Those of you lucky enough to be a student of Rabbi Kurland in Sh’or Yoshuv yeshivah will know exactly what I’m referring to when I say that Rabbi Kurland’s style is one of a kind. It’s not just the humor he injects into every lesson—which, by the way, there’s a lot of. (There’s a reason why his book is called A Time to Laugh, A Time to Listen!) It’s also his amazing knack of being able to teach fundamental concepts  in a down-to-earth, concrete way that you’ll find both inspirational and enjoyable. Each gem of an article in this book begins with a good joke, which then leads into a powerful essay that connects pesukim, midrashim, and Gemaras from all over, in a breathtaking display of Rabbi Kurland’s unique manner of teaching.

Ready for a laugh? Want some inspiration? Go ahead; it’s all yours—A Time to Laugh, A Time to Listen.

Here’s a sample…

The Hebrew school teacher was projecting her own heretical views, when she asked her class if they really believed that Jonah was swallowed by a whale and survived. Little Sarah, unabashed, was brave enough to respond:

“Yes! I believe every word of it!”

“Well, how will you prove that it is true?” the dissident teacher asked.

Sarah, not hesitating for a moment, answered, “When I get to Heaven, I’m going to ask Jonah myself!”

“But how do you know that Jonah is in Heaven?” asked the teacher. “Maybe he’s in the other place.”

Sarah didn’t flinch. “Then you ask him!”

Children are bright, resourceful, and quite perceptive, very often putting us adults to shame. One thing is for sure: Any parent or teacher who thinks for a moment that he is “merely dealing with a child” underestimates and misunderstands the “absorbent sponge” and pure-minded phenomenon that stands before him. Everything we do and say will be soaked up by this precious child, either through his unusual sharp senses, or through the process of osmosis. We adults must always be on our best behavior, lest our children’s lasting impressions of us come back to haunt us one day! Read more…

Chanuka is when Jewish publishers, including Israel Book Shop Publications,  release many of their new books. This year in particular, there were many exciting new releases in Judaica stores, many of them innovative and eye catching.  Which books  were the most popular? After polling some of the busiest Judaica stores, who consulted their sales reports, here is our unbiased top ten Judaica book list from the past few weeks and the Chanuka season.  Stay tuned for the kids’ top ten,  and the top five CDs too, coming soon, IY’H! (Note: an ↑ means the book is newer and has been climbing the list, a ↓ means the book is not as new and has been descending.

Honorable mention: Triangle of Despair↓, In Forest Fields, The Beit Hamikdash, A Clever Title Goes Here↑.

Welcome to the Israel Book Shop Publications blog, a new way for Israel Book Shop to connect with readers of the best Jewish books available! The blog features previews and excerpts of recent and popular books, reviews and opinions, and of course, our feedback topics and polls, where we want to hear from you! Whichever of these brought you here, feel free to stick around and check out the others. Read a chapter from one of our recent bestsellers, and let the author know how you feel about it. Vote in our poll, give us your opinion on the pressing questions of the day, and you’ll be automatically entered into our raffles.  Disagree with one of the comments? You can comment on comments, too, and your opinion will post right where it belongs, underneath the comment. Get to know Israel Book Shop, and let us get to know you. Start by reading (and feedback-ing) below!

With Chanukah almost upon us, and many people looking to their local Judaica store for gift purchasing, here’s a quick list of new books as well as a few classics to help you match the appropriate gift to the right recipient. (Remember, you get 20% off by purchasing from our website or from participating retailers!)

Kids Ages 3-6

NEW Two Kings 2

NEW Super Social Skills

The Pekelah Problem

Beckerman Books: My Middos World Series, My Smiling World Series

The Parsha with Rabbi Juravel

Our Beautiful World / The Very First Rainbow

Kids Ages 7-11

NEW Kid Power (Social Skills)

NEW Special Delivery

The Funny Things They Say!

A Journey with Rabbi Juravel Series

Two and a Tevi

Mendel the Mouse

Parsha Pearls

Teens

Channah’s New World

Zeesl’s Shining Moment

Exiled Down Under

Ten and a Kid

Adults / Teens

NEW Shadows on the Moon

NEW Legacy of Leaders II

NEW Through Your Hands-The complete story of Chanukah

NEW A Clever Title Goes Here

NEW Sifsei Chachomim Chumash

NEW Shabbos Not a Day of Rest

NEW Shabbos in a New Light

Diamond in the Rough

Musawi

For Her

NEW Cooking with Color

Understanding Your Child’s Health

NEW Balabusta’s Daily Organizer

NEW Peace in Your Palace

NEW Atara Malach Lectures: Adolescence Series

Adventures in the Produce Aisle

The Dairy Gourmet

The Kosher Palette

The Culinary Connoisseur

For Him

NEW Hilchos Shabbos B’Shabbato

Dirshu Mishna Berurah Vols. 1& 2

Chizuk

Of General Interest

NEW Emergencies in Halachah

A Time to Laugh; A Time to Listen

The Lost Scotch

Heroes of Spirit

My Life on Wheels

The Code of Jewish Conduct

Gift Sets

Metsudah Kitzur Shulchan Aruch

Metsudah Chumash/Rashi

Kav Hayashar Hebrew/English

Metsudah Midrash Tanchuma

Ma’ayanah shel Torah in English

Torahific!

Taryag Encyclopedia

Fundamentals of the Rambam

In the fifty plus years since Israel Book Shop was founded, the world of Jewish literature has evolved from a few siddurim and Chumashim for a fledgling community, to an array of books in all genres for all ages; books which appeal to a flourishing Torah world.

It is characteristic of any established society to express its unique experience through literature. Israel Book Shop Publications is the vanguard of literature in the Orthodox Jewish community.

Israel Book Shop Publications publishes and distributes novels, books on self-help, humor, contemporary halacha, and hashkafah, as well as classic reference books on the Torah. Our books address the Orthodox Jewish community of the 21^st century. Moving forward, we will continue to bring the best contemporary literature to the Orthodox Jewish community. This blog will be, im yirtzeh Hashem, a place for Israel Book Shop to communicate with our customers, listen to feedback from our readers; and a center for Israel Book Shop Publications offers and contests.

Start by answering our first call for feedback. Vote in the “hechsher poll” conveniently located to the right of your screen, then leave an explanation of your comment or opinion in the comments section of the post above. By leaving your comment, you are automatically entered in our drawing. Happy voting (and commenting)!