{"title":"Mitchell First","description":"\u003cp\u003eMitchell First is a well-known author and speaker specializing in Jewish history and texts. His work is known for clarity, humor, and accessibility.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"from-eden-to-exodus-a-journey-into-hebrew-words-in-bereshit-and-shemot","title":"From Eden to Exodus: A Journey into Hebrew Words in Bereshit and Shemot","description":"\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"210\" data-end=\"706\"\u003eIn\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"213\" data-end=\"234\"\u003eFrom Eden to Exodus\u003c\/em\u003e, scholar and researcher Mitchell First guides readers on an illuminating journey through the foundational books of the Torah—\u003cem data-start=\"368\" data-end=\"378\"\u003eBereshit\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(Genesis) and\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"393\" data-end=\"401\"\u003eShemot\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(Exodus)—by exploring the rich and often surprising meanings of their Hebrew words. Drawing on linguistic analysis, classical commentators, and modern scholarship, this volume reveals how a deeper understanding of language enhances our comprehension of biblical narratives, theology, and Jewish identity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"708\" data-end=\"1280\"\u003eThe book presents more than 60 concise, accessible essays corresponding to the weekly Torah readings. Each chapter investigates a specific Hebrew word or phrase, tracing its roots, historical usage, and nuances in Tanakh. Readers will uncover the layered meanings of phrases like\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"988\" data-end=\"1002\"\u003etohu va-vohu\u003c\/em\u003e, delve into the wordplay behind\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"1035\" data-end=\"1041\"\u003eadam\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"1046\" data-end=\"1054\"\u003eadamah\u003c\/em\u003e, and explore the shifting meanings of terms such as\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"1107\" data-end=\"1112\"\u003egoy\u003c\/em\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"1114\" data-end=\"1118\"\u003eam\u003c\/em\u003e, and\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"1124\" data-end=\"1131\"\u003emagen\u003c\/em\u003e. Mitchell First’s scholarly yet reader-friendly style makes complex linguistic concepts approachable for lay readers, educators, and students alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1282\" data-end=\"1763\"\u003eWhether decoding the etymology of biblical names, unraveling the multiple meanings of ritual and legal terms, or showing the philosophical implications of a single Hebrew root, First reveals how language is not only a tool for communication but a vessel for spiritual insight. With discussions ranging from word origins and ancient Semitic cognates to modern translations and rabbinic interpretations,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"1684\" data-end=\"1705\"\u003eFrom Eden to Exodus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis both intellectually rigorous and spiritually engaging.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mitchell First","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47778460205294,"sku":null,"price":19.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0736\/1580\/2606\/files\/M-First-Eden-front-cover-scaled.jpg?v=1774899721"},{"product_id":"words-for-the-wise-sixty-two-insights-on-hebrew-holidays-history-and-liturgy","title":"Words for the Wise: Sixty-Two Insights on Hebrew, Holidays, History and Liturgy","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eUnlocking the Depths of Jewish Texts and Traditions\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eWords for the Wise\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, Mitchell First uncovers the rich layers of meaning behind Hebrew words, Jewish holidays, historical events, and liturgical practices. Through sixty-two captivating essays, First examines the origins, development, and deeper implications of Jewish traditions, weaving together insights from classical sources, modern scholarship, and his own meticulous research. This book invites readers to explore the wisdom embedded in Jewish life, offering new perspectives on both familiar and lesser-known aspects of our heritage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mitchell First","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47778460893422,"sku":null,"price":19.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0736\/1580\/2606\/files\/M-First-Words-for-the-Wise-Cover-scaled.jpg?v=1774899707"},{"product_id":"links-to-our-legacy-insights-into-hebrew-history-and-liturgy","title":"Links to Our Legacy: Insights into Hebrew, History, and Liturgy","description":"\u003cp\u003eMitchell First continues his exploration of the linguistic and historical roots of Jewish tradition with forty-seven original essays covering Hebrew words, historical puzzles, and liturgical phrases. Written with his characteristic blend of scholarly rigor and accessible wit, this volume illuminates the surprising origins of familiar elements of Jewish life and deepens appreciation for the layers of meaning embedded in the tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mitchell First","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47778461352174,"sku":null,"price":19.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0736\/1580\/2606\/files\/Links-Front-Cover3.jpg?v=1774899695"},{"product_id":"esther-unmasked","title":"Esther Unmasked: Solving Eleven Mysteries of the Jewish Holidays and Liturgy","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMitchell First is a very talented Jewish scholar. He is able to challenge traditional assumptions and reach new, often groundbreaking, conclusions. His articles are meticulously researched, relying both on rabbinic sources and historians of antiquity. A main article explains how both Achashverosh and Esther can be identified in ancient sources.The entire volume consists of eleven articles that address mysterious aspects of the yearly cycle of Jewish holidays and liturgy: what is the meaning of the cryptic phrase in the Sukkot liturgy \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eAni ve-Ho\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e? what motivated Antiochus to persecute the Jews? what is the origin of Taanit Esther? how many questions were there in the original \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eMah Nishtannah\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e? why does \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003e\u003cem\u003epe\u003c\/em\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eprecede \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eayin\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e in the acrostics of the book of Eikhah?, and more.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mitchell First","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47778461679854,"sku":null,"price":19.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0736\/1580\/2606\/files\/Esther-Unmasked-by-Mitchell-First-scaled-1.jpg?v=1774899687"},{"product_id":"mitchell-first-set-paperback","title":"Mitchell First Set – Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eA bundled paperback set of Mitchell First's acclaimed essay collections — \u003cstrong\u003eEsther Unmasked\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eRoots and Rituals\u003c\/strong\u003e, and \u003cstrong\u003eLinks to Our Legacy\u003c\/strong\u003e — each exploring the origins of Hebrew words, Jewish customs, and historical traditions. Together they offer hundreds of fascinating insights into the linguistic and historical roots of Judaism, written in an accessible and entertaining style.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mitchell First","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47778462826734,"sku":null,"price":47.88,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0736\/1580\/2606\/files\/M-First-Set-revised-scaled.jpg?v=1774899660"},{"product_id":"roots-and-rituals","title":"Roots and Rituals: Insights into Hebrew, Holidays, and History","description":"\u003cp\u003eMitchell First, attorney and Jewish historian, offers forty-seven stimulating essays exploring the origins of Hebrew words, holiday customs, and liturgical phrases. Combining linguistic analysis with historical research, he uncovers surprising and often counterintuitive origins, making this an engaging and educational read for anyone interested in the depth of Jewish tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mitchell First","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47778462859502,"sku":null,"price":19.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0736\/1580\/2606\/files\/Roots-and-Rituals-by-Mitchell-First-scaled-1.jpg?v=1774899659"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0736\/1580\/2606\/collections\/Mitchell-First-200x200_ecb0cbd3-0620-487e-a34a-e5150ab775d2.jpg?v=1773868034","url":"https:\/\/kodeshpress.com\/collections\/mitchell-first.oembed","provider":"Kodesh Press","version":"1.0","type":"link"}