Reviews

The Family Rashi Book

Where does a child develop a love of learning, a love of Torah? Certainly not in school, said my friend who holds a doctorate in child psychology. "School is school, but a real love of learning comes from the home." All learning depends on two basic elements: the effort that goes into the leanring process and the enjoyment derived from the experience. Unfortunately, most of our schoolchildren do not enjoy their Torah studies. Large classes and unimaginative teachers contribute to an impersonal atmosphere of drudgery even in the better schools. At home the shabbat table is a setting where children can expereicne the joy of Torah discussion. Each family's dining room table can also serve as the family's educational center.

At the Shabbat table, there is time to encourage our children to ask questions – and he or she need not compete with 39 other students. The Shabbat table is also a place to pose questions to our children. Questions draw interest, arouse curiosity and are essential for entering into a genuine conversation with the younger generation. Questions can be asked on many different levels, involving different age groups. This in turn encourages children to ask questions of their own. Rashi, the great Torah and Talmud commentator, begins his commentary on the Torah with, you guessed it, a question, which brings us to Shalom Hammer's The Family Rashi Book.

This volume which is meant to promote the study of Rashi on the Torah, presents on each one of the weekly Torah portions, a list of questions in English (with an admixture of Hebrew words), whose answers, arranged in an alef-bet sequence, are found within the Hebrew text of Rashi. Obviously then, a working knowledge of Hebrew is a prerequisite for appreciating this book, as the letters of the Hebrew alphabet provide the clues to the answers…

Although the alef bet sequence of the answers is cute, the link between the Hebrew letter that provides the clue to the answer and the actual answer is sometimes tenuous and superficial. That said, when I tried the book's questions on my nine year old son, he was captivated by the challenge of answering the questions posed to him and kept asking for more. I look forward to using the book every week as a tool to involve him in the discussion of the Torah portion. The book could be used in a similar fashion in a grade school classroom or youth movement setting.

Jerusalem Post

Rabbi Berel Wein

The Eybeshitz Haggadah

The great 18th century rabbinical sage, Rabbi Yehonatan Eybeshitz, was a prolific author who composed dozens of volumes on all areas of Jewish knowledge, but especially in homiletics, Talmud, and mysticism. While all but one were published posthumously, nevertheless, his teachings had a great impact on the Jews of his generation and every generation since.

In a fascinating compendium, Vayaged Yehonatan: The Eybeshitz Haggadah, Rabbi Shalom Hammer gathers material from across Rabbi Eybeshitz's works, and presents them for the first time to an English-reading audience. This is not an easy task, since much of the original material is complex, consisting of long discourses of Talmudic logic of mystical references. Yet, Rabbi Hammer has successfully distilled the information, and presented it in a manner that a broad audience can truly appreciate.

This is not to suggest that this work is shallow or easy, or even the source for short, pithy comments on the haggadah - because it isn't. Rather, this work offers the reader a balance between complex and simple thoughts, often expanded upon by Rabbi Hammer, who adds his own insights and applications to current issues.

Of course, for those seeking an more in-depth study of Rabbi Eybeshitz's views on the haggadah, the only course of action is to consult the original Hebrew language editions of his works, such as his mystical commentary on chad gadya or the currently out-of-print Hebrew language compilation, "Eybeshitz Haggadah".

But, for a very good addition to a collection of haggadot to consult in preparation for the seder, Vayaged Yehonatan: The Eybeshitz Haggadah is an important work.

Jewish Book World

Rabbi Hammer is to be complimented for his unusual ability to capture the flavor and nuances of the original work in his translation and commentary to the work. This is a book not only for the Seder table, for it certainly is that, but for study and perusal all the days of the year. The difficult is made understandable and the obtuse is clarified in this work. I highly recommend it.

Rabbi Berel Wein

Your translation and presentation is a marked contribution to Agadic and Halachic literature. More power to you!

Rabbi Dovid Cohen, Congregation Gival Yaabetz

The Family Parsha Book

Shalom Hammer is one accomplished educator. He teaches adults and students and is the author of The Family Parsha Book. A sourcebook for making Shabbat more meaningful with instructive interaction between adults and children, the text is lively with great graphics, Parsha Points and Puzzlers, Learning Lessons and Haftorah Highlights.

An Alef-to-Tav with side-by-side English translations Name Key precedes everything in the front of the book, alerting readers and listeners to the personalities they'll be learning about. Parsha Points list the fundamental ideas in the Torah portions being studied. They're followed by questions that prompt answers in an alphabetically ordered manner (think of a clued in child happily yelling "I know! I know! It starts with a Bet and the word is Braisheet!"). Parsha Puzzlers ask participants to think newly learned concepts all the way through to their logical conclusions, thus cementing preceding lessons into long-term memories. A Glossary follows each lesson on individual parshiot, providing user-friendly effective reviews about the concepts that were just studied. This is just what the SQ3R principle was all about when I studied educational theory. Teach the student to Survey the text in order to get a basic idea of what it's about, to Question himself/herself about what they'd like to learn therein, and to Read, Recite and Review the material for a long-term lesson they're not likely to forget. The Family Parsha Book can be a fun treat for any schoolchild, including those with learning difficulties.

Young or old, new to Orthodoxy or old time lover of genuinely Jewish life and lore, you'll learn a lot from this Parsha book.

Yocheved Golani - The Jewish Press
September, 2007

Any Jewish family which has waded clueless through Shabbat with only their child’s parsha sheet, any parent who wished they could have enhanced their Shabbat table with interesting questions and Divrei Torah, and every child who has wanted to demonstrate their knowledge of the Parshat Ha’Shavua, can now breathe a blessed sigh of relief. For Rabbi Hammer has presented frustrated Jewish families with an absolute gem of a book that, I have no doubt, will become a firm favorite at many Shabbat tables.

Families who use The Family Parsha Book regularly at their Shabbat table would soon see an anticipation and excitement about the quiz that will be given during the meal. It is stimulating without being heavy and allows for the full participation of all family members, whatever their level. It is written in such a way that it would span all hashkafot as well. It would certainly be a useful kiruv tool for families hosting guests. Families might add their own rules and quirks to the weekly quiz and it can become a firm favorite minhag to be passed onto future generations.

This book is a valuable addition to any home and every table where parents have been searching for more ru’ach, better behavior and lots more Torah. I can’t wait to try it!

Miriam Kaplan - Connections Magazine
June, 2007

Dear Rabbi Hammer,

Your book became an immediate asset and addition to our minhagim at our Friday night Shabbos table. I have an eight year old son who gets 10 points for each question he answers correctly at the table. He needs 2,000 points to be rewarded for his work. While I still debate whether my methods of getting him to learn remain questionable, your book has been a catalyst for all of my family to begin to rethink the way we approach Shabbat. My son tries to find the book during the week to see if he can prepare for when I ask the questions on the Parsha at the table. That in itself means that it is on his mind. I am sure it's not just a matter of getting points to achieve whatever his reward will be. He also wants to show his sisters and his mother and I that he is connected and that although he is the youngest he just may be the leader! During the week when I go over the Parsha with him I use your book by looking at the questions so that we can focus on those aspects. By the way, my oldest daughter who is a sophomore at Stern very much likes to be challenged by the questions just to keep herself in check and make sure she hasn't missed something in that particular Parsha. My wife is just thrilled to see all of this in action. A huge Yasher Koach to you and your book. We feel as though you are a virtual member of our family. Perhaps when you are a scholar in residence in Stanford my family will have you over for dinner and you can ask the questions in person!!

Respectfully,
Dan Fried