Naomi Pasachoff – författare

"Judaism, or that which has united the successive generations of Jews into one people, is not only a religion; it is a dynamic religious civilization."--Mordecai Menachem Kaplan, from Questions Jews Ask (1956) In assessing what their Jewish identities mean to them, Jews today sometimes describe themselves as links in a chain of tradition that stretches back to biblical times. In this collection of biographies of Jewish thinkers from ancient times to the present, the links in that chain come to life through the dramatic stories of 41 shapers of Jewish tradition. From Hillel, whose teaching more than twenty centuries ago set Judaism on its post-biblical course, to Yitzhak Rabin, the Noble Peace Prize-winning Prime Minister of Israel who helped to broker a peace settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians, these men and women all left an indelible mark on Jewish practice, scholarship, or nationalism. In individual biographical essays, Naomi Pasachoff explores the contributions of philosophers, poets, and philanthropists; of mystics, statesmen, and scholars; of religious organizers and Zionist leaders. In so doing she uncovers surprising facts about well-known figures. For example, Theodor Herzl is widely honored as the father of the modern state of Israel, but did you know that he once dreamed of leading all the Jews of Vienna to St. Stephan Cathedral to undergo mass baptism? Readers who recognize Rashi as the most famous of all biblical commentators may be startled to learn that his concise style was a function of his tight budget. The book includes suggestions for further reading, an appendix, a glossary, and an index. Illustrations and photographs accompany the text, and a biographical fact box for each profile provides for easy reference. All these features make Links in the Chain an ideal introduction to Jewish role models for younger readers and a vital reference for all interested in Jewish history. Moreover, the book is a reminder that Jewish tradition is still evolving and that each reader has the potential to contribute to it. 41 extended essays profile the lives and contributions of Jewish heroes, including: Johanan ben Zakkai, the spiritual and intellectual leader who reshaped Jewish life after the destruction of the Temple in 70 C.E. Dona Gracia Nasi, the outstanding 16th-century leader who led the equivalent of an underground railroad to lead fugitive Marranos to safety. Rebecca Gratz, said to have been the model for the character Rebecca in Walter Scott''s Ivanhoe, who spearheaded the development of Jewish Sunday schools in the United States. Leopold Zunz, whose transformation of Jewish scholarship in the 19th century ultimately led to the existence of Judaica departments and programs in major universities. Lily Montagu, whose unsatisfying Orthodox childhood as a child of privilege in Victorian England transformed her into a 20th-century leader of British and world liberal Judaism. Isaac Mayer Wise, the early leader of Reform Judaism in the United States, who conceived of and helped bring into existence many of the institutions of contemporary American Judaism. Eliezer Ben Yehudah, the father of modern Hebrew, who nearly singlehandedly transformed Hebrew from an ancient religious language into a spoken modern one.

Alexander Graham Bell forever changed the world. The telephone and his many other landmark inventions rank among the most transforming and enduring of the modern era. But it was his work with the deaf, teaching as well as inventing tools to ease communication, that he considered his life's work. The son of a speech therapist father and hearing impaired mother, his stellar achievements in sound reproduction and aviation give proof that he fit his own definition of an inventor. He said, "An inventor a man who looks upon the world and is not contented with things as they are. He wants to improve whatever he sees, he wants to benefit the world." This is a compelling biography of a true scientific visionary.Oxford Portraits in Science is an on-going series of scientific biographies for young adults. Written by top scholars and writers, each biography examines the personality of its subject as well as the thought process leading to his or her discoveries. These illustrated biographies combine accessible technical information with compelling personal stories to portray the scientists whose work has shaped our understanding of the natural world.

Marie Curie discovered radium and went on to lead the scientific community in studying the theory behind and the uses of radioactivity. She left a vast legacy to future scientists through her research, her teaching, and her contributions to the welfare of humankind. She was the first person to win two Nobel Prizes, yet upon her death in 1934, Albert Einstein was moved to say, "Marie Curie is, of all celebrated beings, the only one whom fame has not corrupted." She was a physicist, a wife and mother, and a groundbreaking professional woman. This biography is an inspirational and exciting story of scientific discovery and personal commitment.

Marie Curie discovered radium and went on to lead the scientific community in studying the theory behind and the uses of radioactivity. She left a vast legacy to future scientists through her research, her teaching, and her contributions to the welfare of humankind. She was the first person to win two Nobel Prizes, yet upon her death in 1934, Albert Einstein was moved to say, "Marie Curie is, of all celebrated beings, the only one whom fame has not corrupted." She was a physicist, a wife and mother, and a groundbreaking professional woman. This biography is an inspirational and exciting story of scientific discovery and personal commitment.Oxford Portraits in Science is an on-going series of scientific biographies for young adults. Written by top scholars and writers, each biography examines the personality of its subject as well as the thought process leading to his or her discoveries. These illustrated biographies combine accessible technical information with compelling personal stories to portray the scientists whose work has shaped our understanding of the natural world.

Alexander Graham Bell forever changed the world. The telephone and his many other landmark inventions rank among the most transforming and enduring of the modern era. But it was his work with the deaf, teaching as well as inventing tools to ease communication, that he considered his life''s work. The son of a speech therapist father and hearing impaired mother, his stellar achievements in sound reproduction and aviation give proof that he fit his own definition of an inventor. He said, "An inventor a man who looks upon the world and is not contented with things as they are. He wants to improve whatever he sees, he wants to benefit the world." This is a compelling biography of a true scientific visionary.Oxford Portraits in Science is an on-going series of scientific biographies for young adults. Written by top scholars and writers, each biography examines the personality of its subject as well as the thought process leading to his or her discoveries. These illustrated biographies combine accessible technical information with compelling personal stories to portray the scientists whose work has shaped our understanding of the natural world.

This book tells the remarkable lives of the pioneers of science – from Galileo and Newton, Faraday and Darwin, Pasteur and Marie Curie, to Einstein, Freud, Turing, and Crick and Watson. A series of seventy articles, written by an international team of distinguished scientists, historians of science and science writers, provides an unrivalled account of the lives and personalities behind the greatest scientific breakthroughs of all time. Organized thematically, starting at the ‘Universe’, and moving smaller through the ‘Earth’ and ‘Molecules and Matter’ to ‘Inside the Atom’, with the final two sections looking at ‘Life’ and ‘Body and Mind’, it covers all the major scientific disciplines, including astronomy, biology, biochemistry, chemistry, computing, ecology, geology, medicine, neurology, physics and psychology, as well as mathematics. The Scientists will intrigue budding scientists, those fascinated by the lives of great individuals, and anyone curious to know how over the centuries we came to understand the physical world around us and inside us.

Astronomy leads to an understanding of the history and nature of science, and attracts many young people to education in science and technology. But while in many countries astronomy is not part of the standard curriculum, many scientific and educational societies and government agencies have produced materials and educational resources in astronomy for all educational levels. This volume highlights the general strategies for effective teaching and introduces innovative points of view regarding methods of teaching and learning, particularly those using new technologies. Technology is used in astronomy both for obtaining observations and for teaching. The book also presents ideas for how astronomy can be connected to environmental issues and other topics of public interest. This valuable overview is based on papers and posters presented by many of the world's leading astronomy educators at a Special Session of the International Astronomical Union General Assembly in Prague in 2006.

This book describes the most important events and people in Jewish history from Abraham to the present day, in a very concise, accessible way. These 'read-bites' include up-to-date essays discussing the impact of 9-11; the Iraq War, Muslim Fundamentalism, and rise of European anti-Semitism on the Jewish People.

Students often approach the complex poetry of T. S. Eliot with some degree of trepidation, but as this comprehensive text demonstrates, that need not be the case. With its thoughtful analysis and engaging writing style, this guide provides readers with the tools they need to approach Eliot''s works with confidence, while at the same time encouraging them to draw their own meaning from the words and sounds of the poetry. This text also explores Eliot’s life beyond his poems, including his extensive work as an essayist, editor, and critic. Given this context, readers will establish a deeper understanding of the poet as well as his work.

The literary output of the Brontë sisters was small, but their novels remain immensely popular more than 150 years after their deaths. Each sister wrote a novel that challenged the ideas of the day on what was fit to print: Charlotte’s Jane Eyre by examining the interior life of a young girl; Emily’s Wuthering Heights by overturning the conventions of the novel, even while making use of traditional literary forms; Anne’s The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by depicting a husband’s alcoholism and debauchery. This guide, which roots the writers’ work in their unusual upbringing and describes and challenges the so-called Brontë myth, aims to provide both first-time readers and long-time Brontë enthusiasts with a deeper understanding of their work and the reasons it continues to engross readers today.

Astronomy leads to an understanding of the history and nature of science, and attracts many young people to education in science and technology. But while in many countries astronomy is not part of the standard curriculum, many scientific and educational societies and government agencies have produced materials and educational resources in astronomy for all educational levels. This volume highlights the general strategies for effective teaching and introduces innovative points of view regarding methods of teaching and learning, particularly those using new technologies. Technology is used in astronomy both for obtaining observations and for teaching. The book also presents ideas for how astronomy can be connected to environmental issues and other topics of public interest. This valuable overview is based on papers and posters presented by many of the world's leading astronomy educators at a Special Session of the International Astronomical Union General Assembly in Prague in 2006.

How does this Jewish history book differ from all others? Instead of burdening the reader with endless details about every single aspect of Jewish history, Pasachoff and Littman provide essential information, easily digested by readers of all ages, that chronicles only the major events and people of the past. The history of the Jews covers a period of over 3,500 years, with an overwhelming number of countries and lands. It is a microcosm of the history of the world. Consequently, even a one-volume work can be difficult to read from cover to cover to gain the sweep of Jewish history. This book speaks to the reader who is interested in individual topics or periods and wants a quick-reference guide to the people and places that truly shaped Jewish history. At the same time, if read from beginning to end, these ''nutshells'' will provide a chronological history of the Jews.

How does this Jewish history book differ from all others? Instead of burdening the reader with endless details about every single aspect of Jewish history, Pasachoff and Littman provide essential information, easily digested by readers of all ages, that chronicles only the major events and people of the past. The history of the Jews covers a period of over 3,500 years, with an overwhelming number of countries and lands. It is a microcosm of the history of the world. Consequently, even a one-volume work can be difficult to read from cover to cover to gain the sweep of Jewish history. This book speaks to the reader who is interested in individual topics or periods and wants a quick-reference guide to the people and places that truly shaped Jewish history. At the same time, if read from beginning to end, these 'nutshells' will provide a chronological history of the Jews.