Esther Unmasked Solving Eleven Mysteries of the Jewish Holidays and Liturgy Mitchell First 9780692375426 Books
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Mitchell First is a very talented Jewish scholar. He is able to challenge traditional assumptions and reach new, often groundbreaking, conclusions. His articles are meticulously researched, relying both on rabbinic sources and historians of antiquity. A main article explains how both Achashverosh and Esther can be identified in ancient sources.The entire volume consists of eleven articles that address mysterious aspects of the yearly cycle of Jewish holidays and liturgy what is the meaning of the cryptic phrase in the Sukkot liturgy Ani ve-Ho? what motivated Antiochus to persecute the Jews? what is the origin of Taanit Esther? how many questions were there in the original Mah Nishtannah? why does pe precede ayin in the acrostics of the book of Eikhah?, and more.
Esther Unmasked Solving Eleven Mysteries of the Jewish Holidays and Liturgy Mitchell First 9780692375426 Books
It's not often that I come across a book that is so well-researched. Mr First shows his ability as a scholarly researcher throughout the pages of this important work.The book makes some very interesting points. I was surprised to read, for example, that there once was an accepted order of the Hebrew alphabet that had the letter "pe" before the letter "ayin". Or that the fast known today as "Taanit Esther" actually has nothing to do with the three days of fasting initiated by Esther in the month of Nisan. (Full disclosure: I'm his brother.)
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Tags : Esther Unmasked: Solving Eleven Mysteries of the Jewish Holidays and Liturgy [Mitchell First] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Mitchell First is a very talented Jewish scholar. He is able to challenge traditional assumptions and reach new,Mitchell First,Esther Unmasked: Solving Eleven Mysteries of the Jewish Holidays and Liturgy,Kodesh Press,0692375422,RELIGION Judaism History
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Esther Unmasked Solving Eleven Mysteries of the Jewish Holidays and Liturgy Mitchell First 9780692375426 Books Reviews
Mitchell First a lawyer with a keen enquiring and incisive mind and an extensive background in Judaic studies, whose first book Jewish History in Conflict was selected as “book of the month” by the Jewish Book Club, investigates eleven subjects in this volume. As the biblical scholar Rabbi Hayyim Angel wrote about the book “All the eleven essays in this collection are clear and accessible to interested laypeople, and may be stimulating for rabbis and scholars as well.”
First examines subjects such as the meaning of “Maccabee” and “Hashmonai,” “What motivated Antiochus to issue his decrees against the Jews,” “Achashverosh and Esther in secular sources,” “The origin of the Fast of Esther,” and much more, and reveals fascinating information that is not found elsewhere.
For example, the name “Maccabee” is not found in the Talmud, and this is not surprising. The name was originally an additional name for Judah only, and Judah is not mentioned by name in the Talmud. There never was a group by the name “Maccabees” in ancient times. We do not know why Judah was called “Maccabee,” which means “hammer.” It may refer to his military prowess or “reflect that Judah’s head or body had the physical appearance of a hammer.” First tell us that “many prominent Jews…had both a Hebrew/Aramaic name and a Greek name” just as many Jews today.
We also do not know the meaning and origin of Hashmonai. First offers several possibilities, including that Hashmonai was the great-grandfather of Mattathias, a speculation by the first-century historian Josephus.
First tells us why Antiochus issued restrictive decrees against the Jews and why this precipitated the war that resulted in the holiday of Chanukah. It was the punishment of a rebellious city. Antiochus was correcting a turbulent subject-people, not imposing Greek patterns upon the Jews.
He identifies the biblical Achashverosh with Xerxes and tells us why.
He also reveals some somewhat esoteric information about changes and errors that entered Judaism. He shows readers that while Judaism today speaks about the social obligation of tikun olam, “improving the world,” the original phrasing was l’takhein olam, “to establish the world (under God’s sovereignty)”; he explains that the cryptic statements in the Mishnah that is repeated in the prayer book ani v’ho hashiah is an error, with v’ho being meaningless, and was originally ani v’hu, “I and he.” He tells us also that the fast of 13 Adar, known as “The fast of Esther,” was invented in the middle ages, and much more.
I have read the essays of Mitchell First in Jewish journals for several years. All of them have revealed meticulous research, careful thinking, and original insight. His work on Esther in particular is nothing short of groundbreaking. For example, where many previous scholars have sought but failed to find evidence of Esther's life in non-Jewish sources, Mitchell First has uncovered such evidence in the works of classical Greek historians (e.g., Herodotus, Xenophon, and Ctesias). His analysis is more than illuminating; it is inspiring. Highly recommended.
If you are interested in biblical history, the etymology of Jewish prayer, or the evolution of Jewish customs, you must read this book. Mitchell First is a first-rate, original thinker. The essays in Esther Unmasked are thoroughly researched, well written and thought-provoking. I am not sure that it makes a difference whether the phrase "l'takkein olam" in the Aleinu prayer was spelled with a "kof" from the start (meaning to repair) or, as First asserts, was originally spelled with a "kuf" (meaning to establish); the text that follows it makes clear that we look to God to bring about universal recognition of His kingship, to my mind leaving intact the duty of each of us to contribute what we can to the betterment of mankind. But I feel more engaged in the message of Aleinu because First has raised and competently addressed the question. His insights on the identity of Esther and Achashverosh and on the order of the Hebrew alphabet, as the other topics he deals with, are enlightening and fascinating. A valuable contribution to Jewish scholarship!
This book is MUCH too scholarly for anybody but the most learned student. This is not for anybody but a scholar. No good at all for
a recreational reader. The reviews should mention that fact. How can I return this book? It is of no use to me at all.
This is a set of scholarly essays on Jewish lore and history. The most interesting and accessible essays are those related to the Chanukah and Purim stories; First speculates about the causes of Syrian oppression (probably, he writes, brought on by a perceived or actual Jewish revolt) and about the identity of Queen Esther and her husband. The other essays are much more inaccessible than they need to be, because First often uses paragraphs of Hebrew without any English translations.
It's not often that I come across a book that is so well-researched. Mr First shows his ability as a scholarly researcher throughout the pages of this important work.
The book makes some very interesting points. I was surprised to read, for example, that there once was an accepted order of the Hebrew alphabet that had the letter "pe" before the letter "ayin". Or that the fast known today as "Taanit Esther" actually has nothing to do with the three days of fasting initiated by Esther in the month of Nisan. (Full disclosure I'm his brother.)
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