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ARCHAEOLOGY

Mazar, Amihai, Archaeology of the Land of the Bible, The Anchor Bible Reference Library (Doubleday).

“Israeli archaeologist Amihai Mazar introduces the achievements of the dynamic archaeological research in Israel and Jordan and discusses its implications for our knowledge of the world of the Old Testament.”

Pearlman, Moshe, Digging up the Bible (William Morrow and Company).

The stories behind the great archaeological discoveries in the Holy Land.

Shanks, Hershel, The City of David, A Guide to Biblical Jerusalem (The Biblical Archaeology Society).

A guide to the most significant remains of Biblical Jerusalem.

Stern, Ephraim, Ed., The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavation in the Holy Land, Four Volumes (The Israel Exploration Society & Carta).

“This outstanding reference work is the updated and enlarged edition of the acclaimed Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land (Prentice-Hall, c.1976-1978, ed. Michael Avi-Yonah). In this new edition, which keeps to the alphabetical arrangement of the earlier work, some 420 sites are included, many of them newly excavated, with coverage extended to work done through 1991. Over 200 archaeologists contributed articles to this edition. Whenever possible, the latest archaeologist to have excavated a site has been asked to write the entry.”

BIBLE/BIBLE COMMENTARY

Evans, Craig A., Ancient Texts for New Testament Studies: A Guide to the Background Literature (Hendrickson Publishers).

“One of the most challenging hurdles facing the New Testament Interpreter is that of becoming familiar with the countless Greco-Roman, Jewish, and pagan primary sources ... With this book Evans pulls together the essentials of date, language, text and translations, and general bibliography for this vast literature.”

Gaebelein, Frank E., The Expositor’s Bible Commentary(Regency Reference Library).

A twelve-volume commentary on the Scripture.

Gianotti, Charles R., The New Testament and the Mishnah, A Cross-Reference Index (Baker Book House).

“This index ... guides the user to more than 2,500 cross-references between the books of the New Testament and the tractates of the Mishnah.”

Gilbrant, Thoralf, Int’l Ed., The Complete Biblical Library(The Complete Biblical Library).

A sixteen-volume study series of the New Testament.

Gorelik, Robert R., The Works of Those Sent Out: The Acts of the Apostles (Eshav Books)—CDs and Workbook.

The “Acts” Seminar is an in-depth study of the Book of Acts from a Jewish perspective. Like most other studies on the Book of Acts, it examines the background of Luke, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and the ministries of Peter, Stephen, John and Paul. But unlike other studies, it examines these (and many o.ther) subjects from a perspective that makes it possible to really understand what was going on in the lives of Yeshua’s (Jesus’) first disciples and appreciate the profound implication of our own “calling” to discipleship.

Gorelik, Robert R., Paul’s Letter “to the Congregations of Galatia” (Eshav Books)—CDs and Workbook.

Paul’s letter to the Galatians has created a good deal of controversy—primarily because readers do not approach it from a Jewish perspective. In fact, the letter is so controversial and so misunderstood, that some Believers even question whether it should be included in the Canon. Others assume that Paul taught things he doesn’t—in fact, could not teach—because it would contradict what has already been revealed in God’s word and accepted as true. So how is the dilemma resolved? By understanding that Paul was a disciple of the great R. Gamaliel, and was a brilliant Rabbi himself, “a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee,” “extremely zealous for the traditions of (his) fathers.

Hertz, J. H. (Dr.), The Pentateuch and Haftorahs (Soncino Press).

An expositional commentary on the weekly readings of Torah and Haftorah portions of scripture by the late chief Rabbi of the British Empire

Lachs, Samuel Tobias, A Rabbinic Commentary on the New Testament, The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke (KTAV Publishing House).

“This volume presents a critical and objective running commentary to the Synoptic Gospels against the background of early rabbinic thought and institutions.

Lightfoot, John, A Commentary on the New Testament from the Talmud and Hebraica, Four Volumes (Hendrickson Publishers)

Siewert, Francis E. (Research Sec.), The Amplified Bible(Zondervan Publishing House).

A readable Bible in which the English text is “amplified” or “expanded” to incorporate the additional depth of meaning of a particular Greek or Hebrew word

Stern, David H., Jewish New Testament (Jewish New Testament Publications).

“A new translation of the New Testament that will transform your understanding of the Bible.

Stern, David H., Jewish New Testament Commentary(Jewish New Testament Publications).

A companion volume to the Jewish New Testament

Throckmorton, Burton H. Jr., Gospel Parallels: A Comparison of the Synoptic Gospels (Thomas Nelson Publishers)

Würthwein, Ernst, The Text of The Old Testament (Eerdmans Publishing Co.).

An endeavor to “present not merely the basic facts concerning the text, but also some insight into the most important problems” of textual criticism

BIBLICAL INSIGHTS/RABBINIC

Aminoah, Noah and Nitzan, Yoseph, Torah, The Oral Tradition, An Outline of Rabbinic Literature throughout the Ages (World Zionist Organization).

An endeavor to “define the fields and themes embraced by the (Oral) Torah ... in its different literary and chronological frameworks.”

Bivin, David, New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus (En-Gedi Resource Center).

“In this book we examine Jesus’ lifestyle as a first-century Jewish rabbi and look at how his words would have been understood with the larger framework of first-century Judaism.”

Blizzard, Roy B., Let Judah Go Up First (Center for Judaic-Christian Studies).

A study in praise, prayer, and worship.

Blizzard, Roy B. & Bivin, David, Understanding the Difficult Words of Jesus (Makor Foundation).

How best to understand the words of Yeshua—by exploring the Hebrew text lying beneath our Greek documents.

Blue, Lionel, To Heaven, with Scribes and Pharisees, the Jewish Path to God(Oxford University Press).

An introduction to “the feel and taste of Jewish spirituality with all its complexity and richness.”

Blumenthal, David R., The Place of Faith and Grace in Judaism (Center for Judaic-Christian Studies).

Understanding "faith" and "grace" from a Jewish perspective.

Cohen, A. Dr., Everyman’s Talmud (E. P. Dutton and Co.).

A anthology of the Talmud.

Davies, W.D., Paul And Rabbinic Judaism: Some Rabbinic Elements in Pauline Theology(Fortress Press).

“Davies demonstrates that ... Paul of Tarsus stood within the main current of first-century Rabbinic Judaism, and is best understood as a Pharisee who had come to accept Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah.”

Doukhan, Jacques, Drinking at the Sources: An appeal to the Jew and the Christian to note their common beginnings (Pacific Press).

A work published by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, this book explores the developing hostility between Jews and Christians from the first century onward. Doukhan’s analysis of the early theological roots of the conflict is very insightful.

Dresner, Samuel & Siegel, Seymour, The Jewish Dietary Laws (The Burning Bush Press).

The meaning of the dietary laws and a guide to their observance.

Evans, Craig A., Ancient Texts for New Testament Studies: A Guide to Background Literature (Hendrickson Publishers).

“One of the most challenging hurdles facing the New Testament interpreter is that of becoming familiar with the countless relevant Greco-Roman, Jewish, and pagan primary sources. Scholars and students alike must have a fundamental grasp of … ancient documents … ”

Flusser, David, Judaism and the Origins of Christianity(The Magnes Press).

“A must for New Testament scholars and students of early Judaism …”

Flusser, David, with R. Steven Notley, The Sage from Galilee: Rediscovering Jesus’ Genius(William B. Erdmans Publishing Co.).

“The culmination of nearly six decades of study by one of the world’s foremost Jewish authorities on the New Testament and early Christianity.”

Gorelik, Robert R., Covenant (Eshav Books)—CDs and Workbook.

The Covenant Seminar is a study of the six biblical covenants specifically delineated in the Bible. It explores the covenants with Noah, Abraham, Moses, Phinehas, David and the New Covenant. Special emphasis is put on the Covenant with Abraham, the Covenant with Moses and the New Covenant so that each one may be seen as complimentary components of a comprehensive and inclusive theology of redemption.

Gorelik, Robert R., The Captive Woman: Understanding What the Bible Says About Women (Eshav Books)—CDs and Workbook.

Exploring the “lies” that the Church has told women throughout Church history, this Seminar evaluates modern attitudes about women in leadership and where these attitudes come from. Subjects include; “Women and Leadership,” “Women Leaders in the Bible,” “Women in the Ancient Synagogue,” “Women in the Temple” and “Yeshua and Women.” Special attention is given to the Apostle Paul and the way his writings have been misinterpreted, misrepresented and misapplied in order to subject women to the authority of men.

Gorelik, Robert R., The Last Days: Distinguishing Between Prophecy and Headlines(Eshav Books)—CDs and Workbook.

Much of what is understood in Scripture as “prophetic fulfillment” in modern times is often a result of poor interpretation of the Biblical text, or a “sensationalist” application of modern day events by applying Scripture in order to make events or issues “fit” into a particular agenda-driven perspective. This study examines what the Scripture really says, and perhaps most critically to “whom” it is said. The Word of God will come alive in modern relevance, in historical appreciation, and what is yet to come of the fulfillment of ancient promises to Israel and the world. Our goal should be to understand Biblical prophecy as a blessing and comfort, NOT something to dread, or worse, to use as a tool to provoke fear, condemnation and even hatred of others who do not share one’s views.

Gorelik, Robert R., Parables: Comparing the Parables of Yeshua to Rabbinic Parables of the Second-Temple Period (Eshav Books)—CDs and Workbook.

This Seminar is based on the book “The Parables” by Dr. Brad Young but also on the insights of Dr. Robert Lindsey, Dr. David Flusser and David Biven.

Gorelik, Robert R., The Passion: Exploring the Death and Resurrection of Yeshua(Eshav Books)—CDs and Workbook.

An in-depth examination of the final week of Yeshua’s life in order to understand his “suffering” and appreciate its significance in the same way as did his first-century disciples. The Seminar will explore Yeshua’s last words and final teachings, his celebration of the Passover (meal and its significance), his arrest, trial, execution, and resurrection.

Hilton, Rabbi Michael with Marshall, Fr. Gordian, OP, The Gospels & Rabbinic Judaism, A Study Guide (KTAV Publishing House).

“This work brings together texts from early rabbinic writings and the gospels.  The aim is to make primary sources available to ... people who ... have no prior knowledge of this field.”

Lindsey, Robert L., Jesus, Rabbi and Lord: The Hebrew Story of Jesus Behind our Gospels (Cornerstone Publishing).

“An attempt to explain ... the conclusions (that Lindsey has reached) about the life and words of Jesus as they have been handed down to us in the (synoptic) Gospels ..”

Montefiore, C. G. and Loewe, H., A Rabbinic Anthology (Meridian Books).

“… a compendium and interpretation of all of those passages in the Talmudic and Midrashic literature which bear on the nature of God, the Law, virtue, prayer, faith, sin, charity, the Messiah, (and) the Last Judgment … the Rabbinic attitude toward the family … ascetism, hospitality, courtesy and peace.”

Newman, Louis I., Ed., The Talmudic Anthology: Tales and Teachings of the Rabbis (Berman House).

“A collection of Parables, Folk-tales, Fables, Aphorism, Epigrams, Sayings, Anecdotes, Proverbs and Exegetical Interpretations.”

Stern, David, Parables in Midrash; Narrative and Exegesis in Rabbinic Literature (Harvard University Press).

“David Stern shows how the parable … was composed, how its symbolism works, and how it serves to convey the ideological conviction of the rabbis.”

Wilson, Marvin R., Our Father Abraham: Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith (William B. Eerd­mans Publishing Company).

“As an introduction to the world of Hebrew thought (this book) is biblical, historical, and cultural in nature.”

Young, Brad H., Jesus and His Jewish Parables (Paulist Press).

A comparative examination of “story parables” in the Synoptic Gospels and extra-biblical Jewish literature. Dr. Young explains the methodology employed to interpret the inter-relationships between the Gospels and how to understand them in their historic Jewish context.

Young, Brad H., Meet the Rabbis: Rabbinic Thought and the Teachings of Jesus (Hendrickson Publishers).

This “is an engagingly written introduction of rabbinic thought, literature, and the lives of the most influential rabbis. Young proves how rabbinics helps to clarify the origins of Christianity.”

Young, Brad H., The Jewish Background to the Lord’s Prayer (Center for Judaic-Christian Studies).

A rediscovery of the original Jewish atmosphere in which Yeshua taught His followers to approach God in prayer.

Young, Brad H., The Parables: Jewish Tradition and Christian Interpretation(Hendrickson Publishers).

Young “examines the parables that best illustrate the parallels between Rabbinic and Gospel parables.”

Willis, Gary, What Paul Meant (Penguin Books).

“If you think you knew Paul, get ready to have all sorts of cherished preconceptions exhilaratingly stripped away. If you’ve ever been vaguely curious, there is no finer introduction.”

Dead Sea Scrolls

Shanks, Hershel, Ed., Understanding The Dead Sea Scrolls, A Reader from the Biblical Archae­ological Review(Random House).

“Outstanding anthology ... Serves as a complete primer to ... the most sensational archaeological discovery of the twentieth century. Exciting and reliable.”

Wise, Michael; Abegg Jr., Martin; Cook, Edward, A New Translation, The Dead Sea Scrolls (Harper San Francisco).

“A comprehensive translation of the controversial ancient scrolls, with material never before published or translated—including the most recently released texts.”

DISCIPLESHIP/RESOURCES

Arn, Win & Charles, The Master's Plan For Making Disciples (Church Growth Press).

“The growth model for making disciples presented in this book will help pastors and laity discover exciting potential for growth and outreach.”

Eims, Leroy, The Lost Art of Disciple Making (Zondervan Publishing House/NavPress).

“This volume is a pleasure to commend. It comes to grips with the real work of discipling men, not in vague institutional programs, but in clear guidelines for personal initiative ...”

Wagner, C. Peter, Leading Your Church To Growth: The Secret of Pastor/People Partnership in Dynamic Church Growth (Regal Books).

“This is a book on (congregational) leadership for growth.”

ETHICS

Mappes, Thomas A. and Zembaty, Jane S., Social Ethics, Morality and Social Policy(McGraw-Hill).

“This book is designed to provide material that will encourage a reflective and critical examination of some contemporary moral problems.” It deals with such issues as abortion, surrogate motherhood and reproductive technology, euthanasia, the death penalty, discrimination and preferential treatment and more.

Mott, Stephen Charles, Biblical Ethics and Social Change (Oxford University Press).

“In this scholarly synthesis of biblical studies and ethics, Stephen Charles Mott ... provides a thorough treatment of the biblical basis for implementing social change.”

Wright, Christopher J.H., An Eye for An Eye: The Place of Old Testament Ethics Today(InterVarsity Press).

“A theological, social and economic framework for Old Testament ethics. Then in relation to contemporary issues (Wright) explores a variety of Old Testament themes—economics and the land, politics and the world of nations, righteousness and justice, society and culture, (and) the way of the individual.”

HERMENEUTICS

Fee, Gordon D. & Stuart, Douglas, How To Read The Bible For All Its Worth (Academie Books, Zondervan Publishing House).

A guide to understanding the Bible.

Gorelik, Robert R., The Essentials (Eshav Books)—CDs and Workbook.

Explores four subjects that are essential to understanding the Bible and applying it to our lives;  1) Presuppositions of Biblical Interpretation, 2) Greek-Hebrew Worldview, 3) The Importance of Hebrew, and 4) Time and Space.  Each subject is explored from a Jewish perspective—and in the context of the faith of the first Jewish followers of Yeshua.

McQuilkin, J. Robertson, Understanding and Applying the Bible (Moody Press).

An introduction to Hermeneutics.

Sterrett, Norton T., How To Understand Your Bible (InterVarsity Press).

“Starting from scratch, Sterrett presents the general rules for reading the Bible’s ordinary language and the specific principles that apply to special types of language such as parables, figures of speech and prophecy.”

HEBREW

Brown-Driver-Briggs, New Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew-English Lexicon (Hendrickson Publishing Co.).

The standard Hebrew-English Lexicon.

Greenberg, Moshe, Introduction to Hebrew (Prentice-Hall, Inc.).

“The aim of this book is to teach the fundamentals of Hebrew grammar and to enable one to acquire a mastery over a basic vocabulary of Biblical Hebrew.”

Gorelik, Robert R., A Collection of Hebrew Idioms: Understanding the Language of Heaven (Eshav Books)—CDs and Workbook.

The “Idioms” Seminar will challenge and fascinate even the most serious “disciple.” The introduction briefly addresses some of the profound differences between Greek and Hebrew and explores the correlation between language and worldview. Chapter two deals with the significance of each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Chapter 3 identifies hundreds of Hebrew idioms that employ the names of various parts of the human body. Chapter 4 discusses selected idioms in the New Covenant writings.

Kittel, Bonnie Pedrotti, Hoffer, Vicki, and Wright, Rebecca Abts, Biblical Hebrew: A Text and Workbook (Yale University Press).

This book is designed to get students reading Biblical Hebrew ... as soon as possible. It takes “an uncommon approach by teaching (in descending order of frequency) the most common constructions, the most common verbs, the most common syntax and grammar.”

HISTORICAL FICTION/NON-FICTION

Collins, Larry & LaPierre, Dominique, O Jerusalem! (Pocket Books).

The “spellbinding” story of the birth of the state of Israel.

Dickinson, Peter, City of Gold(Pantheon Books).

“A creative retelling of biblical stories as the events of Scripture might have been described by witnesses or by people who had just heard about them.”

Kellerman, Harry, Conversations with Rabbi Small(Fawcett Crest).

One of a series of mystery novels involving Rabbi Small.  In this particular novel he investigates the “world's greatest mystery ... the magic, the mysticism, the truths and the fables of Judaism.”

Meir, Golda, My Life; By Golda Meir (Dell Publishing Co.).

The autobiography of Golda Meir.

Michener, James A., The Source (Fawcett Crest).

“A sweeping chronology filled with excitement—pagan ritual, the clash of armies, ancient and modern: the evolving drama of man's faith ...”

Peters, Joan, From Time Immemorial (Harper & Row).

A discussion of the Arab-Jewish conflict over “Palestine.”

Potok, Chaim, The Chosen (Fawcett Crest).

A remarkable story of the tension and struggle of modern Jewish experience.

Prince, Lydia, Appointment in Jerusalem (Chosen Books).

Three years in the life of Lydia Prince, that took her from a life of physical comfort and professional fulfillment to one of danger, poverty, and estrangement from everything and everyone she held dear. The place was Jerusalem; the time, the opening battle of the long war between Jew and Arab.

Uris, Leon, Exodus (Bantam Books).

“Passionate summary of the inhuman treatment of the Jewish people in Europe, of the exodus in the 19^th  and 20^th  centuries to Palestine and of the triumphant founding of … Israel.”

Uris, Leon, Mila 18(Bantam Books).

The story of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

Wigoder, Geoffrey, Dictionary of Jewish Biography (Simon & Schuster).

“Nearly 1000 clearly written biographies of Jews who left an indelible mark on humankind.”

HISTORY

Aharoni, Yohanan & Avi-Yonah, Michael, The MacMillan Bible Atlas (MacMillan Publishing Company, Inc.).

An atlas of biblical history.

Bard, Mitchell G., Myths and Facts: A Guide to the Arab-Israeli Conflict (American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise).

Straightforward work that will “educate readers about the Arab-Israeli conflict and … debunk myths perpetrated by those who wish to rewrite history to serve their own purposes.

Beitzel, Barry J., The Moody Atlas of Bible Lands (Moody Press).

This atlas “integrates the geography of Bible lands with the teachings of the Bible.”

Boyle, Isaac, Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History(Baker Book House).

A classic which ranks in significance with the works of Flavius Josephus. The work of Eusebius of Caesarea, one of the earliest Church Fathers which covers events of the first three centuries to the time when Constantine became sole master of the Roman world.

Edersheim, Alfred, Sketches of Jewish Social Life (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company).

It is the object of this volume to transport the reader into the Land of Israel at the time of our Lord and of His apostles.

Edersheim, Alfred, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah (MacDonald Publishing Company).

A classic work which deals with the life and times of Yeshua in it's fullest sense from an examination of the Jewish world into which Yeshua came to a detailed look at the nature, character, and ministry of the Messiah.

Edersheim, Alfred, The Temple, Its Ministry and Services as They Were at the Time of Christ (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.).

Like Sketches of Jewish Social Life this volume gives an invaluable historical perspective of what actually happened at the Temple in the time of Yeshua.

Flusser, David, Jewish Sources in Early Christianity(Adama Books).

“A scholarly analysis by a Hebrew University Professor of Early Christianity on the relation­ship between Judaism and Christianity.”

Flusser, David, Judaism of the Second Temple Period, Volume 1: Qumran and Apocalypticism(William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, The Hebrew University Magnes Press).

“David Flusser was a very prolific scholar of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and his contribution to Scrolls research, apocalypticism, and apocalyptic literature are inestimable.”

Flusser, David, Judaism of the Second Temple Period, Volume 2: The Jewish Sages and Their Literature(William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, The Hebrew University Magnes Press).

“This second volume of Flusser’s essays ... is devoted to Jewish sages, their Wisdom literature, and the impact that they both have made on contemporary Judaism and on early Christianity. Jewish and Christian students of the Bible will profit from ... these ... essays.”

Gilbert, Martin, Atlas of Jewish History(Dorset Press).

An atlas of the 4,000-year global saga of the Jewish people illustrated in 121 maps.

Grant, Michael, Atlas of Ancient History, 1700 B.C. to 565 AD(Dorset Press).

An atlas of ancient history from 1700 bce/BC to 565 ce/AD.

Gorelik, Robert R., A Brief History of Anti-Semitism (Eshav Books)—CDs and Workbook.

This Seminar … explores the nature of Anti-Semitism, and the reasons for it! … it explores the character of the faith of the first followers of Yeshua (Jesus) and then traces the history of the chasm that develops in the 2nd century between the Jewish community, the emerging “Church” and the messianic Jewish followers of Yeshua. The Seminar explores the spread of “Christianity,” the writings of the Church Fathers from Ignatius (d. c. 107 c.e.) to Augustine (354-430 C.E.) and what it was like for Jews (messianic Jewish believers or otherwise) to live in the Medieval Christian world.

Gorelik, Robert R., Israel: A Brief History of Conflict (Eshav Books)—CDs and Workbook.

A “fair, even-handed” exploration of the roots of the conflict that includes both Israeli and Palestinian claims to the “Promised Land.”  The Seminar is divided into six sections, 1) The Great Revolt—The 1st Zionist Conference, 2) World War 1—The British Mandate, 3) Arab Violence—The British Withdrawal, 4) War of Independence—Intifada, 5) Israel’s “Land Grant” and 6) Supplemental Documents and Maps.

King, Marie Gentert (ed.)., Foxe’s Book of Martyrs(Fleming H. Revell Company).

This book deals with the “tragedy of persecution; the inspiration of faith and devotion; the courage of men of God facing torture and martyrdom.”

Landels, J.G., Engineering in the Ancient World(University of California Press).

This book discusses and illustrates “a number of technological achievements in the Greek and Roman world, all of which have in common the application of power for engineering or other similar purposes.”

Ludwig, Charles, Cities in New Testament Times (Accent Books).

This book deals with the story of the cities mentioned in the New Testament, and helps bring them alive so that the reader is better able to identify with New Testament events.

Ludwig, Charles, Rulers of the New Testament Times (Accent Books).

This book deals with the story of the Rulers in New Testament times, and helps bring them alive so that the reader is better able to identify with New Testament events.

Meir-Levi, David, History Upside Down: The Roots of Palestinian Fascism and the Myth of Israeli Aggression (Encounter Books).

This book “traces the ideological DNA behind Palestinian nationalism and its ‘alternative’ histories, exposing how Nazism gave the Arab world’s amorphous hatred of the Jews an intellectual structure and how Soviet communism veiled its genocidal ambition with the mantle of national liberation.

Pritz, Ray A., Nazarene Jewish Christianity, from the end of the New Testament period until it’s disappearance in the fourth century(The Magnes Press, The Hebrew University).

A “comprehensive study of the heirs of the earliest Jerusalem church, their history and doctrines, their relations with both synagogue and the growing Gentile church.”

Russell, D.S., Between the Testaments(Fortress Press).

“An attempt ... to review these years (i.e., between the Old and New Testaments) in the light of recent study and discoveries and in particular to assess the religious contribution made by that rather strange company of men know as ‘the apocalyptists.’”

Schurer, Emil, A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus(Schocken Books).

Schurer approached his History with the conviction that an understanding of Christianity presupposes a knowledge of Israel's history, which is “inseparably joined by innumerable threads. No incident in the New Testament story ... is intelligible apart from its setting in Jewish history.”

Tcherikover, Victor, Hellenistic Civilization and the Jews (Atheneum).

The meeting between Jew and Greek was part of a tremendous process which revolution­ized the ancient world. This book describes the contacts between Hellenism and the more ancient civilizations of Asia. It outlines the rise and fall of empires, but concentrates on the dramatic changes in the life and thought of the peoples involved.

Weiss, G. Christian, Insights Into Bible Times and Customs(Back to the Bible).

A helpful booklet which aids our understanding of the times and customs of the Middle East when the Bible was written.

Whiston, William (translator), The Works of Flavius Josephus(Baker Book House).

The collected works of Flavius Josephus, the classic work of Jewish History that spans the Second Temple period (4 volumes).

Wood, Leon J., Revised by O'Brien, David, A Survey of Israel's History, Revised and Enlarged Edition(Academie Books, Zondervan Publishing House).

“Authoritative, thoroughly biblical, factually sound, and movingly human—(this survey) will prove enormously helpful to the student of the Bible, to anyone in search of a definitive history of the chosen people.”

Yonge, C. D., Translator, The Works of Philo,New Updated Edition (Hendrickson).

“A contemporary of Paul and Jesus, Philo Judaeus ... is unquestionably among the most important writers for historians and students of Hellenistic Judaism and early Christianity.”

HOLIDAYS

Bloch, Abraham, The Biblical and Historical Background of the Jewish Holy Days (KTAV Publishing House).

A discussion of the developing theological character and symbolism of the Jewish holidays. It is unique for its historical approach to the Jewish ritual calendar and is notable for the inclusion of areas not generally addressed in many of the works on the Jewish holidays.

Cashman, Greer Fay, Jewish Days and Holidays (S.B.S. Publishing).

A children’s book on the holidays that is richly illustrated and explained simply.

Gorelik, Robert R., Begin With Shabbat, A Simple Guide to Celebrating the Sabbath (Eshav Books).

     A simple guide to celebrating the Sabbath includes a brief explanation of the Sabbath blessings, and the blessings themselves in Hebrew, transliterated English, and English. It also includes the blessings for a simple Havdalah service.

Gorelik, Robert R., A Passover Haggadah (Eshav Books).

A step-by-step guide to celebrating and understanding Passover. It includes an explanation of each of the various aspects of the Seder and their fulfillment in Yeshua.

Gorelik, Robert R., Siddur T’filot (Prayer Book) (Eshav Books).

A Siddur (Prayerbook) that includes the Daily Morning Services, Evening and Morning services for the Sabbath and services for the “High Holidays.” Messianic—but traditional.

Kozodoy, Ruth., The Book of Jewish Holidays (Behrman House).

This book is richly illustrated and provides information about how the holidays are celebrated in the home, in the synagogue and in Israel.

Plaut, W. Gunther (ed.)., A Shabbat Manual(KTAV Publishing House).

This manual represents an effort on the part of the Central Conference of American Rabbis to create old/new opportunities for Jewish living. It represents a major attempt by the Reform rabbinate to revitalize Shabbat observance.

Saybol, Judyth Robbins & Wikler, Madeline, Come Let Us Welcome Shabbat (Kar-Ben Copies).

A resource to help young children understand the Sabbath.

Saybol, Judyth Robbins & Wikler, Madeline, My Very Own Passover (Kar-Ben Copies).

A resource to help young children understand Passover.

Saybol, Judyth Robbins & Wikler, Madeline, My Very Own Shavuot (Kar-Ben Copies).

A resource to help young children understand Shavuot (Feast of Weeks/Pentecost).

Saybol, Judyth Robbins & Wikler, Madeline, My Very Own Simchat Torah (Kar-Ben Copies).

A resource to help young children understand Simchat Torah (Rejoicing in the Torah).

Saybol, Judyth Robbins & Wikler, Madeline, My Very Own Sukkot (Kar-Ben Copies).

A resource to help young children understand Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles).

Saybol, Judyth Robbins & Wikler, Madeline, My Very Own Yom Kippur (Kar-Ben Copies).

A resource to help young children understand Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).

Saybol, Judyth Robbins & Wikler, Madeline, My Very Own Rosh HaShanah (Kar-Ben Copies).

A resource to help young children understand Rosh HaShanah (Jewish New Year—Feast of Trumpets).

Shepherd, Coulson, Jewish Holy Days (Loizeaux Brothers).

Understanding God's care and concern for His people through an examination of Israel's Holy Days.

Thompson, Robert, Feasts of the Lord(Bible Voice).

A concept of redemption from God’s point of view as portrayed in the Levitical feasts.

JEWISH LIFE

Brooten, Bernadette J., Women Leaders in the Ancient Synagogue (Scholars Press/Cornell University).

In-depth study into inscriptional evidence and background issues of women as elders, leaders, donors, etc. in the synagogue.

Donin, Hayim Halevy (Rabbi), To Pray As a Jew(Basic Books).

An exceptionally useful resource for anyone who seeks to understand the liturgy of the synagogue.

Feldman, David M., Marital Relations, Birth Control and Abortion in Jewish Law(Schocken Books/Random House).

An examination of rabbinic legal tradition underlying Jewish values with respect to marriage, sex and procreation. It also compares these Jewish mores to Christian tradition.

Goldberg, Louis, Our Jewish Friends (Loizeaux Brothers).

A description of Jewish holidays, religious practices, and doctrines. Included are valuable suggestions for the believer desiring to share his faith with a Jewish friend.

Heller, Abraham Mayer, The Vocabulary of Jewish Life (Hebrew Publishing Company).

A simple dictionary of the Hebrew and Yiddish words that play a role in Jewish life.

Jacobs, Louis, The Book of Jewish Belief (Behrman House).

“Reading Jacobs is like comparing notes with a very wise friend who has wrestled with the same questions that have always troubled you.”

Jacobs, Sidney J., The Jewish Word Book(Jonathan David Publishers).

A compendium of popular Yiddish and Hebrew words and phrases that color our vocabulary.

Klein, Isaac, A Guide to Jewish Religious Practice (The Jewish Theological Seminary of America).

“Rabbi Klein has set forth before his readers a compendium of decisions which ... are born out of the timeless dictates to which our ancestors have adhered through the generations and are close in spirit to the traditional reading of halakha we have known to date.”

Kolatch, Alfred J., The Jewish Book of Why(Jonathan David Publishers).

Concise, straightforward, and unbiased answers to many of the questions asked about our Jewish way of life.

Kolatch, Alfred J., The Second Jewish Book of Why(Jonathan David Publishers).

A companion to volume one.

Lamm, Maurice, The Jewish Way in Love and Marriage (Harper and Rowe).

Popular, authoritative presentation of Jewish teaching on love and marriage.

Levin, Sunie, Mingled Roots, A Guide for Jewish Grandparents of Interfaith Children (B'nai B’rith Women).

A “loving ‘how-to,’ offering specific suggestions to help grandparents share their Jewish heritage in ways that would not threaten their intermarried children.”

Lewit, Jane & Epstein, Ellen Robinson, The Bar/Bat Mitzvah Planbook (Stein and Day).

“An unprecedented step-by-step approach to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah planning process and experience.”

Meiselman, Dr. Moshe, Jewish Women in Jewish Law(KTAV Publishers).

Rabbi Meiselman examines the attitude of Jewish Law towards women and how Jewish tradition views the contemporary challenge of feminism.

Prager, Dennis & Teluskin, Joseph, The Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism (The Jonathan David Co.).

For Jews and non-Jews seeking to understand Judaism. Answers to questions range from, “How can I believe in God after the Holocaust?” to “Why shouldn’t I intermarry?”

Prager, Dennis & Teluskin, Joseph, Why The Jews?(Simon and Shuster).

“This brilliant, provocative, and challenging book offers what is already considered by many knowledgeable readers to be the most persuasive explanation of anti-Semitism ever written.”

Sigal, Phillip, Judaism—The Evolution of a Faith (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company).

Exciting study exploring both 1st-century Judaism and the "Christian Movement" that grew out of Judaism and evidence that Paul, a devout believer, was still in right relationship as a Jew and not against the Law.

Siegel, Richard & Rheins, Carl, The Jewish Almanac (Bantam Books).

A celebration of Jewish life and the Jewish people. A fact-filled book of information and entertainment.

Steinberg, Milton, Basic Judaism (Harcourt, Brace and World).

A concise booklet about the beliefs, ideals, and practices which make up the Jewish faith.

MESSIANIC JUDAISM

Chernoff, David, Yeshua The Messiah (M.M.I. Publishing Company).

Returning Yeshua to His proper Jewish and Biblical roots.

Juster, Daniel, Jewish Roots, A Foundation of Biblical Theology for Messianic Judaism (Davar).

A “comprehensive theology for Messianic Judaism.”

Kinser, Mark S., Post-Missionary Messianic Judaism: Redefining Christian Engagement with the Jewish People (Brazos Press).

“This is a breakthrough study for all who care about Jewish-Christian relationships. Mark ... makes a convincing case for seeing these relationships in a state of schism that desperately needs to be healed. he also offers refreshing clarity for those of us who have not been able to decide until now how to approach the supersessionist issue.”

Rausch, David A., Messianic Judaism: Its History, Theology, and Polity: Texts and Studies in Religion, Volume 14 (The Edwin Mellin Press).

A history of the modern messianic movement. It includes the development of a number of messianic congregations as well as the formation and development of the MJAA and UMJC.

Schiffman, Michael, Return from Exile, The Re-Emergence of the Messianic Congregational Movement (Teshuvah Publishing Company).

“This book documents the history of Messianic Judaism in relation to both Jewish and Church history ... It defines Messianic Congregations theologically, and examines difficult issues relating to Messianic Jews.”

Stern, David H., Messianic Jewish Manifesto (Jewish New Testament Publications).

“Ideology, theology, and program for Messianic Judaism.”

MESSIAH

Becker, Joachim, Messianic Expectation in the Old Testament(Fortress Press).

“Using historical-critical methods, Joachim Becker reconstructs, in chronological order, the ideas and institutions related to the messianic expectations of ancient Israel.”

Boteach, Rabbi Shmuel, The Wolf Shall Lie With The Lamb, The Messiah in Hasidic Thought (Jason Aronson Inc.).

“Shmuel Boteach is one of the leading Hasidic thinkers today. His book is an important document of faith and intellectual statement about an issue that other Jews tend to ig­nore—the meaning of the Messiah in Judaism.”

Fruchtenbaum, Arnold, Jesus Was a Jew(Ariel Press).

An attempt to deal with the controversy raging over the true identity of Yeshua of Nazareth based upon the degree to which He embodies the Messianic hope of our people throughout the centuries.

Fruchtenbaum, Arnold, The Footsteps of the Messiah (Ariel Press).

A study of “last days” prophecy.

Gorelik, Robert R., Messiah: Another Jewish View(Eshav Books)—Cds and Workbook.

“The material in this Workbook was compiled to demonstrate that what the early Jewish disciples believed about Yeshua was (and is) Jewish ... on the basis of what our ancient sages taught ... ” It presents, analyzes and refutes the arguments advanced in Jews and Jewish Christianity and You Take Jesus: I’ll Take God.”

Knohl, Israel, The Messiah before Jesus: The Suffering Servant of the Dead Sea Scrolls(University of California Press).

“In a work that challenges notions that have dominated New (Covenant) scholarship for more than a hundred years, Israel Knohl gives startling evidence for a messianic precursor to Jesus, who is described as the ‘Suffering Servant’ in recently published fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls.”

Levey, Samson H., The Messiah: An Aramaic Interpretation, The Messianic Exegesis of the Targum(Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion).

The Targum is a translation of the Hebrew Bible into Aramaic that reflects a rabbinic perspective of the meaning and intent of the Hebrew text itself.

Neusner, Jacob, A Rabbi talks with Jesus, An Intermillennial, Interfaith exchange (Doubleday).

“With the appearance of A Rabbi talks with Jesus, dialogue between Christians and Jews en­ters a new era—argument replaces accusations, recriminations, charges and countercharges, hatred and resentment.”

Neusner, Jacob, Messiah in Context, Israel's History and Destiny in Formative Judaism (Fortress Press).

“In this book, America's leading scholar of ancient Judaism attempts to determine the place of the Messiah in formative Judaism.”

Patai, Raphael, The Messiah Texts (Avon Books).

An examination of one of the central tenets of Judaism—the belief in the Messiah - based upon three thousand years of sacred, mystical, and legendary writings.

Schochet, Jacob Immanuel, Mashiach, The Principle of Mashiach and the Messianic Era in Jewish Law and Tradition (S.I.E).

“This book compiles, in systematic order, the essential Halachic and conceptual teachings about Mashiach and the Messianic redemption from the Biblical, Talmudic-Midrashic and other authoritative sources.”

Yellin, Burt, Messiah, A Rabbinic and Scriptural Viewpoint (Congregation Roeh Israel).

An study of Messianic prophecy based upon rabbinic literature.

PHILOSOPHY/APOLOGETICS

Blomberg, Craig, The Historical Reliability of the Gospels (Inter-Varsity Press).

“Can we trust the New Testament to give us accurate information about the nature and character of Jesus? ... After sketching the history of Gospel criticism ... Blomberg ... discusses the problems associated with the miracle stories and examines alleged inconsistencies” in the Gospels.

Bruce, F. F., The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable?(InterVarsity Press).

An examination of the reliability of New Testament documents as a witness to God's self revelation and as a record of historical fact.

Haley, John W., Alleged Discrepancies of the Bible (Baker Book House).

An explanation of each of the Bible's "alleged" contradictions.

Lewis, C.S., Mere Christianity(MacMillan Publishing Company).

A classic defense for the existence of God, and the simplicity of the Gospel message.

Moreland, J.P. and Nielsen, Does God Exist? The Great Debate (Thomas Nelson Publishers).

Professors J.P. Moreland (theist) and Kai Nielsen (atheist) went head-to-head over the question “Does God Exist?” This book is a transcript of their comments and the reaction of other noted theists and atheists to their remarks. It is intended to bring attention to the “many critical and life-changing issues that surround the question of the existence of God.”

Moreland, J. P. and Habermas, Gary R., Immortality, The Other Side of Death (Thomas Nelson Publishers).

“... the very latest scientific, philosophical, anthropological, ethical and theological evidence on life after death ...”

Moreland, J.P., Scaling the Secular City, A Defense of Christianity(Baker Book House).

“A fresh, up-to-date defense of the Christian faith (that) musters new arguments, tackles new problems, and reveals penetrating insight as he gives reasons for the historic Christian faith.”

REFERENCE

Encyclopaedia Judaica Research Foundation, Encyclopaedia Judaica (Keter Publishing House Jerusalem Ltd.).

The first major Jewish encyclopaedia to be published in many decades. It consists of sixteen volumes plus year books.

Epstein, Rabbi Dr. I. (Editor), The Babylonian Talmud(The Soncino Press).

An English translation of the Babylonian Talmud in eighteen volumes, including a one-volume index.

Danby, Herbert, D.D., The Mishnah (Oxford University Press).

An English translation of the Mishnah in a single volume.

Green, Jay P. Sr. (ed)., The Interlinear Hebrew-Aramaic Old Testament (Hendrickson Publishers).

A three-volume Hebrew-English Interlinear coded to Strong’s Concordance.

Kittel, Kittel's Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company).

Ten-volume set treating more than 2,300 theologically significant New Testament words, including important prepositions, numbers, and many proper names from the Hebrew Bible.

Neusner, Jacob, The Tosefta, Translated from the Hebrew With a New Introduction, Two Volumes (Hendrickson Publishers).

“This two-volume set presents the only English-language translation of the Tosefta, which contains explanations of laws of the Mishnah as well as discussion of laws not included in the Mishnah and is organized according to the same six divisions.”

Strong, James, Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Abingdon Press).

A reference book offering a complete index of biblical words.

Thayer, Joseph H., New Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon (Hendrickson Publishing Co.).

Dictionary of Greek words with definitions in English. Keyed to Stong’s numbering.

Torrey, R. A. (Dr.), The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, Evangelical Masterworks (Fleming H. Revell Company).

An outstanding resource tool that can be used to discover references in the bible that may shed light on the portion being studied.

Science and the Bible

Hawking, Stephen, with Mlodinow, Leonard, A Briefer History of Time (Bantam Dell).

“The reason for (this book): its author’s with to make its contents more accessible to readers—as well as to bring it up-to-date with the latest scientific observations and findings.

Schroeder, Gerald L., Genesis and the Big Bang: The Discovery of Harmony Between Modern Science and the Bible (Bantam Books).

Here is a ground-breaking book that takes on skeptics from both sides of the cosmological debate, arguing that science and the Bible are not at odds concerning the origin of the universe.

Schroeder, Gerald L., The Hidden Face of God: Science Reveals the Ultimate Truth (Touchstone).

“Theology is not simply a matter of interpreting scriptures, be it the Bible, the Koran or the Tao Te Ching. Theology brings us the amazing concept of a Metaphysical Force that brought the physical universe into being. The universe is the physical expression of the metaphysical. All that we know of the putative Creator is found within the physical creation. With this in mind, it is incongruous to describe a theology without the insights of science.”

Gorelik, Robert R., Creation: Reconciling Genesis and the “Big Bang” (Eshav Books)—CDs and Workbook.

“According to the Jewish calendar—this is the year 5770. The age of the universe is exactly the age derived from the generations as they are listed in the Bible—approximately 58 centuries! The age of the universe, according to the “Big Bang” theory, is the elapsed time between the Big Bang and the present day. The current scientific consensus holds this to be about 15 billion years. What do we do with the scientific data that tends to support this view? Is science really in conflict with the creation account of Genesis? These are some of the questions that this seminar will bring to light so that we can appreciate and understand the basis for the scientific discoveries we now have made, and more fully appreciate the amazing revelation of Scripture.”

Software

BibleWorks—www.bibleworks.com

BibleWorks is the premier original languages Bible software program. It comes with Greek, Hebrew, and Septuagint Bibles for your computer, as well as translations in English, German, Spanish, and many other languages! Why use it? BibleWorks is a tightly integrated collection of software tools designed specifically for analyzing the texts of the Bible. BibleWorks was designed from the ground up to provide the best possible computer tools for scholarly study of the Bible.

Soncino Classics Collection—www.davka.com

A “searchable” collection of Rabbinic texts that includes the Mishnah, the Babylonian Talmud, the Midrash Rabbah and the Zohar.

The Book of Legends (Sefer HaAggadah)—www.davka.com

“A fully searchable translation of Sefer Ha-Aggadah, the legends and maxims of Rabbinic literature.

Torah/Tenach

Asher, Bachya ben, Rabbi, trans. by Eliyahu Munk, Midrash Rabbeinu Bachya (Torah Commentary by Rabbi Bachya ben Asher), Seven volumes, (Lambda Publishers).

Chafetz Chaim, The Concise Book of Mitzvoth: The Commandments Which Can Be Observed Today (Fieldheim Pub).

Chavel, Charles B., trans., The Commandments: Sefer Ha-Mitzvoth of Maimonides (The Soncino Press).

Chill, Abraham, The Mitzvot: The Commandments and Their Rationale (Keter Books/Bloch Publishing Co.)

Miller, Chaim, Rabbi, compiler, Chumash, The Gutnick Edition, Five volumes (Kol Menachem).

Scherman, Rabbi Nosson, Stone Edition Tanach, Torah/Prophets/Writings, The 24 books of the bible newly translated and annotated, (Artscroll/Mesorah).

WORD STUDIES

Girdlestone, Robert Baker, Girdlestone's Synonyms of the Old Testament; Their Bearing on Christian Doctrine (Baker Book House).

A useful tool in helping to understand more fully the meaning of the Greek and Hebrew words that lie behind the English words in the texts of our translations.

Novak, Al, Hebrew Honey(J. Countryman Publishers).

“A simple and deep word study of the Old Testament.”

Novak, Al, More Hebrew Honey(J. Countryman Publishers).

“A simple and deep word study of the Old Testament.”

Robertson, Archibald Thomas, Word Pictures in the New Testament, Vol. I-VI (Baker Book House).

An expository study of the New Covenant scripture with an emphasis on explaining the various Hebrew and Greek idioms preserved in the text.

Unger, Merrill F. & White, William Jr. (ed.), Nelson's Expository Dictionary of the Old Testament (Thomas Nelson Publishers).

This comprehensive study tool will help the student without Hebrew training trace the root and development of biblical words from the original tongue.

Vine, W. E., Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words (Fleming H. Revell Company).

A study tool that helps explain the meaning of New Testament words.

Vine, W. E., An Expository Dictionary of Old Testament Words (Fleming H. Revell Company).

A study tool that helps explain the meaning of Old Testament words.