An astute and welcoming introduction to the daily practice of reading psalms.
Robbins, a rabbi, explores the value of routinely reading psalms in this nonfiction work.
The 150 psalms in Jewish scripture cover the spectrum of human emotion and religious life. There are psalms of praise, lament, and thanksgiving; others provide historical retellings or defy genre classification altogether. While the ancient practice of reciting the Shir Shel Yom (“Psalm of the Day”) may seem outdated in the 21st century, the author emphasizes the importance of developing spiritual routines to our mental well-being. To those interested in using psalms as the basis of their daily prayers, Robbins cautions against the natural inclination to start at Psalm 1 and read the rest chronologically—they are perhaps most effective when read in close conjunction with the Jewish calendar. This book provides analysis of the historical context needed to better understand the psalms, as well as explanations of the complex metaphors and myriad of Hebrew names used to describe God. For instance, the word Adonai, translated into English as “my Lord,” is far more meaningful after one realizes that it is the “vocalization of the ineffable Hebrew letters spelling one of God’s names, yod, hei, vav, hei”). In addition to providing learned commentary, the author also offers practical advice on how to routinize daily readings, including tips on maintaining a written journal and creating a physical space that is attentive to lighting and temperature. A member of the clergy at Temple Emanu-El in Dallas, Texas, and author of multiple books on Judaism, Robbins brings a scholarly panache to her biblical commentary that is reflected in the book’s ample endnotes and reference materials. And while there is much in this book for academics, it is impressively accessible, offering lay readers an engaging narrative, actionable guidance, and a wealth of ancillary materials to help readers navigate the Jewish calendar and holidays.
An astute and welcoming introduction to the daily practice of reading psalms.Pub Date: Nov. 20, 2023
ISBN: 9780881236415
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Central Conference of American Rabbis Press
Review Posted Online: Dec. 7, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A virtuoso performance and an ode to an undervalued medium created by two talented artists.
The veteran actor, comedian, and banjo player teams up with the acclaimed illustrator to create a unique book of cartoons that communicates their personalities.
Martin, also a prolific author, has always been intrigued by the cartoons strewn throughout the pages of the New Yorker. So when he was presented with the opportunity to work with Bliss, who has been a staff cartoonist at the magazine since 1997, he seized the moment. “The idea of a one-panel image with or without a caption mystified me,” he writes. “I felt like, yeah, sometimes I’m funny, but there are these other weird freaks who are actually funny.” Once the duo agreed to work together, they established their creative process, which consisted of working forward and backward: “Forwards was me conceiving of several cartoon images and captions, and Harry would select his favorites; backwards was Harry sending me sketched or fully drawn cartoons for dialogue or banners.” Sometimes, he writes, “the perfect joke occurs two seconds before deadline.” There are several cartoons depicting this method, including a humorous multipanel piece highlighting their first meeting called “They Meet,” in which Martin thinks to himself, “He’ll never be able to translate my delicate and finely honed droll notions.” In the next panel, Bliss thinks, “I’m sure he won’t understand that the comic art form is way more subtle than his blunt-force humor.” The team collaborated for a year and created 150 cartoons featuring an array of topics, “from dogs and cats to outer space and art museums.” A witty creation of a bovine family sitting down to a gourmet meal and one of Dumbo getting his comeuppance highlight the duo’s comedic talent. What also makes this project successful is the team’s keen understanding of human behavior as viewed through their unconventional comedic minds.
A virtuoso performance and an ode to an undervalued medium created by two talented artists.Pub Date: Nov. 17, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-250-26289-9
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Celadon Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 30, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
PERSPECTIVES
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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