Books & Reads

My thought is that "Books" are ubiquitous treasures. They are precious resources; loyal friends to have, to read, to reread, to reference, to study, to read out loud, to quote from, to be inspired by, to live by.

Here, I suggest owning a Tanakh. I like the Jewish Study Bible, Jewish Publication Society, edited by Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler (ISBN 0-19-529751-2). The Tanakh includes the Torah (which is the five Books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy), Nevi'im (which is the Prophets), and Kethuvim (Writings, which includes Psalms, Proverbs, The Book of Ruth, The Book of Esther, etc.).

Having an ethical or moral dilemma? I recommend the beautiful Birnbaum edition, Rabbi Berel Wein, of Pirkei Avos (Ethics of our Fathers) Teachings For Our Times. This can be ordered online from Artscroll (ISBN-10 1-57819-739-2).



A favorite book of my dear friend Marvin is, Light at the End of the Tunnel by Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, MD. The Rabbi gives you a lot of aha lightbulb moments. Quote Rabbi Twerski and your friends and family will be amazed by your scholarly brilliance!

Women, especially, will savor The Committed Life by Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis. The Rebbetzin, an online columnist and a childhood Holocaust survivor, uses stories and anecdotes to explain her Principles for Good Living From Our Timeless Past.

For the engaged, newly wed, married or looking..., you'll get some insights into shalom bayis, Hebrew for "peace and harmony in the home", from Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis' book, The Committed Marriage.





My definition of a "Read" is something to enjoy and trade around for pleasures
and pastimes.


 A good nonfiction pick is, Start-Up Nation: The Story of Israel's Economic Miracle by Dan Senor and Paul Singer. It might inspire you or intrigue you and will make you kwell with pride. It's been a favorite among Harvard Business School students.

For those who like periodicals, the writing in Hadassah Magazine is award winning; the photos and artwork are captivating.

Fiction and history readers will want to follow the lead of the women of Temple Shalom's sisterhood bookclub who are enjoying 21 Aldgate by Patricia Friedberg. This is the fictionalized true story of a young Jewish woman who loved French impressionist painter, Paul Maze (a friend of Winston Churchill's) and helped Paul write his book, Frenchman in Khaki.