JUDAISM · BIBLE
Ronald H. Isaacs
Rabbi Ronald Howard Isaacs is Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Sholom in Bridgewater, New Jersey, where he served for the past 40 years. He was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1974 and received his doctorate in Instructional Technology from Columbia University Teachers' College in 1979. Rabbi Isaacs is the author of more than 100 books. He has served as Dean of the Federation's Jewish LIFE program and as the Chairman of the Publications Committee of the Rabbinical Assembly. One of Rabbi Isaacs' passions is Jewish music. From 1968-1974 he was singer and rhythm guitarist in a Hebrew liturgical rock band called the Arba'ah Kolot, in English, the Voices Four. The group recorded two albums: Our Rock and Our Redeemer and Arba'ah Kolot. Rabbi Isaacs started the band Lovin' Company, with several members of his congregation in the 1980s. In the 90s he had a weekly radio show on WCTC called the "Jewish American Hour" where he played popular Jewish and Israeli music.
Now let me call back those who introduced me to the city.
— from Reflections
Most acclaimed
The Bible
"The Bible: Where Do You Find It and What Does It Say?, an unusual and engaging book, examines a variety of biblical concepts, presents readers with their locations in the Bible, explains what the Bible has to say about them, and offers interpretative comments related to how the concepts have been developed over the centuries.". "Topics and ideas treated by the author include: "the adulterous chosen people," circumcision, dietary laws, divorce, "an eye for an eye," fasting, hatred, homosexuality, honoring parents, justice, "love you neighbor as yourself," peace, procreation, rights of a wife, sacrifices, "the song of the sea," and many more."--BOOK JACKET.
Reflections
Reflections: Contemporary Art of the Middle East and North Africa' brings together an extraordinary collection of work from the British Museum for the first time. The contemporary art of the Middle East and North Africa is rich and vibrant. Whether living in their countries of birth or in diaspora, the featured artists are part of the globalised world of art. Here we see artists responding to and making work about their present, histories, traditions and cultures, reflecting on a part of the world that has experienced extraordinary change in living memory.00The British Museum has been acquiring the work of Middle Eastern and North African artists since the 1980s, and the collection ? principally works on paper ? is one of the most extensive in the public sphere. Collected within the context of a museum of history, the works offer insights into the nature of civil societies, the complex politics of the region, and cultural traditions in their broadest sense, from the relationship with Islamic art, to the deep engagement with literature.00The introduction to the book by curator Venetia Porter explores the history of the collection and the works included. The essential framework for understanding the politics and context within which the artists are working is provided by Charles Tripp?s essay. The works are grouped into seven chapters, each beginning with a short introduction. The authors explore the selection within themes such as faith, abstraction and the female gaze.