Ari N. EnkinReseñas

Frankly, I couldn't finish this book. It was a mishmosh of topics that read like a collection of trivia. It described Jewish laws and traditions without giving any basis or justification for them. Very Disappointing.

I disliked this book rather intensely. It was the worst combination of halachic know-it-all-ism with the 15 second attention span of a diabetic at a Viennese table. Don't waste your time at this second-rate smörgåsbord of Jewish traditions and customs: go to better and more expansive sources.

At first I felt this book tried to share perspective on too many disparate topics, which made me wonder what the concept behind this book is since it's so unfocused. Ultimately, however, I found the short, concise halachic explorations on a variety of topics to be quite welcomed. I learned a lot from reading this book, which is easy to read cover-to-cover (at least if you love halacha and Judaism like I do). It is written in accessible laymen's language and in a down-to-earth manner that doesn't assume you have a yeshiva education. It deals with topics ranging from kapparot to euthanasia.

It's dangerous business stepping into the world of a religious faith different from your own. It's possibly even more so when that strange faith is one that is closely related to your own. The apostle Paul recognized both the value to outsiders of their witnessing the practices of believers and the danger. He therefore instructed the Corinthians on how to comport themselves so as to be clear witnesses and to gain the blessings of thier unique practices. It is as a Christian outsider then that I come to Rabbi Ari N. Enkin's Dalet Amot: Halachic Perspectives. Make no mistake, Enkin's book is thouroughly aimed at those inside the Jewish faith, and I have no doubt that this collection of essays on observing Jewish law is of extreme value for observant Jew. Yet, for the non-Jew willing to enter a world governed by a different set of presuppositions, there is much to learn.

Enkin announces in the introduction that his goal is to present an overview of thought on the various topics covered in the book. By keeping each essay to about 800 words, he hopes to not only introduce the controversies but also to provide guidance. Perhaps the practical suggestions he makes are enough for the reader on a specific topic, but through the copious references, Enkin also shows the reader a path to researching the subject in much greater depth. For this outsider, it was of great interest to see not only what the issues in contemporary Judaism are but also the internal arguments. Rabbi Enkin also acted the role of good teacher to me in showing me where to go for in-depth discussions should I desire them.

The danger of the 800-word brevity is that in many situations actions or pronouncements that obviously have generations of thought behind them can be presented as rotely superstitious. Why wearing a certain piece of clothing on a certain day or putting a coin under a bed or other seemingly superstitious actions should produce spiritual or physical fruit is unclear to me. However, I can also imagine that in such a highly sacramental world-view such actions might very well have deep meaning.

I was struck especially by the Rabbi's instructions concerning which direction to face when praying. My American protestant background wanted to scream "Superstition!", but there is something deeply meaningful in the Rabbi's instruction to pray facing one direction if you desire monetary wealth and to face the opposite direction to ask for spiritual blessing. It was at this moment that I began to reassess my attitude towards the other seemingly superstitious actions. Perhaps there is a symbolism there that I do not understand as an outider. And, perhaps if I were reading a book aimed at introducing the Jewish faith to outsiders that symbolism, those mysteries would be explained.

As it is, I'll enjoy dipping into Rabbi Enkin's collection and using its essays as fresh entry points into thinking about how to live out my Christian faith in an increasingly secular society.

Rabbi Ari Enkin’s book, Dalet Amot contains about 100 short essays on halacha (Jewish law) that are a joy to read. The book’s title comes from the Talmud: “from the day that the Holy Temple was destroyed, the Holy One Blessed Be He has nothing in His world except the dalet amot (literally, four cubits) of halacha, an intellectual world devoted to Jewish law. Rabbi Enkin presents each topic with a short summary of the issue, a synopsis of rabbinical opinions and a logical discussion. These subjects comprise a wide range of contemporary issues, from prayer to do’s and don’ts on the Sabbath and Festivals, to information on certain mystical and supernatural phenomena, and looking at some mitzvoth relating to end of life issues and cruelty to animals.
In the foreword, Rabbi Enkin quotes Rabbi Hershel Schacter, who said ‘that when we dedicate all of our activities towards the service of G-d, which can only be perfected through the study of halacha (Jewish law), then even our mundane daily routines can be comparable to the service of the high priest in the Temple.’ Every reader, whether a baal teshuva (a non-religious Jew who becomes an observer of Jewish law) or someone who has been religious from childhood is sure to find a lot of interesting information here. Rabbi Enkin’s writing style is lucid, and at appropriate times, humorous. It is unusual to find a book on halacha that is so clearly and cogently written. I highly recommend the book. It is an excellent reference and an entertaining read.

This book provides a veritable smorgasbord of current topics for the observant Jew, especially since Rabbi Enkin has diligently footnoted his text throughout. Thanks to this, it will be easy for the reader to start his or her further study on any topic of interest. I really appreciate that Rabbi Enkin has made true effort in presenting differing views on many issues (this wouldn't be Judaism if there weren't any differing views, after all...) fairly objectively and, again, has cited the sources so as to simplify matters for those who wish to study further. His writing is very clear and concise and, at times, quite funny, which I was pleasantly surprised by - reading non-fiction with a dash of humor is always welcome!

At times I did find the essays to be a far too short and found myself wondering about some topics and would have liked a more comprehensive explanation. My suggestion for the reader is simply to jot down the footnote citations of the portions you are interested in and then press on through the book. If I had put this book down to go look up primary sources every time I wondered about something, it would have taken me a looong time to finish it (now, I ended up with a looong list of notes instead...).

It should be pointed out that this is mainly for those who are (and those wanting to become) Orthodox Jews - there are really no concessions made for Conservative or Reform Jews, but they aren't the target group anyway, so that doesn't retract from the book. Plus, it might encourage someone to become more observant... What does take some away from me is the cover - it would fit better on a book found in a New Age bookstore, but that's a pet peeve of mine and others may not be bothered.

This book is a wonderful read dealing with everyday issues and how these issues are resolved according to halacha (Jewish law). A wide array of subjects are covered and range from divorce, appearance, use of spices, medicine, the end of life, and both religious and secular holidays.

Rabbi Enkin treats all of these subjects seriously but is also able to show some wit, which makes him very readable. Each essay also includes plenty of footnotes for further reading in whichever subject is of importance at the time.

Whether you currently lead an orthodox Jewish lifestyle or are merely intersted in the subject, this book would be a boon to your library.

(Still working on this, but thought I would put up a little bit so far.)
This is a very well done book about a subject that I found absolutely fascinating. It's a series of short-ish essays about different (perhaps obscure) subjects treated in Jewish law. The footnotes alone indicate that this work is incredibly well-researched, but it never seems pedantic or boring. Even if this is not a subject that you are well-versed in (like me), the author does a wonderful job of making it accessible. However, I'm sure this would be a welcome addition to any rabbincal library, regardless of it's degree of orthodoxy.

Dalet Amot is filled with entertaining and enlightening short essays on over 100 issues in Halachah. Rabbi Enkin addresses issues from the mystical (e.g., prediction and dreams) to the practical (e.g., when is it permissible to brush your teeth on Shabbos). The book is a light read, not a legal treatise, although Rabbi Enkin does provide extensive footnotes. Although written from an orthodox perspective, anyone with an interest in practical Halachah will learn from this book.

Rabbi Enkin writes in his foreword, "'from the day that the Holy Temple was destroyed, the Holy One blessed be He has nothing in His world except the dalet amot of halacha.' through the study of halacha we tryuly connect with the Holy One blessed be He,"

A difficult read for me but a good read. I've always admired the rabbinic style of discourse, debate and teaching. Following logic from first principles is very refreshing. My vocabulary was a handicap since I needed to constantly look-up the Hebrew words so unfamiliar to me. Reading this sefer (a book, usually about Jewish study when used in English) reminds one of how through the prayerful nature of human activity one makes something sacred by his attention and energy. I trust the Jewish reader will gain much inspiration from the collection of short essays and won't suffer from my lack of vocabulary.