INDEX

A
Aaron Bar Asher, 22
Abdur-Rahman III, 153
Abelard, Peter, 56
Abraham, 45, 96, 131, 146
Abraham ben David of Posquières, Rabbi (the Ravad), 257–58
Abravanel, Don Isaac, 62
Abravanel, Dona Benvenida, 185–87
Abudraham, Rabbi David, 39–40
acoustics, 219
Adam, 45, 80
adultery, 141
Aeneas, 257
Afghanistan, 43
afterlife, 101–5, 287
Agag, 143
Aggadah, 223, 285
Akiva, Rabbi, 216
Akkadian, 78, 147
Albo, Rabbi Joseph, 143
alchemy, 178
Aleppo, 23
Bible Codex (Crown, Keter), 22
Alexander II, Czar, 12, 13
Alexandria, 263
Alkabetz, Rabbi Solomon, 130
al-Rumi, Jalal ad-Din, 34
Amalek, 128, 143
Ammonites, 128
Amorites, 148
Amsterdam, 87–90
Andrew of St. Victor, 53
angels, 148, 230–32
animals, 60, 101–5, 261
kosher, 104
Antiochus IV Epiphanes, 72, 288
anti-Semitism, 10, 184
Antoninus, 175
ants, 282
queen of, 282
Antz (Dreamworks), 281
archives, 16
arendars, 198, 199, 200
Aristotle, 103
Ashkenazic Jews, 18, 40, 74, 93, 285
Asia Pacific Economic Summit, 145
atonement, 130, 161
attics, 225
Augustine, Saint, 62
Azriel, Rabbi, 208

B
Ba’al Shem Tov, Rabbi Israel, 104, 180, 288
Bactria, 44
Badis, 153
Bahya ben Asher, Rabbi, 130
Balaam, 271
Balkh, 44
ball-playing, 235–38
bandits, 23, 190
banks, 183–87
Canadian, 183
Barak, Ehud, 21
Bathsheba, 140–41
bears, 167–69
beauty, 83–86
beggars, 119–23, 175
Bekhor-Shor, Rabbi Joseph, 61
Ben Kamsar, 4–5
Ben-Yehudah, Eliezer, 267
Ben-Zvi, Yitzhak, 25
Berakhiah, Rabbi, 244
Berbers, 156
best man (shoshbin), 78–81
Bible, 297
and horses, 269
commentators, 17, 44, 51–56, 61, 72, 128, 129, 130, 146, 230
Bingo, 133
blindness, 146
Boluggin, 153
Book of the Pious (Sefer Hassidim), 116, 117
Bre-X Minerals, 177, 179
Brooks, Mel, 206
Brussels, 88, 89
Buber, Martin, 34
Buddhism, 66, 67
Zen, 67
Bug’s Life (Disney-Pixar), 281
Busang, 177

C
Cairo, 23
Calgary, 119, 133, 177
Stampede, 34, 269
Candia, 116, 192
Cannibalism, 276
capital punishment, 279
capitalism, 195
card-playing, 135
Caro, Rabbi Joseph, 296
carpenters, 205
Cassuto, M. D., 24
Castille, 110–11
Catalonia, 198
censorship, 12–13
Czarist, 11
census, 127–32
Cervantes, Miguel de, 216
Chajes, Rabbi Zvi Hirsch, 4, 5
charity, 119–23, 175, 191, 293, 299
Chaucer, Geoffrey, 216
Christianity, 3, 5, 32, 45, 51–56, 59, 62, 77, 88, 97, 98, 141, 178–80, 184, 198, 249, 275–76
Christmas, 135
circumcision, 72–74, 73, 109, 111, 286
Clinton, Bill, 139
closing the synagogue, 114–17
Cologne, 115
Columbia, 189
comedy, physical, 205–9
commandments, 38
competition, 196–200
Conservative Judaism, 39
consumers, 195–200
Cordoba, 152, 155
counting worshippers, 129
courts, 78, 114, 115, 134, 153, 159, 160, 179, 213
Crimean War, 10
Crusaders, 192

D
d’Acosta, Uriel, 89
Da Pisa, Abraham, 185
Da Rieti, Ishmael, 185, 186, 187
David, King, 128, 139–43, 155
Davin of Caderousse, 5, 6
Day of Atonement, 300
Dayan, Moshe, 267
de Barrios, David Levi, 88–90
de Barrios, Don Miguel, 88–90
de Pina, Abigail, 89–90
de Somni, Leone, 136
Dead Sea Scrolls, 17
De-Arli, Rabbi Joseph, 186
debt, 173–76
demons, 74, 230, 276–77
deregulation, of public utilities, 195
Dervishes, 33
dice, 134
dietary laws, 255, 290
divorce, 142
dolphins, 256–57
donkeys, 270–71
Dov Ber of Mezritch, Rabbi, 104
dress codes, 98
drugs, 247–51

E
East Prussia, 11
Ecclesiastes, 101, 121, 215–19, 242–45, 270
Ecclesiastes Rabbah, 101, 121
Egypt, 174, 192, 235, 263
sages of, 230
Eidels Rabbi Samuel (Maharsha), 223
Eleazar of Worms, Rabbi, 230
Elijah, 167, 175
Elisha, 147, 166–69, 221–25
Enlightenment, 47
Ensisheim and Wasserberg, fortresses, 191
environmental crisis, 168
environmental movement, 165–69
Essenes, 161
estries, 276–80
ethics, 200, 214, 225
Ettinger, Rabbi Isaac Aaron, 200
evil eye, 130, 174, 176
Ezra, 22

F
Falk, Rabbi Samuel Jacob Hayyim, 180
Fearless Vampire Killers, 275
Feinstein, Rabbi Moses, 98
Ferrara, 216
festivals, 236
Fez, 112
Fifteenth of Av, 84
first-borns, sanctification of, 255
Forli, 110, 111, 112
France, 40, 114, 236
Frankfort, 112
free enterprise, 195–200
frog, giant, 231–32
funerals, 72, 74
Fürth, 111, 115

G
gambling, 133–36, 237
Gan Eden, 287
genetic mutation, 255
Genghis Khan, 44
Genizah, 16, 287
Cairo, 17, 38, 39, 46, 114, 134, 192, 287
European, 15–19
Italian, 17
Germany, 40, 114, 236, 285
Gerona, 18
Gershom, Rabbenu, 115
Talmud commentary by disciples of, 256
gifts, 77–79, 111
promotional, to children, 196
Gnostics, 45
God
and Israel, 80
names of, 4, 5, 31–34
Golden Age of Spanish Jewry, 154
Golem, 179
Gore, Al, 151
Granada, 152–56
Great Assembly, 243
Greeks, 243, 271
Gutenberg, Johannes, 6

H
Hai Ga’on, 72–73
Hakuin Ekaku, 67–68
halakhah, 5, 17, 79, 96, 104, 155, 196, 197, 212–14, 236–38, 248, 255, 288
Ha-Maggid, 11
Ha-Melitz, 12–13
Hananel of Kairowan, Rabbi, 248
Hanina, Rabbi, 122, 231, 232
Hanukkah, 72, 288
Hassidei Ashkenaz (German Jewish pietists), 276–79
Hassidism, 103, 104, 288
health, guides to, 229–32
Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 23
herbs, medicinal, 230–32
Hertz, Chief Rabbi Joseph, 56
Hezekiah, King, 230
Hillel, 161
School of, 212–13
Hiwi al-Balkhi, 44–47
Hiyya son of Rav, 247
holiness, 224
hospitality, 225
hostage-taking, 189–93
Hugh of St. Victor, 53–54

I
Ibn Ezra, Rabbi Abraham, 44–45, 146
Ibn Ghayat, Rabbi Isaac, 73
Ibn Habib, Rabbi Jacob, 223, 224, 225
Ibn Migash, Rabbi Joseph Hallevi, 198
Ibn Nagrela, Rabbi Samuel Ha-Nagid, 152–56
Ibn Shaprut, Hasdai, 153
impurity, 162
incense, 261–64
India, sages of, 230
Indonesia, 177
informers, 215
Inquisition, 18
insects, 281
interruption of worship, 114–17
Isaiah, 51–52
Ishmael, Rabbi, 85
Islamic law, 3
Isserles, Rabbi Moses, 93–96, 296
Italy, 184–87, 216, 235

J
Jacob, 216
Jacob Tam, Rabbi, 73, 115, 208
Jair, 148
Japan, 67–68
Jason, 257
Jehoiada, 129
Jeremiah, 73, 122
Jericho, 167, 168
Jerome, Saint, 62
Jerusalem, 12, 23, 25–26, 40, 72, 84, 86, 119, 122, 129, 140, 261, 267, 273
Jesus, 51, 52, 59
Jewish Bride (painting by Rembrandt), 87–90
Jewish Publication Society of America, 56
Joachim II of Brandenburg, 179
Joash, King, 129
Joseph, 151–52, 174
Joshua, 243–44
Joshua ben Levi, Rabbi, 249
journalism, 9–13
Judah bar Ilai, Rabbi, 38, 196
Judah ben Simeon, Rabbi, 121
Judah the Pious, Rabbi, 276
Judah the Prince, Rabbi, 83, 175, 293
Judah, Rav, 193, 256
Justinian’s Code, 212

K
Kabbalah, 103, 179, 289
practical, 179
Kara, Rabbi Joseph, 17
Karaites, 46, 134, 289
Kenaz, 148
ketubbah, 192, 289
Khorasan, 43
kidnapping, 189–93
Kiev, 12
King James Bible, 31, 55, 60, 63
koan, 67
Kook, Rabbi Abraham Isaac, 98
Korah, 175
Koreh Ha-’Ittim (Yiddish newspaper), 10

L
Lampronti, Rabbi Isaac, 216–19
Leone Arieh de Modena, Rabbi, 136
Levi, Rabbi, 215–18
Levine, Aaron, 200
Lewinsky, Monica, 139
libations, 262
Lieberman, Joseph, 151
liquor, 198, 199
Lithuania, 112
liturgy, 17, 38, 47, 113
Loew of Prague, Rabbi (Maharal), 179, 250
London, 180
Bridge, 180
Lot, 146–47
Luntshitz, Rabbi Ephraim, 117
Luther, Martin, 179

M
Macedonia, sages of, 230
magic, 178
Maimonides, Rabbi Moses, 22, 23, 62, 78, 102, 103, 262, 264, 290
majority, definition of, 159–63
Manicheans, 45
mannah, 45
Mantua, 136, 217–18, 235
manuscripts, 15–19, 23, 40, 54
marijuana, 247
Marranos, 88–90
Marx, Karl, 251
Masorah, 22–23
Masoretes, 22
Mayence, 97, 256
Mayse Bukh, 231
Medians, 216
Medici, Cosimo de’, 184
medicine, 249–51
Meir of Rothenburg, Rabbi, 191
Me’iri, Rabbi Menahem, 248
mermaids, 257
Messiah, 51, 175, 291
Metz, 111 mezuzah, 5, 291
Midrash, 45, 53, 80, 101, 140–41, 148, 166–67, 205, 215–17, 242, 244–45, 249, 257, 272, 277, 291
Mintz, Rabbi Meir, 94–95
minyan (prayer quorum), 117, 129, 292
Minyat Zifta (Egyptian village), 134
miracles, 45, 147, 169, 221
Mishnah, 4, 34, 78–79, 84–85, 121, 129, 134, 162, 175, 178, 190–91, 196, 198, 206, 212–13, 262, 292–93, 297
modesty, 225
Moelin, Rabbi Jacob (Maharil), 95, 97
monopolies, 186–87, 197–98
monsters, 276–77
Moravia, 112
Mordecai, 151
Moses, 33, 45, 80, 127, 140, 148, 242, 249, 263, 270
murder, 61
music, 261–62
classical, 261
Mu’tazila, 102
mysticism, 33, 68
mythology, 89
Greek, 257

N
Nahmanides, Rabbi Moses, 18, 73, 198, 293
Nathan the Prophet, 140
Nicholas of Lyra, 55
Noah, 230
Book of, 230
North Battleford, Saskatchewan, 165

O
Odenathus, 193
Odessa, 11–13
Odysseus, 257–58
Orthodoxy
“Ultra-”, 120
modern, 4
Ouziel, Chief Rabbi Ben-Zion, 25

P
Palazzo del Té (Mantua), 217–18
Palmyra, 193
Papa bar Naser, 192
Pappa bar Abba, 208
Pappa, Rav, 284
parables, 243–44
Parego, Abraham, 136
Passover
matzah, 275, 291
offering, 162
seder, 232
Patriarch (Nasi), 65–66
Paul, 38, 39
pelota, 236
people of the book, 3
pepper spray, 145
Petronius, 276
Pharaoh, 52, 148
Pharisees, 161, 271
philosophy, 17, 33, 45, 47, 62
pigeon-racing, 134
Pines, Yechiel Michel, 267
Pirkei Avot, 83, 219, 293
Pisa, 185
Plato, 39
Plautus, 174
poetry, 88, 90, 154–55
Poland, 117, 198–99
poverty, 85, 120
prayer, 37, 40, 74, 104, 115, 116, 230, 261, 286, 296
preachers, 174
prices, 195
printing, 3–6, 12, 17, 18, 200
Protestant Reformation, 55
Provencal, Rabbi Moses ben Abraham, 236–38
providence, 103
Psalms, 250

Q
Qallir, Eleazar, 72
Qur’an, 155

R
ransom, 190–93
Raphael, angel, 230
Rashi (Rabbi Solomon ben Isaac), 4, 17, 53, 55, 73, 130, 146, 168–69, 208, 216, 247–48, 256, 257–58, 262–63, 294
Rav, 221–25, 247
Rava, 122
Red Sea
parting of, 45
redemption, 51
Redemption of the first-born (Pidyon Ha-Ben), 72–73
Reform Judaism, 97
rehabilitation, 214
Reinhart, Norbert, 189
Reischer, Rabbi Jacob, 85–86
Rembrandt, 87–90
Renaissance, 136, 180, 235–36
repentance, 104, 142, 213–14
responsa, 94, 96, 186, 191, 198, 200, 236, 294
restitution, 214
Rhineland, 112, 116
Rokeah, Rabbi Eliezer, 279
Roman law, 213
Romans, 61, 72, 85, 175, 212, 215, 243, 271, 276
Royal Canadian Mounted
Police, 145, 149
Rudoph, Emperor, 191
Russia, 9–13, 40

S
Sa’adia Ga’on, 44–45, 102
Sabbath, 116, 236–38, 277, 295
sacrifices, 161, 162, 230
Sadducees, 161
St. Victor, Abbey of, 53–56
Samaria, 148
Samuel (Babylonian rabbi), 214, 221–25
Samuel ben Meir (Rashbam), 61–62, 248
Sardinia, 134
Sasportas. Rabbi Jacob, 89
satire, 135, 155
Saul, King, 128, 143
Scaino, Antonio, 235
Schechter, Solomon, 288
Schopenhauer, Arthur, 39
Schreiber, Rabbi Moses (the Hassam Sofer), 94–100
science, 17
Sefer Hasidim, 276–79
Segnori, Paulo, 219
Seneca, 241–42, 245
Sepharadic Jews, 97, 295–96
Sephoris, 250
Septuagint, 31, 62, 270
sermons, 141, 238
Seville, 154
Sforno, Rabbi Obadiah, 130, 277
Shabbetai Zvi, 89, 180
Shammai, 161
School of, 212
Shulhan Arukh, 93, 160, 296
Shunamite woman, 221
Sifra, 257
Silbermann, Eliezer, 11
Simeon ben Gamaliel, Rabban, 86
Simeon ben Halafta, Rabbi, 283
Simeon ben Laqish, Rabbi, 65–66
sin, 121, 130, 143, 161
Sinai, Mount, 242
slaughter, ritual, 60, 102–5
slaughterers, 103
Slonik, Rabbi Benjamin, 5
Socrates, 39
Sodom, 146, 147, 148
and Gomorrah, 45
Solomon, King, 215, 230, 232, 270, 281
soul, 103
sound, 261–64
Spain, 18, 88, 143, 152–56, 192, 235, 295
Expulsion from, 18
Islamic, 198
speech, human power of, 250
Spinoza, Baruch Benedict, 89
Star of David, 180
Starr, Kenneth, 139
stolen property, 211–14
suffering servant, 52
Suharto, Indonesian President, 145
sumptuary laws, 110, 111, 112
synagogue, 16, 24, 37, 47, 94–98, 110, 113–17, 129, 135, 141, 192, 219, 238, 278, 279, 280
Syria, 21–26
king of, 147

T
Taliban, 43
Talmud, 3–6, 17, 32, 37, 38, 44, 53, 65–68, 71–75, 77–80, 84, 98, 120, 129, 131, 134, 140, 143, 155, 159–63, 166, 168, 173–75, 190–93, 196–200, 205–9, 212–14, 216, 218, 221, 230, 236, 241, 247, 255, 261, 265, 270, 276, 283, 297
Jerusalem, 175
taxes, 103, 130, 173–76
Temple of Jerusalem, 31, 34, 129, 162, 261–62, 288, 297
Mount, 86, 272
Second, 129, 160, 271
treasurer, 262
ten lost tribes, 43
tennis, 235–38
clubs, 236
Tennyson, Alfred Lord, 216
Terence, 174
Tetragrammaton, 31–34
t’fillin (“phylacteries”), 5, 297
Thales, 39
Tiberian vocalization system, 22
Tiberias, 22, 66
Timur, 44
tomatoes, 265–68
Torah, 211, 277, 298
appropriation by Christians and heretics, 249
Oral, 244
reading, 114, 116
study, 242, 249
Tosafot, 72, 236, 298
Tosefta, 17, 38, 72
Tower of Babel, 205, 277
trade, international, 197
transmigration of souls, 104
treason, 142
treasure, 174
Tunisia, 192
Tuscany, 184
Twelve Tables, 212

U
United Jewish Appeal, 280
Uriah, 141, 142

V
vampires, 275
Vital, Rabbi Hayyim, 179
voice, 262
Vulgate, 52, 61, 62

W
Wachnacht, 74
Waldvogel, Procopius, 5–6
Walkerton, Ontario, 165
walls have ears, 215–19
Walsh, David, 177
Warshawsky, Samuel, 11
water, 166–69
wedding canopy, 93–98
weddings, 11, 72, 74, 77, 89, 93–98, 109–11
week of the daughter, 73–74
week of the son, 72
welfare agencies, 120, 175
werewolves, 277
wine
testing, 262
witches, 276–80
woman of valor, 83
women, status of, 40, 56, 114
Worms, 97

Y
Yannai, Rabbi, 250
Yellin, David, 267
Yiddish, 10–12, 285–86
Yohanan, Rabbi, 65–68, 142, 214, 262, 263
Yom Kippur, 84, 272, 300
Yosé ben Halafta, Rabbi, 122
Yosef, Rabbi Ovadiah, 98

Z
Zederbaum, Alexander, 12–13
Zhitomir, 11–12
Zioni, Rabbi Menahem, 277–78
Zionist pioneers, 266, 269
Zoroastrians, 45
Zwarts, Jacob, 88–90

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