Having joined "The Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints" (mormon church) three years ago. I recently was introduced to this book by a friend. "I wish I had it three years ago!" "it would have made my understanding of the church much easier." I have since bought the book for my family (strong catholics) who now have a much stronger supporting relationship with me and my decision to leave the catholic church. The book is great guide in understanding the beliefs, and ways of the church as it performs its work for Christ.

This book provides an excellent overview of some of the most important current topics in Historical Jesus Study. They include:(1) a study of Galilee at the time of Jesus (by E. P. Sanders); (2) a comparison and analysis of Jesus's teachings with the doctrines contained in the Dead Sea Scrolls (by Daniel J. Harrington); (3) some preliminary musings by John P. Meier about how he will reconcile the Elijah-like miracle working prophet who has emerged to date from his "Marginal Jew" series with the early remembrance of Jesus as the Davidic Messiah; (4)an assement of the important role of oral traditions as sources for the Gospels (by James D. G. Dunn); and finally, a respected systematic theologian's perspective on the importance and usefulness of honest and objective historical Jesus research in terms of nurturing the Christian faith (by Elizabeth A. Johnson).

The contributors are all leading scholars who are excited about their subjects. They brilliantly employ the tools of honest, objective, historical criticism--but they also do not apologise for their faith. This short collection provides an excellent introduction to the work and thought processes of these wonderful scholars. I recommend it highly.

I loved this gide it helped when i was stuck and told me where to go or where there was a shortcut when i kept on losing a race. this is the best guide I have ever had and I hope prima keeps up the good work.

By chronicling the history of the landsmanshaftn in American consciousness, Soyer successfully argues against the idea that Americanization was a process imposed upon from above; rather, that Americanization was pursued independently by Eastern European immigrants, thus granting them agency. The changing economy, increased industrialization, and growing populations as well as anti Semitism in Russia and Romania forced Jews from across Eastern Europe to migrate to New York. It was in America that the Jewish immigrant populations first came across ideas of fraternal orders, mutual aid societies and other democratic systems, thus transforming the structure of their own societies. In America, Jews learned the importance of voluntary organizations in perpetuating culture. The landsmanshaftn came to incorporate fraternal rituals by binding members and giving them a sense of shared experience, simultaneously reconciling loyalties to native lands with a newfound American identity. The landsmanshaftn differed from other societies in that their central concern was religious observance. Through informal contracts and advertisements, the landsmanshaftn grew rapidly. At first renting rooms in tenements for meetings, eventually the landsmanshaftn would rent meeting halls to perpetuate themselves as "defenders of Old-World religion" (page 50). While using religion as a framework, the landsmanshaftn's primary mission was Americanization. While they differed from each other in respects to the amount of influence of fraternal lodges, ideological orders and independent societies, the landsmanshaftn all shared the same disciplinary structure and membership criteria. The common missions of all landsmanshaftn were to provide medical care, reimbursement of lost wages during illness, life insurance, funeral costs, emergency assistance and small interest-free loans. These basic benefits remained the same for Eastern European Jewish immigrants in New York from the late nineteenth through the early twentieth century. The landsmanshaftn maintained the principle of mutual aid rather than a hierarchical notion of charity, mirroring the distinctly American notions of independence and self-reliance. In chiefly supporting benefits and activities related to death, the landsmanshaftn were also unique to America, and they further mirrored the American notions of proper burial and dignity at death. Although they were only a one-generation phenomena, the landsmanshaftn were distinctly American in that they adopted American principles of democracy and mutual aid. They were testaments to the pervasive desire for Eastern European Jewish immigrants to adopt American principles in order for them to move about the host society with greater ease. Daniel Soyer's Jewish Immigrant Associations and American Identity: 1880-1939 is an ambitious, dizzying volume of American Immigrant History. It offers many examples of how the landsmanshaftn incorporated the American ideology of mutual aid, and how they grew from supplying simple community benefits to endorsing political reform. The growth and expansion of the landsmanshaftn ultimately proves to be a metaphor of the American experience, and a greater understanding of the landsmanshaftn leads to a deeper comprehension of the American experience.

I had the opportunity to read this story to a 1st grade class and they loved it. A Maine potato farmer, J.J. Jackson, spends his winter fixing things. Sean Shane O'Riley discovers his unusual talent and applies it to jigsaw puzzles. Before long, Jackson is touring the country as a professional jigsaw-puzzle jointer. However, the farmer's animals are not thrilled about it. How will they get him back home?

This is a very well written book and is a great biography

This is the story of a real dockside dog in Hoboken. Hisadventures--perhaps made up--are the stuff of legend. His origins; hisrise to fame and glory; it's all here. Along with a happy ending. Bitsof the real Hoboken show up now and again--it's a story you will enjoy reading yourself as much as reading to your kids. And mine sneak it off the shelf behind my back.

Absolutely excellent for a newer Christian or one that never learned the basics to the Christian faith. Gives a great foundation for anyone intersted in what it means to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, what He came to do, why, and what it means in our lives. I purchased several for several different people and it made a huge impact on their lives.

I've never seen better explanations of how probabilities should be calculated. And the book is fascinating -- especially what the authors describe about the results of surveys designed to reveal the most common mistakes people make when estimating probabilities.

Well constructed guide with the physics of the leaping dog and exercises to help the handler/trainer setup a method to improve the team's techniques. A must for Canine Agility.