Long before there were Jewish communities in the land of the tsars, Jews inhabited a region which they called medinat rusiya, the land of Russia. Prior to its annexation by Russia, the land of Russia was not a center of rabbinic culture. But in 1772, with its annexation by Tsarist Russia, this remote region was severed from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth; its 65,000 Jews were thus cut off from the heartland of Jewish life in Eastern Europe. Forced into independence, these Jews set about forging a community with its own religious leadership and institutions.

The three great...

According to masculinities theory, masculinity is not a biological imperative but a social construction. Men engage in a constant struggle with other men to prove their masculinity. Masculinities and the Law develops a multidimensional approach. It sees categories of identity--including various forms of raced, classed, and sex-oriented masculinities--as operating simultaneously and creating different effects in different contexts.

By applying multidimensional masculinities theory to law, this cutting-edge collection both expands the field of masculinities and develops new...

The Open Mind is full of insightful concepts about our spiritual nature and the journey we take. A companion for anyone who is interested in their spiritual journey, it takes you through undemanding thoughts to help you center your thinking away from the ego mind. A combination of prayer, meditation, and daily ideas, the clarity is peaceful and enlightening. A Course in Miracles works as a foundation in the book.