May in the US is Jewish American Heritage Month, a celebration that pays tribute to the generations of Jewish Americans who helped form the fabric of American history, culture and society. To mark this we've put together a reading list of books from the Littman Library of Jewish Civilization that explore the heritage and contributions … Continue reading
What is Karaism and Are There Still Karaites?
New from The Littman Library of Jewish Civilization, Karaism by Daniel J. Lasker is the first comprehensive overview of Karaism: its history, unique practices, beliefs, and philosophy, and present-day revival. In this blog post, Lasker reflects on the progress of Karaite studies. Anyone familiar with a typical synagogue would be surprised by this photograph: Men are … Continue reading
Maimonides the Universalist
Maimonides’ Mishneh torah presents not only a system of Jewish law, but also a system of values. Maimonides the Universalist by Menachem Kellner and David Gillis focuses on the moral and philosophical meditations that close each volume of his code. The authors analyse these concluding passages to uncover the universalist outlook underlying Maimonides’ halakhic thought. Read the … Continue reading
Reinventing Maimonides in Contemporary Jewish Thought
Reinventing Maimonides in Contemporary Jewish Thought by James A. Diamond and Menachem Kellner is the first critical study of how Maimonides has been read by leading Orthodox rabbis in our time. It shows that some have tried to liberate themselves from his influence, others have built on his ideas generating vibrant controversy, and yet others … Continue reading
Meet the Littman Library
Founded by Louis Littman in memory of his father to explore, explain, and perpetuate the Jewish heritage, the Littman Library of Jewish Civilization published its first book in 1965. It has gone on to publish many highly regarded titles and has established a reputation as one of the world’s leading publishers in the field. In … Continue reading
Liverpool University Press Blog 