Roads To The Palace, Vol. 1 »

"Michael Rosenak is the world's preeminent philosopher of Jewish education. His new book is a deep and imaginative exploration of the relationship between the great texts of the Jewish pastand the most profound issues of contemporary Jewish education. It is a marvelous accomplishment." · Berry W. Holtz, Jewish Theological Seminary of America

"Michael Rosenak has written a beautiful, wise and knowing book ... Jewish educators of diverse commitments will all find themselves addressed in the book, and enlightened by it. Non-Jewish educators will learn that for them, too, the sources of Judaism carry urgent lessons for moral and religious education at the start of the twenty-first century. A truly important book." · Arnold Eisen, Stanford University

Is Jewish education simply an ancient and archaic type of socialization into "customs and ceremonies" or a sophisticated practice, based on rich cultural conceptions of the educated individual, the decent society and the relationship of knowledge and virtue? This author, rather than offering a dry analysis, takes the reader on a leisurely yet careful excursion into the world of Jewish tradition in order to discover models of the educated human being within it. In the process, the reader discovers dialogues between Western philosophy and Talmudic Midrash and is offered a fresh view of culture, faith and identity.

Contents: Education, "Language" and "Literature" - A Philosopher of Judaism for Jewish Education - The "Fear of Heaven": God's Treasure - Jewish Values: The Evil Inclination and Beyond - Becoming an Insider: Initiation and Commitment - The Jewish Educator and JewishSources.

Michael Rosenak is Mandel Professor of Jewish Education, Hebrew University and a Member of the Academic Board, The Jerusalem Fellows, Jerusalem.

Jewish Book World

Roads to the Palace is more than a book: it is an argument that Education and Judaism are important, serious and worthwhile enterprises that deserve to interact with each other...with rigor. It is a model of how to enter into that dialogue and how to engage in that process. For those who take their Education and Judaism seriously, who are willing to enter into a sometimes very demanding dialogue, and who are willing to be touched by authentic teachers, this is your volume.