The Aryeh Kaplan Anthology, Vol. 1

description of book Illuminating expositions on Jewish thought and practice by a revered teacher. In this volume published by the OU and NCSY, Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan asks hard questions about Judaism and its commandments, and also gives compelling answers that have broadened the horizons of countless people. Included in this volume: Maimonides’ Principles This popular edition of the 13 Principles of Jewish Faith represents a summarized version of the original work, presenting these fundamentals-to open the doors of the storehouse of Torah living and learning and to provide a keener understanding of the basic principles of Jewish responsibility to both the schooled and the unschooled alike. The Real Messiah Missionaries are spending untold sums in an effort to convert young Jews.  What is the Jewish response?  Why do Jews reject Jesus as the Messiah?  What is a “messiah”?  What will he accomplish?  What does the Bible really say?  What does a “savior” and “being saved” really mean?  Why do we believe that missionary claims are built on mis-translations, misquotes, inaccuracies, and Biblical passages taken out of context? In this penetrating analysis, Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan uses actual missionary materials to refute missionary claims, and offers the traditional Jewish view of Christianity. If You Were God Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan had the unique ability to gaze behind the Godly curtain and reveal Torah truths which until now were reserved for scholars and rabbis.  In this profound and moving book, he has again taken us beyond simple and superficial concepts.  Here he delves deeply into the mysteries of the soul, the world and its purpose. In a non-technical language, he opens our eyes, excites our minds, engages our imagination and reaches deep into our hearts with a message that must compel us to think, act and react. This is an important book which takes us beyond the world of the superficial and mundane to a new world, a world in which the light of God will bring new meaning and purpose to our lives. The Infinite Light Searching for meaning is ultimately striving for God. This book was conceived as an atlas to aid the searching Jew in mapping his personal journey in the quest for the ultimate meaning of human existence, the knowledge of God.  Rabbi Kaplan draws from the entire spectrum of our tradition to present an understanding of God, His Torah, and of man’s duty to observe the truths embodied in it. Artscroll, hardcover, 334 pages