The Torah: Portion-by-Portion

The Torah: Portion-by-Portion is the choice du jour for Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation or for serious adults who want to discover the present state of Bible studies. (It's great for preparing a d'var Torah, too!)

As always Rabbi Rossel draws on so much challenging and insightful material for the teacher and student. He facilitates the ongoing dialogue with the text and the narrative that keeps alive for a new generation Torah as a living and dynamic conversation between the Eternal and the Jewish people. He never loses sight of the call of the Divine or our people’s response. At the same time he remains faithful to the very best of modern critical theory. This is a text that is loyal to history, Jewish destiny and the covenant. -- Rabbi Sheldon Zimmerman, Jewish Center of the Hamptons

The Storybook Haggadah

Choose the Haggadah used at the Seder of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem!

With sparklingly clear stories, readable font, and child-friendly messages, Rabbi Rossel offers a festive Passover Haggadah for families. Text is simplified, but not over-simplified, and follows traditional order in Hebrew and English, from basic blessings to table songs. What stands out is what Rossel adds for understanding. Difficult passages are broken down into phrases and explained. He intersperses fifteen stories that smoothly link Biblical characters and Exodus events with Jewish values and modern heritage. -- Jewish Book World Magazine

Bible Dreams

Revised Second Edition -- Paperback!

Engagingly and informatively written by Seymour Rossel (a Reform rabbi with many years of experience giving lectures and teaching workshops on the Bible and dreams), Bible Dreams: The Spiritual Quest is a thoughtful and thought-provoking guide intended for Christians, Jews, and anyone else seeking to better understand and acquire a heightened spiritual awareness. Individual chapters cogently address how dreams in the Bible affect human destinies, the wisdom that lies in classic scriptural parables, the potential for healing and transformation through faith, and much, much more. A deeply spiritual outreaching, Bible Dreams: The Spiritual Quest is enthusiastically commended to the attention of non-specialist general readers with an interest in religion, spirituality, metaphysics, and the Bible. -- Midwest Book Review

The Essential Jewish Stories

Order now on Amazon!

Seymour Rossel has gathered a lifetime's knowledge and study of Jewish stories into one inspiring collection. He draws widely from rabbinic texts, kabbalistic teachings, and Hasidic tales. His notes and sources greatly assist the reader and enrich the book. This one belongs in every Jewish library. -- Howard Schwartz, author of Tree of Souls: The Mythology of Judaism

Rossel presents a rich collection of the narratives of Judaism, a religion that tells the truth in narrative form. A whole new generation is invited to join the story-tradition. -- Jacob Neusner, Distinguished Service Professor of the History and Theology of Judaism; Senior Fellow, Institute of Advanced Theology, Bard College, author of Judaism: The Basics

Through these stories we can understand the Jewish mind at work. This is a book for your bedside, for the classroom and synagogue, and above all for your soul. It is a book for all Jews, scholars and those beginning their Jewish journeys, young and old alike, and for those who would come close to the Jewish essence. You will be nourished for years to come. -- Rabbi Sheldon Zimmerman, Jewish Center of the Hamptons, NY; author of The Family Prayerbook

For anyone who has ever asked "what's the story?" Seymour Rossel's book is a God-send. It is filled with stories from the entire sweep of Jewish history -- tales that will move you to tears and to laughter. We have needed this deeply rich resource for quite some time. Rabbis, educators, cantors, parents and everyday Jews will find it a blessing. -- Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin, Temple Israel, Columbus, GA, author of Putting God On The Guest List: How To Reclaim The Spiritual Meaning of Your Child's Bar or Bat Mitzvah

A Child's Bible: Lessons from the Torah

Since 1987, A Child's Bible has been the best-selling Bible series for elementary grades and remains a classic.

This book is the first of a two book series which collectively cover the Hebrew bible. The first book covers the Torah. The second covers the balance of the Bible. Stories are presented in order of their appearance in the Bible. Each book contains 18 stories. Each story is told concisely over two pages, followed by activities to review comprehension. The books are nicely illustrated. My boys, ages 4, 6, and 11, all enjoy the stories and activities. The stories, which make great bedtime stories, are presented well to be understandable and interesting for children. -- Bob Balaban

A Child's Bible: Lessons from the Prophets and Writings

Unique in covering both the Prophets and the Writings, the second volume of the Child's Bible series retains its place as a classic for elementary grade children.

Simple and effective way to expose & teach young children about the Torah. Also can be helpful as preparation for Bar/Bat Mitzvah. -- Henry Alagem

When a Jew Prays (The Jewish Values Series)

A Judaic guide to prayer discussing why we pray, the different kinds of prayer, formal and informal ways of praying, the motions and emotions of Jewish prayer, and the importance of prayer in our life.

When a Jew Seeks Wisdom: The Sayings of the Fathers (The Jewish Values Series)

A Jewish teenager's guide to Pirke Avot ("The Sayings of the Fathers"), arranged by thematic topics of immediate concern to adolescents.

Introduction to Jewish History

This book provides an effortless transition from childhood Bible tales to purposeful study of the Jewish past. Simple stories present the highlights of Jewish history from the age of the patriarchs to the destruction of the Second Temple, and from the Bar Kochba rebellion to the completion of the Talmud. Children will grasp the historical continuity essential to the development of a confident Jewish identity.

Journey through Jewish History

The journey of the Jewish people from the beginning of the Diaspora to the present day, presented in simple story form. This volume picks up where Introduction to Jewish History leaves off, rounding out a comprehensive two-volume course in Jewish history.

Let Freedom Ring: A History of the Jews in the United States

This fascinating saga spans over 300 years in 96 concise pages, brought to life with over 100 photographs and illustrations. The first group of Jewish immigrants, 23 in number, settled in New Amsterdam in 1654. Today, there are millions of Jews in the United States. This page-turning volume transports young people from pre-Colonial America all the way to the present and asks them to consider their own roles in the next chapter of Jewish American history.

The Holocaust: The World and the Jews, 1933-1945

Over 100 photographs, excerpts from Nazi documents and transcripts, maps, diaries, and records kept by the victims invite the reader to investigate the Holocaust as scholars do.

Thought-provoking, informative, and stimulating. This is one of the best books in the field. -- Elie Wiesel

What a superb book that deals with such a difficult topic. As a teacher I highly recommend this selection to all who are studying or researching the Holocaust or World War II. -- Amazon customer comment

A Spiritual Journey: The Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah Handbook

A Spiritual Journey is a guide to the practical issues of becoming a bar or bat mitzvah and an exploration of the deeper emotional and spiritual elements, inviting young adults and their families to appreciate the ritual's inherent richness and beauty. Young folk and their parents will benefit from this thoughtful examination of the ceremonies that lie at the heart of Jewish identity. A Spiritual Journey ensures that the ceremony sets Jewish young adults on a lifelong path toward wisdom, faith, justice, and peace.

A Congregation of Learners: Transforming the Synagogue into a Learning Community

This volume, edited by Isa Aron, Sara Lee, and Seymour Rossel compiles papers of scholars, educators, and congregational leaders that laid the foundations for the Reform movement's Experiment in Congregational Education. The introductory essay by Sara Lee and Seymour Rossel provides the basic overview that ties the philosophical issues together.

A Thousand and One Chickens

The arrogant and foolish king of the kingdom of Chelm precipitates a situation whose solution brings the royal family together with an ordinary family. Join the adventures of the befuddled nobility of Chelm as they consult the kingdom's three "sages." Jewish wisdom and Jewish humor in one charming story for all ages, from "one to one thousand and one."

Managing the Jewish Classroom: How to Transform Yourself into a Master Teacher

Jewish teachers will discover new skills and unlock their own potential while becoming master teachers. Included are techniques for classroom management, communication, relevancy and much more. The latest edition contains added subjects and significant rewriting.

Sefer Ha-Aggadah The Book of Legends for Young Readers Volume 1
Out of Print

Based on the classic Sefer Ha-Aggadah by Bialik & Ravnitsky, volume 1 of The Book of Legends for Young Readers includes traditional stories told about early and biblical Jewish heroes and heroines.

Sefer Ha-Aggadah The Book of Legends for Young Readers Volume 2
Out of Print

Based on the classic Sefer Ha-Aggadah by Bialik & Ravnitsky, volume 2 of The Book of Legends for Young Readers includes traditional stories told about "the sages" -- the wise men and women of the Talmud.

Lessons from Our Living Past
Out of Print

Edited by Rabbi Jules Harlow, this hard-to-find collection of classic stories Jewish parents need to tell their children includes many tales retold by Seymour Rossel.

Israel: Covenant People, Covenant Land
Out of Print

This is the history of the Land of Israel, its people, and its faith. It is also the history of God's covenant with the people of Israel, a powerful idea that continues to shape the world in which we live.