Prophet for Today: Contemporary Lessons of the Book of Yehoshua [Hardcover]

Steven Pruzansky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 30, 2006

Singled out as a work unique among the Prophets, The Book of Yehoshua discusses the Israel - in fulfillment of the Divine promise - and the challenges that pertain to the building and development of a Jewish State. Discover how the foundation of modern-day Israel rests on a prophetic understanding of the principles of Jewish statehood enunciated by Yehoshua, and the role of every Jew in promoting the Jewish national identity. Explore lessons relating to his mission, destiny, methods of conquest, relations with renegades and neighbors, and the means of securing Jewish possession of the land itself. Rabbi Pruzansky draws contemporary practical lessons from this ancient prophetic work, and shows us how to apply them to our own lives. The Book of Yehoshua is not merely a record of the past, but relevant to today, tomorrow and the distant future - its pages contain ideas that are timeless and essential to Jewish life throughout the ages.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Discover how the foundation of Israel rests on a prophetic understanding of the principles of Jewish statehood enunciated by Yehoshua. --Hadassah Magazine / June, July 2006

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Gefen Publishing House (March 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9652293555
• ISBN-13: 978-9652293558
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,614,348 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An interesting approach to the Bible, October 20, 2009

By 

Israel Drazin (Boca Raton, Florida) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Prophet for Today: Contemporary Lessons of the Book of Yehoshua (Hardcover)

This is the first book by Rabbi Steven Pruzansky, who published his second volume Judges for our Time, Contemporary Lessons from the Book of Shoftim in 2009. Rabbi Pruzansky's goal is to demonstrate how the biblical books of Joshua and Judges, which he calls by their original Hebrew titles, have useful relevance for people today. The volume is interesting and it stimulates its readers to think.
Rabbi Pruzansky, spiritual leader of Congregation Bnai Yeshurun of Teaneck, New Jersey, placed a letter from Rabbi Berel Wein of Israel in the beginning of the volume. Rabbi Wein writes: "Many of the leading Rabbis of our time have warned against attempting such comparisons (of relevance). However, this is not a unanimous opinion for otherwise what is the purpose of studying Tenakh?"
Perhaps without realizing it, Rabbi Wein raises interesting questions for Rabbi Pruzansky's readers. Does our author succeed in showing that the ancients confronted the same problems that people face in modern societies? If he does prove that the difficulties are the same, are the ancient answers to the problems solutions that modern people would want to implement? If the ancient troubles are not the same as those faced by modern people and/or the resolutions are outdated or otherwise unacceptable, is Rabbi Wein correct that there is no purpose in studying these biblical books?
Rabbi Pruzansky sees the book of Joshua, which dealt with the original conquest of the land of Israel by Joshua, the successor of Moses, containing "lessons for our own national return to the land of Israel after a long and difficult sojourn in the exile."
Rabbi Pruzansky raises a host of thought provoking questions as he analyses the biblical book. For example: Why did Joshua send spies to the land of Israel; didn't he remember the disastrous results that followed when Moses sent spies? Why did he only send two people? Who were they? Why was the report of the two spies accepted as a viable assessment when they only visited a whore house in Canaan? Why was God's covenant with Israel dependent upon the words of a prostitute? Why does a Midrash state that Joshua married the prostitute? Why were the Jews given a land that they needed to constantly defend, even today?
What is the difference between the splitting of the Red Sea by Moses and the splitting of the Jordan by Joshua? What was the point of Joshua meeting with an angel just before the conquest of Canaan? Did he really meet an angel? Was Jericho conquered by spiritual weapons alone? Should a modern Jew believe this? Do righteous people have the power to change the laws of nature and produce miracles?
These are just a few of the many stimulating questions that the rabbi raises.
Rabbi Pruzansky offers detailed solutions to his questions, and it really makes no difference whether readers agree with the rabbi's answers because his answers, just as his questions, stimulate thinking and understanding, and possibly even change behavior.
It also makes no difference whether one agrees with Rabbi Pruzansky's worldview underlying his solutions because his ideas also provoke thought and learning. The rabbi believes that God is involved in everything that occurs on earth - even today -and that He changes the laws of nature to protect people in trouble by means of miracles. He accepts Midrashim, tales that others say are fanciful parables written for teaching purposes, as recollections of actual events. (There is only one instance in his book where he writes that a Midrash should be understood figuratively.) He combines disparate midrashic tales into a single event, although Midrashim were composed at different times for dissimilar purposes. He accepts the idea that the misdeed of a single individual can cause all Jews to be punished, even generations after the evil event. He believes that the Jewish goal in Israel is the establishment of a State that is run according to Torah laws.
Readers will be fascinated in seeing how he applies these ideas.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Prophet for Today, May 2, 2006

By 

C Shmall "CS" (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prophet for Today: Contemporary Lessons of the Book of Yehoshua (Hardcover)

A new, creative and dynamic approach to the study of the prophets. This work brings the book of Yehoshua to life, and demonstrates the obligation we have to draw lessons from the Bible in every sphere of life - including building the Jewish state.

I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in bible study and modern Israel.

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly Insightful, March 26, 2009

By 

Jeffrey D. Haskell (Woodmere, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Prophet for Today: Contemporary Lessons of the Book of Yehoshua (Hardcover)

While providing rich historical context and scholarly detail, the book remains an enjoyable read from beginning to end. Most deeply appreciated are the thoughtful insights into human nature and man's relationship with the Almighty. Although I've studied this subject matter in depth before, this book made me see everything from an entirely new perspective.