Product Description
Jewish Museums of the World celebrates more than 150 Jewish museums from every point on the globe. Treasures from unexpected collections are featured in more than 400 illustrations, whose scope spans ceremonial to fine arts to history. A directory of all the museums contained in the book, as well as other, important sites of Jewish historical interest, provides basic information, including phone, fax, and Web sites. Combing the breadth of knowledge, the magnificence of the illustrations, and the inclusion of its encompassing directory, this book will make you feel as if you’ve taken a virtual tour of Jewish museums around the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Jewish Museums of the World
We gave this book to our Jewish son in law for Hannukah to share with our half Christian - half Jewish grandchildren to show them part of their heritage.We are Christian and also found it extremely interesting, ... Read more

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Marriage is one of the most important mitzvot (commandments) in Judaism, and the Scriptures are replete with verses encouraging the union of man and woman. One of the essential elements of a Jewish wedding ceremony is the writing and transfer of a contract, or ketubbah (plural ketubbot).

Originally formulated to protect a woman's rights in marriage, the ketubbah established the financial obligations of the groom toward his bride in cases of divorce or death.

This hardcover book presents forty ketubbot dating from 1614 to 1989. Originating in Italy, Persia, the Ottoman Empire, the Sephardi communities of Germany and Holland, and the United States, and drawing upon the collection of The Jewish Museum in New York City, these intricately illuminated marriage contracts are unique historical documents as well as beautiful works of art. ... Read more

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Scarcely any other contemporary building has been the focus of so much attention and heated discussion as the Jewish Museum in Berlin. This guide to the museum's architecture sheds light on its symbolism as well as on the philosophy behind it. The historic and social significance of this museum extends far beyond the bounds of the city. Its already famous zigzag structure challenges the very way we regard architecture. German, Japanese, French and Italian versions available. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Interesting and Informative
I just got this book from Amazon.com and I'm already enjoying it. It discusses very well many details on the Jewish Museum Berlin by Daniel Libeskind. Great photos and floor plans are provided as great visual aids.You can really gain an appreciation for this unique building by gettingthis book. ... Read more

Product Description
This beautifully illustrated book explores the culture, history, and beliefs of the Jewish people by presenting an extraordinary selection of works from the collection of The Jewish Museum, New York. Ranging from antiquity to the present day, these artworks and ritual objects include a fourth-century glass vessel and ancient burial plaques; exquisite Torah decorations and marriage contracts; stunningly ornate Hanukkah lamps and spice containers; beautiful paintings and prints by such artists as Moritz Daniel Oppenheim, Marc Chagall, and Ben Shahn; striking contemporary works by Leonard Baskin, Sol LeWitt, George Segal, Diane Arbus, Richard Avedon, and many others; and selections of video and still images from television and film, ranging from documentaries and dramas to situation comedies. Two introductory essays discuss the history and significance of The Jewish Museum, followed by a superb range of artworks grouped thematically in categories such as memory and history; spirituality and faith; society, politics, and community; text and representation; and television and culture. Each work is accompanied by a short essay providing description and interpretation. Together the reproductions and lively text tell the fascinating story of how Jewish culture has evolved through the centuries and across continents. ... Read more

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This beautiful calendar features work from the internationally renowned collection of the Jewish Museum, New York. It includes full-color illustrations of Judaic ceremonial masterpieces along with selections from the museum's renowned fine art collection.

* The Jewish Calendar 2010-2011, 5771 2011 Engagement Calendar spans a full 16 months from September 2010 through December 2011.

* The calendar provides detailed information about Jewish holidays and observances, which, along with the selections of Judaica and fine art, make the calendar essential for every Jewish household. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

jewish calendar
i have been using this engagement calendar for over twenty years and i just love it! it has just enough room for a few entries everyday, and has great photographs. it's always beautiful.

best appointment calendar
I've been ordering this calendar for my use for 0ver 20 years.by now I order multiples to give as Rosh HaShanah gifts.The format is slightly different every year; some years are much better than others.the art work is spectacular.

Jewish Calendar
This calendar is nice, but there is no room for other information, ie, phone numbers, passwords to different sites, and other information I would like to have all in one book.It needs some extra pages for personal stuff.

Nancy ... Read more

Product Description
This richlyillustrated book presents outstanding objects from the collections of the Jewish Museum London, including its ceremonial art, designated of national importance. Its specialist essays from experts in the field, covering a range of media, describe the history of Jewish people in Britain and the festivals and ceremonies of Jewish religious life. Silver, textiles, manuscripts, life cycle objects, prints and drawings are used to illustrate the themes. Key historical themes include the Jewish East End, refugees from Nazism, and the diverse patterns of Jewish migration to Britain, illustrated by examples from the Museum's social history collections.This is the first major publication on the treasures of the Jewish Museum, London, for more than thirty years and it offers a fresh overview of the collections and an assessment of their place in a broader artistic and historical context. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Tired, Gimmicky Building
Unusual building - yes.Goodbuilding - No.Libeskind has been something of a fad for a while now, but we've seen his stuff and it doesn't rate in the long haul.This gimmicky structure, with all its flaws and dumb theoretical ideas is really no more than a sculptural monument to Libeskind himself.I can think of no better way to dishonor the fallen Jews than this selfish and vulgar building.And when a few more years have passed, it will come to be seen as silly as a Britney Spears pop song.

Great book documenting a great building
This book is basically in two sections. The first section is mostly an informative interview with Daniel Libeskind, which provides great insight into his theories of architecture. The second part is a beautifulphotographic essay by Helen Binet. The book could use more things to readand intertwine the photos amongst the entire book, rather than nearlyseparating the two. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested inLibeskind's archiecture. Maybe sometime down the road we'll see a greatcollection of Libeskind's complete works. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Good representation of the exhibit.
My cousin is Jewish, and she dragged me to this exhibit in SF on Easter Sunday (I wore my crucifix in defense.) I was quite impressed with the photography and the stories behind them. I purchased this book shortly after the visit, and plan to present it to my cousin as a birthday present. I'm certain she'll be very pleased with it. ... Read more

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Amedeo Modigliani (1884--1920) is one of the greatest-and most misunderstood-artists of the twentieth century. His incisive portraits, erotically charged nudes, beautiful drawings, and primitivistic sculpture have been admired for decades. Modigliani's work, however, has typically been examined in the limited context of his so-called "bohemian," anti-intellectual lifestyle. This groundbreaking book revises this approach toward Modigliani's art, presenting a convincing revisionist examination of the unique historical, social, religious, and cultural significance of his oeuvre. Modigliani: Beyond the Myth looks at the artist and his art from a variety of important perspectives: his proud heritage as a Sephardic Jew, whose spirituality embraced non-Western, classical, and Christian iconography while retaining his own ethnic identity; his critical engagement with the dialogues of the most radical of his avant-garde contemporaries (Picasso, Chaim Soutine, Henri Matisse, and Brancusi); the influence of tribal art and Judaism on his portraiture; the representation of the female nude in his works from a feminist cultural perspective; and the remarkable reception of his work in Italy during his lifetime. Lavishly illustrated and including a detailed chronology of his life, this fascinating book situates Modigliani anew in the history of twentieth-century art. BACKCOVER: ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The Nitty-Gritty
This review relates to the paperback edition...

A handsome and heavy piece of work with high quality reproductions. 241 pp, illustrated throughout in color. Chronology, Index. 17 pp of End Notes and Bibliography.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Modigliani Against the Grain
Faces of Modigliani: Identity Politics Under Fascism
Making and Masking: Modigliani and the Problems of Portraiture

Modigliani and the Bodies of Art: Carnality, Attentiveness, and the Modernist Struggle
Epilogue: The Modigliani Myth

Plates
Chronology
Notes
Bibliography

Excellent book.
Comprehensive and thorough book about the life and works of Amadeo Modigliani. A great reference book with many plates of his art.I am very glad to have this book, well worth it.

Great book about a great artist
I came along Modigilian's Artdruing a drawing class. I purchased a small book at a local bookstore first. I was so impressed over the artist and his paintings that I want to learn more about his work. He is a master painter of the early 20 th century.Some ofhis figures have a sence of sadenessin there way how they look . Some of theposes are oriented on classic old masters.Describtions are given in the book.Also you will see delightfulabstract forms and colors. I really can recomend the book to everyone who wants to learn more about this great artist.
The book also shows images of drawings and sculptures.

A good catalogue for a good exhibition
There have been many publications on Modigliani lately and also many exhibitions (in Paris, London, NY). This particular book, which is the catalogue for a show at the Jewish Museum, is, in my opinion, the most original one in that it attempts to study the artist setting aside all the rest (that is "the myth"). The beautiful reproductions enable the reader to see what a revolutionary portraitist Modigliani was, even sometimes minimalist (to use a fashionable word). The provenance of the works shows that he did have early admirers, and not only among his peers or dealers.

Modigliani's fine arts
I bought this book preparing a visit of an exhibition on paintings as well as my paission in arts, i.e. painting.
The book is full of pics and enough text about Amadeo.
Amadeo's paitings are really great... ... Read more

Product Description
This indispensable Jewish calendar features selections from the superb collection of the Jewish Historical Museum, Amsterdam. Full-color illustrations of Judaic ceremonial and historical masterpieces are beautifully reproduced in this outstanding wall calendar. Included are U.S. and Jewish holidays, Sabbath candle-lighting times, and a list of Jewish holidays through the year 2016.

* The Jewish Year 2011 2011 Wall Calendar spans a full 16 months from September 2010 through December 2011.

* The calendar provides detailed information about Jewish holidays and observances, which, along with the selections of Judaica and fine art, make the calendar essential for every Jewish household. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Still Good After All These years
I've been buying this calendar for years.I definitely preferred the old larger format but I've adjusted.This year they enlarged the date blocks even though the calendar itself is the same as lastyear. The date blocks are now higher than they are wide, rather than square, so there is more room to write stuff.

Can't say that I've sampled any other Jewish calendars because this one has and does everything I need.Compared to non-Jewish calendars of which I've seen and used quite a few, this one is at the top of the list.The fall months even have different pictures in different year calendars--e.g., Sept. 2010 in the 2010 calendar has a different illustration than Sept. 2010 in the 2011 edition.It's always hard to decide which edition to use during the Fall.

Better than last year. Probably the best of the lot
Although it's still only 12" x 12" rather than the older 13" format, this does have nice art, a full 16 month calendar (no stupid combining the last four months on one page), and a pretty uncluttered look. It's probably the best one you can get this year, at least. ... Read more

Product Description
A magnificent array of Hanukkah menorahs and lamps that shed light on the Jewish traditions that produced them

The ceremonial kindling of lights each night during the eight-day holiday of Hanukkah commemorates an ancient victory for religious freedom—the liberation and rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE. As their diversity and beauty attest, Hanukkah lamps are singularly important as a form of ceremonial art and are among Judaism’s best-loved traditional objects. This superbly illustrated book showcases more than 100 Hanukkah lamps selected from the extensive collection of The Jewish Museum in New York. The featured lamps date from the Renaissance to our own time, and were created from a wide variety of materials in virtually every part of the world, including the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa.

Susan L. Braunstein provides an engaging overview of the Hanukkah lamp and discusses its origins in Jewish tradition, its many innovative forms, its enduring ritual uses, and its social context. She also includes a short informative essay about each of the wonderfully varied lamps pictured in the book.

Susan L. Braunstein is curator of archaeology and Judaica and head of the Judaica Department at The Jewish Museum in New York. She is also adjunct instructor of Jewish art and material culture at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. She is coeditor of Getting Comfortable in New York: The American Jewish Home, 1880–1951 and coauthor of Israel in Antiquity: From David to Herod.


... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

a classic
The richcollection of New York's Jewish Museum houses wonderful historical menorahs.I treasure this beautiful work and have found it invaluable in writing my own book Lighting the Way to Freedom: Treasured Hanukkah Menorahs of Early Israelthat provides an intense focus on Israel's early days and the 'golden age' of hanukkiot. ... Read more

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Internationally acclaimed, the collection includes exquisite manuscripts, early Hebrew prints, paintings, etched glass, porcelain, ceremonial silver, richly embroidered synagogue textiles of silk and brocade, and rare folk artefacts. ... Read more

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Since the beginning of the diaspora, the myriad of communities throughout the world where Jews settled have influenced Jewish life and art. This exchange between Jewish and non-Jewish cultures has generated a rich variety of Judaica, however it was only in the late nineteenth century that a conscious attempt was made to establish Jewish museums to preserve the Jewish heritage. Jewish Museums of the World celebrates these important museums. This large format book showcases the incredible array of Jewish art, manuscripts, books, ceremonial objects, and historic artifacts that have been produced and collected in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Featured museums include: The Jewish Museum, New York; Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles; The Israel Museum, Jerusalem; Beth Hatefutsoth, Tel Aviv; and the Jewish Historical Museum, Amsterdam. 250 four-color illustrations, as well as a directory with phone, fax, and website information on the 200 museums visited in this book are included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Beautiful, but costly
A lovely coffee-table book. Weighs a ton! While the pictures are beautiful, there are surpringly few of them. Even the text is scantier than might be expected -- the type is very large! What's there is fine -- but for the price I might have expected more.

... Read more

Product Description
The extraordinary paintings, prints, textiles, and ceremonial objects reproduced in this sixteen-month calendar reveal different aspects of Jewish culture. Spanning several continents and nearly three centuries, these works, from the Jewish Museum in New York City, speak powerfully about the Jewish experience in the world. In addition to its sixteen striking images (one for each month), the calendar includes major and minor Jewish holidays, lists the weekly Torah readings and candlelighting times, and gives the blessings to be recited over the candles.

Size: 12 x 13 in.; opens to 12 x 26 in. Printed on FSC certified paper with soy-based ink. September 2010 - December 2011 / Elul 5770 - Tevet 5772. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Jewish Museum Calander
I am very pleased with my new calendar and the speed and professional service I was provided. I would highly recommend this product and this supplier. Thank You

Warning: Still the new small format
After some digging with the publisher, it turns out that, as of last year, the publishers of this calendar changed to "Rizzoli Publications," which uses a 12x12 format. So, again this year (and despite what Amazon is listing, at least as of this moment), this calendar is still the new dreadful style with not enough room to write appointments and so on. Beware! ... Read more

Product Description
This fully illustrated and documented volume, containing over eight hundred duotone illustrations and thirty-three plates in full color, describes the nearly one thousand Torah ornaments in The Jewish Museum of New York s holdings. These works of art, all created to protect and enhance the beauty of the Torah, can nowhere be seen to better advantage than in this definitive volume. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Jewish Women's Power
The book on the Salons was part of the Jewish Museum (NYC) show last spring. I saw the show and the book is now a tool I use for research. The women and their salons include some of the most influental and creative forces through the centuries. The book is also worth having as table top book, for your salon/living room as a way to stimulate converstions when your friends gather. Biliski is to be commended for her work on a topic Jewish Women have been waiting for.

A UNIQUE GEM
For the earlier part of this analysis, I would like to retitle the book 'Salons'.
I know of no book that devotes its contents to the past two hundred years' cultural entity of the 'salon'. [For that matter I don't know of any book that devotes itself solely to the cultural entity of its 'equivalent' -- the 'musical(e)'.]
By provisionally eliminating the 'Jewish' or 'female' associations in the book, the study of the 'salon' as a cultural entity is unique itself.
Then coupled with the 'female' as the main creator and motivator of the salon is surely mind-expanding.
Then, in addition, (to those interested) to add the Jewish aspect (which, again, if one is interested) with its many associations (Jew and still German or Austro-Hungarian; the 'Court Jew'; voluntary conversion (or 'slipping away, or intermarriage) of some Jews, and its association with anti-Semitism, or just the desire to be 'less Jewish', the prominent place of many Jews in European history, etc., etc.) is surely a plus.
Now, to the physical aspect of the book: Its binding, quality of the paper, and quality of the (many colored) reproductions, are first quality.
Its content is unequaled with its seven introductory articles by the editors, the four monographs by other authorities; then the most interesting biographies of the female 'salon-keepers' [!!!]; and finally the fine notes, biblography and index.

To recapitulate: Physically this is a fine production; the subject (the salon) is a real contribution; plus the important function of the female (I can't think of any male 'salonniere'), and, to those interested, the importance of the Jew in the cultural history of particularly Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, this a unique and entirely 'satisfying' production.

Jew or non Jew, if you are at all interested in this contribution to the culture of the 'western' world, the purchase of this book is a MUST. ... Read more

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