Sacred Realm: The Emergence of the Synagogue in the Ancient World

Book Description

The rich tradition and profound spirituality of Judaism has touched people the world over for thousands of years. With the arrival in the Near East of Alexander the Great and the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE, the synagogue came to represent a new era of this powerful religion, one which witnessed a greater emphasis on shared religious experience and prayer. In turn, the synagogue, derived from the Greek, meaning an "assembly," has come to mean the Jewish house of worship, evolving into a "sacred realm," in which the Torah came to play a central role linking the biblical past with the messianic future. Of course, the synagogue has been much more than a house of worship--it served the Jewish people as a place of learning, a community center, and often as the official seat of Jewish self-government. Indeed, it is the institution most closely associated with the development of post-biblical Judaism throughout the ages.

Sacred Realm: The Emergence of the Synagogue in the Ancient World offers the first comprehensive history of the architectural and archaeological development of the synagogue from the third century BCE to 700 CE. Telling the story of over one hundred ancient synagogues throughout the world and their place in the history of Judaism and of Western civilization, this book provides a fascinating representation of the cultural, intellectual, and artistic achievements of three thousand years of Jewish experience. Informative essays detail every aspect of the ancient synagogue, while beautiful illustrations and maps take the reader to the actual historic site.

Sacred Realm is an accompaniment to a monumental exhibition organized by the Yeshiva University Museum in New York. Borrowing from museums in North America, Europe, and Israel, the exhibition presents a unique collection of artifacts and manuscripts--including many pieces never before displayed in the United States--and will depict for the first time an in-depth history of the synagogue during the Greco-Roman period. From fourth-century Egyptian incense burners and inscribed bowl fragments to fifth-century Gaza mosaics decorated with Menorah and Shofar, Piyyut (liturgical poetry) manuscripts, and assorted textile, column, and pottery fragments, this collection is the most significant presentation of ancient Jewish religious life ever assembled in the United States.

Lavishly illustrated with both color and black and white photographs of the artifacts, manuscripts, maps, site diagrams, and reconstructions, Sacred Realm is not only a detailed record of this historic exhibit, but a guide to the evolution of Judaism's most sacred institution.

Book Description

Over 790 finely detailed illustrations from a vintage catalog—one of the first of its kind—in which patterns were offered for stylish ladies’ coats, dresses, jackets, children’s clothing, sailor costumes, cloaks and much more. Captions describe garment, pattern size and cost, yardage required, and fabric and trim best suited to the item. For costume historians and Victoriana enthusiasts.

Book Description

Rain. Poison. Explosives. Vengeance. It's a deadly combination that forms a volatile mixture of deceit, betrayal, and hate as the final showdown between Lone Wolf assassin Ogami Itto and his nemesis Retsudo begins. While the torrential rains continue to pound Edo, the fiery Retsudo and his bloodthirsty Yagyu army rush along the banks of the swelling Hatcho River, racing to beat a load of explosives that's traveling down the other side, heading right into the hands of the vengeful samurai Ogami. Meanwhile, the cunning poisoner Abeno sees his chance to destroy both sides as they run headlong on their collision course — he's going flood all of Edo! Forced to put their battle aside, Ogami and Retsudo find themselves fighting side by side to save all of Edo from the floods, while Ogami's little son Daigoro wanders alone, fighting for his life and searching for his father! It's a deluge of evil, and it threatens to wash away all that stands in its path!

Customer Reviews:

Once again Ogami Itto and Retsudo Yagyu cross swords.......2003-01-04

By the time you get this far into the 28 volume manga epic from Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima, you expect your expectations to be violated. When I started "Heaven and Earth," Volume 22 in the Lone Wolf & Cub series, the stage was clearly being set for the final, fatal confrontation between Ogami Itto and Retsudo Yagyu, while Abe-no-Kaii tries to find a way to bring them both down. Therefore I knew that something would stop this from happening and that whatever this something was, it was going to be unexpected and significant. Of course, the fact there are six more volumes to go suggests it is too early for the end to be nigh. "Heaven and Earth" offers up the next four installments of the Lone Wolf & Cub saga:

(108) "The Last Fistful" focuses on Abe-no-Kaii and the master poisoner's desperate attempts to find a way out of the whole he has dug for himself. Getting the better of Retsudo Yagyu proves to be just as impossible as besting Ogami Itto was for Kaii. But then he sees a one in a million chance to still win the big power struggle.

(109) "Totekirai" offers another significant surprise in our story. In the previous volume we finally learned what happened to all of the gold Ogami Itto has been accumulating on his bloody journey along the Assassin's Road. There have been a few guesses as to what he wanted all of that gold for, but, of course, those guesses were not even close to the truth that is revealed in this story.

(110) "Heaven and Earth" has to be the title for this volume because once again Ogami Itto and Retsudo Yagyu stand upon the field of battle facing each other with their swords. But before that happens Daigoro has to save his father from the feared Yagyu wheel However, that fool Kaii does something that makes the final confrontation seem rather insignificant. Of course, it is raining throughout these fights, which is not at all surprising knowing the reverence Kojima has for Akira Kurosawa (show me a climatic battle in the rain, such as "The Two Towers," and I immediately think the end of "Seven Samurai").

(111) "Fire on the River of Blood" starts off as a Daigoro story and then becomes, well, something that can only be described as a story you never would have thought you would read (i..e, no way am I going to spoil this one for anybody who has gotten this far into the saga).

The final volume in Lone Wolf & Cub should be out soon, which means that my decision to start reading these comics one story a day (111 days ago) was a monumentally fortuitous example of timing. I have read more than my fair share of comic books and I have never read anything that was this good for this long. It has also been a long time since I have approached the end of an epic like this with so much regret. "Lone Wolf & Cub" is a classic comic book series, albeit, one for a mature audience.

Average customer rating:
Lone Wolf and Cub: Heaven and Earth, Volume 22
Kazuo; Kojima, Goseki Koike
Manufacturer: Dark Horse Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000KXJVIE

Customer Reviews:

Answering life's deeper questions..........2005-06-09

The Imponderables book series by David Feldman is the pinnacle of interesting and useful bathroom reading! Since the beginning of the series, Feldman has been highlighting questions that we didn't even know we had (like exactly why is it that a mile is 5,280 feet? and where is Donald Duck's brother?) then he finds "the experts" on any given subject to answer the question. At the end of each question and answer, you are left with a little better insight into the world around you (and you can go out and impress your friends with an expanded catalog of obscure anecdotes).

These books are fantastic overall. They are one part almanac, one part encyclopedia and one part a book form of the show Mythbusters. Many of the questions Feldman seeks the answers to are sent to him by his many readers who want to know about these little-known facts (like why there are 18 holes in a golf course and why tennis balls are fuzzy). Okay, these may not be the most important questions in the world, but these are the things we take for granted in everyday life that we normally don't take the time to stop and think (why is that little finger on our hands called the pinky?).

Feldman has been answering these questions since the first Imponderables in 1986. He has a masters degree in popular culture from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and taught to first ever college course on Soap Operas. If you enjoy trivia, David Feldman is the man for you. He uncovers the hidden meanings and lost history of sports, food, words, science, politics, and everything in between, often in a humorous and insightful way.

So where did Oreos get their name?
What is the difference between Dead End signs and No Outlet signs?
Why does the letter K mean Strike Out in baseball?

You'll have to read the books to find out.

great book.......2003-07-09

this a great book for any one that likes trivia and likes finding out little known facts about the world.

buy it.

Its fun to read.......2002-05-01

I only rated this three stars because it is fun to read but once you are finished it just collects dust. Most of the stories are interesting but some are just boring. Overall, I don't regret buying.

Great book for the person who's always asking 'why?'.......2000-11-15

My husband picked up this book on a bargain table---he always wants to know why things are the way they are, and this book answered a lot of his questions. The author has done a lot of research into the hows and whys of everything from why the letter 'x' is used in algebra to why potato chip bags are hard to open, and many more questions I hadn't even thought of. I only wish the book was divided into general categories, but it's just as fun to read it straight through and stumble across all kinds of interesting facts. A good read for inquisitive people of all ages.

How Do Astronauts Scratch an Itch?: An Imponderables Book

Average customer rating:

How Do Astronauts Scratch an Itch?: An Imponderables Book
David Feldman
Manufacturer: Putnam Pub Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000PAO78Q

Average customer rating:

Among the Very Best Available

Scripture on the Silver Screen
Adele Reinhartz
Manufacturer: Westminster John Knox Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Similar Items:

Mythmakers: Gospel, Culture, and the Media

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Finding God in the Movies: 33 Films of Reel Faith

Eyes Wide Open, rev. and exp. ed.: Looking for God in Popular Culture

Source for Effective Church Service Planning, The

ASIN: 0664223591

Book Description

"Surely the extensive and broad-ranging use of the Bible in popular films demonstrates how important it is that everyone know something about the Bible, or at least acquire some basic familiarity with its contents. . . . Knowledge of the Bible is important not only for understanding the masterpieces of Western civilization; looking at Hollywood films through the lens of the Bible also reveals the importance of scripture for our ability to appreciate popular culture."

—from the Introduction

Eloquently written and meticulously researched, Scripture on the Silver Screen offers all students of scripture—whether in an academic classroom or at home—an inviting new way to further their biblical literacy. By exploring the ways the Bible and its contents are appropriated in popular movies, Reinhartz implores her readers toward discerning instances of the "Hollywood Hermeneutic," where the Bible is often used as a prop, from movies that have successfully integrated the Bible as a plot-making device. Each chapter begins with a discussion on the focal Bible passage, placing it in its literary and historical context, and a summary of the film and its main themes.

Customer Reviews:

Among the Very Best Available.......2007-02-28

Very useful for the thoughtful viewer. As an academic librarian and the co-host of a television film talk show, this book is essential. Very informative and nuanced, this book sets an example for understanding the messages in the movies. Also, the book is useful for group and classroom study.

Book Description

Jim Morrison was more than just the lead singer of the Doors. He was a controversial figure who emerged during the 1960s, and his enigmatic style and influence have grown steadily since his death in 1971. Known as a poet, mystic, and shaman, the "Lizard King" performed rock concerts like rituals and took the worship of Dionysus seriously, carrying the torch of Pagan ideals all the way to death. Because of his bizarre cult status, the real man has gradually disappeared behind the myth.

In The Lizard King: The Essential Jim Morrison, Morrison's biographer Jerry Hopkins reassesses Morrison's life and offers profound insights about Jim as a man, rather than the rock star he became. Through a series of interviews with rock journalists Ben Fong-Torres, John Tobler, Bob Chorush, Salli Stevenson, and others, readers will learn about an articulate, intelligent, and witty man who consciously created his own myth, then lived to regret it. Published uncut, these interviews bring sharply into focus the broken dreams and unreachable ideals of this legendary artist. Includes 80 black-and-white photos.

Customer Reviews:

Sorry - But it is a money making sham........2007-08-28

Fortunately or unfortunately I have read almost every Morrison book ever published. I respect Jerry Hopkins, but this book is so obviously published just to make money off of Morrison's name that it is somewhat embarrassing. There is nothing new in this book at all, just a bad rip off of "No one Here Gets Out Alive", which wasn't even that good to begin with.

What I found..........2004-08-14

In "The Lizard King" by Jerry hopkins was a really good book but there were some mistakes that can confuse first time readers..
Like on pg.80 it said "'Strange Days', the song that insisted that people were ugly when they're alone". But we all know that those lyrics come from the song "People are Strange" not "Strange Days". Also on pg.100 it said that the documentary the Doors made (Feast of Friends) came form the song "The End" but those lyrics come from "When the Music's Over". And, finally on pg.127 it said "In the summer and fall of 1989, Jim rented first the second and then the ground floor of a building across the street from Elektra offices". I wasn't aware that Jim was alive in 1989. But besides the mistakes I thougth that Jerry did an excellent job on the book.

The Lizard King.......2004-04-01

The Lizard King by Jerry Hopkins is a very interesting book. It is filled with wild stories of being on the road, performing at concerts, and taking part in the Los Angeles party scene. The book is well written, and really held my attention. Any person who enjoys a nostalgic trip through the groovy 60s will enjoy this book. It gives a sense of how society was affected by music and the changing times.
The Lizard King clearly depicts Jim Morrison's entire life; starting with his fairly average childhood in a military family, his wild college years, and the fast paced years with his band, The Doors. All of the events that are chronicled lead up to his untimely demise, which is still somewhat of a mystery and is widely disputed. There are several interviews at the end of the book, collected from various magazines that were popular in the late 60s, which show the intellectual side of Jim Morrison. I highly recommend this book to all fans of The Doors, or anyone that is interested in Jim Morrison- the rock star poet. This page-turner is sure to captivate anyone who reads it.

A well-researched and presented biography.......2002-08-07

What I like so much about this book is that Jerry Hopkins shows determination to present as much truth as possible by considering and reconsidering the facts that he uncovered regarding Jim's life. He does this particularly well by presenting his findings and impressions on Jim's family life, Pamela Courson and the circumstances regarding Jim's mysterious death. Hopkins manages to stay clear from idolizing and inscribing Jim with projected fantasies of who he thought Jim was, and stays close to considering the evidence that he acquired from interviews with Jim and Jim's associates, along with other discovered facts.

My overall impression of this book is that it is definitely well researched. Hopkins truly attempts to give Jim a fair representation. He obviously wants to present the facts, but not in a manner that would disparage Jim in any way. Subsequently, Hopkins manages to stay adroitly clear of purulent interest in Jim's private life while managing to be informative. This is refreshing. Hopkins does not appear to be cashing in on Jim's fame, but seems rather totally committed to presenting a well-researched biography of an extraordinary man.

enthusiastic but godawful--if only jerry could spell.......2002-04-04

jerry hopkins has the fiery enthusiasm and idol worship of a five year old really digging barney, but as far as spelling and grammar go, he leaves much to be desired. he talks excitedly about how morrison was fascinated by such existential philosophers as 'friederich nietzsche' and psychoanalyst 'sandor firinczi'. also, his objectivity seems eh, a bit skewed at times? a passage on an airlines incident involving morrison and fellow artist tom baker goes something like this: "the nincompoops and jerks who prosecuted jim were hard put to bring any real evidence against him, although jim's friend tom baker had indeed acted silly." he also lets us in on a really interesting incident involving jim in 1989! hmmm. i'm thinking the guy who published this book must also have been of the countercultural persuasion, and decided to release it for a dimebag provided by our boy jerry. this is good for those want to be well versed in hopkinspeak and the fine art of money making sensationalism, but for those who are after a real insight into the actual life of jim morrison, look elsewhere. anywhere.

The Lizard King. The Essential Jim Morrison.

Average customer rating:

The Lizard King. The Essential Jim Morrison.
Jerry Hopkins
Manufacturer: Macmillan Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8RIOE

Average customer rating:

The Lizard King: The Essential Jim Morrison
Jerry Hopkins
Manufacturer: Scribner Paper Fiction
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8QFLQ

Customer Reviews:

Gorgeous and Insightful.......2007-09-12

This deck is amazing. I am a Professional Tarot Reader and Spiritual Healer(Stairwaytohealing.com), and loving collector of beautiful decks. The artwork is amazing, and arouses intuitive knudges. The interpretations given for the cards are for the deep thinker and spiritual warrior, not for those just dabbling in tarot and divination, or those looking for quick answers and fixes that do not require introspection and serious self examination. I highly recommend this deck.

The Loneliness of a Painter.......2004-05-03

When I first met Amnart Klanpracha at the residence of painter Ronachai Srileg in Talingchan, I didn't even think that this man has so many qualities! He is a painter, thats all. Like many we have in our surroundings. But now its strange that he is involved in so many things to explore his genuinity in diffrener phases. Amnart's jouney is clear and transperant. He has a good soul, fully surrendered to God with solemn power and sheer experience to know the mistery of beautiful nature. Buddha himself played a remarkable role to pave his way.
I salute Amnart for his lonely jouney in the globe of literature. This arena is his righteous chice. I was told by Ronachai that he is a natiral poet, he can write poetry in sitting, if he likes to create a poetry. Its more easier to him tham completing an oil work. 'He is a genius', told by another painter Suriya Tebsattra.
The God is always with the valients, Amnart is such a hero of our time who grows everyday to serch for the good things.

Book Description

A 6 volume audio cassette program based on the popular book Successful Cold Call Selling, published by Amacom, the book publishing division of the American Management Association. Making unsolicited calls to strangers is a frightening thought to many; few do it well. This program will help you to quickly gain confidence and skills when approaching new prospects either by phone or in person.

Customer Reviews:

Can cold calling ever really be successful?.......2007-06-02

This book is a `sales' classic and its advice may have worked 10 years ago. However, in today's world of voice mail, email, and savvy gatekeepers cold calling is pretty much a worn out and useless activity (I know: heresy, heresy, everyone screams). As Jill Konrath says in her book "Selling to Big Companies" we are now in the `perfect storm' of sales and cold call resistance. No-one has time for cold callers and the same tired approaches. Better book selections for lead generation are "Selling to Big Companies" and "Selling Against the Goal."

That said, we all must do cold calling at some level. While I really needed help in this area and hoped to find it here, I didn't. There was nothing `new' in the book. I know about creating scripts and the other advice the book offers: benefits selling, value propositions, etc. The book didn't help my cold calling confidence or help me overcome my reluctance and actual aversion to cold calling.

In the spirit of learning.......2006-04-27

Boyan's book really follows through with the idea that it's not about you it's about them(the potential customer). He really focuses on looking for benefits and presenting these benefits to the client. This idea of helping other's to see potential in ideas they hadn't thought of before is really where the heart of this book is at. The only reason it's not five stars for me is that it seems a bit lengthy and repeditive in a couple of spots, but beyond that two thumbs up. :)

Phenomenal coaching from a real-life sales superstar !.......2003-12-28

First of all, my career background touches
many fields, such as computers, internet,
customer service, sales, telemarketing,
insurance, finance, telecommunications
and so on.

In a previous existence or job, I handled
thousands of outbound sales calls, mixed
with inbound, as well.

I've done veyr well well in my field, but also,
I've witnessed some sales superstars with equal
and sometimes, even better sales experience and
results than my own.

Reading the 260 pages of this book, by Mr Lee Boyan,
I have to admit this man is the right man to coach
veteran and newbie sales reps alike.

The door-to-door selling, or in personal sales,
coupled with telemarketing or outbound sales,
advice is obviously, plainly based in reality.

Frequently, the advice he gives, I find I've been
practicing many of those points all along, by
learning through my own mistakes, but also, by
knowing what worked the best, and by natural talent,
and also, by picking up from co-workers.

The bottom line, is that this book will easily FINE-TUNE
your own techniques, approaches. It will inform you
of new skills, perhaps you've never used in a job
situation (either on the phone, or in person, or
setting appointments). It will make you realize of many
small tricks you felt were "your own" but actually, are
techniques all pros should be using, all the time, on
the job.

This book was written 1983, and then revised in 1989,
yet it feels like it was written this year !!!

That's how good it is.

Selling techniques over the phone, etc........2003-01-28

The author did a very good job of sticking to his objective of only teaching you cold calling techniques; that is, techniques to get the appointment, not techniques on how to sell once you got that appointment. He had many, many good ideas; some of which I learned, some of which I knew but had to be reminded of. I would recommend his book to anyone wanting to do a better job at cold call prospecting. The one big negative I would say about this book is that he took too many pages to get his points across, much too verbose. I got tierd of reading it, and kept telling myself, OK, when is he going to get to the point. Other than that, I would highly recommend the book.

Learn how to prospect.......2002-03-22

Boyan's book is essentially a book about prospecting and turning those prospects into appointments with potential customers. He teaches readers to present themselves as problem solvers to potential customers' concerns. The emphasis throughout the book is placed on the customers. Boyan devotes a chapter to customer psychology and gives consideration to the reasons why customers make purchasing decisions. Although somewhat simplified, his suggestion for addressing a customer's concern by paraphrasing it so the customer feels like you understand him, and then offering a solution can be used in a number of ways to persuade customers to make an appointment with you. The only problem is he only presents one way to address a customer's concerns and pretty soon the customer catches on to your technique and stops listening to you. But still I recommend it. It's worth [the price], and the techniques presented in this book have lead me to make appointments with customers that eventually lead to $5,000 aluminum siding sales, $8,000 kitchen remodeling sales, and $4,000 windows sales.

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