Jewish Choices, Jewish Voices: Money (v. 2): Elliot N. Dorff, Louis E. Newman

• Filed under: Recommended

Editorial Reviews

Is it O.K. to be wealthy? How do we know when we have too much? Enough? Is wealth relative–are those born into wealth entitled to accumulate more money than those born in poorer circumstances? What are we obligated to do with our money? How much are we supposed to give to charity? Can Jewish charitable institutions accept money that may be "tainted"? How big a role should income play in our identity, in our life plan, in our pursuit of happiness?

From the Publisher
This new JPS ethics series deals with some of the most critical moral issues of our time

Each volume in this series presents traditional and contemporary sources on specific topics, followed by hypothetical cases and study questions to provoke discussion. Supplementing these are brief essays written by a diverse group — political figures and journalists, business professionals and authors, scholars and artists, young voices and old, traditional believers and iconoclasts. As a conclusion, Dorff and Newman present their own reflections, providing a counterpoint to the contributors’ perspectives.

These voices from the Jewish tradition and today’s Jewish community give us new questions and perspectives to think about and encourage us to consider our moral choices in a new light.

Order Jewish Choices, Jewish Voices: Money (v. 2): Elliot N. Dorff, Louis E. Newman form Amazon.

The Kabbalah of Money: Jewish Insights on Giving, Owning, and Receiving: Nilton Rabbi Bonder

• Filed under: Recommended

Editorial Reviews

Review
“A work of depth that requires contemplative reading and rereading. Bonder demonstrates great creativity in bridging ideas that are abstract and practical, religious and secular, traditional and modern.”– Jewish Week
“One of the best books available on the ethical challenges of living in a material world. . . . Fresh perspectives on the meaning of wealth, poverty, ownership, charity, competition, loans, fair exchange, tips and presents.”– Body Mind Spirit
“Bonder explodes the stereotypes about Jews and money and encourages Jews to examine their traditional teachings to discover ways that economic behavior and personal responsibility are intertwined. . . . Bonder’s book is filled with penetrating insights derived from the simple recollection that, in Judaism, teachings about money have always been about more than just money.”–Publishers Weekly Religion Bookline
“Compelling and innovative.”–Edgar M. Bronfman, President, World Jewish Congress
“Bonder frees money from the taint of filthy lucre and points to its uses in the growth and enhancement of souls in the marketplace.”–Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, author of From Aging to Sage-ing

Review
"A work of depth that requires contemplative reading and rereading. Bonder demonstrates great creativity in bridging ideas that are abstract and practical, religious and secular, traditional and modern."— Jewish Week

"One of the best books available on the ethical challenges of living in a material world. . . . Fresh perspectives on the meaning of wealth, poverty, ownership, charity, competition, loans, fair exchange, tips and presents."— Body Mind Spirit

"Bonder explodes the stereotypes about Jews and money and encourages Jews to examine their traditional teachings to discover ways that economic behavior and personal responsibility are intertwined. . . . Bonder’s book is filled with penetrating insights derived from the simple recollection that, in Judaism, teachings about money have always been about more than just money."—Publishers Weekly Religion Bookline

"Compelling and innovative."—Edgar M. Bronfman, President, World Jewish Congress

"Bonder frees money from the taint of filthy lucre and points to its uses in the growth and enhancement of souls in the marketplace."—Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, author of From Aging to Sage-ing

Order The Kabbalah of Money: Jewish Insights on Giving, Owning, and Receiving: Nilton Rabbi Bonder form Amazon.

Moses And the Journey to Leadership: Timeless Lessons of Effective Management from the Bible And Today’s Leaders: Norman J. Cohen

• Filed under: Recommended

Review
“Engaging…. Reframes the ideals and issues of leadership…. Draws lessons from this teacher and prophet of antiquity for all who aspire to leadership today.” — Mary C. Boys, coauthor of Christians and Jews in Dialogue: Learning in the Presence of the Other

“Masterful and thought-provoking…. Compares and contrasts the leadership problems faced by Moses and the Israelites with those of the modern-day CEO. A must read for modern-day leaders who to seek to aid in the growth and progress of an organization.” — Stanley P. Gold, chairman, USC Board of Trustees

Share in the Wisdom of the Model of Leadership–Tap Into Your Own Potential for Greatness

Leaders are not simply born; they are molded through life’s victories and failures, triumphs and defeats. No one exemplifies this process better than Moses, the most important and celebrated character in the Hebrew Bible. Faced with great internal and external challenges, he was sculpted into a great leader not only by circumstance, but also by his own determination and devotion to his people.

In this powerful and probing examination of the enduring texts in the biblical tradition, scholar and popular teacher Dr. Norman Cohen examines Moses’s journey to leadership and what he can teach you about the vision, action and skills you need to be a successful leader. Cohen relives Moses’s development from lonely shepherd to founder of a nation, emphasizing the salient points you can use to enrich the different leadership roles you are called on to play in your daily life, whether it be in business, religion, politics, education or other arenas.

Drawing from Moses’s life, you will learn to:
* Articulate your expectations of others, as a group and as individuals
* Empower those around you to lead more responsible, ethical lives
* Support your co-workers and family even when they fail
* Challenge others to reach their highest potential

Order Moses And the Journey to Leadership: Timeless Lessons of Effective Management from the Bible And Today’s Leaders: Norman J. Cohen form Amazon.

Business And Religion: A Clash of Civilizations? (Conflicts and Trends in Business Ethics): Nicholas Capaldi

• Filed under: Recommended

Review
“Business and religion have existed side-by-side for millennia. As these essays demonstrate, the co-existence has not always been harmonious. Yet this book also suggests that the two, understood properly, can be mutually beneficial. It is a welcome contribution to a growing body of scholarship that seeks to appreciate more fully the connection between our relationship with God and our work in the market.” Fr. Robert A. Sirico, President, The acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty”

“I believe these papers are important and their publication will stimulate further meaningful discourse.” — Alexei M. Marcoux, Graduate School of Business, Loyola University, Chicago

“These papers seek to appreciate more fully the connection between our relationship with God and our work in the market” — Fr. Robert A. Sirico, President, The Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty

Since the late 1960s American culture has been involved in a struggle to articulate an effective business ethics. The scandals of Enron and WorldCom constitute egregious examples of the absence or deficiency of ethical decision-making in matters of commerce. The purpose of this volume is to inaugurate a dialogue on the common elements of all three Abrahamic traditions - Christianity, Islam, and Judaism - that touch on ethical issues in business. With more than 40 scholars, religious and business leaders joining the debate, this anthology is the beginning of a reconstruction of the understanding of the relationship between religion and commerce.

Main Features: The following questions are addressed:
Is a purely secular business ethics irremediably deficient?
Does a substantive business ethic require a religious and spiritual framework?
To what extent does current business practice reflect a spiritual dimension?
What are the various religious traditions’ perspectives on the ethics of commerce?
Can the various religious traditions generate a non-adversarial, consistent, and coherent business ethic?
Is there a role for religion and spirituality in a global and post-modern business world?

See all Editorial Reviews

order Business And Religion: A Clash of Civilizations? (Conflicts and Trends in Business Ethics): Nicholas Capaldi form Amazon.

Japan’s Software Factories: A Challenge to U.S. Management: Michael A. Cusumano

• Filed under: Recommended

Review

“A much-needed dose of reality for every programmer or manager…does a fine job of defining, through five detailed case studies, the domain where the software factory approach works…it’s important you read this book…the approach does work and will gain in popularity…may prove vital to the health of your career.”–Computer Language
“Since the mid-1980s, various studies have noted the advantages of Japan’s more structured approach to software writing. But most were poorly researched and largely ignored. Cusumano claims to have done the most thorough, quantitative analysis of the issue, and his work is turning heads in the U.S.”–The Wall Street Journal
“Valuable to practitioners and academics in such fields as engineering, management, and computer science. It should also be fascinating to students of business and economic history.”–Journal of Asian Studies
“The fascinating story of the Japanese software factory is documented in Japan’s Software Factories….With software at the core of efforts to boost efficiency and productivity, the country with the best software will have a major strategic advantage in the 21st century. Japanese software factories have made important advances in moving forward a most vexing, hard-to-manage technology. Their methods merit close study.”–Across The Board
“For anyone involved with the issues of software and competitiveness, this is essential reading.”–Software Productivity Consortium Quarterly

Though Japan has successfully competed with U.S. companies in the manufacturing and marketing of computer hardware, it has been less successful in developing computer programs. This book contains the first detailed analysis of how Japanese firms have tried to redress this imbalance by applying their skills in engineering and production management to software development. Cusumano focuses on the creation of “software factories” in which large numbers of people are engaged in developing software in cooperative ways–i.e. individual programs are not developed in isolation but rather utilize portions of other programs already developed whenever possible, and then yield usable portions for other programs being written. Devoting chapters to working methods at System Developing Corp., Hitachi, Toshiba, NEC, and Fujitsu, and including a comparison of Japanese and U.S. software factories, Cusumano’s book will be important reading for all people involved in software and computer technology, as well as those interested in Japanese business and corporate culture.

order Japan’s Software Factories: A Challenge to U.S. Management: Michael A. Cusumano form Amazon.

Business And Religion: A Clash of Civilizations? (Conflicts and Trends in Business Ethics): Nicholas Capaldi

• Filed under: Recommended

Editorial Reviews

Review
“I believe these papers are important and their publication will stimulate further meaningful discourse.” — Alexei M. Marcoux, Graduate School of Business, Loyola University, Chicago

“These papers seek to appreciate more fully the connection between our relationship with God and our work in the market” — Fr. Robert A. Sirico, President, The Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty

Product Description
Since the late 1960s American culture has been involved in a struggle to articulate an effective business ethics. The scandals of Enron and WorldCom constitute egregious examples of the absence or deficiency of ethical decision-making in matters of commerce. The purpose of this volume is to inaugurate a dialogue on the common elements of all three Abrahamic traditions - Christianity, Islam, and Judaism - that touch on ethical issues in business. With more than 40 scholars, religious and business leaders joining the debate, this anthology is the beginning of a reconstruction of the understanding of the relationship between religion and commerce.

Main Features: The following questions are addressed:
Is a purely secular business ethics irremediably deficient?
Does a substantive business ethic require a religious and spiritual framework?
To what extent does current business practice reflect a spiritual dimension?
What are the various religious traditions’ perspectives on the ethics of commerce?
Can the various religious traditions generate a non-adversarial, consistent, and coherent business ethic?
Is there a role for religion and spirituality in a global and post-modern business world?

See all Editorial Reviews&order

Values, Prosperity, and the Talmud: Business Lessons from the Ancient Rabbis: Larry Kahaner

• Filed under: Recommended

Editorial Reviews

Review
The Talmud, says Kahaner, is a “handbook for today’s business world”: a reminder of balance in a workaholic culture, a treatise on personal responsibility and a call to charity in a society that seems driven by greed. In this book, Kahaner mines the ancient wisdom of the Talmud for advice on how to prosper – but to do so ethically. He begins with discussions of the “spirituality of money,” claiming that wealth can be a positive force if it is used wisely, and then argues that work is a holy act. Other chapters take up various topical issues: treating workers fairly so that they will in turn do their work more productively; being scrupulously honest in business dealings; recognizing that education is a lifelong process; and giving to charity. Kahaner draws on contemporary business examples as well as ancient wisdom to demonstrate that “doing good” and “making good” often go hand in hand. (August. (Publishers Weekly, June 30, 2003)

Help is available from just about everyone. Scan Amazon.com and you can find investment and business guides that purport to tell you how to win big, according to the principles of Sun Tzu, Machiavelli, Napoleon, Julius Caesar and probably Br’er Rabbit. You can also invest according to Jesus Christ and, now, take business lessons from ancient rabbis. Here you get the Talmud’s take on employee-employer relationships, partnerships, negotiations and more, all with the aim of turning an ethical profit. (Barron’s, October 6, 2003)

Product Description
This insightful book offers business advice that has endured for thousands of years. While business fads come and go, the ancient lessons of the Talmud are timeless, profound, ethical, and practical–and they’re for everyone. Values, Prosperity, and the Talmud is a concise guide to this proven philosophy of business. Beyond basic money-related matters, it includes the Talmud’s advice on complex issues of employer/employee relationships, partnerships, competition, and much more. Here, you will learn how to run a successful business, negotiate with style, earn the loyalty of your employees, sell products successfully, advertise effectively, and make higher profits, all within an ethical and moral framework.

Buy it today!

See all Editorial Reviews

See all Editorial Reviews&order

Japan’s Software Factories: A Challenge to U.S. Management: Michael A. Cusumano

• Filed under: Recommended

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A much-needed dose of reality for every programmer or manager…does a fine job of defining, through five detailed case studies, the domain where the software factory approach works…it’s important you read this book…the approach does work and will gain in popularity…may prove vital to the health of your career.”–Computer Language
“Since the mid-1980s, various studies have noted the advantages of Japan’s more structured approach to software writing. But most were poorly researched and largely ignored. Cusumano claims to have done the most thorough, quantitative analysis of the issue, and his work is turning heads in the U.S.”–The Wall Street Journal
“Valuable to practitioners and academics in such fields as engineering, management, and computer science. It should also be fascinating to students of business and economic history.”–Journal of Asian Studies
“The fascinating story of the Japanese software factory is documented in Japan’s Software Factories….With software at the core of efforts to boost efficiency and productivity, the country with the best software will have a major strategic advantage in the 21st century. Japanese software factories have made important advances in moving forward a most vexing, hard-to-manage technology. Their methods merit close study.”–Across The Board
“For anyone involved with the issues of software and competitiveness, this is essential reading.”–Software Productivity Consortium Quarterly

Product Description
Though Japan has successfully competed with U.S. companies in the manufacturing and marketing of computer hardware, it has been less successful in developing computer programs. This book contains the first detailed analysis of how Japanese firms have tried to redress this imbalance by applying their skills in engineering and production management to software development. Cusumano focuses on the creation of “software factories” in which large numbers of people are engaged in developing software in cooperative ways–i.e. individual programs are not developed in isolation but rather utilize portions of other programs already developed whenever possible, and then yield usable portions for other programs being written. Devoting chapters to working methods at System Developing Corp., Hitachi, Toshiba, NEC, and Fujitsu, and including a comparison of Japanese and U.S. software factories, Cusumano’s book will be important reading for all people involved in software and computer technology, as well as those interested in Japanese business and corporate culture.

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