New and Noteworthy Books
Adam S. Ferziger, Agents of Change: American Jews and the Transformation of Israeli Judaism (NYU Press)
Adam S. Ferziger examines the influence of American immigrants who arrived in Israel between the mid-1960s and early 1980s (and their students) on Israeli Judaism in the 21st century. The book explores the educational institutions those figures established or led, which helped form a transnational community of Modern Orthodoxy. Examining the careers of figures such as Rabbis Chaim Brovender, Shlomo Riskin, Nahum Rabinovitch, and prominent women educators Malke Bina and Chana Henkin, among others, Ferziger discusses emerging perspectives on women’s roles in religious and public life, relations with non-Orthodox denominations, approaches to academic Jewish studies, etc. Although a minority within Israeli Orthodoxy, this group contributed to discourse on religious and social issues, highlighting the interplay between American and Israeli Jewish ideas.
Merav Suisa, HaTalmud beKeria Penimit [The Talmud in an Inner Reading: Revealing the Concepts that Shape the Debates] (Maggid & Matan)
Merav Suisa, writing as part of Matan’s Kitvuni Fellowship, offers a method for studying the Talmud that emphasizes underlying conceptual frameworks and the ideas shaping the text’s debates. Focusing on opening issues and extending to classical topics, the book combines careful analysis with references to midrash and aggadic material [sample content]. Suisa shows how halakhic discussions convey moral, philosophical, and spiritual lessons and provides tools for independent study. The work presents Talmud study as both intellectually rigorous and spiritually engaging, allowing readers to connect with the text in meaningful ways.
Yakav Nagan, Sarel Rosenblatt, Michal Tikochinsky, Assaf Malach, Va-Hai Imakh [That They May Live Among You: Minorities in a Jewish State] (Maggid Books & Ohe Torah Stone)
Va-Hai Imakh examines the halakhic and ethical responsibilities of the Jewish majority toward minorities in Israel. Drawing on classical Jewish sources, the authors explore fairness, partnership, and communal obligations, situating these principles within a modern democratic framework. The book discusses governance, social equity, and the balance between Israel’s Jewish character and its democratic ideals. Combining textual study with contemporary reflection, the work provides a framework for ethical engagement and coexistence, outlining how minority communities can be integrated while respecting Jewish law and values.
Caroline Gruenbaum, Reading Across Cultures: Translating Romances, Fables & Poetry in Medieval Ashkenaz (Cornell University Press)
Caroline Gruenbaum’s Reading Across Cultures examines the translation of non-Jewish literary works, such as Aesopian fables and tales of King Arthur and Alexander the Great, into Hebrew by Jewish authors in northern France, Germany, and England during the late twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Gruenbaum emphasizes the ways these translations reflect cross-cultural literary exchange, demonstrating how Jewish authors adopted, adapted, and circulated stories for both entertainment and moral instruction. These translations served as secular Hebrew literature that engaged with classical European narratives, enriching the medieval Ashkenazi Jewish community.
Yael Leibowitz, Ezra–Nehemiah: Retrograde Revolution (Maggid Studies in Tanakh)
Ezra and Nehemiah explore the post-exilic period, tracing the reconstruction of Jewish religious, social, and political life. The texts examine relationships between Jews in Israel and the Diaspora, the development of communal norms, and the central role of biblical literacy. Leaders work to rebuild the Temple, enforce laws, and transmit knowledge, illustrating how identity and community cohesion were reestablished. Leibowitz’s examination of Ezra and Nehemiah provides insight into adaptation, continuity, and communal organization in a pivotal period of Jewish history [read the introduction and chapter 1].
Zvi Grumet, Exodus: The Genesis of God’s People (Maggid Studies in Tanakh)
Zvi Grumet studies the book of Exodus, highlighting themes of leadership, national identity, and the evolving relationship between God and Israel. The book examines Moses’ mission, Israel’s formation as a people, and the text’s literary and theological dimensions. Situating Exodus within the broader Torah narrative, Grumet considers links to Genesis and later books, drawing on textual analysis and traditional commentary. The study illuminates the formative experiences of Israel, offering insight into the text’s ethical, spiritual, and historical significance.
Raphael Jospe, Accepting and Excepting: On Pluralism and Chosenness Out of the Sources of Judaism (Academic Studies Press)
Accepting and Excepting is Raphael Jospe’s collection of essays exploring inter-religious pluralism and the reinterpretation of Jewish chosenness. The work examines the challenges posed by exclusive truth claims and considers how religions might cooperate in an interconnected world. Jospe argues that our understanding of reality is inevitably shaped by language, culture, religion, and gender, making absolute claims epistemologically limited. Through a process of revaluation, the essays propose that Jewish identity and the concept of the Chosen People can be affirmed internally, without asserting superiority over others, and that traditional observances can retain meaning even outside conventional theistic frameworks.
Daniel Taub, Beyond Dispute: Rediscovering the Jewish Art of Constructive Disagreement (Hodder & Stoughton)
In Beyond Dispute, Israeli diplomat Daniel Taub draws on Jewish wisdom and his experience as a peace negotiator to explore the constructive potential of disagreement. The book challenges the notion that arguments are inherently divisive or about winning and losing, proposing instead that disputes can serve as collaborative opportunities for learning and discovery. Taub presents practical strategies for fostering safe spaces where controversial opinions are welcomed and examined thoughtfully, encouraging individuals and communities to engage with differing perspectives. Combining classical Jewish insights with contemporary research in conflict resolution and reflections from his ambassadorial career, the work offers a framework for building resilient societies capable of engaging with complex issues.
Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Hakohen Kook, The Torah of Tomorrow: One Song, translated by Rachel Tova Ebner (Mosaica Press)
The Torah of Tomorrow: One Song presents a curated selection of Rav Kook’s spiritual writings, poetry and prose, offering both the original Hebrew and an accessible English translation with commentary by Rachel Tova Ebner. The volume highlights themes of inner truth, spiritual growth, and connection to the Divine, providing readers with a structured entry point into Rav Kook’s thought. Ebner’s translation and notes clarify complex ideas while preserving their depth, allowing the texts to be engaged thoughtfully over time. The selections emphasize the contemplative and transformative aspects of Rav Kook’s teachings. The work serves as a bridge for contemporary readers to access one of modern Judaism’s most influential and visionary voices.
The Library: An Open Book, edited by Ido Bruner (Hirmer)
The Library: An Open Book, edited by Ido Bruner, documents the design and realization of the new National Library of Israel in Jerusalem. The book situates the library as both a physical and conceptual space, reflecting its role in public life, scholarship, and cultural preservation in the digital age. It presents a variety of contributions, including short stories, visual art, photography, and a graphic novella, from Israeli and international authors and artists, highlighting different perspectives on the meaning and function of libraries. By combining architectural documentation with creative interpretations, the volume explores how the National Library serves as a center for learning, culture, and civic engagement while also considering the broader significance of libraries as social and intellectual institutions.
Jonathan Grossman, Jacob: The Story of a Family (Maggid Tanakh Companiosn)
Jonathan Grossman explores the life of Jacob in Genesis 25–36, highlighting his personal, familial, and spiritual journey. The book examines key moments, from encounters with God to the establishment of the twelve tribes, showing how these stories convey moral, psychological, and theological lessons. Grossman analyzes literary structures to reveal patterns within the narrative, connecting individual episodes to overarching themes of struggle, guidance, and growth. By attending to both the sequence and the narrative’s inner dynamics, the work offers insight into the formation of Israelite identity and the interplay between human experience and divine influence.
David Sorotzkin, Leidata shel Yahadut Normativit [Hebrew: The Making of Normative Judaism: Social Engineering, Canonization and Censorship in Medieval Spain] (HaKibbutz ha-Meuhad)
David Sorotzkin investigates the emergence of standardized rabbinic Judaism in medieval Spain and Europe, tracing how religious norms moved from elite circles to influence broader communities. The study focuses on Rabbi Shlomo ben Aderet (Rashba) of Barcelona, whose writings, building on Ramban and Rabbenu Yona Gironde, helped define canonical boundaries and expand rabbinic authority. Sorotzkin situates these developments within wider trends of Western religiosity, showing how normative Judaism both shaped and adapted to social, economic, and intellectual contexts, influencing Jewish practice for generations to come.
Yehuda Leib Ashlag, Introduction to the Zohar: The Wisdom of Truth (Share & Maggid Books)
Yehuda Leib Ashlag’s Introduction to the Zohar provides an accessible guide to Kabbalistic teachings. Ashlag (1885–1954; known as the Ba’al HaSulam, after his popular Zohar commentary) organizes seventy-one short chapters covering creation, the soul, human purpose, and the structure of upper and lower worlds [sample content]. Central to his approach is the transformation of the soul from a desire to receive to a desire to give, facilitated through Torah observance and mitzvot. The book presents foundational Kabbalistic concepts in clear language, emphasizing their philosophical and spiritual significance.
Shlomo Riskin, Judaism: A Love Story—A Theological, Ethical, and Zionistic Perspective (Ohr Torah Stone & Maggid Books)
Rabbi Shlomo Riskin examines the enduring relationship between the Jewish people and God, connecting theology, ethics, and ritual practice. The book addresses prayer, moral principles, and the role of sacred times such as Shabbat and Yom Kippur, highlighting their contribution to personal and communal identity. R. Riskin also considers historical challenges, including memory and forgiveness, and situates modern commemorative holidays, such as Yom HaAtzma’ut and Yom Yerushalayim, within this framework. The study explores how Jewish faith, ethics, and national consciousness intersect across history and practice.
Federico Dal Bo, Print, Power, and Cultural Hegemony: A Material History of Early Hebrew Prints (De Gruyter)
Federico Dal Bo examines Hebrew books from the late fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, focusing on how their design shaped reading, learning, and cultural influence. He studies key editions, including the first printed Talmud and rabbinical Bibles, situating them within the broader context of Jewish scholarship and Christian interest. Dal Bo traces the evolution from manuscript-like layouts to more complex designs influenced by Renaissance humanism, including the integration of main texts with surrounding commentaries. The book also discusses the 1553 trial that resulted in the burning of the Talmud, highlighting its impact on Hebrew printing. Overall, it demonstrates how material features of early Hebrew books shaped the dissemination of knowledge and cultural authority.
Compiled with the assistance of Gianna Goldfarb.
Appearance here does not preclude review in our print journal or on TraditionOnline.org. Publishers can contact our editor to submit titles.