{"title":"Marc Saperstein","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"sermons-and-addresses-book-marc-saperstein-9781398469198","title":"Sermons and Addresses","description":"When a respected scholar with a career at three major American universities moves to a position as principal of an important institution in UK, there is likely to be considerable interest in what he has to say not only to his students, but to many others as well. The two most important formats for such communication were the sermon and the academic lecture. Historically, the sermon has been an extremely important form of communication, first as verbal communication to a specific group of listeners, and then as a written text made available to many more readers. Marc Saperstein was a member of Beth Shalom Reform Congregation in Cambridge, where religious services were directed and sermons delivered not by the rabbi of the synagogue - which never had a rabbi - but by members of the congregation. During the five years from 2006-2011, Marc Saperstein delivered 29 sermons in Beth Shalom. He also was asked to deliver sermons at 15 other congregations. The texts of these sermons are now accessible in the book.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49744404185361,"sku":"NGR9781398469198","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":51287540203793,"sku":"NIN9781398469198","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/139846919X.jpg?v=1751050912"},{"product_id":"jewish-preaching-1200-1800-book-marc-saperstein-9780300043556","title":"Jewish Preaching, 1200-1800","description":"This anthology of largely unknown medieval and early modern Jewish sermons provides an introduction to a neglected area of Jewish creativity, one that gives insights into the central intellectual issues, spiritual movements, and communal centers during six critical centuries of Jewish experience. The sermons, presented here in their entirety, have been translated, annotated, and introduced by Marc Saperstein, who also provides a discussion of the historical background of the sermons, their context, and their relationship to Hebrew literature. A scholarly masterpiece and an intellectual tour de force that must be read by anybody with a serious interest in Jewish studies or the art of preaching.--Howard Adelman, \u003ci\u003eShofar\u003c\/i\u003e This splendid and interesting collection, a description true of all the \u003ci\u003eYale Judaica\u003c\/i\u003e, is richly documented.--Thomas L. Shaffer, \u003ci\u003eChristian Legal Society Quarterly\u003c\/i\u003e A work of profound scholarship, it is also a pleasure to read.--\u003ci\u003eChoice\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eJewish Preaching \u003c\/i\u003eoffers the reader an exceptional overview of many different and fascinating aspects of Jewish history, culture and theology.--Yaakov Ort, \u003ci\u003eWellsprings\u003c\/i\u003e Marc Saperstein's careful and detailed translations and annotations, and his cogent introductory essay, are examples of scholarship at its highest level, and should serve to secure the place of this body of literature in the field of Jewish studies.--Present Tense\/Joel H. Caviour Literary Award, 1990 A goundbreaking work of exquisite scholarship that truly points the way for others to follow.--David E. Fass, \u003ci\u003eAmerican Rabbi\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cb\u003eWinner of the 1990 National Jewish Book Award in the cateogry of Jewish Thought given by the Jewish Book Council\u003c\/b\u003e ","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ WELL_READ \/ SBYB","offer_id":49761396228369,"sku":"CIN0300043554A","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0300043554.jpg?v=1751133690"},{"product_id":"agony-in-the-pulpit-book-marc-saperstein-9780878201600","title":"Agony in the Pulpit","description":"Many scholars have focused on contemporary sources pertaining to the Nazi persecution and mass murder of Jews between 1933 and 1945--citing dated documents, newspapers, diaries, and letters--but the sermons delivered by rabbis describing and protesting against the ever-growing oppression of European Jews have been largely neglected. Agony in the Pulpit is a response to this neglect, and to the accusations made by respected figures that Jewish leaders remained silent in the wake of catastrophe. The passages from sermons reproduced in this volume--delivered by 135 rabbis in fifteen countries, mainly from the United States and England--provide important evidence of how these rabbis communicated the ever-worsening news to their congregants, especially on important religious occasions when they had peak attendance and peak receptivity. A central theme is how the preachers related the contemporary horrors to ancient examples of persecution. Did they present what was occurring under Hitler as a reenactment of the murderous oppressions by Pharaoh, Amalek, Haman, Ahasuerus, the Crusaders, the Spanish Inquisition, the Russian Pogroms? When did they begin to recognize and articulate from their pulpits an awareness that current events were fundamentally unprecedented? Was the developing cataclysm consistent with traditional beliefs about God's control of what happened on earth? No other book-length study has presented such abundant evidence of rabbis in all streams of Jewish religious life seeking to rouse and inspire their congregants to full awareness of the catastrophic realities that were taking shape in the world beyond their synagogues.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49777640014097,"sku":"GOR013781715","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52655702901009,"sku":"NLS9780878201600","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0878201602.jpg?v=1750787620"},{"product_id":"jewish-preaching-1200-1800-book-marc-saperstein-9780300052633","title":"Jewish Preaching, 1200-1800","description":"This anthology of largely unknown medieval and early modern Jewish sermons provides an introduction to a neglected area of Jewish creativity, one that gives insights into the central intellectual issues, spiritual movements, and communal centers during six critical centuries of Jewish experience. The sermons, presented here in their entirety, have been translated, annotated, and introduced by Marc Saperstein, who also provides a discussion of the historical background of the sermons, their context, and their relationship to Hebrew literature.  \"A scholarly masterpiece and an intellectual tour de force that must be read by anybody with a serious interest in Jewish studies or the art of preaching.\"—Howard Adelman, Shofar  \"This splendid and interesting collection, a description true of all the Yale Judaica, is richly documented.\"—Thomas L. Shaffer, Christian Legal Society Quarterly  \"A work of profound scholarship, it is also a pleasure to read.\"—Choice  \"Jewish Preaching offers the reader an exceptional overview of many different and fascinating aspects of Jewish history, culture and theology.\"—Yaakov Ort, Wellsprings  \"Marc Saperstein's careful and detailed translations and annotations, and his cogent introductory essay, are examples of scholarship at its highest level, and should serve to secure the place of this body of literature in the field of Jewish studies.\"—Present Tense\/Joel H. Caviour Literary Award, 1990  \"A goundbreaking work of exquisite scholarship that truly points the way for others to follow.\"—David E. Fass, American Rabbi  Winner of the 1990 National Jewish Book Award in the cateogry of Jewish Thought given by the Jewish Book Council","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50161487118609,"sku":"CIN0300052634G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/B000ORSY0C.jpg?v=1750738381"},{"product_id":"exile-in-amsterdam-book-marc-saperstein-9780822963738","title":"Exile in Amsterdam","description":"Exile in Amsterdam is based on a rich, extensive, and previously untapped source for one of the most important and fascinating Jewish communities in early modern Europe: the sermons of Saul Levi Morteira (ca. 1596-1660). Morteira, the leading rabbi of Amsterdam and a master of Jewish homiletical art, was known to have published only one book of fifty sermons in 1645, until a collection of 550 manuscript sermons in his own handwriting turned up in the Rabbinical Seminary of Budapest. After years of painstaking study from microfilms and three trips to Budapest to consult the actual manuscripts, Marc Saperstein has written the first comprehensive analysis of the historical significance of these texts, some of which were heard by the young Spinoza. Saperstein reviews the broad outlines of Morteira's biography, his treatment by scholars, and his image in literary works. He then reconstructs the process by which the preacher produced and delivered his sermons. Morteira's sermons also provide a trove of information about individuals and institutions in Morteira's Amsterdam, enabling Saperstein to analyze the shortcomings of behavior and the lapses in faith criticized by the preacher. The sermons also presented an ongoing program of adult education that transmitted the Jewish tradition on a high yet accessible level to a congregation of new Jews-immigrants who had lived as Christians in Portugal and were now assuming a Jewish identity with minimal prior knowledge. Here Saperstein focuses on themes Morteira considered crucial: memories of the historical past, confrontations with Christianity, ideas of exile and messianic redemption, and attitudes toward the New Christians who remained in Portugal. These historical reflections on Amsterdam's community of new Jews are illustrated by eight of Morteira's sermons, which Saperstein presents in English and with full annotation for the first time. Exile in Amsterdam offers those interested in European Jewish history and homiletics access to primary source documents and the scholarship of one of the premier historians of Jewish preaching.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50362318160145,"sku":"CIN0822963736VG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52452224499985,"sku":"NLS9780822963738","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0822963736.jpg?v=1751044354"},{"product_id":"essential-papers-on-messianic-movements-and-personalities-in-jewish-history-book-marc-saperstein-9780814779439","title":"Essential Papers on Messianic Movements and Personalities in Jewish History","description":"The messianic idea that a redeemer sent by God will come to end the suffering of a persecuted people and inaugurate a new age of justice and peace has been one of the most powerful and influential concepts given by the Jewish people to western civilization. This book represents a sample of the most penetrating and provocative scholarly interpretations of Jewish messianic movement from various perspectives- historical, sociological, psychological, and religious.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50368151126289,"sku":"CIN0814779433G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":51008101286161,"sku":"NIN9780814779439","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52121379504401,"sku":"NLS9780814779439","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0814779433.jpg?v=1763222417"},{"product_id":"jewish-preaching-in-times-of-war-1800-2001-book-marc-saperstein-9781906764401","title":"Jewish Preaching in Times of War, 1800 - 2001","description":"A fascinating window on to how Jews reconcile their Jewish and national values when the fate of a nation is at stake.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":52101383487761,"sku":"CIN1906764409VG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52599028220177,"sku":"NLS9781906764401","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9781906764401.jpg?v=1757093034"},{"product_id":"your-voice-like-a-ram-s-horn-book-marc-saperstein-9780878200931","title":"Your Voice Like a Ram's Horn","description":"The eighteen studies in this book continue the exploration of the Jewish sermon Saperstein began in his groundbreaking Jewish Preaching 1200-1800. His new research further illustrates the importance of this genre, largely ignored by modern scholarship, as an indispensible resource for understanding Jewish history, spirituality, and thought from the High Middle Ages to the beginning of the Emancipation in Europe. Saperstein's thematic studies explore the most important occasions for traditional rabbinic preaching: the Days of Awe and the Passover season. Two studies focus on the homiletical exegesis of classical Jewish texts, and two deal with the historical interaction of Christians and Jews. Saperstein discusses the diffusion of philosophical ideas through homiletics and identifies central conceptual issues presented in the Italian Jewish pulpit. Other essays include a critical analysis of the work of Saul Levi Morteira of Amsterdam, an examination of sermons in eighteenth-century Prague for indications of a traditional community in crisis, and homiletical evidence for a developing sense of patriotic identification with the state, even before Emancipation changed the legal status of the Jews. Saperstein also presents newly discovered sermonic texts in order to explore a full panoply of issues relating to historical context and genre. All are published for the first time with his annotated translation accompanying the Hebrew original. Included are a Guide for Preachers, sermons on repentance and on the Binding of Isaac, and three eulogies, the last a fascinating memorialization of the antisemitic empress Maria Theresa.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52591687270673,"sku":"NLS9780878200931","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9780878200931.jpg?v=1761064442"},{"product_id":"leadership-and-conflict-book-marc-saperstein-9781906764494","title":"Leadership and Conflict","description":"This masterly collection of essays offers a multifaceted analysis of how Jewish leaders in medieval and early modern times responded to the challenges presented by a changing world. Based largely on the study of sermons and response - genres that show them addressing real situations in the lives of their people - the book reveals how they handled intellectual, social, and political diversity and conflict. As medieval Jews were exposed to new philosophical ideas, many began to question and challenge rabbinical leadership. Leadership and Conflict explores the process by which these ideas became more accessible, the doubts that consequently arose regarding certain biblical and rabbinic texts, and the attempt by some leaders to ban the study of philosophical texts altogether. The book also addresses the rhetoric of rebuke used by preachers to criticize behavior within their community that they considered to be a violation of Jewish law and tradition. Another set of challenges to traditional Jewish life emerged from political developments in the wider world, including the unification of France, the Spanish Inquisition and Edict of Expulsion, and the beginning of the Counter-Reformation. Leadership and Conflict asks whether criticism of the talent and leadership of rabbis in such times of crisis was justified. The final section of the book is devoted to conflicting attitudes within Jewish society: towards the Holy Land, exile and diasporic existence, and messianic movements and personalities. Leadership and Conflict represents three decades of scholarship by Professor Marc Saperstein, a distinguished historian. Bringing his perceptive essays together in a single volume allows a new generation of students and scholars to have access to his insights and conclusions.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":52621808468241,"sku":"CIN1906764492G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9781906764494.jpg?v=1761589538"},{"product_id":"jewish-preaching-in-times-of-war-1800-2001-book-marc-saperstein-9781904113546","title":"Jewish Preaching in Times of War, 1800-2001","description":"A fascinating window on to how Jews reconcile their Jewish and national values when the fate of a nation is at stake.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":52695750279441,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":52695750377745,"sku":"GOR014581342","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9781904113546.jpg?v=1762403161"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/collections\/author-books-by-marc-saperstein.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}