Publisher's Synopsis
Although many contemporary committed Jews practice these rituals, many admit that there is little understanding, relevance, or meaning experienced in their observance because of the enigmatic, symbolic nature of these mitzvot. Kashrut, Tefillin, Tzitzit: Studies in the Purpose and Meaning of Symbolic Mitzvot Inspired by the Commentaries of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch presents a clear, logical, literary, and spiritual analysis of these symbolic commandments. Inspired by the analytic method of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, this volume introduces the reader to each of the three mitzvot through a discussion of its purpose and meaning in Jewish tradition. Presented with the source texts in an English translation, the reader is then guided by a series of questions that arise from the texts. Next, the reader is taken through central ideas and concepts that provide the key to understanding the symbolic nature of the mitzvah, leading to the resolution of the questions. Kashrut, Tefillin, Tzitzit offers the reader a chance to discover the meaning of the symbolic dynamics of each of these mitzvot as they were intended. Through the experience of fascinating text-learning, the reader will gain a fresh appreciation of the purpose, meaning, and contemporary relevance inherent in the practices of kashrut, tefillin, and tzitzit.
