If your marriage must come to an end, do it the right way— with wisdom, practicality, and understanding. What does Judaism tell you about divorce? What guidance, strength, and insight can Judaism provide? In this first-of-its-kind handbook, Perry Netter—divorc, father, congregational rabbi, and pastoral counselor—shows how wholeness can be found in the midst of separation and divorce. With a title drawn from the words of the eleventh-century biblical commentator known as Rashi, Divorce Is a Mitzvah“/i> provides practical wisdom, information, and strength from a Jewish perspective for those experiencing the challenging life-transition of divorce. Drawing on wisdom from centuries of biblical and rabbinic teachings, as well as modern psychological research, Netter offers suggestions for transitioning through the stages of separation and building a new life. This indispensable guide for people in crisis—and the family members, friends, and counselors who interact with them—shows us how to transform a traumatic time of life into one of growth, right behavior, and greater spiritual understanding.

The leading thinkers in Jewish education today analyze current practices, reflect on the social and psychological aspects of Bar/Bat Mitzvah, provide examples of programs to replicate, address concerns of those with special needs, outline creative family education opportunities and successful mitzvah programs, and provide strategies for teaching trope. Fifty chapters written by cantors, rabbis, directors of education, and scholars. Results of a survey of Bar/Bat Mitzvah educators included.

This comprehensive guide to Jewish observance throughout the life cycle is the best introduction to Reform Jewish practice available.

"Published by the University of Nebraska Press as a Jewish Publication Society book."

The Jewish family in America is by and large a reflection of the general American family. With the rise of divorce and the increasing preference for alternative life styles, the traditional Jewish family, like its American counterpart, is under increasing challenge. When the effects of intermarriage and a lower-than-average birth rate are added in, the continuity of the Jewish family and Jewish life is under even greater threat. The essays in this volume, by distinguished scholars and social-policy theorists, assess the situation and prescribe policy measures to minimize the adverse affects of these trends when necessary or possible. Among the questions addressed are adoption, divorce, abortion, feminism, and pornography. It is the hope of the editors and contributors alike that their work will not only aid in preserving the American Jewish family, but will have wider resonance as well.

What if each and every word of the Gemara was life-changing? What if we could see how every single Talmudic debate, every scenario, every idea impacts the way we view ourselves and the world around us? When you first open up The Transformative Daf, you discover a whole new way of looking at the Gemara. No example is random. No debate is tangential. Beneath the surface discussion of every sugya lies an eternal moral message. But then you examine the abundant sources in The Transformative Daf and you realize that this approach is not new at all. Building on classic works such as Ben Yehoyada, Maharsha, Iyun Yaakov, and various Torah commentaries, it’s clear that Rabbi Friedman builds on a rich Torah tradition of deriving meaning and application for daily life. Whether you are baki b’Shas or new to Gemara, every page of The Transformative Daf will inspire you with a lesson for life that is insightful, meaningful, and transformative!

Delve deeper into spiritual practice to find the power and meaning waiting there for you. “Spiritual practice reveals that the Garden of Eden is right where you are standing and helps you to be here, now. Therefore, Jewish spiritual practices cultivate joy, hope, resilience and understanding so that you can undertake your soul’s work in this lifetime with vision, passion and integrity.” from the Introduction This innovative guidebook makes accessible Judaism’s spiritual pathways, principles and applications, and empowers you to test their value within your own life. Each chapter provides step-by-step, recipe-like guides to a particular Jewish practice or group of practices, gives examples of how they might unfold inside your life, and shows how each can help refuel your spirit throughout the day. You’ll discover: Prayer practices for embracing the body and creation with awe, limbering up your mind, and preparing for compassionate action How to draw sustenance from the Great Mystery, the inexplicable and unknowable Source of Life How to mine the Torah’s stories, commentaries, symbols and metaphors for meaning Ways to develop your Hebrew vocabulary so you can formulate your own interpretations of sacred text How to explore and practice mitzvot as meaningful, compelling parts of your spiritual life How to view the Jewish people as a precious human resource and as a model for resilience ... and much, much more.

A study of Rabbinic and midrashic sources.

How to manage the process with grace, joy and good sense. A practical guide that gives parents and teens the "how-to" information they need to navigate the bar/bat mitzvah process and grow as a family through this experience. For the first time in one book, everyone directly involved offers practical insights into how the process can be made easier and more enjoyable for all. Rabbis, cantors and Jewish educators from the Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist movements, parents, and even teens speak from their own experience. • What's it all about? • Preparation for Parent and Child • Tutoring, stress, expectations, enjoyment, planning for children with special needs • Negotiating the ceremony and celebration • Designing a creative service, heightening the spiritual exercise, special issues related to divorced and interfaith families, planning a party that neither breaks the bank nor detracts from the inherent spirituality of the event.