{"title":"Books By Rabbi Natan Slifkin","description":"\u003cp\u003eRabbi Dr. Natan Slifkin — better known as the Zoo Rabbi — writes at the meeting point of Torah and the natural sciences. Founder and director of the Biblical Museum of Natural History in Beit Shemesh, he has spent three decades asking what Scripture, Talmud and midrash actually say about the animal world, and how those texts stand alongside modern zoology, cosmology and evolutionary biology. His writing on science and Torah became the subject of a well-known controversy in the charedi world, a debate he takes up directly in \u003cem\u003eRationalism vs. Mysticism\u003c\/em\u003e. Five titles, from the mythical creatures of \u003cem\u003eSacred Monsters\u003c\/em\u003e to the evolutionary questions of \u003cem\u003eThe Challenge of Creation\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-camel-the-hare-and-the-hyrax","title":"The Camel, the Hare, and the Hyrax","description":"\u003cp\u003e“Every animal that has hooves that are fully split and brings up the cud, you shall eat. However, this you shall not eat… the camel, the hare, and the hyrax, for they bring up the cud, but they do not have split hooves; therefore they are unclean to you.” (Deuteronomy 14:6-7) For more than a century, the Torah’s list of animals with only one kosher sign has been a source of controversy. This obscure topic is used both by those striving to demonstrate the Torah’s scientific wisdom and also by those seeking to challenge it. Do we know the correct identities of these animals? Do they indeed chew the cud and lack split hooves? Does the Torah claim them to be the only such animals? And are there any others? This groundbreaking work draws upon a wealth of Torah literature and the latest zoological research to present a detailed and comprehensive study of this difficult topic. In doing so, many aspects of the laws of kosher animals, birds and fish are thereby clarified, and several general principles for addressing conflicts between Torah and science are illustrated. “Rambam wrote that difficult and deep passages of the Talmud cannot be addressed by enthusiasm alone. We do a great injustice to the Torah and the Sages by providing explanations that don’t really hold water. Sensitive areas of the Torah must be approached with hard work, thorough research, rigorous analysis, and intellectual honesty. In this authoritative book, Rabbi Slifkin once again applies these qualities, and this is why it succeeds.” - Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein Author, Maharal: Be’er HaGolah Reviews:\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Natan Slifkin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54336608960822,"sku":"d575 \/ 575-0","price":26.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i95453.98615.jpg?v=1785309529"},{"product_id":"perek-shira-natures-song","title":"Perek Shira; Nature's Song","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe ancient and mysterious midrash of Perek Shirah uses verses from Scripture to illustrate the 'song' of the different components and inhabitants of the natural world - their spiritual lessons for mankind. 'Nature's Song is the only comprehensive English elucidation of the entire text of Perek Shirah. It makes use of rare ancient commentaries on Perek Shirah, as well as contemporary insights from modern science. The result is a spiritual encyclopedia of the natural world, synthesizing the ancient with the modern, that enables one to perceive new depths of insight into the natural world that surrounds us.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Natan Slifkin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54336614727990,"sku":"d033 \/ 033-7","price":26.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i96613.86106.jpg?v=1785309614"},{"product_id":"sacred-monsters","title":"Sacred Monsters","description":"\u003cp\u003eUnicorns, mermaids, dragons, and phoenixes may feel at home in fantasy literature, but references to these and other mysterious creatures go back much further in history. The Bible, Talmud, and Midrash refer to many such strange creatures. In this beautifully designed and richly illustrated book, Natan Slifkin, the famed zoo rabbi and author of Seasons of Life, Nature's Song, and The Challenge of Creation, examines a host of mythic and not so mythic creatures from both their Torah descriptions and modern zoological research, giving us a new perspective on the interface between science, myth, and Torah thought. Greatly expanding on a prior book, Mysterious Creatures, Rabbi Slifkin explores conflicts between the Talmud and science in the context of Torah mysteries of zoology. The Talmud and Midrash discuss a wide range of bizarre creatures, including mermaids, unicorns, griffins, dragons, sea-serpents and phoenixes, as well as strange biological concepts such as spontaneous generation. Sacred Monsters discusses these cases in detail and brings a range of different approaches for understanding them. It is an essential book for any student or educator who has ever struggled with conflicts between the Talmud and science. Strikingly designed, and including extraordinary photographs and illustrations, this is a truly stimulating work. The goal of this book is not merely to persuade readers that the Talmud and Midrash are worthy of their interest. It is important to discuss these creatures for the same reason that the Sages of the Talmud and Torah scholars throughout the ages saw fit to discuss them \u0026amp;emdash; namely, that they are also part of Torah. Torah is not just about history, religious ritual and laws of interpersonal conduct. It is an extremely broad field of study that encompasses many different topics. Some areas of the Torah are more popular or more relevant than others, but we should not neglect the others. The animals of this book are discussed in classical Jewish literature for a variety of reasons. With some, such as the tachash, it is a matter of understanding the construction of the Tabernacle. With others, such as the mermaid, the goal is to clarify a matter of law. And with yet others, such as Leviathan, the point is to convey various theological messages. Furthermore, there is a particular pressing need for a book of this nature. When people encounter references to such creatures in the Talmud, they can be left with anything from gnawing questions to a severe crisis of faith. Did such creatures really exist? Did the Sages of the Talmud really believe in such creatures? What are we to make of it? This book studies the history of the various approaches that have traditionally been taken by Torah scholars in resolving such issues. Reviews: ...A delightful mix of Talmudic teachings, zoological science, and historical investigations... Rabbi Slifkin is to be commended for once again offering us a work which answers questions, informs, and, in this case, even entertains Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hirsch Weinreb Executive Vice President Emeritus, The Orthodox Union Rabbi Slifkin has made a career of reconciling Jewish Scripture with modern natural history... he is a young up-andcomer in the sober world of Jewish scholarship. The New York Times Rabbi Natan Slifkin... has emerged as a central figure in the ultra-Orthodox struggle to define the proper place of science within Judaism. The Wall Street Journal\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Natan Slifkin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54336616694070,"sku":"d581 \/581-1","price":34.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i96755.36082.jpg?v=1785309621"},{"product_id":"the-challenge-of-creation","title":"The Challenge of Creation","description":"\u003cp\u003eSCIENCE Do scientific explanations of phenomena remove the need for a Designer? COSMOLOGY How can the scientific account of the development of the universe be reconciled with Genesis? EVOLUTION Can Judaism accept the idea that animals and man evolved from lower forms of life via natural selection? The Challenge of Creation is a completely revised and vastly expanded edition of The Science Of Torah. It explores and evaluates a broad range of different answers that have been proposed for these questions, as well as developing its own approach. Carefully, methodically, and eschewing sensationalistic or dogmatic claims in favor of reasoned analysis, it shows how some of the greatest Jewish thinkers explained Judaism and Genesis in a way that complements modern science rather than conflicts with it. The Challenge of Creation is an invaluable resource for anyone grappling with conflicts between science and religion. It is a profound work that has been widely acclaimed as the best book of its genre.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Natan Slifkin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54336632455478,"sku":"d594 \/ 594-1","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i101082.12749.jpg?v=1785309875"},{"product_id":"rationalism-vs-mysticism","title":"Rationalism vs. Mysticism","description":"\u003cp\u003eKNOWLEDGE Do we obtain reliable knowledge about the world from ongoing supernatural revelation, or from scientific investigation? Rabbi Natan Slifkin ... has emerged as a central figure in the ultra-Orthodox struggle to define the proper place of science within Judaism. NATURE Is it preferable to perceive God as working through nature, or through supernatural miracles? Are we surrounded by all kinds of supernatural forces and entities, such as demons and the Evil Eye? MITZVOT Do the commandments function to change our thoughts and behavior, or to manipulate mystical forces? Is Torah a Divine guide for life, or is it also a metaphysical blueprint for creation with all kinds of supernatural qualities? Rationalism vs. Mysticism is a thorough study of how these questions were answered very differently by various rabbinic scholars over history, reflecting two fundamentally different views of the nature of Judaism. Part One is an overview of many different aspects of these divergent schools of thought and their consequences, while Part Two contains in-depth studies of several topics. Rationalism vs. Mysticism will profoundly deepen your understanding of Judaism and many of the intellectual conflicts that have arisen in Jewish history.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Natan Slifkin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54337043300662,"sku":"7023-62","price":48.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i289182.45228.jpg?v=1785315651"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.gefenpublishing.com\/collections\/natan-slifkin.oembed","provider":"Gefen Publishing House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}