Unlocking the Torah Text: An In-Depth Journey into the Weekly Parsha - Softcover

Goldin, Shmuel

Softcover

ISBN 10: 9652295264 ISBN 13: 9789652295262

Publisher: Gefen Publishing House, Limited, 2018

Synopsis

UNLOCKING THE TORAH TEXT provides an in-depth journey into the Torah portion through a series of studies on each parsha. Each study opens with a brief summary of the narrative and then presents probing questions designed to strike to the core of the text. These questions are addressed through a review of traditional commentaries spanning the ages, combined with original approaches. Deep philosophical issues and perplexing textual questions are carefully examined and discussed in clear and incisive fashion. The actions and motivations of the patriarchs, matriarchs and other biblical figures are probed with an eye towards determining the lessons to be learned from the lives of these great personalities. Clear distinction is made between pshat (straightforward literal meaning) and Midrash (rabbinical exegesis) as both of these approaches to biblical text are carefully defined and applied. Finally, thought-provoking connections are raised between the eternal Torah narrative and critical issues of our time. Each study is thus constructed to encourage continued discussion and study of the Torah narrative. With the publication of this final volume, Devarim (Deuteronomy), the five-volume series is complete.

About this title

About the Author

RABBI SHMUEL GOLDIN received his BS in psychology and his MA in Jewish education from Yeshiva University, and his rabbinic ordination from the Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University. He has served as spiritual leader of Congregation Ahavath Torah in Englewood, New Jersey, since 1984. He is the immediate past president of the Rabbinical Council of America, the largest body of Orthodox rabbis in the world. Rabbi Goldins innovative educational approach to Torah study, Jewish law and Jewish identity is enthusiastically received by traditional and non-traditional Jews alike, as reflected by his inclusion in Newsweeks list of Americas Top 50 Rabbis for 2012 and in the Forward 50, Forward magazines list of Jewish communal leaders who have made a difference in the community at large. Rabbi Goldin and his wife Barbara are the proud parents of five children, and grandparents of ten.

Review

Looking for an intellectually challenging approach to studying the weekly Torah portion? Enjoy intriguing, though-provoking questions? Searching for a dvar Torah to offer guests around the Shabbat table? Then Rabbi Shmuel Goldin s Unlocking the Torah Text: An In-Depth Journey Into the Weekly Parsha is for you. Not only a stimulating read, but a personal exploration as well. ...the excitement lies in the text the seeming contradicions and paradoxes, the hidden message, the unusual twist that sparks questions. a very broad, well-grounded perspective. Goldin's sharp insights are sprinkled throughout...In a most intimate way, Rabbi Goldin has shared not only his insights, but also his struggle to discover God and himself not only to search for answers, but to live the question. --Moshe Dann, Jerusalem Post

...Unlocking the Torah Text contains three or four different divrei Torah on every parsha... this is very significant and important. Every chapter opens with an excerpt or theme from the parsha that the chapter will be dealing with. A number of questions are then asked on the excerpt. What follows, however, is what makes this book unique: The question is then answered in accordance with several, often radically different, approaches. At times the differences of opinion are reconciled, at others times, they are left to agree to disagree . The chapters conclude with contemporary examples, personal stories, or an anecdote to help solidify the message, leaving readers with further food for thought.

The author is not shy to bring up delicate and difficult topics. He readily challenges the Torah's text, and puts the Torah's characters and episodes in a very real perspective. Some of the highlights of the book include discussions on: who wrote the Torah (Devarim), re-writing history to serve political interests (Devarim), dealing with doubts in one's faith (Ekev), the legitimacy of eating meat (Re'eh), and rabbinic authority and infallibility (Shoftim), just to name a few.

This is not a Shabbat table parsha book. It is an in-depth study on some of the more relevant themes in the weekly parsha. It is advanced but accessible, appropriate for scholars and laymen alike.--Rabbi Ari Enkin, Torah Book Reviews blog

Rabbi Shmuel Goldin has rendered an extraordinary service... Challenging us with fascinating questions, he presents unique solutions to problems that we might never have noticed but which are critical to our understanding of the text. Sabbath discussions in the pulpit or around the table will be greatly enriched by his analysis. --Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, spiritual leader of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, New York City

Looking for an intellectually challenging approach to studying the weekly Torah portion? Enjoy intriguing, though-provoking questions? Searching for a dvar Torah to offer guests around the Shabbat table? Then Rabbi Shmuel Goldin s Unlocking the Torah Text: An In-Depth Journey Into the Weekly Parsha is for you. Not only a stimulating read, but a personal exploration as well. ...the excitement lies in the text the seeming contradicions and paradoxes, the hidden message, the unusual twist that sparks questions. a very broad, well-grounded perspective. Goldin's sharp insights are sprinkled throughout...In a most intimate way, Rabbi Goldin has shared not only his insights, but also his struggle to discover God and himself not only to search for answers, but to live the question. --Moshe Dann, Jerusalem Post

...Unlocking the Torah Text contains three or four different divrei Torah on every parsha... this is very significant and important. Every chapter opens with an excerpt or theme from the parsha that the chapter will be dealing with. A number of questions are then asked on the excerpt. What follows, however, is what makes this book unique: The question is then answered in accordance with several, often radically different, approaches. At times the differences of opinion are reconciled, at others times, they are left to agree to disagree . The chapters conclude with contemporary examples, personal stories, or an anecdote to help solidify the message, leaving readers with further food for thought.

The author is not shy to bring up delicate and difficult topics. He readily challenges the Torah's text, and puts the Torah's characters and episodes in a very real perspective. Some of the highlights of the book include discussions on: who wrote the Torah (Devarim), re-writing history to serve political interests (Devarim), dealing with doubts in one's faith (Ekev), the legitimacy of eating meat (Re'eh), and rabbinic authority and infallibility (Shoftim), just to name a few.

This is not a Shabbat table parsha book. It is an in-depth study on some of the more relevant themes in the weekly parsha. It is advanced but accessible, appropriate for scholars and laymen alike.--Rabbi Ari Enkin, Torah Book Reviews blog

Rabbi Shmuel Goldin has rendered an extraordinary service... Challenging us with fascinating questions, he presents unique solutions to problems that we might never have noticed but which are critical to our understanding of the text. Sabbath discussions in the pulpit or around the table will be greatly enriched by his analysis. --Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, spiritual leader of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, New York City

Rabbi Goldin's book is original, thoughtful, and provocative. Written with clarity, sensitivity and empathy, it will inspire modern readers of the Torah to grapple with the text and to wrest from it contemporary messages of personal meaning and communal significance. -- Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, senior scholar at the Center for the Jewish Future of Yeshiva University

Rabbi Shmuel Goldin is a treasured member of our Jewish studies faculty because of the insight, clarity and love of text displayed in this volume. Employing simple but probing questions, he has produced an eye-opening volume, transforming Biblical story into sacred values. It is a delicious read. --Richard Joel, President of Yeshiva University

Superb! ...Carefully conceived, conceptually challenging, stylistically elegant... magnificently inviting. --Rabbi Maurice Lamm, noted rabbi and author of The Jewish Way in Death and Mourning and other works

In Unlocking the Torah Text, Goldin provides the reader with a useful aid to understanding the biblical text. Writing in a pleasant, lucid style, he identifies the main questions, and in a modern idiom discusses some of the classic approaches. He carries his learning lightly so as to meet the challenges of the text and stimulate debate of the issues. A highly readable and thoughtful work. --Aviva Zornberg, author of Genesis: The Beginning of Desire, winner of the National Jewish Book Award

Edition details

• Publisher: Gefen Publishing House, Limited
• Publication date: 2018
• ISBN 10: 9652295264
• ISBN 13: 9789652295262
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 453