In an age of great spiritual disconnection and alienation from the deepest aspects of our souls, Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel’s A Shepherd’s Song: Psalm 23 and the Shepherd Metaphor in Jewish Thought, takes us on a spiritual journey through the luminous imagery of the shepherd archetype. The transformative power and message intimated by the shepherd metaphor and its history serves to remind us that we are not alone in a universe that is bereft of God’s ethical Presence. Timeless and inspirational, the shepherd metaphor addresses the fundamental relationship between God and man, speaking directly to questions raised by centuries of persecution. What is the nature of suffering in a just universe? How does suffering alter our perceptions of God? How can we rediscover our faith in difficult and challenging times? Rabbi Samuel explores questions of faith that are as old as the story of Job and as modern as the Holocaust.

A Shepherd's Song: Psalm 23 and the Shepherd Metaphor in Jewish Thought

Religion & Spirituality

Samuel, Michael Leo

Judaism

Kodesh Press

The second volume of Torah from Alexandria demonstrates Philo’s full spectrum as a Jewish thinker, where he serves as a story-teller retelling the Exodus, a jurist and counselor in his analysis of the Decalogue and later commandments, and an allegorist in his interpretation of the Tabernacle and its vessels. The unfolding of Jewish tradition is evident in these passages, where sometimes Philo represents the earliest source of a famous rabbinic interpretation, while other times offering insights that remain novel two thousand years after he wrote them. Reclaiming Philo as a Jewish exegete puts him in company with the great luminaries of Jewish history—a position that Philo richly deserves. Philo remains as one of Jewish history’s most articulate spokespersons for ethical monotheism. Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel has meticulously culled from all of Philo’s exegetical comments, and arranged them according to the biblical verses. He provides extensive parallels from rabbinic literature, Greek philosophy, and Christian theology, to present Philo’s writing in the context of his time, while also demonstrating Philo’s unique method of interpretation.

Torah from Alexandria: Philo as a Biblical Commentator

The third volume of Torah from Alexandria sets on display how Philo interpreted the role of the Temple, offerings, festivals, dietary practices, marital laws, and laws of purity. While Philo always remains firmly committed to the importance of the actual religious act, he consistently derives ethical lessons from these ritual practices, thus putting him alongside the great Jewish philosophers of history. Reading Philo alongside Rabbinic wisdom, Greek philosophy, Patristic writers, as well as Medieval and modern authors, breathes new life into the complexities of Leviticus and reinstates Philo’s importance as a biblical exegete.Reclaiming Philo as a Jewish exegete puts him in company with the great luminaries of Jewish history—a position that Philo richly deserves. Philo remains as one of Jewish history’s most articulate spokespersons for ethical monotheism. Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel has meticulously culled from all of Philo’s exegetical comments, and arranged them according to the biblical verses. He provides extensive parallels from rabbinic literature, Greek philosophy, and Christian theology, to present Philo’s writing in the context of his time, while also demonstrating Philo’s unique method of interpretation.

Torah from Alexandria: Philo as a Biblical Commentator (Leviticus)

Philo of Alexandria (20  BCE.--50 CE.) stood at the crossroads of ancient history. Philo was the first  pioneer to integrate Judaic thought with the Stoic, Platonic, and Pythagorean  philosophical traditions. This Alexandrian Jewish philosopher assembled the  very first philosophical, ethical, psychological, exegetical, and theological  commentary on the Torah. As his community’s most prestigious Jewish leader, he  defended Alexandrian Jews from the attacks of anti-Semites, and met with the  capricious Roman Emperor Caligula, calling upon him to respect the ethical  monotheistic beliefs of the Jewish people. As with Josephus, Philo bears  witness to the world’s first protomodern and intellectual Jewish community of  Alexandria, the cultural center of Late Antiquity. Reclaiming Philo as a Jewish  exegete puts him in company with other great luminaries of Jewish history.  Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel has meticulously culled from all of Philo’s exegetical  remarks, arranging them according to the biblical verses. He provides extensive  parallels from the corpus of rabbinical literature, Greek philosophy, and  Christian theology in presenting how Philo impacted the great minds of Late  Antiquity and beyond. Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel is the  son of a Holocaust survivor. He holds two rabbinic ordinations from the Tomchei  Temimim Lubavitch Yeshiva of 770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn and holds a D. Min  degree from the San Francisco Theological Seminary. He is an avid student of  the Greek classics, Biblical and Talmudic scholarship, Jungian Psychology,  Western Medieval Theology, Modern Philosophy, and 20th century psychology. He  is the author of The Lord Is My Shepherd: The Theology of the Caring God  (1996), Birth and Rebirth Through Genesis (2010), A Shepherd’s Song: Psalm 23  and the Shepherd Metaphor In Jewish Thought (2014), and Torah from Alexandria:  Philo as a Biblical Commentator (Volumes, 1-3),(2014-2015) keywords: Torah Commentary, Jewish Philosophy, Ancient  Jewish Thought, 1st Century Judaism, Hellenism and Judaism, Alexandria, Philo  of Alexandria, Rabbi, Samuel

Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria, A First Century Torah Commentator -- Volume IV: Numbers

Literature & Fiction

History & Criticism

First Edition Design Publishing

Rabbi Samuel has done an outstanding service to Philo and to modern readers. In Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria: A First Century Jewish Commentator, Philo's ancient Torah commentary becomes readable and meaningful, exciting and contemporary Rabbi Ari Kahn,  Bar Ilan University,  Author of Echoes of Eden   Philo of Alexandria was the most prolific writer of Hellenistic Judaism in the early first century. Yet, his works have often remained unknown, unread, inaccessible or obscure to many Jewish and Christian readers. Rabbi Samuel's new series, Philo of Alexandria: A First Century Jewish Commentator "cuts to the chase" by conveying the thinking of Philo in a relevant, down-to-earth manner that both scholar and layperson can easily grasp and appreciate. Enhanced by an abundance of cross-references and scholarly notes, this commentary provides new insight and angles of a theological conversation useful to anyone intrigued by this first-century Jewish thinker and exegete. Dr. Marvin Wilson,  Gordon College,  Author of Exploring Our Hebraic Heritage:  A Christian Theology of Roots and Renewal   "This is an excellent introduction into the thinking of a significant philosopher... Rabbi Samuel offers readers a biography of Philo and explains, with notes, what Philo is saying, thereby making his book not only very informative but very readable" Rabbi Israel Drazin,  Author of Onkelos on the Torah:  Understanding the Biblical Text   I do see the value of having Philo's comments on the Pentateuch accessible in this form...all this is done to make Philo speak to a contemporary reading audience. Torrey Seland,  Ph.D. Review of Biblical Literature   Philo of Alexandria (20 BCE.--50 CE.) stood at the crossroads of ancient history. Philo was the first pioneer to integrate Judaic thought with the Stoic, Platonic, and Pythagorean philosophical traditions. This Alexandrian Jewish philosopher assembled the very first philosophical, ethical, psychological, exegetical, and theological commentary on the Torah. As his community's most prestigious Jewish leader, he defended Alexandrian Jews from the attacks of anti-Semites, and met with the capricious Roman Emperor Caligula, calling upon him to respect the ethical monotheistic beliefs of the Jewish people. As with Josephus, Philo bears witness to the world's first protomodern and intellectual Jewish community of Alexandria, the cultural center of Late Antiquity. Reclaiming Philo as a Jewish exegete puts him in company with other great luminaries of Jewish history. Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel has meticulously culled from all of Philo's exegetical remarks, arranging them according to the biblical verses. He provides extensive parallels from the corpus of rabbinical literature, Greek philosophy, and Christian theology in presenting how Philo impacted the great minds of Late Antiquity and beyond.

Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria. A First Century Torah Commentator, Volume V - Deuteronomy (5)

"Philo is one of the great thinkers of the ancient world, yet he no longer remains enigmatic to biblical interpreters. I enthusiastically recommend Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria."
Dr. Marvin Wilson,
Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies
Gordon College, Wenham, MA
"Philo proves to be a staunch supporter of the classical approach to biblical characters, immediately and unequivocally defending them and dispelling any possible negative interpretation of their behavior. In situations where such 'mainstream' commentaries as Nachmanides or Rabbi S.R. Hirsch find fault in the behavior of the matriarchs or patriarchs, Philo is quick to defend; in fact, there are many instances in which he inserts a virtuous spin on seemingly neutral situations...Rabbi Leo Samuel has done an outstanding service, both to Philo and to modern readers. In Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria, Philo’s ancient Torah commentary becomes readable and meaningful, exciting and contemporary. I look forward to future volumes..."
Rabbi Ari D. Kahn,
Echoes of Eden on the Pentateuch
The intellectual fecundity of Philo's era was remarkable. He lived at one of the most creative periods of Western Civilization, as two of the greatest traditions--Semitic and Greek--were continuing to winnow the useful insights of their counterpart's teachings, while they refined their own modes of thoughts and religious expression. Philo became Hellenistic Judaism's greatest philosopher and was the first ancient Judaic thinker to compose a commentary on the Torah. His style of interpretation included the exegetical, legal, linguistic, proto-midrashic, and theological strands of 1st century Jewish thought. Reading Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria offers the reader a glimpse into the unknown world of 1st Hellenistic Judaism, which in many ways resembled the Western world we now inhabit.
Michael Leo Samuel has meticulously culled from all of Philo’s exegetical remarks, arranging them according to the biblical verses. He provides extensive parallels from the corpus of rabbinical literature, Greek philosophy, and Christian theology in presenting how Philo impacted the great minds of Late Antiquity and beyond.
Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel is the son of a Holocaust survivor. He holds two rabbinic ordinations from the Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch Yeshiva of 770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn and holds a D. Min degree from the San Francisco Theological Seminary. He is an avid student of the Greek classics, Biblical and Talmudic scholarship, Jungian Psychology, Western Medieval Theology, Modern Philosophy, and 20th century psychology. He is the author of The Lord Is My Shepherd: The Theology of the Caring God (1996), Birth and Rebirth Through Genesis (2010), A Shepherd’s Song: Psalm 23 and the Shepherd Metaphor In Jewish Thought (2014), and Torah from Alexandria: Philo as a Biblical Commentator (Volumes, 1-3),(2014-2015)
Keywords: Books , Religion &amp; Spirituality , Judaism , Sacred Writings , Torah Bible Study &amp; Reference, Commentaries, Old Testament, Mystical Torah, Middle Platonism, Hellenistic Jewish Philosophy

Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria: A First Century Torah Commentator Volume I: Genesis

Philo of Alexandria (20 BCE.--50 CE.) stood at the crossroads of ancient history. Philo was the first pioneer to integrate Judaic thought with the Stoic, Platonic, and Pythagorean philosophical traditions. This Alexandrian Jewish philosopher assembled the very first philosophical, ethical, psychological, exegetical, and theological commentary on the Torah. As his community's most prestigious Jewish leader, he defended Alexandrian Jews from the attacks of anti-Semites, and met with the capricious Roman Emperor Caligula, calling upon him to respect the ethical monotheistic beliefs of the Jewish people. As with Josephus, Philo bears witness to the world's first protomodern and intellectual Jewish community of Alexandria, the cultural center of Late Antiquity. Reclaiming Philo as a Jewish exegete puts him in company with other great luminaries of Jewish history. Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel has meticulously culled from all of Philo's exegetical remarks, arranging them according to the biblical verses. He provides extensive parallels from the corpus of rabbinical literature, Greek philosophy, and Christian theology in presenting how Philo impacted the great minds of Late Antiquity and beyond. Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel is the son of a Holocaust survivor. He holds two rabbinic ordinations from the Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch Yeshiva of 770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn and holds a D. Min degree from the San Francisco Theological Seminary. He is an avid student of the Greek classics, Biblical and Talmudic scholarship, Jungian Psychology, Western Medieval Theology, Modern Philosophy, and 20th century psychology. He is the author of The Lord Is My Shepherd: The Theology of the Caring God (1996), Birth and Rebirth Through Genesis (2010), A Shepherd's Song: Psalm 23 and the Shepherd Metaphor In Jewish Thought (2014), and Torah from Alexandria: Philo as a Biblical Commentator (Volumes, 1-3), (2014-2015)  Keywords: Torah Commentary, Jewish Philosophy, Ancient Jewish Thought, 1st Century Judaism, Hellenism and Judaism, Alexandria, Philo of Alexandria, Rabbi, Samuel, Philo

Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria: A First Century Torah Commentator Volume II: Exodus (2)

Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria: A First Century Torah Commentator Volume III: Leviticus

Philo of Alexandria (20 BCE.--50 CE.) stood at the crossroads of ancient history. Philo was the first pioneer to integrate Judaic thought with the Stoic, Platonic, and Pythagorean philosophical traditions. This Alexandrian Jewish philosopher assembled the very first philosophical, ethical, psychological, exegetical, and theological commentary on the Torah. As his community’s most prestigious Jewish leader, he defended Alexandrian Jews from the attacks of anti-Semites, and met with the capricious Roman Emperor Caligula, calling upon him to respect the ethical monotheistic beliefs of the Jewish people. As with Josephus, Philo bears witness to the world’s first protomodern and intellectual Jewish community of Alexandria, the cultural center of Late Antiquity. Reclaiming Philo as a Jewish exegete puts him in company with other great luminaries of Jewish history. Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel has meticulously culled from all of Philo’s exegetical remarks, arranging them according to the biblical verses. He provides extensive parallels from the corpus of rabbinical literature, Greek philosophy, and Christian theology in presenting how Philo impacted the great minds of Late Antiquity and beyond. Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel is the son of a Holocaust survivor. He holds two rabbinic ordinations from the Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch Yeshiva of 770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn and holds a D. Min degree from the San Francisco Theological Seminary. He is an avid student of the Greek classics, Biblical and Talmudic scholarship, Jungian Psychology, Western Medieval Theology, Modern Philosophy, and 20th century psychology. He is the author of The Lord Is My Shepherd: The Theology of the Caring God (1996), Birth and Rebirth Through Genesis (2010), A Shepherd’s Song: Psalm 23 and the Shepherd Metaphor In Jewish Thought (2014), and Torah from Alexandria: Philo as a Biblical Commentator (Volumes, 1-3),(2014-2015) Keywords: Torah Commentary, Jewish Philosophy, Ancient Jewish Thought, 1st Century Judaism, Hellenism and Judaism, Alexandria, Philo of Alexandria, Rabbi, Samuel, Philo

Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria: A First Century Torah Commentator Volume II: Exodus

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Samuel, Michael Leo. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Samuel, Michael Leo

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Samuel, Michael Leo. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

A Shepherd's Song: Psalm 23 and the Shepherd Metaphor in Jewish Thought

Torah from Alexandria: Philo as a Biblical Commentator

Torah from Alexandria: Philo as a Biblical Commentator (Leviticus)

Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria, A First Century Torah Commentator -- Volume IV: Numbers

Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria. A First Century Torah Commentator, Volume V - Deuteronomy (5)

Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria: A First Century Torah Commentator Volume I: Genesis

Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria: A First Century Torah Commentator Volume II: Exodus (2)

Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria: A First Century Torah Commentator Volume III: Leviticus

Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria: A First Century Torah Commentator Volume III: Leviticus

Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria: A First Century Torah Commentator Volume II: Exodus