Thoughts to ponder : daring observations about the Jewish tradition / Nathan Lopes Cardozo.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lopes Cardozo, Nathan T.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Judaism.

Jewish way of life.

Physical Description:

volumes ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Urim, [2002-]

Summary:

Thoughts to Ponder is a collection of short, and often unusual, observations about the complexities of human existence and religious meaning. Rabbi Cardozo masterfully weaves together the intriguing perspectives of renowned Western and religious thinkers spanning the ages as he deals with subjects that range from "Jewish Identity, Jewish Leadership and Rebellion" and "The Therapy of Sport" to "Religious Stringencies: Good or Bad?" The Ba'al Shem Tov, Rav Avraham Yitschak Kook, Emanuel Kant and Charles Darwin are just some of the legendary figures who appear in this eclectic work. Each "Thought" contains stimulating and eye-opening concepts that will plant seeds of curiosity in the minds of readers.

Contents:

I. Education and Leadership

1. Jewish Identity, Jewish Leadership and Rebellion 15

2. Weariness and Gentile Advice 18

3. Tolerance and Personal Conscience 22

4. Tolerance and Dialogue 26

5. Alan M. Dershowitz, Klotz Kashes and The Chozrim Beshe'ela Movement 29

6. Educating Towards Enjoyment 33

7. When Times Change, Methods for Jewish Education Change 35

II. Jewish Family and Society

8. Krepelach and Bissli: The Revelation of a Language 41

9. Boredom 44

11. Thoughts on Dolls and Other Toys 49

12. Grandparents and Grandchildren: The Secret of Redemption 52

13. Asterix and Obelix: A Serious Rabbinic View 56

14. The Therapy of Sport 60

15. Some Perspectives on Mortality 62

16. Religious and Secular Morality 65

17. Satisfaction and the Art of Being 69

III. A Fairy Tale

18. King Democratio: A Modern Midrash 75

IV. Man, God and the Torah

19. Who is God and What Are the Consequences? 83

20. The Holiness of Man 87

21. Freud and Belief in God 89

22. Human Autonomy and Divine Commandment I 92

23. Human Autonomy and Divine Commandment II 95

24. Freedom of Will and Determinism: A Daring Midrash 98

25. The Chosen People: An Arrogant Claim? 101

26. The Quest for Denial 106

27. The Mystery of Revelation 109

28. Johann Sebastian Bach, Spinoza and Halacha 111

V. Holidays and Customs

29. Mitzvot, Minhagim and Their Dangers 117

30. Chumrot-Religious Stringencies: Good or Bad? 119

31. Rosh Hashana and The Day After 122

32. Rosh Hashana and the Cities of Refuge 125

33. Yom Kippur: A Day Like Purim 128

34. Yom Kippur and Arthur Schopenhauer 132

35. Sukkot: Twin Towers and the Paradox of Life 135

36. Chanuka: The Religious Equilibrium of the Menora 138

37. Pesach: Judaism's Main Purpose is to Complicate Life 140

38. Pesach: To Roast or to Boil-That is the Question 142

39. Shavuot: Torah and Combustibility 146

40. Shavuot: Revelation and Learning 149

41. The Mystery of the Second Day Yom Tov 152

42. Tisha B'Av: A Forestaste and the Eye of a Needle 156

VI. Israel and the Jewish State

43. The Holocaust: Divine Retribution? 161

44. The Danger of Holiness and the Future of Israel 164

45. The Palestinians' Claim to the Land of Israel: A Serious Warning 167

46. Concerning the New Millennium: A Jewish Child and a Wave of the Hand 170

47. Rabbi Yaacov Emden, Bilaam and Jeshu 174

48. The Birth of Amalek: The Making of an Enemy 177

VII. The Power of Prayer

49. Prayer, Chazanut and the Cantor 183

50. There is No Mashiach Without a Song 185

51. Camp David and the City of David 188

Thoughts in which Jewish Festivals and Parashat Hashavua Appear 194.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9657108403

OCLC:

52601095