{"title":"Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"TXT1\"\u0026gt; Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD, has served for more than three decades as professor of liturgy at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. He is a world-renowned liturgist and holder of the Stephen and Barbara Friedman Chair in Liturgy, Worship and Ritual. His work combines research in Jewish ritual, worship and spirituality with a passion for the spiritual renewal of contemporary Judaism. \"TXT\"\u0026gt;His many books, written and edited, include seven volumes in the Prayers of Awe series: Who by Fire, Who by Water— Un'taneh Tokef; All These Vows— Kol Nidre; We Have Sinned: Sin and Confession in Judaism— Ashamnu and Al Chet; May God Remember: Memory and Memorializing in Judaism— Yizkor; All the World: Universalism, Particularism and the High Holy Days; Naming God: Avinu Malkeinu — Our Father, Our King; and Encountering God: El Rachum V'chanun— God Merciful and Gracious. Hoffman also edited the ten-volume series My People’s Prayer Book: Traditional Prayers, Modern Commentaries, winner of the National Jewish Book Award; and coedited My People’s Passover Haggadah: Traditional Texts, Modern Commentaries, a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award (all Jewish Lights). \"TXT\"\u0026gt;Rabbi Hoffman cofounded and developed Synagogue 2\/3000, a transdenominational project to envision and implement the ideal synagogue of the spirit for the twenty-first century. In that capacity, he wrote Rethinking Synagogues: A New Vocabulary for Congregational Life (Jewish Lights).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD’s books are published by Jewish Lights, SkyLight Paths, imprints of Turner Publishing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBrowse more: \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/books-new-releases\"\u003eNew Releases\u003c\/a\u003e · \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/award-winning-books\"\u003eAward-Winning Books\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-way-into-jewish-mystical-tradition","title":"The Way Into Jewish Mystical Tradition","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn accessible introduction to the concepts of Jewish mysticism, their religious\u003cbr\u003eand spiritual significance, and how they relate to our lives. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Way Into Jewish Mystical Tradition\u003c\/em\u003e allows us to experience and understand mysticism's inexpressible reverence before the awe and mystery of creation, and celebrate this rich tradition's quest to transform our ordinary reality into holiness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003eWe earn a commission for purchases made through the following links.\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/1580232000\/ref=nosim?tag=tpcecomm-20\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Amazon\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003c!-- bookshop-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/book\/9781580232005\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Bookshop.org\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/bookshop-buylink --\u003e","brand":"Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":43231095324888,"sku":"9781580230292","price":26.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43231095357656,"sku":"9781580232005","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0563\/7786\/8475\/files\/9781580230292_FC_mockup_v2_1738704943_807cbd02-b1df-4f51-b962-49d124352a5b.jpg?v=1791012090"},{"product_id":"the-way-into-jewish-prayer","title":"The Way Into Jewish Prayer","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn accessible introduction to the reasons                 for and the ways of Jewish prayer. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Way Into Jewish Prayer\u003c\/i\u003e helps us to explore the reasons for and                 the ways of Jewish prayer. It opens the door to 3,000 years of                 Jewish prayer, making available all you need to feel at home in                 the Jewish way of communicating with God. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003eWe earn a commission for purchases made through the following links.\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/1580232019\/ref=nosim?tag=tpcecomm-20\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Amazon\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003c!-- bookshop-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/book\/9781580232012\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Bookshop.org\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/bookshop-buylink --\u003e","brand":"Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43231095390424,"sku":"9781580232012","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":43231095423192,"sku":"9781683364450","price":23.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0563\/7786\/8475\/files\/9781580232012_FC_mockup_v2_1738704605_2adbdae8-2ade-436e-9297-55421f321b36.jpg?v=1791012120"},{"product_id":"rethinking-synagogues","title":"Rethinking Synagogues: A New Vocabulary for Congregational Life","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA critical and challenging look at reinventing the synagogue, as the centerpiece of a refashioned Jewish community. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"America is undergoing a spiritual revolution: only the fourth religious awakening in its history. I plead, therefore, for an equally spiritual synagogue, knowing that any North American Jewish community that hopes to be around in a hundred years must have religion at its center, with the synagogue, the religious institution that best fits North American culture, at its very core.\"\u003cbr\u003e—from Chapter 1\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\u003cp\u003eSynagogues are under attack, and for good reasons. But they remain the religious backbone of Jewish continuity, especially in America, the sole Western industrial or post-industrial nation where religion and spirituality continue to grow in importance. To fulfill their mandate for the American future, synagogues need to replace old and tired conversation with a new way of talking about their goals, their challenges and their vision for the future.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this provocative clarion call for synagogue transformation, Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman summarizes a decade of research with Synagogue 2\/3000—a pioneering experiment that reconceptualized synagogue life—providing fresh ways for synagogues to think as they undertake the exciting task of global change.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003eWe earn a commission for purchases made through the following links.\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/1580232485\/ref=nosim?tag=tpcecomm-20\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Amazon\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003c!-- bookshop-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/book\/9781580232487\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Bookshop.org\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/bookshop-buylink --\u003e","brand":"Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43231096832216,"sku":"9781580232487","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":43231096864984,"sku":"9781683362678","price":27.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0563\/7786\/8475\/files\/9781580232487_FC_mockup_v2_1738746574_a4a308a8-cb0b-4f27-b288-e87ff31a384a.jpg?v=1791012819"},{"product_id":"israel-a-spiritual-travel-guide-2nd-edition","title":"Israel—A Spiritual Travel Guide (2nd Edition): A Companion for the Modern Jewish Pilgrim","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBe spiritually prepared for your journey in Israel. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e            \u003cp\u003eThe only travel guide to Israel that will help you to prepare spiritually for your visit. Combining, in quick reference format, ancient blessings, medieval prayers, biblical references, and modern poetry, it helps today’s pilgrim tap into the deep spiritual meaning of the ancient—and modern—sites of the Holy Land. For each of 25 major tourist destinations—from the Western Wall to Masada to a kibbutz in the Galilee—it gives guidance in sharply focused, four-step sections: \u003c\/p\u003e            \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eAnticipation:\u003c\/b\u003e To read in advance. Information to help orient you in the site’s historical context.             \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eApproach:\u003c\/b\u003e To read on the way there. Readings from traditional and modern sources to orient you in the site’s spiritual context. \u003c\/li\u003e            \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eAcknowledgment: \u003c\/b\u003eTo read at the site. A prayer or blessing to integrate the experience into your spiritual consciousness. \u003c\/li\u003e            \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eAfterthought:\u003c\/b\u003e Journaling                 space for writing your own thoughts and impressions. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e            \u003cp\u003eMore than a guidebook: It is a spiritual                 map of the Holy Land. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003eWe earn a commission for purchases made through the following links.\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/1684429307\/ref=nosim?tag=tpcecomm-20\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Amazon\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003c!-- bookshop-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/book\/9781684429301\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Bookshop.org\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/bookshop-buylink --\u003e","brand":"Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43233294909656,"sku":"9781684429301","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":43233294942424,"sku":"9781684429318","price":27.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0563\/7786\/8475\/files\/9781580232616_FC_mockup_v2_1738789063_5fab5563-7b88-49c1-854c-be67d49deccc.jpg?v=1791012967"},{"product_id":"who-by-fire-who-by-water","title":"Who By Fire, Who By Water: Un'taneh Tokef","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eThe most controversial prayer of the Jewish New Year―what it means, who wrote it, why we say it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOver forty contributors who span three continents and all major Jewish denominations examine \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eUn'taneh Tokef\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e's theology, authorship, and poetry through a set of lively commentaries. Men and women, scholars and rabbis, artists and poets trace the history of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eUn’taneh Tokef\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and connect the prayer to its biblical and rabbinic roots. They wrestle with the personal and community impact of its deeply moving imagery, probe its haunting message of human mortality, and reflect on its call for sanctity, transformation and renewal.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003eWe earn a commission for purchases made through the following links.\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/1580236723\/ref=nosim?tag=tpcecomm-20\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Amazon\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003c!-- bookshop-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/book\/9781580236720\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Bookshop.org\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/bookshop-buylink --\u003e","brand":"Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":43233303757016,"sku":"9781580234245","price":26.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43233303789784,"sku":"9781580236720","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0563\/7786\/8475\/files\/9781580234245_FC_mockup_v2_1738754874_ed221d13-33cc-4976-9c92-d558468fa4a9.jpg?v=1791016215"},{"product_id":"may-god-remember","title":"May God Remember: Memory and Memorializing in Judaism—Yizkor","description":"\u003cp\u003eThrough a series of lively introduction and commentaries, over thirty contributors--men and women, scholars, rabbis, theologians, and poets, representing all Jewish denominations--examine the history and ideas behind Yizkor, the Jewish memorial service, and this fascinating chapter in Jewish piety.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFeaturing the traditional prayers--provided in the original Hebrew and a new and annotated translation--this fourth volume in the Prayers of Awe series explores the profound theological questions at the core of this service and our own humanity: What happens to us after we die? Is there really an afterlife? Does our fate after death depend on the goodness with which we have pursued our earthly life? And more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003eWe earn a commission for purchases made through the following links.\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/1683361881\/ref=nosim?tag=tpcecomm-20\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Amazon\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003c!-- bookshop-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/book\/9781683361886\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Bookshop.org\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/bookshop-buylink --\u003e","brand":"Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":43233303822552,"sku":"9781580236898","price":22.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43233303855320,"sku":"9781683361886","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0563\/7786\/8475\/files\/9781683361886_FC_mockup_v2_1738780152_80865dd1-735d-47ca-aa2d-d544b0cc107e.jpg?v=1791016254"},{"product_id":"all-the-world","title":"All the World: Universalism, Particularism and the High Holy Days","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis examination of universalism and particularism in Judaism seeks answers to the complex question, \"Why be Jewish?\" It explores the universalistic definition of the Jews' historic destiny, the role Jews must play simply by virtue of being human, and Judaism's part in helping Jews play that human role with uniquely Jewish passion and commitment.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003eWe earn a commission for purchases made through the following links.\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/1681629747\/ref=nosim?tag=tpcecomm-20\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Amazon\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003c!-- bookshop-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/book\/9781681629742\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Bookshop.org\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/bookshop-buylink --\u003e","brand":"Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":43233304576216,"sku":"9781580237833","price":22.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43233304608984,"sku":"9781681629742","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0563\/7786\/8475\/files\/9781580237833_FC_1_mockup_v2_1740148150_fd73681d-ce6d-448c-92df-7cdf7fccf2ab.jpg?v=1791016565"},{"product_id":"naming-god","title":"Naming God: Avinu Malkeinu—Our Father, Our King","description":"\u003cp\u003eOne of the oldest and most beloved prayers--known even to Jews who rarely attend synagogue--is Avinu Malkeinu (\"Our Father, Our King\"), a liturgical staple for the entire High Holy Day period. \"Our Father, Our King\" has resonance also for Christians, whose Lord's Prayer begins \"Our Father.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDespite its popularity, Avinu Malkeinu causes great debate because of the difficulties in thinking of God as father and king. Americans no longer relate positively to images of royalty; victims of parental abuse note the problem of assuming a benevolent father; and feminists have long objected to masculine language for God.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThrough a series of lively introductions and commentaries, almost forty contributors--men and women, scholar and rabbis, artists and thinkers from all Jewish denominations and from around the world--wrestle with this linguistic and spiritual conundrum, asking, \"How do we name God altogether, without recourse to imagery that defies belief?\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003eWe earn a commission for purchases made through the following links.\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/1683362179\/ref=nosim?tag=tpcecomm-20\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Amazon\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003c!-- bookshop-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/book\/9781683362173\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Bookshop.org\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/bookshop-buylink --\u003e","brand":"Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":43233305362648,"sku":"9781580238175","price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43233305395416,"sku":"9781683362173","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0563\/7786\/8475\/files\/9781683362173_FC_mockup_v2_1738772660_a5ed8d68-0ffd-4af5-9a55-f2f0356ee2e3.jpg?v=1791016889"},{"product_id":"more-than-managing","title":"More Than Managing: The Relentless Pursuit of Effective Jewish Leadership","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJewish organizational life is inundated with publications on organizational change and effective leadership, but from mutually exclusive sources: business and organizational studies, on the one hand; and Jewish studies, on the other. One addresses leadership but not the religious soul. The other speaks from its Jewish soul but is only secondarily engaged in the study of leadership. \u003cem\u003eMore Than Managing\u003c\/em\u003e thoughtfully combines both to be immediately applicable to Jewish organizational life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eInspired by thirty years of pioneering work by retail giant Leslie Wexner’s philanthropic focus on Jewish leadership, \u003cem\u003eMore Than Managing\u003c\/em\u003e brings together diverse and remarkable thinkers to address challenges facing communal life and the skills and strategies demanded by them. Contributors include professors at Harvard University’s Center for Public Leadership and The Harvard Business School who have worked over the past three decades with Israel’s rising leadership in the public sector. These internationally known voices are matched by alumni and faculty of The Wexner Foundation’s professional and volunteer programs, who lead and advise Jewish communities throughout North America and Israel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe book features diverse strategies for twenty-first-century leadership, critical lessons for organizational and communal success, and the questions vital to our changing and challenging times. Questions include how leaders may overcome the mediocrity of bureaucratic organizations; how organizations can harness volunteer leadership for transformative change; and how professionals can sustain core values in the midst of daily routine. Its diverse array of writers with international reputations in their fields makes it the only book of its kind. Potential readers include leaders of any religious not-for-profits—not just Jewish. The almost 50 contributors, including Leslie Wexner, combine secular insights on leadership with innovative insights drawn from Judaism’s spiritual heritage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003eWe earn a commission for purchases made through the following links.\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/1683366808\/ref=nosim?tag=tpcecomm-20\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Amazon\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003c!-- bookshop-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/book\/9781683366805\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Bookshop.org\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/bookshop-buylink --\u003e","brand":"Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":43233308344536,"sku":"9781580238700","price":27.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43233308377304,"sku":"9781683366805","price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0563\/7786\/8475\/files\/9781580238700_FC_mockup_v2_1738777436_cc2e99b0-c94c-4878-8875-432bbacc06a4.jpg?v=1791017439"},{"product_id":"the-closing-of-the-gates","title":"The Closing of the Gates: N'ilah","description":"\u003cp\u003eN’ilah, “the closing of the gates” is, in many ways, the most anticipated worship service in the entire Jewish calendar. Coming at the end of the 24-hour fast that characterizes Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement), it symbolizes the days of old when the gates of the ancient Temple closed at last, and with them, the last chance for prayers of atonement and reconciliation with God and with others. Nowadays, the synagogue service that replaced the Temple cult marks the occasion with heightened fervor: the only time all year when the gates of the ark that houses the Torah scroll remain open throughout the service; telltale melodies accompany the occasion; a final blast of the shofar (the ram’s horn) symbolizes the end of the fast and the new beginning that follows; special prayers celebrate the human capacity to create a life that matters beyond our own mortality -- and the presence of God who “reaches out a hand” to invite us into the new Jewish year that N’ilah’s final shofar blast inaugurates.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAll of this is the topic for volume eight in “Prayers of Awe,” the series devoted to exploring the depth of the Jewish High Holy Days. As with prior volumes, this one too comes with introductory essays on the history, theology, and deeper meaning behind the prayer experience.  It then assembles some 40 short and accessible essays designed to unlock the mystery and depth of the occasion. Authors come from all walks of life – clergy and laypeople, scholars and artists, men and women across the generations – and from seven countries (Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Israel, the UK and USA).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat music appreciation is to classical music, this series on prayer is to Jewish worship. This volume, in particular, explores Judaism’s timeless message of divine purpose and the ongoing search for meaning in a world of human frailty but also promise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003eWe earn a commission for purchases made through the following links.\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/1684422205\/ref=nosim?tag=tpcecomm-20\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Amazon\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003c!-- bookshop-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/book\/9781684422203\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Bookshop.org\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/bookshop-buylink --\u003e","brand":"Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":43233308573912,"sku":"9781580238878","price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43233308606680,"sku":"9781684422203","price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0563\/7786\/8475\/files\/9781580238878_FC_mockup_v2_1740150058_cfc41e2d-942b-4632-b51e-9532989fd3c4.jpg?v=1791017574"},{"product_id":"what-you-will-see-inside-a-synagogue","title":"What You Will See Inside a Synagogue","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA colorful, fun-to-read introduction that explains the ways and whys of Jewish worship, faith, and religious life. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eWhat You Will See Inside a Synagogue\u003c\/i\u003e will:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSatisfy kids’ curiosity about what goes on in synagogues attended by their friends, broadening awareness of other faiths at an important age when opinions and prejudices can first form.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProvide Jewish children with a deeper understanding of the practices of their own religious tradition.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGive children the opportunity to ask questions, making them more active participants.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eColorful full-page photographs set the scene for concise but informative descriptions of what is happening, the objects used, the clergy and laypeople who have specific roles, the spiritual intent of the believers, and more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003ci\u003eWhat You Will See Inside\u003c\/i\u003e… series is designed to show children ages 6–10 the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of traditional houses of worship, liturgical celebrations, and rituals of different world faiths, empowering them to respect and understand their own religious traditions—and those of their friends and neighbors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003eWe earn a commission for purchases made through the following links.\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/1594732566\/ref=nosim?tag=tpcecomm-20\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Amazon\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003c!-- bookshop-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/book\/9781594732560\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Bookshop.org\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/bookshop-buylink --\u003e","brand":"Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43238202507480,"sku":"9781594732560","price":6.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0563\/7786\/8475\/files\/9781594730122_FC_mockup_v2_1738756501_6a9ce221-de1a-4de9-8b7f-5793b7a411fb.jpg?v=1791035622"},{"product_id":"my-peoples-prayer-book-vol-1","title":"My People's Prayer Book Vol 1: The Sh'ma and Its Blessings","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\"The prayer book is our Jewish diary of the centuries, a collection of prayers composed by generations of those who came before us, as they endeavored to express the meaning of their lives and their relationship to God. The prayer book is the essence of the Jewish soul.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMy People's Prayer Book\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eprovides diverse and exciting commentaries to the traditional liturgy, written by some of today's most respected scholars and teachers from all perspectives of the Jewish world. They explore the text from the perspectives of ancient Rabbis and modern theologians, as well as feminist, halakhic, medieval, linguistic, biblical, Chasidic, mystical, and historical perspectives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis stunning work, an empowering entryway to the spiritual revival of our times, enables all of us to claim our connection to the heritage of the traditional Jewish prayer book. It helps rejuvenate Jewish worship in today's world, and makes its power accessible to all. The\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMy People's Prayer Book\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eseries belongs on the library shelf of every home, every synagogue—every sanctuary of prayer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIntroductions tell the reader what to look for in the prayer service, as well as how to truly use the commentaries, to search for—and find—meaning in the prayer book\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003eWe earn a commission for purchases made through the following links.\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/1683362098\/ref=nosim?tag=tpcecomm-20\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Amazon\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003c!-- bookshop-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/book\/9781683362098\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Bookshop.org\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/bookshop-buylink --\u003e","brand":"Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":43252430012632,"sku":"9781879045798","price":27.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43252430045400,"sku":"9781683362098","price":10.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0563\/7786\/8475\/files\/MPPB1_FC_mockup_v2_1676929158_ee6b39eb-ed3e-4bdc-88f1-3cc4ae1d40b6.jpg?v=1791045388"},{"product_id":"the-art-of-public-prayer-2nd-edition","title":"The Art of Public Prayer (2nd Edition): Not for Clergy Only","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA resource for worshipers today looking to change hardened worship patterns\u003cbr\u003ethat stand in the way of everyday spirituality.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAll too often, those who attend church or synagogue find themselves bored or baffled by the service. Their predominant thought is how slowly the time ticks by—and that the service never seems to end.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWritten for laypeople and clergy of any denomination, \u003cem\u003eThe Art of Public Prayer\u003c\/em\u003e examines how and why religious ritual works—and why it often doesn't work.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Art of Public Prayer\u003c\/em\u003e uses psychology, social science, theology and common sense to explain the key roles played by ritual, symbolism, liturgy and song in services. Each chapter features \"conversation points\" designed to get you and your faith community thinking and talking about your own worship patterns—where they succeed, and where they need improvement.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Art of Public Prayer\u003c\/em\u003e can help you and your fellow congregants revitalize your worship service by allowing you to organize and direct your own worship, making it a meaningful and fulfilling part of your life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003eWe earn a commission for purchases made through the following links.\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/1893361063\/ref=nosim?tag=tpcecomm-20\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Amazon\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003c!-- bookshop-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/book\/9781893361065\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Bookshop.org\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/bookshop-buylink --\u003e","brand":"Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43266983657688,"sku":"9781893361065","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":43266983690456,"sku":"9781683363385","price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0563\/7786\/8475\/files\/9781594733949_FC_1_mockup_v2_1740146471_d01dc4ff-cc4c-45a8-ab11-5ff8ab9f9d71.jpg?v=1791046860"},{"product_id":"praying-in-hard-times-the-souls-imaginings","title":"Praying in Hard Times: The Soul's Imaginings (12 pk)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLifeLights™—help for wholeness \u0026amp; healing—is a high-quality, uniquely Jewish pastoral care resource.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eLifeLights™ are inspirational, informational booklets about challenges to our emotional and spiritual lives and how to deal with them. Each of the LifeLight topics is writ­ten by a wise and caring soul—someone you probably know or know about—who knows the inner territory of grief, doubt, confusion, and longing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEach LifeLight contains uniquely Jewish comfort, advice, and additional resources for help. In addition to providing wise words to light a difficult path, every booklet offers suggestions for further reading, and many list organizations—Jewish and secular—that can provide further help along with information on how to contact them.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOver 1,000 congregations, organizations, care facilities, and funeral homes bring LifeLights™ to people in need. We have received touching, powerful feedback both from those who have made LifeLights available, and from people who have used them. LifeLights are having a dramatic effect on people facing difficult times—providing comfort and even saving lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003eWe earn a commission for purchases made through the following links.\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/1683366123\/ref=nosim?tag=tpcecomm-20\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Amazon\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/amazon-buylink --\u003e\u003c!-- bookshop-buylink --\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/book\/9781683366126\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003eshop for this title at Bookshop.org\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!-- \/bookshop-buylink --\u003e","brand":"Rabbi Lawrence A. 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