Leonard S Kravitz

The book of Job is the most challenging--and most engaging--of all the books in the Hebrew Scriptures. It challenges one's faith in the essential goodness of God and humanity. In this volume, Rabbis Kravitz and Olitzky provide an original, modern translation and commentary while also inviting classic rabbinic commentators of the past to provide insight to the text. Along with helping the reader to understand the original Hebrew sources, the authors also strive to answer some of the basic answers of human existence posed by religion: Why is there evil? Why do the good suffer? Why do those who do evil seem to go unpunished? Are acts of goodness rewarded? ""The Book of Job confronts essential questions of being human: loss and grief, good and evil, and how human beings overcome life's significant challenges. This wise and beautiful book guides the reader through its intricacies, pausing along the way to teach profound lessons both loftily academic and deeply personal. It is a rare and lovely gift to bring ancient traditions to new life in such deeply meaningful and contemporary ways."" --Aaron Panken, President, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion ""This is a remarkably accessible translation and commentary of the storied book of Job that has intrigued numerous generations of readers. Blending solid scholarship with insightful contemporary insights, this book is a must-have for anyone who is serious about their faith or just wants to learn more about the biblical notion of reward and punishment."" --Kirk Smith, Episcopal Bishop of Arizona Leonard S. Kravitz is professor emeritus of midrash and homiletics at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR). He is an expert on the medieval philosopher/theologian Moses Maimonides and his Guide for the Perplexed. Kerry M. Olitzky is formerly executive director of Big Tent Judaism and was on the faculty and administration of HUC-JIR. He is the author of numerous books that bring insight and inspiration of Jewish wisdom into everyday living.

The book of Job is the most challenging--and most engaging--of all the books in the Hebrew Scriptures. It challenges one's faith in the essential goodness of God and humanity. In this volume, Rabbis Kravitz and Olitzky provide an original, modern translation and commentary while also inviting classic rabbinic commentators of the past to provide insight to the text. Along with helping the reader to understand the original Hebrew sources, the authors also strive to answer some of the basic answers of human existence posed by religion: Why is there evil? Why do the good suffer? Why do those who do evil seem to go unpunished? Are acts of goodness rewarded? ""The Book of Job confronts essential questions of being human: loss and grief, good and evil, and how human beings overcome life's significant challenges. This wise and beautiful book guides the reader through its intricacies, pausing along the way to teach profound lessons both loftily academic and deeply personal. It is a rare and lovely gift to bring ancient traditions to new life in such deeply meaningful and contemporary ways."" --Aaron Panken, President, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion ""This is a remarkably accessible translation and commentary of the storied book of Job that has intrigued numerous generations of readers. Blending solid scholarship with insightful contemporary insights, this book is a must-have for anyone who is serious about their faith or just wants to learn more about the biblical notion of reward and punishment."" --Kirk Smith, Episcopal Bishop of Arizona Leonard S. Kravitz is professor emeritus of midrash and homiletics at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR). He is an expert on the medieval philosopher/theologian Moses Maimonides and his Guide for the Perplexed. Kerry M. Olitzky is formerly executive director of Big Tent Judaism and was on the faculty and administration of HUC-JIR. He is the author of numerous books that bring insight and inspiration of Jewish wisdom into everyday living.

The Journey of the Soul: Traditional Sources on Teshuvah is dedicated to the process of self-discovery through Teshuvah (commonly translated as repentance). Teshuvah is the method, described by Jewish tradition, through which one literally turns or returns (as the term suggests) to the correct path in life and to God. According to the Sages, one of the reasons that God created the world was to produce good. By granting man the opportunity to repent-to better himself-God adopts man as His partner in the effort to create and perpetuate this good. This in turn brings man closer to redemption. Repentance also makes it possible for the sinner to try again. One's intention to change and one's attempt at change bring the individual back on the path to God. In the works from which selections were made for this collection, individual authors suggest that their writing is designed to assist one's exploration of the inner life. In keeping with the tradition of this literature, which includes works from Abraham bar Chiyyah, Bachya ben Joseph ibn Pakuda, and Maimonides, among others, this collection is a culmination of the efforts of these individual authors and is dedicated to the same purpose. Performing Teshuvah requires constant attention through study, prayer, and good acts. This book is a vehicle specifically designed to guide the reader toward his or her own personal return to God, which will, in turn, bring the Jewish nation closer to redemption. Jason Aronson Inc. 230 Livingston Street Northvale, New Jersey 07647 Shmuel HaNagid 4 94592 Jerusalem Israel No. 7 Spectrum House 32-34 Gordon House Road London, NW5 1LP England