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Grossman A Story of Beginnings 2D 160Creation: The Story of Beginnings
Jonathan Grossman (Hesder 21)
Maggid Books
 
The opening narratives in the book of Genesis are unlike any other: the creation of physical reality, the beginning of humanity and man’s encounter with God, the first social interactions and the start of civilization. The sublime promise of a perfect, utopian world swiftly shatters into deep shame and disappointment with the beginning of sin, yet at the same time – like all beginnings – these stories contain the seeds of all that is to come. 

In Creation: The Story of Beginnings, Jonathan Grossman unveils the hidden meaning of the first eleven chapters of Genesis. His insightful and creative literary analysis interweaves theology, psychology, and philosophy, extracting a fresh and refreshing understanding of the biblical text. Drawing upon the words of the sages and the great medieval commentators, and employing contemporary literary tools, Grossman journeys back to the beginning of creation to show how human initiative goes hand in hand with both sin and progress. Part of the Maggid Tanakh Companions (MTC) this title is the first of a 4 volume set on Sefer Bereishit, all by Prof. Grossman. It is the English translation of בראשית: סיפורן של התחלות. 

RABBI DR. JONATHAN GROSSMAN is an associate professor in the Department of Bible, Bar-Ilan University, and the Department of Bible, Herzog College, Alon Shevut. He earned his MA in Jewish Philosophy from the Hebrew University and his PhD in Bible from Bar-Ilan University, and has taught at Midreshet Migdal Oz. Among his previous books are Esther: The Outer Narrative and the Hidden Reading (2011), Ruth: Bridges and Boundaries (2015), Text and Subtext: On Exploring Biblical Narrative Design (2015), and Abram to Abraham: A Literary Analysis of the Abraham Narrative (2016).

 

Brofsky Hilkhot Avelut 2D 160Hilkhot Avelut: Understanding the Laws of Mourning
Rabbi David Brofsky '90
Maggid Books
 
Hilkhot Avelut: Understanding the Laws of Mourning integrates halakhic, conceptual, philosophical, and historical analysis as it presents the laws of mourning. Each topic begins with its primary sources, be it a talmudic passage, a comment of the Geonim, or a practice instituted by the Rishonim or Aharonim. The author traces the halakha through the early and later commentaries, including relevant debates among the posekim regarding contemporary applications. At times, historical and philosophical sources, as well as traditional “lomdus,” are woven into the chapter. This valuable book also discusses the laws of aninut, burial, avelut, Kaddish, and yahrzeit. In addition to the main text, a practical compilation of the laws of mourning is included. Hilkhot Avelut is the second book by David Brofsky published by Maggid Books, a division of Koren Publishers. It is a companion volume to Hilkhot Mo’adim: Understanding the Laws of the Festivals, also published by Maggid. With haskamot from Rav Mordechai Willig and Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon, and introductions by Rabbi Elazar Muskin and Rabbi Mark Smilowitz.

Rabbi David Brofsky is an educator and author. He has taught Talmud and halakha in yeshivas and seminaries in Israel, including Yeshivat Har Etzion, Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalyim, Midreshet Lindenbaum, and Midreshet Torah V’Avodah. He writes a weekly halakha shiur for Yeshivat Har Etzion’s Israel Koschitzky Virtual Beit Midrash (VBM), and is also the author of Hilkhot Tefilla (2010) and Hilkhot Mo’adim (2013). Rabbi Brofsky lives in Alon Shevut, Gush Etzion, with his wife, Mali, and their four children.