Nice intro to Rabbinic thought at the time of Jesus
583563
Nice introduction to Rabbinic thought and how Jesus's teachings are right in line with what many of the other rabbis are teaching at or around his time.  It also pointed out that Jesus was not condemning all the Pharisees but only those who were hypocrites, much like many of Christians today also say one thing but do another.
3583302
Darren Huckey asked me to review his book "5 Minute Torah: Messianic Insights Into The Weekly Torah Portion" which was published last fall, and to that end, mailed me a copy. It really lives up to its title.

Good Things

This is a terrific beginners Torah study for Messianic newbies. Beyond a short introduction, the entire book consists of a brief study of each parashah (portion) of the annual Torah reading. No matter when you buy the book and start studying the portions for each Shabbat, you can dive right in.

Although advertised as a five-minute study per Torah portion, to me they were about two-and-a-half minutes but then I read fast and, after many years of study, a lot of the material seemed pretty familiar. Darren didn't pull all of the commentaries from his own knowledge, but rather relied on the published insights of such sages as Rashi, Rambam, Ramban, as well as some Chassidic interpretations. The Bible translation used is the ESV which isn't my favorite but you cant have everything.

All in all, as Ive said, this is a very good beginners Torah study guide for the non-Jew in the Messianic community (or Jew who has absolutely no background in Torah study perhaps having spent most of their religious life in the Church) or mainstream Christian to start out with. Its completely approachable and easily digestible.

Darren also points the reader toward calendars for the current Torah cycle including those that reference the Apostolic Scriptures (New Testament) as well as the Torah, Prophets, and Writings.

Concerns

Since Darren stated that he used specific sources for his commentaries, Id have liked to have seen those sources cited for a number of reasons. First off, there are many opinions in the world of the Jewish sages that have been collected for hundreds or even thousands of years and not all of them agree. In Christianity, disagreement among theological authorities is seen with worry but in Judaism its pretty much the norm and dynamic tension is much better tolerated. But for the someone completely new to Torah study, I think it would help to know who said what. Those sorts of brief citations can be commonly found in my copies of the Chumash and Tanakh.

Also, in a published work, there are customary methods of identifying information that is not original but created by another authority. Typically, authors or organizations want to be acknowledged when their material is being used by someone else.

Finally, since this is a beginners guide, the reader might want to know where to go next after theyve progressed beyond what is offered in this resource, so those citations could have been used as road signs pointing ahead, so to speak.

The only other thing I can think of is that Darren, at the very end of his book, could have added a few pages of where to go next for more involved Torah study resources, Messianic and otherwise. I know when I get my hands on a hot resource that whets my appetite, I want to start reading a lot of other stuff and I think Darren is well-positioned to offer such guidance to his audience.
771444
This haggadah serves the usual purposes of explaining both common customs and potentially obscure passages, and in giving tidbits of inspiration.  More importantly, it gives the original sources for much of the haggadah, including the opinions which explain why certain phrases are added to the original source and dates on which certain parts were added, which for some reason is relatively rare in spite of the advantages in the next world which accrue to those who cite their sources.

The haggadah includes essays by prominent figures of modern orthodoxy, such as the Rav, R Yosef Blau, Rav J David Bleich, etc., which are good, but in my opinion the main advantage of the haggadah is the careful citations of the original sources.

In addition, the layout is attractive and easy to read even after a few glasses of wine.  This haggadah is a classic, and I hope that it comes back into print.
3573649
In his book, "An Introduction to Judaism", Dr. Nicholas de Lange provided a quick insight into the religion and its followers. I observed that he designed this book for people who have little or no time to invest on voluminous texts. The numerous illustrations he used to demystify ancient concepts like Zionism and Diaspora are of great value; although that anybody who is familiar with his earlier works, like the "Atlas of the Jewish World and Jews", would not be too amazed.
This is one book that will enlighten anyone who has interest in Jewish history and demography. It is a well-researched piece. Beautifully summarized! Another compelling chronicle.
2391343
One of the hardest books to preach through is the Book of Judges. For many of the scene in the Book of Judges run contrary to that of our own current cultural trends. It is therefore extremely helpful that Zondervan Publications has put out a commentary on the Book of Judges and Ruth in the NIV application Commentary series. This commentary is well-known and respected in both popular and scholarly circles. For the NIV application Commentary series truly helps the exegete understand the original context of the text as well as its contemporary significance.
This commentary is written by K Lawson younger Jr who is a professor of Semitic languages in the ancient near East at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. This background and his deep understanding of the historical books of the Old Testament hair to make a phenomenal work on the books of judges and Ruth.
It is confusing that more often than not The Book of Ruth is paired with the Book of Esther even though they are nowhere near the same historical context.  It was there for explaining room refreshing to have the Book of Ruth paired with the Book of Judges do to them happening at the same chronological time.
With regard to the introductory section to both of the books inside this work I found the introductory section on the Book of Judges comparable to most mid-level commentaries diving into both composition purpose as well as a few biblical theological components. On the other hand the introduction to the Book of Ruth was little more than a few pages and did not die deeply into authorship or structure. Yet the introduction did Shine when dealing with background issues such as the kinsman-redeemer and Levirate marriage. This study into both of these Concepts are deeply important and necessary when it comes to understanding and applying the Book of Ruth.
In dealing with the commentary proper in both judges and Ruth, the textual commentary is written in pericope sections rather than dealing with a verse by verse exegetical study. This is the form at which the NIV application study commentary, is exclusivity written init was therefore not a surprise, but it is something that a reader should expect. This does not negate in any way this commentaries usefulness rather it enhances a preachers focus on seeing the forest through the trees. I therefore recommend this commentary wholeheartedly as a useful tool to both the preacher, teacher, uneducated laymen, and Sunday school teacher. I do suggest though that this commentary be paired with a more solid one that deals exegetically with each verse.
These books was provided to me free of charge from Zondervan Press in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.
4258839
"Study Bible" is a good term to describe this book. This book literally "studies" the Bible from the historical Jewish context. For the modern day Jewish and Gentile believer, it provides a view into historical Jewish culture and broadens the student's  understanding of the times and the land in which the Jews lived and illuminates the use and meaning of words and phrases. The Topical Articles most helpful. They are short commentary on  specific themes referencing many Old and New testament scriptures, thereby connecting biblical writings as one continuing story. Very thorough introduction to the Jewishness of scripture. Another thing I greatly appreciate is this Jewish author's unbiased approach to scripture interpretation and commentary, he does not "take sides."  He presents information and leaves it with the reader to work out his own salvation in fear and trembling and to "connect the dots."
302708
This made for a decent introduction for preachers/teachers.

Christopher Wright does a good job explaining why we need to include the Old Testament writings during sermons and teachings. But I didn't find it to be anything more exciting than that.

Don't get me wrong, this is a good book. It is well written and very persuasive. My issue is that I've already been surrounded by sermons and teachings that actually do include and some even primarily from the Old Testament.

I must be living in a bubble where the entire Bible is used to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus. Are there truly that many churches and preachers who completely ignore the Old Testament every year that Wright felt this book was warranted? Forgive me, but that's not the case for me.

This would make a great book for someone studying to become a preacher or for someone looking for the basic connections between the Old and New Testaments.

It does a good job in connecting the Whats with the Hows. In other words, Wright is such a good writer that he gives pointers in connecting what you learn from the Old Testament, connecting it to Jesus, and then applying it to your life.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Zondervan Publishing.
2476878
This was an engaging book which gave insight into what the Jewish people were experiencing at the time of Jesus' ministry and how difficult it might have been to accept Jesus as the messiah because of their misconceptions of how he would come and what he was there to accomplish.  It helped with understanding of the times, the different factions in both the Jewish community and the Roman occupation.  With events in story form with fictitional families and their stories, I gained insight into Jesus ministry and teachings as well.
1871772
Amy-Jill Levine is not only a knowledgeable and fascinating lecturer on the Bible, she brings a perspective that is rare - a Jewish scholar of the New Testament.  As Christians we often forget the Jewishness of Jesus! Not only did he teach in the synagogues and read from the Torah, he observed the feasts, practices and dietary laws of 1st Century Judaism.

To truly understand Jesus, you need to understand Judaism and the time and culture with which he lived.  There has been a rift between Christians and Jews for centuries and the author feels the misunderstanding lies in a lack of understandind the faith and culture of the Jewish Jesus.

I recommended book for anyone involved in the reading and study of the New Testament.
3909644
If you're looking for a good introduction to the period of time surrounding Jesus Christ, this book will do nicely.  It gives enough detail so as not to leave the reader hanging, but does not overwhelm the reader with complex issues, which is why it is referred to as sketches in the title.  However, if you're looking for an in depth study of this period, there are other resources that would provide much more detail although not necessarily in one text.  This author does a nice job of pulling together various mainstream resources for his work like the Mishnah and the Talmud, although the Talumud was compliled much later.  The most important teaching I could see was the exposition on the various sects and political forces that exerted influence during this quasi-theocratic state regardless of their tributary status under the Romans.  Considering the time of writing, late 19th century, I doubt you can find anything better geared toward a Christian audience.  For most Christians, this book will help fill a void that exists and continues to hinder a proper understanding of the contextual issues surrounding New Testament studies.
1962018
This was written in a personal, conversational style, which made it an interesting, fast read.  It was interesting to see the ways the Holy Spirit works through friends and acquaintances to bring about this conversion of a Jew to belief in Jesus as the Messiah.  Ron surrendered his life to Jesus, and despite the many obstacles  and struggles with personal identity, his life was transformed in numerous ways, including spreading the gospel to others in countries around the world.  This is a good book for both Christians exploring the Jewish roots of their faith and Jews who are curious about or have found faith in Jesus.
4402943
Christians still need reminding that Jesus was a Jew but there are many books that do this now (E. P. Sanders, N. T. Wright, less helpful Hyam Macoby). However, this book, by a rabbi, was first written back in 1985 when there was little else that covered this area, so it was groundbreaking for its time.

The main idea is that Jesus's criticism of the Pharisees mirrored an internal dispute between Hillel and Shammai. Hillel was in favour of mission to the gentiles, as was the early church (though seemingly not Jesus - and why did he criticise proseltysers?)

Some Christians criticise the `negative' tone of Hillel's version of the golden rule, not realising that he was paraphrasing the Noahide law, which is itself framed in negative terms.

We are shown how Hitler quoted Jesus to justify his genocidal policies.

I would have liked to see more parallels between the sayings of Jesus and those of other contemporary Pharisees.

Some Jews see the whole book as a conspiracy by the Vatican and reckons that the author never existed!
2081257
I received my review copy of Our Jewish Roots: A Catholic Woman's Guide to Fulfillment Today by Connecting with Her Past, by Cheryl Dickow some time back. It was a book that intrigued me with its premise: "Understand how the teachings, truths and traditions of the Catholic faith rest so fully in the rich heritage of our Jewish roots."

The thought of Jesus as a Jew had never occurred to me until I became Catholic. In fact, consideration of the Jews as anything more than bit players in the Bible was just never part of my introduction to Christianity. I don't know how much of that had to do with my own ignoring things and how much had to do with them just never being examined for my age group.

Our Jewish Roots, while written with a specifically feminine audience in mind, is also an examination of Jewishness that I appreciated. It's down-to-earth and I found that it added to my meditation and appreciation for how Jesus was raised, what our salvation background truly is, and most of all, some glimpses into the richness of the Old Testament.

My favorite part of the book is how Dickow examines 13 different Old Testament women, plus Mary the Mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, in light of what they can teach us today. Many of these women -- Rebekah, Rachel, Miriam, Ruth -- are old friends of mine. I remember being read their stories as a child during our evening Bible story readings and in Sunday school. I'm very familiar with them, and yet I found myself being reintroduced to them on new terms, meeting them as women instead of as characters.

Consider picking this book up, perhaps for a small group study or a special study for Lent. Its small sections lend themselves well to short devotional time. You'll find yourself diving into Scripture through the women who are part of our shared heritage.
1765072
Good book, interesting material, especially the section on Jesus
3777573
I first encountered this series in seminary (Presbyterian).  I very much appreciate the layout: Hebrew text and English translation at the top (upper 1/4 to 1/3 of the page), with verse by verse commentary at the bottom of the page.  Sarna includes several excursuses (excursi?) at the end of the volume.  Sarna seems to employ the historical-critical method in his interpretation, while at the same time offering some speculative reflections upon the psychological states of the patriarchs and other figures of Genesis.  As with any commentary, each reader will have to make his or her own decisions as to the helpfulness and insightfulness of the interpretation.  I find many of the comments helpful.  Coming at the text from a Christian perspective, I especially appreciate Sarna's Jewish perspective on the text.  For readers not used to Hebrew, it may be helpful to note that the commentary, like the Hebrew Bible, reads from right to left ("backwards" for people used to reading left to right).
3082219
He does a pretty good job of explaining some errors in the Persian chronology, which is helpful.  Also he describes why he disagrees with Ussher on a few things which I tend to agree with him.  Its based on the Masoretic Text.  Worth a read if you are into chronologies. It is more complete than others I have read. A handy size, not overpowering. Easy to read and understand for the lay person.
4446554
This was an excellent book! Shafer includes every possible reference to Jesus, but also sets them in their historical context. They were written after the Gospels. In addition to this, there is a difference between the references in the Palestinian Talmud, and Babylonian Talmud. If we look at what was happening in each specific region, these differences make sense.

The basic thesis of this book is that the Talmudic references are a reaction to the growing church. They reveal knowledge of the written accounts in the Gospels (not direct knowledge of Jesus), and are a counter-narrative.

These stories preserved the authority of rabbi's, by rejecting the authority of Jesus. In other words, they served to draw the line on orthodoxy (apologetic purposes).

Here is where their historic value comes into play: not by shedding light on the historic Jesus, but showing differences in Palestine and Babylon. Jews in Palestine had to refrain from writing anti-Christian polemics due to Constantine's conversion to Christianity. But the Jews in Babylon did not. They lived in another empire. And this empire persecuted the Christians. Hence the freedom to write anti-Christian polemics.

Shafer's thesis is compelling, especially when the Palestinian & Babylonian Talmud's are set against the light of politics happening around them. When we look at Justin Martyr's defense against a rabbi, Origin's rebuttal against the pagan Celsus (who picked up stories from Jewish apologists), and Tertullians writings --- we gain additional evidence these stories were written to counter the claims in the Gospels.

In light of their late date, and their propogandistic purposes --- they have little value in unwrapping the historical Jesus. But they do shed light on the formation of post-Temple Judaism, and Christianity's divergence from it.