Greetings from Amazon.com Delivers Jewish Books FEATURED IN THIS EMAIL: * "The David Story: A Translation with Commentary of 1 and 2 Samuel" by Robert Alter * "Israel: An Echo of Eternity (Jewish Lights Classic Reprint)" by Abraham Joshua Heschel * "To Begin Again: The Journey Toward Comfort, Strength, and Faith in Difficult Times" by Naomi Levy * "Introduction to Rabbinic Literature" by Jacob Neusner * Amazon.com Presents the Best of the Century "The David Story: A Translation with Commentary of 1 and 2 Samuel" by Robert Alter http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0393048039/entertainmentsit There are countless good reasons to read "The David Story," Robert Alter's new translation of the story of King David (beginning in I Samuel and ending in I Kings 2). In the book's introduction, Alter contends that the story of David is "probably the greatest single narrative representation in antiquity of a human life evolving by slow stages through time, shaped and altered by the pressures of political life, public institutions, family, the impulses of body and spirit, the eventual sad decay of the flesh. It also provides the most unflinching insight into the cruel processes of history and into human behavior warped by the pursuit of power." Alter's translation is more literal than the King James version, which makes his rendering of Scripture newly immediate and jarring. (When Samuel anoints David in I Samuel 16, for instance, "the spirit of the LORD gripped David from that day onward.") "The David Story" is worth reading for the footnotes alone, which describe in vivid detail the mechanics of sheep-shearing festivals, sacrificial feasts, and other cultural phenomena that add depth and life to this familiar story. "Israel: An Echo of Eternity (Jewish Lights Classic Reprint)" by Abraham Joshua Heschel http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1879045702/entertainmentsit "Israel: An Echo of Eternity" is a philosophical history of the past, present, and future home of the Jews, written by Abraham Joshua Heschel following his visit to Israel just after the Six Days' War in 1967. Illustrated with beautiful line drawings by Abraham Rattner and written in Heschel's characteristically pithy and penetrating style, the book is implicitly critical of secular Zionism for its lack of interest in Judaism's religious teachings. "We do not worship the soil," Heschel writes (meaning that the land is not holy; it is, instead, a site where holiness is to be created). Therefore, Heschel also refuses easy interpretations of the creation of the state of Israel as recompense for the Holocaust. "It would be blasphemy to regard it as compensation. However, the existence of Israel reborn makes life less unendurable. It is a slight hinderer of hindrances to believing in God." Heschel's observations about religion and politics are extremely durable. Referring to Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, he avers that religion cannot ever be an excuse for racism: "You cannot worship God and at the same time look at man as if he were a horse." Even as an account of one man's relationship to the Holy Land, this book is of lasting value. To arrive in Jerusalem, Heschel writes, is to be joined in "streams of endless craving, clinging, dreaming, flowing day and night." "To Begin Again: The Journey Toward Comfort, Strength, and Faith in Difficult Times" by Naomi Levy http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0345413830/entertainmentsit "Then what good is God?" a rape victim asked Rabbi Naomi Levy after Levy said she didn't think preventing tragedies was in God's hands. Levy realizes that the question after a personal tragedy should not be, "Why did this happen?" but rather, "How can I go on?" "To Begin Again" is a book of comfort and faith to lead us through tragic times. Her advice is wise, gentle, and compassionate, dotted with stories of people Levy knows who have endured terrible pain--and healed. She teaches us to get comfort from asking others for help, letting ourselves cry, seeking a community of faith, studying something new, and keeping memories alive. She shows us how to rebuild our lives by facing the truth, loving and forgiving ourselves, repairing relationships with loved ones, teaching our hearts to remain open, holding onto our faith, and finally, transforming ourselves. "Introduction to Rabbinic Literature" by Jacob Neusner http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0385497512/entertainmentsit "The achievement of a lifetime from one of today's most eminent Judaic scholars--a landmark commentary on the history of rabbinical teachings in the Christian era: the Mishnah, the Tosefta, the Talmuds, and more." --Anchor Books AMAZON.COM PRESENTS THE BEST OF THE CENTURY ******************************************* As the century comes to a close, Amazon.com takes a look at the landmarks in books, music, and video of the past 100 years. Selected by our editors, our lists take you decade by decade from the turn of the century all the way to the end of the millennium. But don't just take our word for it; cast your vote for the best book, video, and CD in our best-of-the-millennium poll for your chance to win our customers' 300 favorite music, book, and video titles. Books of the century ****** Give the Perfect Gift -- Get the Perfect Gift Does Aunt Ida send polka CDs when you'd prefer pop? Create an Amazon.com Wish List and save everyone the agony of the unwanted gift. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=entertainmentsit&path=subst/wishlist/wishlist-portal.html Clueless as to what to get your Kentucky cousin for Christmas? Send him an e-card and tell him to set up an Amazon.com Wish List so you can easily find and send him his heart's desire. http://cards.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=entertainmentsit&path=tg/cards/browse-cards/-/228225/1 ****** You'll find more great books, articles, excerpts, and interviews in Amazon.com's Religion & Spirituality section at Religion & Spirituality
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