The Land of Truth: Talmud Tales, Timeless Teachings

"Rubenstein is arguably the leading scholar in the world on Rabbinic stories. In this original book for a popular audience he takes that scholarship into new arenas by relating the stories to issues in our time and explicating the stories within their original contexts."--Barry W. Holtz, Theodore and Florence Baumritter Professor of Jewish Education, Jewish Theological Seminary-- (03/03/2018)
"Talmud stories are valuable repositories of meaning for anyone who desires a deeper connection to the past. Yet today's readers are at a lengthy remove from this rhetorically technical, often inaccessible world. A master teacher is necessary to guide us toward understanding the text. That is the strength and value of Rubenstein's volume: opening up to modern readers a heretofore closed text."--Beth Kissileff, author of Reading Genesis: Beginnings-- (03/03/2018)
"This book will be an invaluable resource for pulpit rabbis and Jewish educators in search of texts that will inspire and speak to their congregants and students."--Ilana Kurshan, Forward--Ilana Kurshan"Forward" (11/14/2018)
"I don't think that I have ever studied the legends in the Talmud in quite the way that Jeffrey Rubenstein does in his book, The Land of Truth: Talmud Tales, Timeless Teachings. . . . I suggest you join Jeffrey Rubenstein on his journey, as he juxtaposes the wisdom of the Sages with the teachings of their neighbors in the Greco-Roman world, and then as he shows us how their insights compare and contrast with the values of our time. This journey will enable us to see the past in a new light, and to see the present in a new perspective as well."--Rabbi Jack Riemer, Jewish Advocate-- (10/31/2018)
"For those seeking, if not absolute answers, a rabbinic perspective on the questions of our day, Jeffrey L. Rubenstein's The Land of Truth: Talmud Tales, Timeless Teaching . . . is a great place to start. . . . Eminently readable."--Sandee Brawarky, Fall Literary Guide-- (11/16/2018)

"Much of the Talmud--or at any rate, the part of the Talmud that most of the people who study it think of when they think about the Talmud--is laws. Halacha. But those laws are connected by stories, terse, often gnomic, at times phantasmagorical stories, both compelling and hard to understand. Dr. Jeffrey Rubenstein . . . wants us to think about the stories; we'll benefit from their richness, strangeness, and surprising relevance to our lives."--Joanne Palmer, Jewish Standard

-- (01/17/2019)

"A new and important book restores Aggadah to its rightful place as the equal partner with halacha. This exciting new work . . . follows in the footsteps of Rambam and his view of Aggadah. . . . Maimonides opined that there were three possible ways of approaching Aggadah. Two he rejected as not fit for intelligent people. The third, to deal with Aggadah as containing "profound secrets" and deep meaning, was the way of the wise. . . . By treating the Talmud's Aggadah as he does, Rubenstein proves again what Maimonides knew: Our Sages' seemingly farfetched narratives indeed held "profound secrets.""--Michael Chernick, Jewish Link of New Jersey

-- (01/24/2019)
"The Land of Truth is an excellent introduction to talmudic tales. Readers need not have any prior experience with the Talmud in order to understand Rubenstein's explanations. His work is appropriate for individual study or use in a group setting. Most important, the author succeeds in showing how stories from the Talmud can offer insights into modern life."--Rabbi Rachel Esserman, Reporter Group-- (02/15/2019)
"Rubenstein's dynamic interpretive approach clearly presents struggles of suffering and love, along with how to make relevant choices and find meaning in life. . . . This highly recommended work is akin to talking with a wise friend."--Sandra Collins, Library Journal--Sandra Collins "Library Journal "
"The Land of Truth: Talmud tales, Timeless Teachings . . . provides a window into the profound wisdom of Hazal for scholar and layman alike. . . . I highly recommend Rubenstein's work."--Yitzchak Blau, Lehrhaus-- (07/22/2019)
"The Land of Truth is entertaining and thought-provoking. It effectively draws the reader into the world of Talmud study while also connecting this ancient text to modern ideas and ideals. Rubenstein makes the central lessons of the Talmud accessible, compelling, and meaningful for a contemporary reader. Both the novice and advanced student of Jewish studies will appreciate the author's clear writing and insightful analysis of what is often considered the most important treatise on Jewish life."--Jonathan Fass, Jewish Book Council-- (10/10/2019)