Author:Rabbi Joseph Telushkin Binding: Hardcover Published: 2006-03-07 ISBN: 1400048354 Availability:
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ISBN13: 9781400048359
Condition: New
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A Code of Jewish Ethics, Volume 1: You Shall Be Holy is the initial volume of the first major code of Jewish ethics to be written in the English language. It is a monumental work on the vital topic of personal character and integrity by one of the premier Jewish scholars and thinkers of our time. With the stated purpose of restoring ethics to its central role in Judaism, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin offers hundreds of examples from the Torah, the Talmud, rabbinic commentaries, and contemporary stories to illustrate how ethical teachings can affect our daily behavior. The subjects dealt with are ones we all encounter. They include judging other people fairly; knowing when forgiveness is obligatory, optional, or forbidden; balancing humility and self-esteem; avoiding speech that shames others; restraining our impulses of envy, hatred, and revenge; valuing truth but knowing when lying is permitted; understanding why God is the ultimate basis of morality; and appreciating the great benefits of Torah study. Telushkin has arranged the book in the traditional style of Jewish codes, with topical chapters and numbered paragraphs. Statements of law are almost invariably followed by anecdotes illustrating how these principles have been, or can be, practiced in daily life. The book can be read straight through to provide a solid grounding in Jewish values, consulted as a reference when facing ethical dilemmas, or studied in a group. Vast in scope, this volume distills more than three thousand years of Jewish laws and suggestions on how to improve one's character and become more honest, decent, and just. It is a landmark work of scholarship that is sure to influence the lives of Jews for generations to come, rich with questions to ponder and discuss, but primarily a book to live by.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
Rules for Rational Living:
This is the first of a three volume work that spells out the basic "traffic rules" for one's relationship with other people. Rabbi Telushkin states that a "perfect" Jew would follow without error both Jewish ritual (wearing a kipa, eating kosher, etc) and a Jewish code of ethics. Needless to say, there are no perfect Jews (or non-Jews, for that matter), except for G-d Himself. Telushkin further argues (persuasively) that among the two (ritual and ethics), following Jewish ethics is far more important.more info
A slight flaw gives it a four:
I first saw Rabbi Telushkin's book at Barnes & Noble and I read 15-20 pages and like it very much. The format and approach of the book is very useful. It includes a principle topic and illustrates it through real life application, its ramifications and then looks at the rabbis including midrash, etc., to round the topic out. But it is very modern yet while resting on the long tradition of Judaic viewpoint and practice. This (and the other two volumes when they appear) is a good resource and... more info
You Shall Be Holy:
I am using Rabbi Telushkin's book at my Temple and find it is a treaure trove of learning and insight on the centrality of ethics in the Jewish tradition ...Sincerely ...Rabbi Hirshel Jaffe ...Temple Beth David ...Amenia NY
This is a transformative bok for me:
It caught my eye as I was wandering the shelves of a loacl book store. I also happen to be going through a crisis with my father's health which I'm trying to make sense of but cannot.
I saw this book and was compelled to buy it and I'm so glad I did. I am not yet through but the ideas sets forth in this book do not require radical changes in lifestyle but they do require us to change our mindset. It's amazing how the ideas of greeting others enthusiastically can make a huge difference in your day as... more info
