S. Knobel
Rabbi Harold S. Kushner
Rabbi Daniel Landes
Rabbi Steven Z. Leder
Prof. Julius Lester
Rabbi Robert N. Levine, DD
Rabbi Joseph B. Meszler
Rabbi John Moscowitz
Rabbi Perry Netter
Rabbi Kerry M. Olitzky
Rabbi Stephen S. Pearce, PhD
Rabbi Daniel F. Polish
Dennis Prager
Rabbi Jack Riemer
Rabbi Stephen B. Roberts
Rabbi David B. Rosen
Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin
Rabbi Sidney Schwarz, PhD
Rabbi Rami Shapiro
Rabbi Charles Simon
Rabbi Elie Kaplan Spitz
Craig Taubman
Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman
Rabbi Simkha Y. Weintraub
Rabbi Avraham (Avi) Weiss
Dr. Ron Wolfson
Rabbi David J. Wolpe
Rabbi David Woznica
Rabbi Sheldon Zimmerman
Rabbi Daniel G. Zemel

"[This] commentary will be placed on my bookshelf close to the biblical text. Ecclesiastes concluded, "Of books there are no end," but the same cannot be said of commentary. Commentary is the testimony of the continuity of the community. The Bible is our family album."
--Rabbi Harold Schulweis, Valley Beth Shalom, Encino, California; author, Conscience: The Duty to Obey and the Duty to Disobey

"Outstanding.... In voices that are learned and compellingly personal, the writers open the wisdom of Torah to a contemporary generation of men and women alike."
--Rabbi David Ellenson, president, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

"Putting men back in mentors--this insightful collection of teachings is an inspiring reminder of the best that Judaism has to offer the twenty-first century."
--Amichai Lau-Lavie, founder and executive director, Storahtelling

"A remarkably diverse contribution to the literature of the synagogue."
--Daniel Boyarin, PhD, professor of Talmudic culture, University of California, Berkeley

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

For generations, Jewish men found their "macho" in mastery of Torah, in heartfelt worship, and in deeds of lovingkindness and charity. True Jewish masculine power was not a fist but an open heart and open hand--and this is still true today.

In this remarkable and eclectic collection, more than fifty Jewish men re-engage their hearts and minds with the Torah and its stories and messages to offer inspiring commentaries that help us better understand how to deal with our lives.

Presented in a week-by-week format, their insights--profoundly personal, often surprising--provide a men's perspective and a uniquely modern perspective. They encourage you to stretch your mind and soul while looking deeply into what the Torah has to say about the most important concerns of modern men:

* What it means to be a father, son, husband, partner, lover
* Balancing work, career, community, and family; avoiding burnout
* The meaning of self-sacrifice as a man
* How to reclaim the virtue of masculine patience in a hurried world
* The meaning of materialism in our lives as men
* Ethical struggles in interpersonal relationships
* Men's health, body image and sexuality issues
* Dealing with aging, fragility, death, and mortality as a man
... and much more

"A rare experience ... mirrors the richness of the multiple interpretive voices found in the modern Jewish world."
--Dr. David Hartman, founder and director, Shalom Hartman Institute; author, A Living Covenant: The Innovative Spirit in Traditional Judaism

About the Author

Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin is recognized as one of the most thoughtful Jewish writers and teachers of his generation. He has helped people find spiritual meaning in both the great and small moments in life.

A noted author whose work has appeared in many publications, including the Wall Street Journal, Reader's Digest, and the Congressional Record, Rabbi Salkin is editor of A Dream of Zion: American Jews Reflect on Why Israel Matters to Them; and author of Being God's Partner: How to Find the Hidden Link Between Spirituality and Your Work, with an introduction by Norman Lear; the bestseller Putting God on the Guest List: How to Reclaim the Spiritual Meaning of Your Child's Bar or Bat Mitzvah; For Kids--Putting God on Your Guest List: How to Claim the Spiritual Meaning of Your Bar or Bat Mitzvah; and Righteous Gentiles in the Hebrew Bible: Ancient Role Models for Sacred Relationships (all Jewish Lights).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 331 pages
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Publishing; 1 edition (May 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580233953
• ISBN-13: 978-1580233958
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #834,848 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A braintrust of many Jewish thinkers about how the modern man can better integrate the Torah into their modern lives, August 14, 2009

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Modern Men's Torah Commentary: New Insights from Jewish Men on the 54 Weekly Torah Portions (Hardcover)

The Torah is a book that is thousands of years old. How is it still relevant to the modern Jewish man? "The Modern Men's Torah Commentary: New Insights From Jewish Men on the 54 Weekly Torah Portions" is a braintrust of many Jewish thinkers about how the modern man can better integrate the Torah into their modern lives. These men offer many modern perspectives, all of which will give readers much to think about on the ancient holy text. "The Modern Men's Torah Commentary" is of strong consideration to any Jewish man seeking relevance for his faith.