In Jewish tradition, the Talmud embodies the laws of Judaism, as well as a way of study and intellectual development. Composed of two works, the Mishnah and the Gemara, the Talmud is believed to provide serious students with one of the most sacred of experiences. It is, in fact, the Torah (the Old Testament) and the Talmud that offer the tenets of the Jewish religion. Here, in this classic work, which represents nearly 2,000 years of learning, are those pearls of wisdom that have served as a daily guide for countless generations of people throughout the world. Some may be familiar to you; others may be new. Some may provoke a laugh; others, a tear. All, however, offer illuminating insights and direction that can provide a foundation for a compassionate and focused life.

"It's no disgrace to be poor," observed Sholom Aleichem, "but it's no great honor, either." "Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city," remarked George Burns, while Marc Chagall noted that "Art is the unceasing effort to compete with the beauty of flowers and never succeeding." These and many more classic examples of Jewish wit and wisdom sometimes hilarious, frequently profound, almost always incisive enliven the pages of this entertaining and practical little volume. Some 500 aphorisms include observations and remarks from statesmen, writers, artist, philosophers, jurists, musicians, and celebrities from the prophets of the Old Testament, the Talmud, and Maimonides to Joey Adams, Barbra Streisand, and Woody Allen. Here also are memorable quotes from Louis Brandeis, Martin Buber, Fanny Brice, Heinrich Heine, Sam Goldwyn, Golda Meir, Karl Marx, Groucho Marx, Herman Mankiewicz, Albert Einstein, and many others. Arranged alphabetically by author, these thought-provoking pronouncements will not only serve as a handy resource for speech writers and public speakers but will also amuse and inspire all readers. "

Presents a collection of proverbs, sayings, and stories from the Talmud that teach the fundamental rules for living and provides lessons on truth, virtue, tolerance, and more.

A prophet and a pretty woman, a rainmaker and a renegade—from them we learn about ourselves. Ancient stories that whisper truth to your soul—new in paperback! Great stories have the power to draw the heart. But certain stories have the power to draw the heart to God and awaken the better angels of our nature. Such are the tales of the rabbis of the Talmud, colorful, quirky yarns that tug at our heartstrings and test our values, ethics, morality—and our imaginations. In this collection for people of all faiths and backgrounds, Rabbi Burton Visotzky draws on four decades of telling and teaching these legends in order to unlock their wisdom for the contemporary heart. He introduces you to the cast of characters, explains their motivations, and provides the historical background needed to penetrate the wise lessons often hidden within these unusual narratives. In learning how and why these oft-told tales were spun, you discover how they continue to hold value for our lives.

"A verbal agreement isn't worth the paper it's printed on, " said movie mogul Sam Goldwyn. But this wise and funny book is worth its weight in gold. It gives you a hundred sparkling nuggets of wit, wisdom, and home truth, mined from a wealth of different sources by poet-philosopher-writer Noah benShea. GREAT JEWISH QUOTES imparts the wisdom of folk sayings, the Talmud, and the Old Testament, side by side with the sagacity and smarts of famous men and women from our own century -- Albert Einstein, Golda Meir, Woody Allen, and dozens more. These insightful and quotable short takes may just make it possible for you to fix what's fixable in your life . . . and give you a chance to laugh about the rest.

This small, chunky volume presents the witty, wonderful, deadpan and droll insight of Jewish culture and humor. With chapters on wisdom, mitzvahs, dybbuks, proverbs, jokes, curses, conventions, mores (ethics), love amd marriage, men and women, children and family--this captivating collection provides reflections gleaned from a wealth of ancient, traditional and modern sources. The range of wise observations on the ways of the world, snappy one-liners, stories and expressions captures the spirit of the Jews throughout the centuries. Illustrated with sixty watercolor paintings, The Big Little Book of Jewish Wit & Wisdom will delight and engage even the toughest Jewish mother. Some examples include: When we hear a baby laugh, it is the loveliest thing that can happen to us. -- Sigmund Freud A child's wisdom is also wisdom. -- Yiddish proverb May you lose all your teeth but one, and may that one have a cavity. -- Anonymous (Yiddish curse)