Being Jewish Today

Being Jewish Today is a collection of thoughts about the Torah and Jewish Holidays, as expressed by the late Rabbi Edward M. Gershfield of blessed memory (1933 - 2019) in sermons that he delivered during the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Most of the sermons were spoken during Shabbat and Holidays when Rabbi Gershfield served as a part-time Rabbi while working full-time as a Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City.

There are many important topics and ideas covered in this book, such as:

• What should Jews do beyond just learning Torah and attending the services in the synagogue?

• What are the symbolic meanings of the artifacts in the Holy Temple, and the special articles of clothing that were worn by the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) while performing his duties?

• What are the symbolic meanings of the Lulav, Etrog, Hadasim, and Aravot that we use on the holiday of Sukkot?

• Where does the story of Creation actually end in the Book of Genesis?

• How should Jews react, or not react, to certain world events?

On the surface, many aspects of modern daily life seem to be different than those of many hundreds or thousands of years ago. But many of those aspects are really the same, just clothed in a new style and facade. The wisdom contained in the ancient texts, and amplified and expounded by Rabbi Gershfield, will help us to grow spiritually and morally as we navigate our way in modern times.