Congratulations to Rabbi Ramon Widmonte '94 upon publishing his new sefer TIFERET YISRAEL: Translation and Commentary, Volume 1 - Introduction and Chapters 1-9, The Maharal of Prague (HaRav Yeuda Loew).
Published by Urim PublicationsHardcover, 624 pages
ISBN: 978-965-524-147-1
publication: 2017
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Rabbi Ramon Widmonte attended Yeshivat Har Etzion in 1994, where he was privileged to learn from Rabbi Yehuda Amital, z”l, Rabbi Aaron Lichtenstein, z”l and Rabbi Mosheh Lichtenstein, shlit”a. He also holds a degree in Mathematics and Computer Science. He directs Mizrachi South Africa and is the co-founder and Dean of the Academy of Jewish Thought and Learning (www.TheAcademy.org.za), a cutting-edge adult education program. Rabbi Widmonte and his wife, Julie, are blessed with three children, Batya Chaya, Yonatan Ya’akov Yitzchak and Aryeh Tzvi. You can read more of Rabbi Widmonte’s writings on the website, www.RavRamon.net.
Dear Chaverim,
With Hashem’s help, my sefer on the Maharal’s Tiferet Yisrael has just been published, just in time for Shavuot. The Maharal’s sefer explores the purpose and meaning of Talmud Torah and Matan Torah, and addresses many of the core issues of living a Torah life, relevant still today. My aims in writing it were to:
- Provide English speakers with a genuine opportunity to approach and grasp the totality of the Maharal’s thinking, and a tool for Rabbanim to teach it.
- Provide teachers of first year-students of English-speaking Yeshivot and teachers of final year-students in high school with a tool and curriculum for a structured exploration of machshavah, allowing for different approaches, depending on time and the abilities of students.
The book contains the text of the Maharal in Hebrew, an English translation with extensive footnotes, an extensive commentary on challenging sections of the Maharal and uniquely, a graphic summary of every chapter. The latter enables one to grasp the way the Maharal fits all the building blocks of his thinking together. Additionally, there is a contents section which highlights the areas of practical Mitzvah observance which are illuminated in each chapter (something the Maharal does often, which is a massive boon to the learner). Each chapter is subdivided into smaller parts with a textual summary for each, which enables a paced approach.
The first volume also contains extensive indices, a biography of the Maharal and more.
For those who intend to use the Sefer as a teaching tool for adults or bachurei yeshivah, I have created a teacher’s guide outlining how I have used the material over the past few years in a variety of educational spaces, and there is also a wealth of support material available on-line for teachers to create their own source sheets.
To read a sample chapter, click here.
The Sefer is available on-line at http://www.urimpublications.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=UP&Product_Code=Tiferet&Category_Code=aaa and soon on Amazon and will also be in bookstores worldwide. More information is available on my website – www.ravramon.net .
I will be in the UK in May iy”h, and in the US at some point this year iy”H, so if anyone is interested in doing a book launch, shiurim, or meeting to discuss the use of the sefer as curriculum in schools/Yeshivot, please give me a shout@
