Readers of Gil Yehuda's review of my book Maimonides: Reason Above All will understand why I like it better than all the other reviews about my writings. I enjoying Dr. Israel Drazin’s book, Maimonides: Reason Above All, and I wanted to share this review. First I’ll summarize the structure and content of the book. Then I’ll [...]
The Concept of the Soul and the After-Life By Israel Drazin Many people are afraid of death. Although there is no indication, not even a hint, in the Hebrew Bible about a soul, life after death, and an abode for people in a place called heaven, they convince themselves that [...]
Why We Pray What We Pray The Remarkable History of Jewish Prayer By Rabbi Dr. Barry Freundel Urim Publications, 2010, 313 pages Reviewed by Israel Drazin Rabbi Dr. Barry Freundel, Vice President of the Rabbinical Council of America, reveals the fascinating history of six significant Jewish prayers in six well researched, informative, [...]
On Changes in Jewish Liturgy Options and Limitations By Daniel Sperber Urim Publications, 2010, 221 pages Reviewed by Israel Drazin This is the second recent volume where Daniel Sperber, professor, rabbi, author of thirty books and more than four hundred articles, a leading expert on Jewish laws and customs, addresses what many consider [...]
Women and Men in Communal Prayer Halakhic Perspectives Edited by Chaim Trachtman, MD Ktav Publishing House, 2010, 418 pages Reviewed by Israel Drazin One of the great world tragedies is the systematic exclusion of women from many activities and positions, making them, in essence, only partial citizens, reminiscent of blacks being considered only three-fifths [...]
Where’s My Miracle Exploring Jewish Traditions for Dealing with Tragedy By Morey Schwartz Gefen Publishing House, 2010, 191 pages Reviewed by Israel Drazin Schwartz examines the many answers that Jewish sages offered to the age-old question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” He writes in easily understandable English with full, but [...]
Edward F. Campbell, Jr. Ruth The Anchor Bible Reviewed by Israel Drazin Doubleday, 1975, 188 pages The biblical book Ruth is one of the most delightful books of the Bible. Jews read its four short chapters, totaling only 85 sentences, entirely each year in synagogues during the holiday of Shavuot, known in English [...]
Chapter 1 Sarah Shendel wanted to be Jewish Six year old Sarah Shendel wanted to be Jewish. This is something she always wanted, ever since she was a child. Sarah Shendel’s father and two brothers were Jewish, but her mother Chisha Malka was not. Sarah Shendel had no [...]
A Jewish Understanding of the New Testament By Rabbi Samuel Sandmel Jewish Lights Publishing, 2005, 336 pages Reviewed by Israel Drazin This classic study should be read by everyone, Jew and non-Jew. It is a respectful scholarly analysis of the New Testament, first published in 1956 and republished twice, written in simple English [...]
