The Wisdom
of Judaism
An Introduction to the Values of the Talmud
By Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins
Jewish Lights Publishing
We live in a high-tech, fast-paced world that is constantly changing. However, the most important values in life—how we treat people around us, what we learn and what we teach others, how to live with dignity and humility—are unchanging. That’s why the ancient ethics of the Talmud (the great Jewish compendium of law, wisdom, and folklore from the early centuries of the common era) are still relevant today. While the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) is the cornerstone of Judaism, it is the Talmud that provides many central values for living. What kind of advice does the Talmud offer for life’s ordinary events as well as for the most intractable dilemmas? How can these texts guide us through our day-to-day existence?
“Much has changed from the days when the aphorisms in this collection were written,” writes Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins in the Introduction to THE WISDOM OF JUDAISM: An Introduction to the Values of the Talmud (Jewish Lights / May 2007 / Quality Paperback Original / $16.99). “But the human heart and soul have not changed…. The Rabbis’ understanding of how to behave, how to be kind, the importance of making personal sacrifices, how to treat parents and children, and the need to avoid shaming other people—and all the other myriad subjects that are dealt with in these pages—are acts that are timeless.”
Accessible and inspiring, THE WISDOM OF JUDAISM explores the essence of Judaism through reflections on the words of the rabbinic sages, from one of American Judaism’s foremost teachers and writers, Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins. Providing fresh insight into ancient aphorisms, it shows us how they can be applied to our lives today. Topics include:
Life's Puzzles • Personal Values • Teaching and Learning • Human Relationships • Family Values • Kindness through Giving, Welcoming and Sharing