“The Jewish Study Bible” from Oxford University Press

I received a copy of “The Jewish Study Bible” for review from Oxford University Press. I first became interested in this amazing book when I signed up for an online course at Harvard. The class is one I found at iTunes U called The Hebrew Scriptures in Judaism and Christianity. Wonderful course. I strongly recommend this ap to anyone wanting to further their education in their spare time. Knowledge is so important. OK, I know back to the book.

I love”The Jewish Study Bible” It is in essence the Old Testament with annotations and historical explanations of the Torah – Nevi’im – Kethuvim.  If you really want to understand the Bible from a Jewish perspective this is the perfect book for you. Yes It is the same Old Testament, but it also includes many essays as well as  backgrounds of languages, canonization etc… There are also many maps and diagrams included for further study.

Is “The Jewish Study Bible” hard to read? I don’t think so. Now I have taken a few college courses, but am by no means a super scholar. There are some words you might need to get the old dictionary out on. I found that the majority of the book is self explanatory and highly informative.

Here is OUP’s description of “The Jewish Study Bible”:

Featuring
The Jewish Publication Society TANAKH Translation Torah ” Nevi’im ” KethuvimAdele Berlin (University of Maryland) &
Marc Zvi Brettler (Brandeis University), Editors
Michael Fishbane (Divinity School, University of Chicago), Consulting Editor

Now, readers of the Bible who are interested in studying Jewish traditions have an unparalleled resource specifically tailored for their needs.

The Jewish Study Bible presents the center of gravity of the Scriptures where Jews experience it (i.e., in Torah). It offers readers the fruits of various schools of Jewish traditions of biblical exegesis (rabbinic, medieval, mystical, etc.) and provides them with extensive supplementary materials that aid in bringing the ancient text to life. The nearly forty contributors to the Jewish Study Bible represent the cream of Jewish biblical scholarship from the world over. No knowledge of Hebrew is required for one to make use of this unique volume.

The JSB’s content reflects both contemporary biblical scholarship and the richness of Jewish tradition. Anyone interested in acquiring a fuller understanding of the riches of the Bible will benefit from reading the Jewish Study Bible.

KEY FEATURES:

• Section and book introductions that deliver insights into the background, structure, and meaning of the text.
• Running commentary beside the biblical text that provides in-depth theological interpretation of it from the Jewish perspective.
• 24 informative essays on topics that relate to Judaism’s use and interpretation of the Bible through the ages.
• 25 in-text maps and diagrams.
• 6 tables and charts.
• 21-page Glossary of technical terms found in the study notes and commentary.
• 38-page Index to the volume’s study materials.
• 11 pages of authoritative, full-color New Oxford Bible Maps, with index.

About the translation used in The Jewish Study Bible:
A committee of esteemed scholars and rabbis from the Orthodox, Conservative and Reform Judaism movements produced the TANAKH translation (1985) for The Jewish Publication Society.

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“Good Riddance to Clutter”

I am one of those people that loves kitchen gadgets. I use most of them several times a year , but there are a few that are really just taking up space. You know the stuff you buy because you know someday you will use it. Yeah , it’s now been three years since I bought the candy molds and still haven’t made anything in em. Trouble with this pattern is CLUTTER. I received a copy of “Good Riddance to Clutter” that will hopefully help me out. I love this book. It uses common issues and describes em in a humorous way to show us all how truly ridiculous it is to keep so much stuff around. Don’t get me wrong my house is usually neat as a pin, but open the cabinets and they are full. Very full. Shoot, my collection of recipes that I have printed from the internet or torn from magazines made a pile in itself. “Good Riddance to Clutter”shows ways to go through your entire house and get rid of those things you don’t need, or even want if you think about it. The book taught me to do ONE room at a time. We often get overwhelmed trying to do it all at once. I started with that pile of recipes. I ended up with a well organized collection that is divided into categories so I can actually find the recipe I am looking for. I also had a really big stack of stuff to recycle. Guess what else I found. Some room in the cabinet they ones I don’t want were in. Yeah space. I really recommend  “Good Riddance to Clutter” for yourself you your family member or friend that is a pack-rat.

Description from website:

Good Riddance Showing Clutter the Door answers the question: Is it possible to lose 25 years of clutter with utter glee?  It is when you surrender your CRUD (completely ridiculous unworthy debris), according to know-it-all professional organizers, Heather Knittel and Susan Borax. Short of an actual intervention, their book Good Riddance  Showing Clutter the Door identifies the top 100 house-cluttering culprits most deserving of eviction, and how to send them packing. Susan and Heather skewer the useless infestation of belongings that everyone inexplicably keeps. Instead of cringing, the reader will be laughing her way to clutter reduction in less time than it would take to alphabetize her compact discs, spend her tax refund or get her husband to replace a leaky showerhead.

“Everyone has accumulated junk they need like a hole in the head. We call this stuff CRUD (Completely Ridiculous Useless Debris). These 101 household items are what stand between you and a happy home life.”

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Plate to Pixel: Digital Food Photography and Styling

  Let’s face it. Photographs make pages pop. I took a photography class in high school, but now that I have a blog I realize I want to be able to use my camera to it’s fullest. I was so happy when Wiley Publishing asked if I wanted to review Plate to Pixel: Digital Food Photography and Styling. This is a fantastic book. Not only does it show you how to arrange food better so it looks great. The book also explains how to properly use natural and artificial lighting and so many other things. This is really important if you really want great photos. Don’t worry they start with the basics so no matter what level photographer you are you can learn . Hopefully y’all will see a big difference in the photographs that I take.

Check out the Table of Contents to see what you’re going to learn:

Chapter One: Photography Basics

Chapter Two: Camera Settings and Modes.

Chapter Three: Natural Light Photography

Chapter Four: Artificial Light Photography.

Chapter Five: Composition

Chapter Six: Setting Up for Capture.

Chapter Seven: Styling.

Chapter Eight: After Capture.

Tips and techniques for making food look good—before it tastes good!Food photography is on the rise, with the millions of food bloggers around the word as well as foodies who document their meals or small business owners who are interested in cutting costs by styling and photographing their own menu items, and this book should serve as your first course in food photography. Discover how the food stylist exercises unique techniques to make the food look attractive in the finished product. You’ll get a taste of the visual know-how that is required to translate the perceptions of taste, aroma, and appeal into a stunning, lavish finished photograph.

• Takes you through the art and techniques of appetizing food photography for everyone from foodies to food bloggers to small business owners looking to photograph their food themselves
• Whets your appetite with delicious advice on food styling, lighting, arrangement, and more
• Author is a successful food blogger who has become a well-known resource for fellow bloggers who are struggling with capturing appetizing images of their creations

So, have the cheese say, “Cheese!” with this invaluable resource on appetizing food photography.

Author Bio: Hélène Dujardin is a professional food photographer and stylist. Her images grace the pages of numerous cookbooks and magazines, and as a former chef she also prepares the majority of the dishes she photographs. Her blog, Tartelette, has earned high praise in the food blog community.

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“MOMumental” by Jennifer Grant Giveaway

  Y’all ready for another giveaway? This one is for a fun new Jennifer Grant book called “Momumental”. This book takes a hilarious look at parenting and what it takes to be a good Mom. Raising a child never quite turns out the way we expect. We all see the perfect scenario when we look to the future, but diapers, teething and homework always win out. I love Jennifer’s natural writing style. In the book she explains how…more

“From the Ground Up” by James Villas

I want to tell y’all about a fantastic new cookbook I got to test out. “From the Ground Up” by James Villas show so many great recipes for using ground meats of all sorts. This book is not limited to ground beef. Want to read more…