 
New Volume Hails A Return To Judaism’s Basics
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By Yonit Tanenbaum
Published on Thursday, November 12, 2009 -
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Kol Menachem introduced a new volume in the first English Judaica series on the Thirteen Principles of Faith. At Judaism’s core, the Thirteen Principles of Faith, composed by Rabbi Moses Ben Maimon (1135–1204), have become the standard statement of Jewish belief.
The series of lessons in the new volume, hailed as “groundbreaking” by critics, provides the Jewish world with scholarly insight into the principles and foundation of Judaism, which until now have not been addressed in such an extensive manner as have components of Jewish Law and analyses of Biblical text already on the market.
The second volume addresses the topic of prophecy, following the 2007 release of a volume on Torah. Academics of Jewish study, as well as a handful of university professors, have deemed this unique rendition of English Judaica as “meaningful” and “enriching” in terms of the information made available to them.
Based on teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, the lessons guide any reader through the Principles of Faith with clarity and ease.
Feeling that such fundamental material is not adequately addressed in academic curricula, the author, Rabbi Chaim Miller, began to work on this initiative back in 2006, seeking to fill a void in fundamental Judaism.
“Without studying the Rambam’s Thirteen Principles of Faith in some depth, one really cannot come to a full appreciation of Judaism,” assesses Miller.
The sequence blends veins of Jewish medieval philosophical tradition—works by Maimonides, R’ Saadya Gaon, and Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi—with those of mystical Kabbalistic tradition—including text on the Zohar, the Ari, and other masters of Chassidic thought—to create a newly accessible Jewish theological tradition.
These two strands of theology—that of medieval philosophy and mystical Kabbalah—have never before been interwoven to form a single anthology. Keeping in mind both the interests of those with little background in Torah study and of those with vast knowledge of Jewish text, Kol Menachem has succeeded in bringing a new chapter of scholarship to the masses, elucidating the teachings of the Rebbe.
Aiming to produce Judaic literature of the finest quality, Kol Menachem initially published the Gutnick Edition of the Chumash, which received prestigious acclamation and worldwide recognition by both scholars and laymen. The best-selling Gutnick Chumash has become the text of choice for the diverse Jewish spectrum, from scholars to beginners, around the world. The soulful, modern English translation is outstandingly readable and provides an enjoyable, engaging encounter with the ancient text. In May, the national Benjamin Franklin Award was presented to Kol Menachem for the Slager Edition Haggadah, which artistically presents the Hebrew text along with Jewish law, personal growth inspirations, and mystical themes. Kol Menachem’s primary influence is the Rebbe, one of the most acclaimed theologians of the 20th century, who excelled particularly in synthesizing varied traditions. ♦
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