A handbook of Jewish ethical values and
literature. Life as an art form—
an invitation to Jewish ethical living.
an invitation to Jewish ethical living.
“It is the human task to complete
God’s unfinished artistic masterpiece—the human
person.”
—from the Introduction
The classic texts of Jewish ethical
literature—works little-known to most of us—are now
readily available for personal study. This one-of-a-kind book
brings the genre of Jewish ethical literature from its origins
in the ancient and medieval worlds, straight into our
21st-century lives.
An invitation into a history rich with
wisdom and guidance, Creating an
Ethical Jewish Life offers
traditional texts, clear explanations, and ways for us to use
them in our lives. Rabbis Sherwin and Cohen highlight a wide
variety of classic texts, including the Zohar, The Holy Letter, The Path of the Upright by Moshe Hayyim Luzzatto, Duties of the Heart by
Bahya ibn Pakudah, and Nachmanides’ Commentary on the Torah. These
timeless texts are combined with the authors’ insightful
commentary to address the ultimate human moral issue, the most
intimate personal question: How can I best live the life God
has entrusted into my care?
With expertise and passion, Sherwin and
Cohen show us how these unusual texts not only inform—but
can transform our lives.
Explores how to:
Deal with ego • Be wise • Be
healthy • Employ wealth • Die • Behave sexually
• Believe in God • Thank God • Love God •
Study the Torah • Repent • Treat one’s parents
• Parent • Speak about another • Be
Philanthropic
“A self-help manual with a thousand
years of Jewish wisdom to back it up. A wonderful tool for
anyone wanting to grow as a person and a mensch.”
—Rabbi
Nancy Fuchs-Kreimer, President-elect,
Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association
“Jewish ethics is not simply
‘being a good person.’ It means understanding the
Jewish sources. Precisely the right texts for attuning our
lives to the way that God wants us to live…. This is a
treasure trove of wisdom.”
—Rabbi
Jeffrey K. Salkin, author of Being God’s Partner: How to Find the
Hidden Link Between Spirituality and Your Work
Hidden Link Between Spirituality and Your Work
“This is the book every rabbi and
teacher has been waiting for to help stem the tide of apathy
and assimilation among Jews who are not aware of how powerful
the ethical thrust in Jewish traditional literature truly
is.”
—Rabbi
Dov Peretz Elkins, The Jewish
Center; editor of Moments of
Transcendence
“This is a book that contains
wisdom, and not just information. We will turn to it many times
for guidance, insight, and perspective.”
—Rabbi
Jack Riemer, co-editor of So That Your Values Live On: Ethical Wills and
How to Prepare Them
“There are values and then there are
Jewish values, i.e., the way we act as Jews and how we Jews act
as human beings. I am delighted to see such a fine selection of
combined text and comments, each informative, every one much
needed.”
—Danny
Siegel, lecturer, poet, and
author
“Anyone searching for answers to the
current question, ‘Why be Jewish?’ will find all of
them in this efficiently arranged and documented work….
Excellent.”
—American
Library Association’s Booklist
Dr. Byron L. Sherwin, a leading scholar in Jewish theology, has served for
over thirty years as professor of Jewish philosophy and
mysticism at Chicago’s Spertus Institute of Jewish
Studies, where he is also Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Rabbi Sherwin is the author of twenty-five books and over 150
articles and monographs; his works include Why Be Good?; In Partnership with God: Contemporary
Jewish Law and Ethics; and Jewish Ethics for the 21st Century. Active in international Jewish communal affairs
and interfaith relations, in 1992 Rabbi Sherwin was the first
recipient of the “Man of Reconciliation” award from
the Polish Council of Christians and Jews.
Dr. Seymour J. Cohen has opened up to English readers the previously
little-known genre of medieval Jewish ethical literature
through his masterful translations of three of its classics: The Ways of the Righteous, The Book of the
Righteous, and The Holy Letter. Rabbi
Cohen served as president of the Rabbinical Assembly and the
Synagogue Council of America.
