Bøger udgivet af ROSSEL BOOKS

- Welcome to CHELM! - A cornucopia of irrepressible characters awaits within The Wise Folk of Chelm to welcome you to Europe's most famous town of fools. All this, author Seymour Rossel explains, is to bring the Chelm tradition into the twenty-first century. For the past hundred years, most Chelm stories have been published for children though only a handful of the tales are child-appropriate. It is no great surprise that the same few stories regularly reappear while many of the best of the stories-those that have amused and bemused adults since the seventeenth century-largely go unseen. For a decade, Rossel has combed the traditional Yiddish, Hebrew, and English canons of Chelm stories. He has turned up fascinating research on the origins of Chelm. He has experimented with telling the stories in so many ways to so many different groups that colleagues have taken to calling him "the Houstoner Maggid," which loosely translates as "the parable-maker from Houston." Indeed, it has been said--mainly by his wife and children--and with some justification--that he knows his way around Chelm better than around Houston. The Wise Folk of Chelm is Rossel's new vision of the classic tales. First, the new heroes and heroines you will want to meet... Second, new streets to walk with them, new cafés and shops wherein to laugh with them, and new chances to attend the flamboyant, ever-surprising deliberations of Chelm's town council... Third, Rossel serves up a new kind of narrative that begs to be read out loud. He calls it "narrative slapstick" or "slapstick narrative." You'll call it entertainment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The Wise Folk of Chelm is a delightful foray into the topsy-turvy world of the men and women of Chelm. A sweet, modern telling that will rekindle fond memories for those who grew up with the stories and bring smiles and laughter to those who have never before encountered Chelm." -- Bob Alper, rabbi and standup comic, author of Life Doesn't Get Any Better Than This and A Rabbi Confesses

- Insights into biblical dreams and yours -Dreams and vision in the Bible come at moments of transition and transformation, renewal and rededication. Though they are bound to biblical heroes and heroines, Bible dreams are also public: meant to serve the needs of readers, reflecting dreams all of us experience in our own spiritual quests.The author applies traditional interpretations alongside insights from anthropology, psychology, archaeology, dream research, philosophy, and science. Explore the mid-life crisis in Abraham's dreams; trials of separation, estrangement, job loss, death, divorce in Jacob's dreams; gifts of vision and prophecy in Joseph's dreams; and more.In the Preface, former Associate Director of Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Eugene J. Fisher, writes: "This is not 'grocery store spirituality' or 'new age mysticism.' This is the real stuff. Here, the Bible itself speaks to each of us to address our deeper concerns, anxieties, and hopes -- the deeper fears and visions that we admit to ourselves only in our dreams, when we sleep and lay ourselves open to the quiet whisperings of the Spirit of God who dwells in our hearts."The Talmud warns: "A dream not interpreted is like a letter not read." If there is a lot of "D"-mail in your life going unanswered, this book may help you retrieve your messages. - Reviews of the First Edition - - "A linguistic and exegetical treasure trove... It will open the eyes of its readers to the spiritual information, self-examinations and guidance that are inherent in dreams. For several 'aha' moments, I recommend this book." -- Carole McDonnell, Curled Up With a Good Book - "Seymour Rossel now adds his name to that short list of authentic voices capable of speaking to the individual on behalf of the public and corporate religious world of the Torah. He writes for a broad audience of Jews and Christians .... with art and restraint, not relying on rhetoric to replace religious reality: encounter, authentic emotion [making] the most intimate and private experience, the dream, into the raw material of social culture.... This he has done through the force of intellect and the power of rigorous thought." -- Jacob Neusner, National Jewish Post and Opinion - "Dream interpretation is not solely the province of Hollywood screenwriters, Freudians and New-Agers ... [Rossel discusses] dream interpretation as serving a public function [giving] techniques and practices that will help readers ... get more out of their dreams." -- Holly Lebowitz Rossi, The Forward - "Written by a Rabbi with a commendation from the American Roman Catholic Church ... a popular exposition ...." -- Journal for the Study of the Old Testament - "Engagingly and informatively written ... a thoughtful and thought-provoking guide intended for Christians, Jews, and anyone else seeking to better understand and acquire a heightened spiritual awareness. A deeply spiritual outreaching, Bible Dreams: The Spiritual Quest is enthusiastically commended...." -- Midwest Book Review

Famed storyteller and author Howard Schwartz weaves a fabric of singular tales-each self-contained and each part of the larger whole. These thirty-six tales mirror the Jewish tradition that each generation is supported by thirty-six righteous persons. Rooms of the Soul is an elegant narration. Howard Schwartz has won numerous awards for his many explorations of Jewish folklore, mysticism, magic, and myth. Illustrator Tsila Schwartz is an expert calligrapher, specializing in illuminated Jewish wedding contracts and the writing of traditional amulets. The evocative art and the numinous storytelling combine to create an evocative experience you will want to share.

How did it happen? Why did we allow it to happen? Could it happen again? These are the three questions most often asked about the Holocaust, the whirlwind of murder during which the Nazi-led government of the Third Reich systematically slaughtered 6 million Jews, along with millions of victims from other targeted populations Gypsies, Slavs, the mentally retarded, the insane, homosexuals, and the physically deformed. In The Holocaust: An End to Innocence, Rossel examines the Nazi rise to power, the role of prejudice and propaganda in the Holocaust, and echoes of the Holocaust that plagued the world before, during, and after the Nazi period and continue to plague us to this day. The Holocaust, he maintains, did not happen to the Jews alone. It is a tragedy that exposed the depths of evil we human beings are capable of visiting upon one another. Yet, the book is not without hope. As philosopher George Santayana wrote, we must know what happened for those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. At the very least, understanding the Holocaust enables us to recognize when blowing winds of prejudice threaten to become tornados and hurricanes to sweep away the innocent. For, as Rossel states in the Foreword, every echo of the Holocaust offers us the opportunity to rise above the worst that is in us and to exercise the best that is in us."Seymour Rossel, a long-experienced and gifted educator, here gives yet another important contribution for readers of every age and background. This book is a rare and valuable overview of an enormously challenging subject. Every chapter is accessible, intelligent, and compelling." -- David Altshuler, PhD, Founding Director, Museum of Jewish Heritage

The Essential Jewish Stories contains more than 300 stories selected from every period of Jewish history and from every Jewish teaching tradition -- narratives, anecdotes, metaphors, analogies, folktales, and fantasies. Every story is elegantly retold to emphasize its relevance for our times.The Essential Jewish Stories is arranged thematically for easy access. It includes three indices that make it conveniently simple to find just the right story. Sources are provided for every narrative and many are accompanied by special notes.Perfect for clergy of all faiths, for teachers, for storytellers, and for parents -- for all who wish to initiate discussions of tradition and values with children, friends, and community -- and certainly for those of us who simply love to share a good story.Second Revised Edition with Preface by Dr. Henry Roubicek, author of So, What's Your Story? Discovering the Story in You"The Jewish tradition, perhaps more than most others, has relied on the power of its narratives to maintain the continuity of its peoples at least since the Diaspora. Rossel, in this substantial anthology, has brought together the stories he has used as a rabbi, drawing from scripture, Midrash, folktale, and literary sources. Indexed by festivals, characters, and concepts, this is a rich resource. VERDICT For readers and preachers in both Jewish and Christian traditions." -- LIBRARY JOURNAL"For thousands of years, Jewish scholars have used stories and legends, Midrash, to interpret and explain core religious texts such as the Torah and the Talmud and to impart values to their students. Rossel, a Reform rabbi and educator who loves these stories, has collected more than 300 of them for this book. He has "re-imagined and rewritten" each of the stories to make them accessible to a contemporary audience. He has also done extensive research to track down the original sources of each tale. The notes and the bibliography at the end of the book provide these references for interested readers." -- American Library Association, BOOKLIST"Seymour Rossel has gathered a lifetime's knowledge and study of Jewish stories into one inspiring collection. He draws widely from rabbinic texts, kabbalistic teachings, and Hasidic tales. His notes and sources greatly assist the reader and enrich the book. This one belongs in every Jewish library." -- Howard Schwartz, author of Tree of Souls"Rossel presents a rich collection of the narratives of Judaism, a religion that tells the truth in narrative form. A whole new generation is invited to join the story-tradition." -- Jacob Neusner, author of Judaism: The Basics"For anyone who has ever asked 'what's the story?' Seymour Rossel's book is a God-send. It is filled with stories from the entire sweep of Jewish history -- tales that will move you to tears and to laughter. We have needed this deeply rich resource for quite some time." -- Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin, author of Putting God on the Guest List"Through these stories we can understand the Jewish mind at work. This is a book for your bedside, for the classroom and synagogue, and above all for your soul. It is a book for all Jews, scholars and those beginning their Jewish journeys, young and old alike, and for those who would come close to the Jewish essence. You will be nourished for years to come." -- Rabbi Sheldon Zimmerman, author of The Family Prayerbook