I invite those of you in Los Angeles to join me at Chevaliers’ Book Store (133 North Larchmont Avenue – Hancock Park) where I will talk about and sign my latest book Finding Your Moral Compass – Jewish Values for the 21st Century, published by the University of Toronto New Jewish Press.
The book is now available for purchase at Chevaliers, the oldest independent bookstore in Los Angeles.
If you are free and in LA, I would love to see you.
“Finding Your Moral Compass is a treasury of wisdom. Drawing on decades of personal and professional experience, along with deep reading in Jewish and non-Jewish sources, Rosove presents thoughtful musings on forty Jewish principles that he considers the most valuable for shaping a meaningful life. The book offers inspiration for Jews and non-Jews alike and will be a useful resource for teachers of adults and teenagers.” — Rabbi Dvora Weisberg, The Rabbi Aaron Panken Professor of Rabbinics, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, LA
“After years of losing much of my faith in moral clarity and hope itself, Rabbi Rosove has the antidote. These essays suggest an elegant formula for a new generation of Jewish leaders, based on a foundational belief in Jewish decency and justice which can transform how we strengthen the Jewish people, as well as how we view our position in our country and in the world.” — Mayim Bialik, Actor, Neuroscientist, and Writer, LA
“In a time of moral confusion, angst and even despair, John Rosove’s latest book brings a wealth of knowledge and insight about Jewish values and history. John’s deft mix of personal anecdotes with secular history and Jewish texts helps illuminate what it means to be Jewish – and to be human. Whatever your level of religiosity, there is a treasure trove of valuable insights about both the specific dilemmas that we face in our daily lives (Should we give money to beggars on the street?) and the profound questions about what we owe our fellow human beings. John’s chapter on Diaspora Jews’ relationship with Israel – reframing our paradigm from “crisis Zionism” to “aspirational Zionism” — is among the most valuable and profound contributions on this fraught subject. “Finding Your Moral Compass” should be an essential part of any Jew’s home library.” — Jennifer Rubin, American Journalist, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Contrarian Substack, Washington, D.C.
“A must read! Rabbi Rosove brilliantly and eloquently distills a lifetime of Jewish learning into forty concise chapters on key Jewish values. Most distinctively, each chapter addresses real life situations, and concludes with additional thoughts from great thinkers, as well as suggestions for further reflection and discussion. Anyone who wants to learn about the central teachings of Judaism in an easy-to-read and relatable format – this is the book! And the additional bonus: By absorbing its teachings, you will lead a more decent and meaningful life.” — Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, Senior Rabbi of the Stephen S. Wise Free Synagogue and Host of the In These Times Podcast, NY
“In a world where what matters most is bitterly contested, utterly ignored, or in mortal danger of being lost completely, here are forty Jewish values to live by; a beautifully composed and easily accessible discussion of 3000 years of Jewish wisdom. A combination of mind and heart, by a widely admired rabbi who shares what he has learned from a lifetime of Jewish leadership.” — Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman, Professor of Liturgy, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, NY
“Finding Your Moral Compass vividly portrays key Jewish values and illustrates them with contemporary and classical anecdotes and apt quotations. In this book Rabbi Rosove invites the reader to ask how these values apply to contemporary issues and personal conduct. In addition he invites a dialogue about how committed liberal Jews can best engage with their relationship with Israel and Israelis in all their complexity. This wonderful explication of how a Jew should live will uplift and challenge all who read it.” — Rabbi David A. Teutsch, Ph.D., The Louis and Myra Wiener Professor Emeritus of Contemporary Jewish Civilization, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Philadelphia
“Rabbi Rosove’s writing about Jewish values is both timely and profound. In an era when many of us feel adrift in a sea of immorality, he offers a lifeline—bringing Jewish teachings to life through personal experience, sacred texts, and contemporary commentary. Deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, his book is wise and thought-provoking, yet accessible. Each chapter ends with questions for discussion, making it ideal for a class, the family dinner table, or small group discussion.” — Rabbi Emerita Andrea London, Beth Emet – The Free Synagogue, Chicago
“Finding Your Moral Compass is indeed a valuable text about the moral values of the twenty-first century, but it represents so much more. Through this work, John Rosove introduces us to his rabbinate while sharing with us his personal ethical framework as well as providing readers with insights concerning the richness and relevance of Jewish sources and texts. As part of this learning experience, Rabbi Rosove challenges us with his thoughtful and essential questions, offering each of us a pathway to explore our own religious and ethical understandings.” — Steven F. Windmueller, Professor Emeritus of Jewish Communal Studies, Hebrew Union College, LA
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