Written by Rabbi Yehudah HeChasid in the late twelfth century; Sefer Chasidim is a unique and engaging ethical work that addresses the concerns of everyday life. In this first-ever translation into English; Avraham Yaakov Finkel has reorganized the work topically for clarity and easy reference; at last making this important text available to a wider audience. Although written more than seven-hundred years ago; the author's observations on the world are strikingly relevant to the contemporary scene. The work of addresses subjects ranging from love of God; Torah study; and the after-life; to choosing a mate; financial matters; and anger. Scattered throughout the book; Rabbi Yehudah HeChasid includes examples of actual life experiences to illustrate moral lessons. The original work has been a favorite of both scholars and laypeople for its straightforward style; in contrast to other medieval writings on ethics that are largely theoretical and reflective. Rabbi Yehudah HeChasid was born in Speyer; Germany; ca. 1150; about fifty years after the Jews of the region were massacred in the First Crusade of 1096; and only three years after the mobs of the Second Crusade killed thousands of Jews throughout Germany. He is the most prominent of the chasidei Ashkenaz; the German pietists (not to be confused with the chasidic movement founded by the Baal Shem Tov) who stressed strong and simple faith. He is also one of the Rishonim; the early Talmudic sages who expounded on the Talmud and halachah - other Rishonim include Rashi; Maimonides; and Nachmanides. Remarkably; the Jewish people of Rabbi Yehudah HeChasid's time were concerned with the same philosophical questions asked by Jews today: While society around us is in constant flux; how can we find inner space? How can we manage to live in harmony with ourselves; our families; and our neighbors? What does God want from us? The challenged brought by Rabbi Yehudah HeChasid in his stories and teachings is to practice self-exam
#289506 in Books 2016-12-01Original language:English 8.90 x 1.00 x 5.90l; .0 #File Name: 1566560683418 pages
Review
22 of 25 people found the following review helpful. A true and important book which shows how Zionism used terrorism and violence to establish a Jewish state in PalestineBy D. FinchamTo introduce the theme of this book; I can do no better than to quote its endorsement by Prof. Ilan Papé:"A tour de force; based on diligent archival research that looks boldly at the impact of Zionism on Palestine and its people in the first part of the 20th century. The book is the first comprehensive and structured analysis of the violence and terror employed by the Zionist movement; and later the state of Israel; against the people of Palestine."Thanks to Prof. Papé and other Israeli 'new' historians working from Israeli government archives; we now have a good understanding of the extent of the catastrophe which befell the Palestinian people in the 1947-49 period as the Zionist forces fought through Palestine either driving out the non-Jewish population; or; if they fled; taking over their property and destroying empty villages.The less well-known history of the period before this; from the Balfour Declaration of 1917 through the British Mandate of 1922-1948 has now been thoroughly researched in this new book by Thomas Suárez; working largely from British Government archives. He continues the story until the end of the 1956 war in which Israel; Britain and France attacked Egypt.The book is a substantial work of historical scholarship of over 400 pages; including 680 endnotes; some of them long paragraphs quoting several sources. There is also a very comprehensive index; and a few contemporary photographs. Some maps of the territory involved would have helped the reader follow the story.The story he tells is of a Zionist elite determined from the beginning to turn all of Palestine into a Jewish state in which the local non-Jewish Arab population would be either subjugated or expelled. They were quite willing to use violence and terrorism to achieve this aim; and the book traces the resulting unhappy history in detail; to the extent that; in places; it reads like a catalogue of Zionist terror attacks. The Zionist policy is made clear in this quote from Menachem Begin; later a Prime Minister of Israel; which appears at the head of the book's Introduction:"We intend to attack; conquer and keep until we have the whole of Palestine and Transjordan in a Greater Jewish State".The author does not deny or condone the existence of Palestinian Arab terrorism; but shows how it was then (and remains today) "a reaction to Zionist ethnic subjugation and expropriation of land; resources and labour; with non-violent resistance having proved futile". Whereas the Palestinian terrorists were loose bands of guerillas operating in the country districts; the Zionist terrorists were organized militias operating from within urban centres under the protection of those communities.As Palestinian terrorism died down after the brutal suppression of the Arab protests in 1936; Zionist terror escalated; particularly after the 1939 White Paper which placed restrictions on Jewish immigration; "targeting anyone in the way of its political objectives - Palestinian; British or Jewish". During the second world war; the official Zionist militia; Hagana; toned down its attacks on the British. Both Arab and Jewish Palestinians voluntered to join the Allied forces; though the Jews insisted on their own regiment.From 1942 onwards; when it was clear that the Allies were going to win the war; the Zionists restarted their campaign of wholesale terrorism (as the British described it) to establish a Zionist state by force: a campaign which eventually forced Britain's decision to abandon the Mandate; leading to the UN Partition Plan; civil war; ethnic-cleansing of the Arab population; and the unilateral declaration of the State of Israel in 1948.The book makes the important point that in the early days most of world Jewry were opposed to Zionism. In Britain; the Jewish cabinet minister Lord Montagu; supported by other Jewish leaders; viewed the Zionists as collaborators with the anti-semites who were delighted with the idea of the Jews expelling themselves from their current homelands. Montagu was instrumental in changing the aim of the Balfour Declaration from "Palestine AS THE Jewish national home" to the vaguer "A Jewish national home IN Palestine". Orthodox Jews; including the indigenous Arab Jews of Palestine; thought that the return of the Jews to the Land of Israel could not take place until the time of the Messiah; and rejected Zionism as an attempt to replace Jewish religion with a secular; nationalistic ideology. Liberal Jews did not believe that Jews constituted a national group who needed a political home; and were loyal to their existing homeland. In the USA a group of (mainly Reform) rabbis established the anti-Zionist American Council for Judaism; still active today.The book also reveals the Zionist willingness to use violence against their Jewish opponents; their conviction that all Jews had an obligation to leave their homelands to go to Palestine; their willingness to stir up anti-semitism to encourage such migration; and their attempts to prevent displaced Jews going anywhere other than Palestine.The coverage of historical events in the book is somewhat sketchy; and might confuse the general reader not already familiar with the topic: for example; the 1917 Balfour Declaration is discussed but the text is not provided. It presents the 1947 UN Partition Plan simply as a division of Palestine (excluding Jerusalem) into two states; Jewish and Arab; as if they were to be independent sovereign states. In fact; they were to be joined in a confederation effectively under UN trusteeship; and created by a process in which there was no place for a unilateral declaration of independence. Ben-Gurion's attempt in Israel's Declaration of Establishment to justify it through the Partition Plan was a fraud. We are told that the Declaration did not acknowledge any borders for the new state; but not told that the Zionists were forced to make a formal declaration of borders as proposed by the Partion Plan in order to achieve recognition by the USA. This is significant because it makes it clear that Israel was not invaded by 5 Arab armies on 15 May 1948; as Zionists claim: most of the fighting in the subsequent war was outside its borders; and only Syrian and Eqyptian troops entered Israeli territory.This book is true; and it is important. It proves beyond doubt that Israel is not the perpetual victim of Arab violence that it claims to be; but has been the aggressor throughout the history of the conflict. Thomas Suárez is to be congratulated and thanked for his work. This book is an tremendous achievement by a writer who is also a talented musician and an expert in historic cartography.17 of 19 people found the following review helpful. A Must ReadBy Rachel C.In this extremely important new book; Suarez presents previously unknown documentation from the National Archives (UK); to show the systematic terror visited upon the inhabitants of Palestine; Arabs; Jews; and Christians; and of course the British army during the Mandate years; in order to achieve their end; the establishment of the state of Israel.He presents an extremely disturbing picture of the lengths the zionists were willing to go to achieve this - that so many of their victims were Jews; is deeply shocking. It sheds an important new light on the received history of this period; all sources cited; impeccably documented.I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in this subject. Even if you are familiar with the works of Pappe; etc; you will find a treasure trove of new facts.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Another Nail in the Zionists' Coffin!!By JackThe "Human Shield" used by Zionism is dissolving. This latest book by Mr. Suarez exposes Zionism as one of the most sinister terrorist organizations on Earth - and the true enemy of Jews and Judaism. As more people discover the truth about anti-Semitic Zionism; the weaker it will become. Peace will not come to the region until Zionism is eradicated. This book is just one small example of a rebellion that is surging forward; demanding justice for Palestinians and the end of ZioTerror! Every page of this book shouts the truth and exposes Zionism as the evil threat to peace. It will leave you breathless and energized; eager to fight the REAL war on terror! Victories in this war on terror; like the recent passing of a UN resolution condemning Apartheid Israel and the embarrassing loss;of ZioPuppet Hillary are just the beginning! Trump's cabinet appointments and bumbling attempts to pacify zealots like Adelson will only serve to further expose this conspiracy. Books like this serve as motivation for people to speak out and take action. Joining BDS; JVP or simply recommending this inspirational book to others will accelerate the decline of this repulsive terrorist organization.
