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The Mysticism of Twins $39.00
A fascinating exploration of Kabbalistic, Midrashic, and Chassidic teachings about
the significance and spiritual meaning of twins. -
The Nusach Debate – Reciting the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy during the Ne’ilah Service $39.00
The Shul generally davens Nusach Ashkenaz and their Chabad Rav has been serving as shliach tzibur for Ne’ilah for over thirty years. Instead of repeating the Yud Gimmel Midos seven times, he only recites them three times, and has done so for over three decades. Has the Rabbi deviated from a well-established norm dating back over a millennium, or is the congregation blissfully unaware of the genesis of this practice? This paper highlights all available original sources on the matter and allows the reader to draw his own conclusion.
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The Poet King $75.00
Dovid Hamelech remains one of the most famous yet most mysterious men in Jewish history. A king and a sage, a warrior and a poet, his accomplishments seem to be a cluster of contradictions. Study the life of one of Israel’s greatest kings, with an emphasis on the viewpoint of Chassidus.
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The Power of Tefilah b’Tzibbur $75.00
A digest of the philosophy behind communal prayer. What makes it so valuable? What purpose does it serve? Does the prayer of the individual not achieve the same as the prayers of a congregation? A look at the deeper meaning of tefilah b’tzibbur.
Table of Contents -
The Prophet who Ran from G-d $75.00
Yonah. A prophet, a man of G-d – and a man who ran away from his duty. Yonah is one of the most famous and enigmatic prophets in Jewish history. Discover how Yonah’s actions are viewed from the Torah’s perspective and examine why his deeds were recorded for posterity.
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The Rainbow Effect (Sources) $39.00
We recite a special blessing upon seeing a rainbow, thanking G-d for upholding His covenant with Noach. But isn’t a rainbow just a natural phenomenon, a function of light refracting off of moisture?
Is there significance to the colors of the rainbow? -
The Real Deal: Buying and Selling Olam Haba $39.00
A cornerstone of our belief is that a life of good deeds is rewarded with “a world that is truly good” in the Hereafter.
Is there another way? Can one “purchase” eternal reward on the open market? Can you get the “deal of a lifetime” (or the afterlife!) on ebay?
What are the Halachic principles of such a transaction? Can one buy or sell such ‘intangibles’? Would the transaction by valid, legal tender? Do “free market principles” and “art of the deal” apply? How does this compare to the historic partnership of Yissachar-Zevulun?
Includes a collection of stories about tzadikim who engaged in such “commerce” throughout the ages for the benefit of klal Yisroel. -
The Reality of Dreams $75.00
What is the purpose of dreams? Are their messages real? Is a dream about a Tzaddik to be considered fact or fantasy?
(Includes 88 pages of supplementary material)
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The Rebbe on the Holocaust $75.00
One of the most painful events to strike the Jewish people in recent memory is the tragedy of the Holocaust, which decimated European Jewry in a show of appalling cruelty. Having narrowly escaped its horrors himself, the Rebbe was uniquely placed to offer comfort and guidance to those who survived with both faith and sensitivity.
Part I – Making Sense of the Senseless: The horrific suffering of the Holocaust, having seared into our collective conscience, has confronted many Jews with a crisis of faith. The Rebbe offers a unique approach, allowing us to affirm our faith in a kind and just G-d, while maintaining our empathy for the plight of the Holocaust victims.
This paper addresses a range of issues. How does one maintain faith in G-d’s justice in light of such unfathomable horrors? Is this paradox surmountable for all, including those who do not fully subscribe to all dimensions of Torah scholarship? Is it appropriate to rationalize the plight of the Holocaust victims? Does our moral outrage preclude us from taking to heart the lessons these events offer? -
The Round Figures that Trigger Sniggers $39.00
The
census figures recorded in the Torah seem too perfect to be true. Each of the
tribes reported a population that was a convenient multiple of 5, 10 or 100.
Were these numbers rounded out? -
The Scribe’s Code $39.00
Judaism is a multi-faceted religion with vastly different cultures, but one thing that stays the same throughout all of Judaism is Ksav Ashuri – the script the Torah is written in. This script binds all Jews throughout space and history, dating back, unchanging, for thousands of years – or does it? How far back does it really go? Has it not evolved over time? Study the origins of the Torah’s script.
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The Soul of a Leader $75.00
In our era of material affluence, there is little we lack other than worthy, honorable and effective leadership.
But you may be surprised to learn that many more people are capable of leadership than are currently aware. If you are reading this, you probably are too. Gain a deeper understanding of Jewish tradition’s rich history of iconic and celebrated leaders. How did they balance competence and control, with humility and self-transcendance? Most importantly, how can you?
Tamlichuni Aleichem. -
The Sound of Shabbos: Voice-Activated Devices $39.00
Have you set up “Hey Siri!” on your iPhone yet? How about the Amazon Echo to obediently adjust your thermostat, turn on your lights and play your favorite music – all by the sound of your voice?
During the week this might be great, but what about on Shabbos? Do the laws proscribing creative activity extend to actions that result from our verbal expression? What if some technology was devised to act upon your thoughts?
Related: “An Uplifting Shabbos” and “Motion-Triggered Sensors” -
The Steps of Ascent $39.00
The mizbeach was specifically required to have a ramp for the priests, while the menorah had a staircase for the high priest. Why were these two fundamental Temple structures accessed in different ways?
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The Tale of the Hebrew Tongue $75.00
Students of the Torah and ancient Jewish works find Hebrew to be a language with a mysterious and enigmatic history. What is the origin of Lashon haKodesh? Is the Hebrew we speak today identical to the Hebrew spoken thousands of years ago? Why was Aramaic preferred over Hebrew in Talmudic times? Pierce the veil of mystery surrounding our ancient and historic language.
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The Thinking Planet $75.00
From the moment it was written, the Rambam’s famous Halachah that the intelligence of planets surpasses that of humanity has puzzled and perplexed Jewish scholars. What did the Rambam mean? The planets and stars are seemingly inanimate objects, incapable of intellectual thought. Are we so mistaken in our view of the constellations?
