Recensori in anteprimaIsrael Drazin

Dr. Israel Drazin offers readers comprehensive, eye-opening, easy-to-read revelations that show that the Bible purposely avoids presenting clear descriptions of the thinking and behaviors of God and biblical people.

Ambiguities and obscurities are present in virtually every situation and allow readers to imagine their own details. The narratives become like fascinating parables designed to attract readers using the startling unclear details that prompt thought about why the biblical character acted thus, and learn from their interpretations of these thoughts and acts how to behave.

Dr. Drazin emphasizes that proper understanding can only be attained by asking questions and shows that contrary to what many think, the Hebrew Bible offers almost nothing about God, what God did, and what the founding patriarchs thought and did. With this understanding, readers will not be surprised that ancient and modern Bible commentators, religious and non-religious, have different interpretations of the Torah.

Nachmanides was and still is a highly respected scholar. Yet despite his brilliance he had ideas that many modern Jews are unable to accept. He was the first person who contended that the Bible, Targum Onkelos, and the other Aramaic translations of the Bible contained mystical teachings. In this volume, Dr. Drazin reveals some unusual and generally unknown facts about the revered sage and demonstrates that his mystical notions and his stands on issues such as medicine, magic, astrology, divination, life after death, the land of Israel, women, angels, hell, demons, and even God are not the normative views of most modern Jews. This fresh look at one of Judaism’s most venerated sages asks and answers provocative questions on the nature of Nachmanides’ work and its role in Jewish thought.

In this volume of the popular Rational Series, the noted scholar Dr. Israel Drazin continues to look at the life of King David. Focusing on the text of II Samuel and the first two chapters of I Kings, Dr. Drazin carefully examines what the Bible actually states about David when he was king over Judah for some seven years and over the united kingdom of Judah and Israel for some thirty-three years, revealing that David was radically unlike what many think the Bible says about him. We see that David, being human, made mistakes, three of which had substantial consequences that affected the lives of many people: the story of David and Bat-sheva and the murder of her husband together with the troops that were with him, his repeated mistreatment of the northern tribes, and his public census of the people. Significantly, Dr. Drazin leads us to wonder whether the author or editor of the book of Samuel had any knowledge of the laws of the Five Books of Moses.

eBook formats available (pdf, epub, mobi) This volume which is part of the noted scholar Dr. Israel Drazin’s popular Rational Series concentrates on the early life of biblical David before he became king of the united Israel as portrayed in I Samuel from chapter 16 to the end. Dr. Drazin examines what the text actually states about one of history’s greatest heroes. The result of a careful examination of what the Bible actually states will surprise most people for it is far different than what people hear in synagogues and churches. We see that David is human, frequently brutal, and often motivated by self-interest, his desire to rule over the united tribes. We see that there are many instances where it seems that there are two versions of the same story and that leads us to ask: Did David really kill Goliath? Was the young David a simple shepherd and musician or was he a scheming man of war? How did Saul meet David? There are two versions. Significantly, as with other books examined by Dr. Drazin, we are led to wonder whether the author or editor of the book of Samuel had any knowledge of the laws of the Five Books of Moses.

eBook format available (pdf, epub, mobi) King Solomon is famous for his wisdom. However, was he really such a wise king? In this book Dr. Israel Drazin delves into the opinions of famous Bible commentators of all religions, examining what the book of Kings has to say about Solomon. Readers will be prompted to view Solomon in a new light as Dr. Drazin raises many interesting questions about the life of the biblical king. Was he careful about the needs of the Israelites he ruled, and did he act with wisdom for the benefit of his people, or were his actions governed by self-interest? How dedicated was he to the building of the First Temple? While the books of Kings and Chronicles seem to say that Solomon’s building of the Temple was his greatest achievement, his actions do not reflect this. Did his seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines lead him into the worship of idols? Are the stories of Solomon impressing three women good examples of the wisdom that a king should show his nation?

The book addresses provocative questions such as: did the majority of Jews before Maimonides believe that God has a body? Why did Maimonides and many rabbis disparage women? Why did Maimonides extol intelligent non-Jews? Why don t Jews say a prayer before such activities as having sexual relations or giving charity? Why doesn t the Torah condemn the five suicides committed in its pages? Why were Jacob and david passive when their daughters were raped? should rational Jews observe mystical Jewish practices and say mystical prayers? This volume contains surprising facts, such as: not all Jews believe that people have souls. Rabbis know that we do not possess the original Torah text. Rabbis suggest that Moses staff had unusual magical powers. Jewish judges do not adjudicate cases according to Torah law. Many rabbis recognize that the ten plagues were not miracles. The Torah records how innocent people are killed for the misdeeds of their ancestors. dipping bread in salt is based on a superstitious fear of demons.

This engaging and informative book reveals unknown but true facts about the prophetical books of the Bible. Rabbis have avoided many questions raised by the seemingly improbable events in these volumes. Maimonides: and the Biblical Prophets addresses these questions and takes an open and rational look at the episodes. The book addresses provocative questions such as: What is the proper way to interpret the Torah? How does Maimonides understand the episodes of the Prophets? Did miracles such as the splitting of the Red Sea, the falling of the walls at Jericho, and the sun standing still for Joshua really occur? What assumptions cause us to misunderstand the Bible? Is there a biblical mandate prohibiting suicide? Does the Bible forbid ceding parts of the land of Israel for peace? Can children be punished for their parents’ misdeeds, and, if not, why does the Torah say that they are punished? Why does Shabbat begin at different times for men and women? Why did significant biblical leaders violate rabbinical laws? What really caused the adding of a day to holidays shortly after the time of Moses? Why does the Bible not always mean what it appears to say? Is it true that Judaism does not know what happens after death?

Maimonides The Exceptional Mind is an examination of the remarkable penetrating mind of Moses Maimonides and to his rational eye-opening thoughts on many subjects. It includes ideas that are not incorporated in the usual books about this great philosopher because they are so different than the traditional thinking of the vast majority of people. It contrasts the notions of other Jewish thinkers, somewhat rational and others not rational at all. The reader will be surprised, if not shocked, to learn that a host of beliefs that are prevalent among the Jewish masses have no rational basis. This does not suggest that Judaism itself is irrational and absurd. Just the opposite. But many Jews have opted to believe the unreasonable and illogical conventional ideas – what Maimonides would label non-Jewish sabian notions – because they have not been acquainted with Maimonides' correct rational alternatives and taken the time to reflect upon it.

The legendary Onkelos translated the Hebrew Bible into Aramaic similar to that spoken by the population of Israel around 2000 years ago. This is the only rabbinically authorized translation of the Bible text in Aramaic. It contains the Hebrew Massoretic text, a vocalized text of Onkelos and Rashi, Haphtarot in Hebrew with an English translation from the Aramaic Targumim, a scholarly appendix, and a "Beyond the Text" explanation of biblical themes. The Book of Exodus has already been published and the remaining volumes will be published in yearly intervals.