Most scholars believe that the numerous similarities between the Covenant Code (Exodus 20:23-23:19) and Mesopotamian law collections, especially the Laws of Hammurabi, which date to around 1750 BCE, are due to oral tradition that extended from the second to the first millennium. This book offers a fundamentally new understanding of the Covenant Code, arguing that it depends directly and primarily upon the Laws of Hammurabi and that the use of this source text occurred during the Neo-Assyrian period, sometime between 740-640 BCE, when Mesopotamia exerted strong and continuous political and cultural influence over the kingdoms of Israel and Judah and a time when the Laws of Hammurabi were actively copied in Mesopotamia as a literary-canonical text. The study offers significant new evidence demonstrating that a model of literary dependence is the only viable explanation for the work. It further examines the compositional logic used in transforming the source text to produce the Covenant Code, thus providing a commentary to the biblical composition from the new theoretical perspective. This analysis shows that the Covenant Code is primarily a creative academic work rather than a repository of laws practiced by Israelites or Judeans over the course of their history. The Covenant Code, too, is an ideological work, which transformed a paradigmatic and prestigious legal text of Israel's and Judah's imperial overlords into a statement symbolically countering foreign hegemony. The study goes further to study the relationship of the Covenant Code to the narrative of the book of Exodus and explores how this may relate to the development of the Pentateuch as a whole. Read more

Who is Yahweh? Where did he come from? How did this jealous, vengeful, exclusivist god shape the destiny of his chosen people? Can we trace a direct connection, through twenty-five centuries, linking the cult of Yahweh to contemporary Zionism? It all starts with the Old Testament, the ur-text for any serious inquiry into the Jewish question. That book – more correctly known as the Torah – does not simply recount the history of a people. It gives the children of Israel the keys to their divinely-ordained destiny. It was Jacob, son of Isaac, who returned from exile and took the name Israel: a name inherited by the whole Jewish people long before it designated a nation-state. That single name unites the patriarch, the people, and the promised land. The history of the Jewish people is intertwined with the history of humanity. What role did Jews play in the fall of Byzantium? How have they influenced the Christian church? What role did they play in the two terrible “European civil wars” of the first half of the twentieth century? Yahweh’s people has always lived apart from the rest of humanity, endlessly reproducing the same Biblical schema: the Babylon captivity, the flight from Egypt, the Book of Esther. This psychological template for the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob unites them, alone against the world, from the vengeance holiday of Purim to the sacralized memory of the Holocaust. Even the creation of the modern nation-state of Israel has had no effect on the “invisible walls” of the “Jewish prison.” This book is not just a scholarly inquiry into the history of an idea. It is also an appeal to our Jewish brothers and sisters to liberate themselves from a mythology that imprisons them in a schizophrenic relationship to the world. Alternately a chosen people and a cursed people, a people carrying a divine message and a people who kill the divine messengers, eternal guides to humanity and its eternal victims: To be born Jewish is to be born beneath the heavy weight of 2,500 years of history. Read more

Olga Lengyel relates one of the most terrifying stories of all time, honestly and without apologies. This authentic, recorded account is a personal, day-by-day account of a lovely woman who lived through the horrors of Auschwitz and Birchenau. This book serves as an essential reminder of one of the most heinous chapters in human history. It had been an eye-opening experience. It's a startling novel. Read more

The Mystery of the Essenes revealed in these timeless manuscriptsThe Essene Gospels is a timeless spiritual classic that brings together the teachings of the ancient Essenes, a mystical Jewish sect known for their ascetic lifestyle and profound connection to nature. This complete edition, compiled into one volume, includes all four books originally translated and published by Edmond Bordeaux Szekely over several decades.The Essene Gospels of PeaceBook 1: The Gospel of Peace of Jesus Christ introduces the foundational teachings of the Essenes, emphasizing the importance of living in harmony with nature. It explores the healing power of natural elements such as air, water, and sunlight, and advocates for a vegetarian diet and holistic health practices.Book 2: The Unknown Books of the Essenes delves deeper into the spiritual practices of the Essene Brotherhood, including their sacred communions with the Angels of the Earthly Mother and the Heavenly Father.Book 3: Lost Scrolls of the Essene Brotherhood reveals the mystical teachings of the Essenes, focusing on the Sevenfold Peace and the interconnectedness of all life.Book 4: The Teachings of the Elect offers advanced spiritual insights, including the mysteries of the Holy Streams of Life, Light, and Sound, and the path to achieving unity with the divine812.This comprehensive volume is a treasure trove of wisdom for those seeking spiritual enlightenment, holistic health, and a deeper understanding of the ancient Essene way of life. The Essenes' Manuscripts Restored to Biblical TruthFor centuries, The Essene Gospel of Peace has remained an enigma, hidden within ancient manuscripts and often misinterpreted through flawed translations. The Essenes, an ascetic Jewish sect devoted to purity, divine wisdom, and an intimate connection with God's natural order, preserved these teachings, offering profound insights into health, spirituality, and sacred communion with the divine. Yet, as history progressed, the original intent of The Essene Gospel of Peace became obscured by translations that strayed from biblical doctrine, distorting essential truths and altering theological accuracy. This definitive edition rectifies those errors, restoring the text to its rightful place as a biblically sound and doctrinally pure work. By realigning the translation with the sacred principles upheld by the Essenes.Why This Edition Stands ApartUnlike previous versions of the Essene Gospels of Peace, which erroneously rendered key passages and introduced doctrinal inconsistencies—particularly the mistranslation of the term "worship" in reference to angels—this edition restores theological precision. According to Scripture (Exodus 20:3-5, Revelation 22:8-9), worship is reserved exclusively for God. The Essenes never deviated from this fundamental truth, and this edition reinstates the correct terminology: "honor" rather than "worship," ensuring that The Essene Gospel of Peace aligns with biblical teachings. This careful restoration allows readers to engage with the text without concern for doctrinal corruption, providing an authentic window into the sacred practices and wisdom of the Essenes.The Complete Four-Book CollectionThis edition presents the entirety of The Essene Gospel of Peace as compiled by Edmond Bordeaux Szekely from ancient manuscripts, with careful corrections that uphold biblical truth and reflect the spiritual heritage of the Essenes.#EsseneGospelOfPeace #LostTeachingsOfJesus Read more

What would it be like to journey back to the first century and sit at the feet of Rabbi Jesus as one of his Jewish disciples?Join award-winning author Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg as they reveal the Jewish Jesus that his first disciples knew.Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus takes you on an in-depth tour of the Jewish world of Jesus, offering inspirational insights that will transform your faith. Spangler and Tverberg paint powerful scenes from Jesus' ministry, immersing you in the prayers, feasts, history, culture, and customs that shaped Jesus and those who followed him.Within the pages of Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus, you'll:Hear the parables as they must have sounded to first-century JewsSee the events of Jesus' life in a brand new lightExperience new excitement about the roots of your Christian faithLearn how the customs, beliefs, and traditions of the Jewish culture can shift the way you view the gospelThis expanded edition also includes a discussion guide for both individuals and groups, and instructions for a simple home Passover Seder celebration.Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus will change the way you read Scripture and deepen your understanding of the life of Jesus, helping you to adapt the rich prayers and customs and integrate them into your daily life.Praise for Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus:"Drawing upon personal experiences as well as the latest Jewish and Christian scholarship in Israel, the authors skillfully guide you on a wonderful journey into Jesus' first-century Jewish world--exploring his culture, his lifestyle as an itinerant sage, and his well-honed rabbinic teaching methods and subtle but startling messianic claims. This book makes you really eager to sit at the feet of Rabbi Jesus and learn from the One we joyously serve as both Messiah and Lord. I commend it to every follower of Jesus of Nazareth."--Dwight A. Pryor, Center for Judaic-Christian Studies Read more

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💥 Inspire the Next Generation of Brave Young Women 💥Perfect for classrooms, bedtime stories, and empowering conversations with daughters and granddaughters!Awesome Women of Courage – Book Three is a bold and captivating collection of 18 true stories of daring women who risked everything during wartime—not with weapons, but with courage, conviction, and grit.📘 Specifically written for pre-teens and teen girls, this book showcases real-life heroines who defied expectations, broke barriers, and made a difference in a world that didn’t expect them to. Whether they were undercover spies, resistance fighters, or brave messengers, each woman’s journey proves one thing: you don’t need to be on the battlefield to change the course of history.👩🏫 Educators and youth group leaders will find these stories invaluable for inspiring courage, resilience, and leadership in young minds.👩👧 Parents and grandparents—share these tales with your daughters and granddaughters to show them that being a girl is not a limitation but a superpower.🌟 Inside this powerful book, young readers will:💣 Discover fearless women who became wartime spies, secret couriers, and resistance fighters🌍 See history through a different lens—one that celebrates the overlooked strength and sacrifice of women💡 Be inspired to find their own inner bravery and challenge the status quo💬 Open meaningful conversations about leadership, strength, and the many ways to serve and protectFrom the shadows of conflict, these unsung heroines rise to remind us that bravery isn’t about fearlessness—it’s about action in spite of it.🕊️ Whether you're building a classroom library or looking for the perfect gift for a curious, bold, and bright young reader, Awesome Women of Courage will ignite hearts and minds with every page.👉 Add to cart now and help a young girl discover that she too can be brave, bold, and beautifully unstoppable. Read more

"In this riveting account, Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz reveals the extraordinary story of Christian ranchers who quietly bred red heifers for years-unknown to Israel or the Jewish world-until their efforts yielded remarkable results during the COVID 19 pan-demic. He takes readers behind the scenes as leading Israeli rabbis traveled to Texas during global lockdowns to witness these heifers, then chronicles the dramatic journey of bringing them to Israel. Berkowitz clarifies the biblical significance of the red heifer, its essential role in Temple purification, and its implications for the final redemption. Published as Israel fights a long and difficult war against terrorists determined to destroy her, this story of unprecedented friendship between Jews and Christians is just what we need. It is prophecy fulfilled, before our eyes." Read more

The Book of Enoch is an ancient Jewish religious work, ascribed to Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noah. Written by multiple Palestinian jews between the 3rd and 1st centuries BC, it is one of the earliest apocalyptic texts and is not considered part of the biblical canon by christians or jews, save certain Ethiopian or Eritrean Christian churches. The book describes the visions of Enoch, taken up by God at age 365 to witness heaven, the damnation of the wicked, and the salvation of the righteous. Translated by R.H. Charles and with an introduction by W. O. E. Oesterley, D.D. Read more

A major new work on the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest sacred documents of Judaism, which reveals their surprising connections to early Christianity. “A luminous treatment of a fascinating subject! Highly recommended!”—Scott Hahn, author of The Fourth Cup From award-winning scholar John Bergsma comes an intriguing book that reveals new insights on the Essenes, a radical Jewish community predating Christianity, whose existence, beliefs, and practices are often overlooked in the annuls of history. Bergsma reveals how this Jewish sect directly influenced the beliefs, sacraments, and practices of early Christianity and offers new information on how Christians lived their lives, worshipped, and eventually went on to influence the Roman Empire and Western civilization. Looking to Hebrew scripture and Jewish tradition, Bergsma helps to further explain how a simple Jewish peasant could go on to inspire a religion and a philosophy that still resonates 2,000 years later.   In this enriching and exciting exploration, Bergsma demonstrates how the Dead Sea Scrolls—the world's greatest modern archaeological discovery—can shed light on the Church as a sacred society that offered hope, redemption, and salvation to its member. Ultimately, these mysterious writings are a time machine that can transport us back to the ancient world, deepen our appreciation of Scripture, and strengthen our understanding of the Christian faith.“An accessible introduction . . . This is a handy entry point for readers unfamiliar with Essenes or those interested in the Dead Sea Scrolls.”—Publishers Weekly Read more

Forty years after the Aztec Empire fell to Hernan Cortes, and deported the Mexicans to Spain, Cyrus of Persia freed them to return to their Promised Land. This book is about the invaluable resources that developed as the final part of the Aztec Scriptures. The novel is in the form of a four-act play, covering sacred poetry, wisdom, stories, and liturgy. Joining the first two books, they illuminate the Old Testament in a creative way. Read more

Embark on an extraordinary journey through the captivating world of Enochian literature with "The Complete Books of Enoch Collection." This remarkable anthology brings together the three ancient texts of 1 Enoch, 2 Enoch, and 3 Enoch, offering unparalleled insights into the esoteric wisdom, angelic encounters, and divine revelations attributed to the prophet Enoch. Discover the enigmatic accounts of celestial journeys, mysterious visions, and profound prophecies, which have captivated readers for centuries and enriched the understanding of Judeo-Christian heritage. These hidden texts provide a unique perspective on the mysteries of the universe, offering glimpses into heavenly realms and spiritual truths that transcend time. The Complete Books of Enoch Collection is a treasure trove of ancient knowledge that will intrigue scholars, seekers, and those fascinated by the hidden wisdom of the past. Read more

Named one of the best books of 2019 by The Economist and a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice. A National Jewish Book Award finalist."A superb and touching book about the frailty of ties that hold together places and people." --The New York Times Book ReviewAn award-winning historian shares the true story of a frayed and diasporic Sephardic Jewish family preserved in thousands of lettersFor centuries, the bustling port city of Salonica was home to the sprawling Levy family. As leading publishers and editors, they helped chronicle modernity as it was experienced by Sephardic Jews across the Ottoman Empire. The wars of the twentieth century, however, redrew the borders around them, in the process transforming the Levys from Ottomans to Greeks. Family members soon moved across boundaries and hemispheres, stretching the familial diaspora from Greece to Western Europe, Israel, Brazil, and India. In time, the Holocaust nearly eviscerated the clan, eradicating whole branches of the family tree. In Family Papers, the prizewinning Sephardic historian Sarah Abrevaya Stein uses the family’s correspondence to tell the story of their journey across the arc of a century and the breadth of the globe. They wrote to share grief and to reveal secrets, to propose marriage and to plan for divorce, to maintain connection. They wrote because they were family. And years after they frayed, Stein discovers, what remains solid is the fragile tissue that once held them together: neither blood nor belief, but papers.With meticulous research and care, Stein uses the Levys' letters to tell not only their history, but the history of Sephardic Jews in the twentieth century. Read more

A rich study of Jews and Jewish history that offers a unique look at a people who have persevered through unspeakable adversity and have contributed incredible advancements to the world we know today. How have the Jews survived through so many millennia while other civilizations have declined and perished? What qualities mark the culture that has produced Moses, Christ, Spinoza, Marx, Freud, and Einstein?   From ancient Palestine through Europe and Asia, to America and modern Israel, Max I. Dimont shows how the saga of the Jews is interwoven with the story of virtually every nation on earth. This is a tale of a people escaping annihilation, fighting, falling back, advancing—a lively and fascinating look at how the Jews have contributed to humankind’s spiritual and intellectual heritage in remarkable ways, and across a remarkable span of history. Read more

“The Jewish Apostle Paul” sheds significant light on the life and teaching of one of the greatest and most misunderstood Jews that ever lived – the Apostle Paul. This book courageously, yet responsibly, deals with one important matter that has not been settled: What is the relationship of Christ-followers among the nations to the Torah of Israel? In order to provide solid answers to this question, we must first deal with other basic questions.For example, how can we explain a thoroughly pro-Jewish Paul as he appears in his letter to the Romans and in the book of Acts; while he seemingly displays anti-Jewish or anti-Torah attitudes in his letters to non-Jewish Christ-followers in the Roman provinces of Galatia and the city of Philippi. The standard questions that are being asked today, although frightening to many, are indeed relevant and demand responsible, theologically balanced and historically accurate treatment. Read more

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author shares a "valuable, wise, and quietly moving" meditation on orthodox Judaism (Chicago Tribune).Renowned for his sweeping historical novels such as The Cain Mutiny and The Winds of War, Herman Wouk now presents a brilliantly distilled examination of his own religious faith. A miracle of brevity, This Is My God guides readers through the world's oldest practicing religion with all the power, clarity, and wit of Wouk's celebrated fiction."Anyone who wants to know what orthodox Judaism means to an informed and intelligent orthodox Jew, who is at the same time thoroughly American in outlook and culture, will do well to study this work." --New York Times Book Review Read more

El libro de Enoc ha sido mencionado en muchos otros libros a lo largo de la Historia. Está catalogado como literatura apocalíptica judía, libros en su mayoría no reconocidos por la Iglesia (apócrifos) los cuales tienen la siguiente estructura: aparece un sabio notorio o un profeta bíblico, como Adán, Ezra o el propio Enoc, a quien durante un sueño le son reveladas una serie de visiones que un ángel va interpretando. Da a conocer no solo a los arcángeles sino también a muchos ángeles. Explica que estos pueden caer y cuáles son los motivos de su caída, y a la vez narra los orígenes del mal. Se presenta aquí una nueva traducción de la que realizó Richard Laurence del manuscrito original etíope. Read more

Foreword by Patrick D. Miller In this remarkable, acclaimed history of the development of monotheism, Mark S. Smith explains how Israel's religion evolved from a cult of Yahweh as a primary deity among many to a fully defined monotheistic faith with Yahweh as sole god. Repudiating the traditional view that Israel was fundamentally different in culture and religion from its Canaanite neighbors, this provocative book argues that Israelite religion developed, at least in part, from the religion of Canaan. Drawing on epigraphic and archaeological sources, Smith cogently demonstrates that Israelite religion was not an outright rejection of foreign, pagan gods but, rather, was the result of the progressive establishment of a distinctly separate Israelite identity. This thoroughly revised second edition ofThe Early History of God includes a substantial new preface by the author and a foreword by Patrick D. Miller. Read more

After 2,000 years, his writings remain an important and relevant source for historians and Bible Scholars. Josephus - The History of the Jews Condensed in Simple English takes one of his most important works and presents it to modern readers in condensed simple English the first update of his Antiquities in nearly 300 years. Treasures of faith and history await your discovery on each page. Find out about a prophetic and friendly meeting between Alexander the Great and the high priest, Jaddua. Learn important details about the first and second temples essential for understanding the spirituality and religious politics in those times. Original illustrations, a map, a table of equivalents, and a colorful timeline help further contribute to the stories Josephus wrote for generations to come including you! Read more

A noted critic explores the legacy of Jews in France and what it means for today’s French minority communities in a “beautifully written, accessible book” (Journal of Modern History).   Universal equality is a treasured political concept in France, but recent anxiety over the country’s Muslim minority has led to a new conception of universalism, one promoting loyalty to the nation above all ethnic and religious affiliations. This timely book offers a fresh perspective on the debate by showing that French equality has not always demanded an erasure of differences. Through close and contextualized readings of the way that major novelists, philosophers, filmmakers, and political figures have struggled with the question of integrating Jews into French society, Maurice Samuels draws lessons about how the French have often understood the universal in relation to the particular. Samuels demonstrates that Jewish difference has always been essential to the elaboration of French universalism, whether as its foil or as proof of its reach. He traces the development of this discourse through key moments in French history, from debates over granting Jews civil rights during the Revolution, through the Dreyfus Affair and Vichy, and up to the rise of a “new antisemitism” in recent years. By recovering the forgotten history of a more open, pluralistic French culture, Samuels points toward new ways of moving beyond current ethnic and religious dilemmas and argues for a more inclusive view of what constitutes political discourse in France Read more