INTRODUCTION
SCRIBES and SCHOLARSHIP
People of the book
How to start a Jewish Newspaper
The European Genizah
The Crown of Aleppo
HOLINESS and HERESY
Where seldom is heard a mystical word
A dubious blessing
Hiwi the heretic
ENCOUNTERS and ENLIGHTENINGS
Rabbi in the abbey
Thou shall not kill
On the other hand
BABIES, BRIDES, and BURIALS
Birth rites
May the best man win
Beauty versus virtue: An age-old argument
Who was Rembrandt’s Jewish bride?
Beneath the stars
All cows go to Heaven
CONGREGATION and COMMUNITY
Trimming the guest list
Service interruption
Buddy can you spare a dime?
POLICY and PIETY
Taking leave of our census
The wagers of sin
Affairs of state
Prophets, protests, and pepper spray
The Vice-President of Grenada
Majority rules
Baldness, bears, and bottled water
ECONOMICS and ETHICS
Minimizing your assets
Not all that glisters
You can bank on it
Ransom note
The price is right
BUILDINGS and BLESSINGS
Rabbi, watch out for that beam
Beam me up
The walls have ears
Preparing for a prophet
LIFE and LEISURE
Healthy advice from the top authorities
Tennis, anyone?
Keeping the ball in play
Pushing Torah
CREATURES and CURIOSITIES
The siren’s song
The power of the human voice
The love apple
Horse sense
The right vampire
Going to the ants
GLOSSARY
INDEX