Devora Publishing Circa 2003 -20011

For a number of years this was Devora Publishing website. Devora Publishing was a "co-publishing" outfit.
Content is from the site's 2003 -2011 archived pages.

Devora Publishing books are now sold on the Urim Publications website at www.urimpublications.com/. Urim Publications is a publisher and distributor of classic and contemporary Jewish books.

DNA & Tradition
The Genetic Link to The Ancient Hebrews

by Rabbi Yaakov Kleiman Did the Twelve Tribes of Israel really exist? Are the scattered groups of modern Jews really the direct descendants of the ancient Hebrews of the Bible? This extraordinary book chronicles the latest discoveries in the cutting-edge field of Molecular Population Genetics that add empirical evidence and scientific confirmation to Biblical tradition. The areas that are analyzed include: The Discovery of the “Cohen Gene” DNA Tests of Tradition Confirming the Origin of World Jewry Discovering the Genetic Matriarchs Abraham’s Chromosome Signature

Torah With A Twist of Humor

by Joe Bobker A lively retelling of the stories in the bible as read each week in the synagogue. Interspersed are jokes and anecdotes that highlight the author’s points. The author uses highly original analysis and interpretation of the major events of the bible, adding Rabbinic and Midrashic sources to bolster his contentions. The reader encounters a humorous moment on every page of this enlightening volume. The chapters themselves hint at the anecdotal nature of this work, and its in-depth study of every story found in the Bible. Here’s a sample of the chapter headings in Genesis: BOOK OF GENESIS Murder in the first (Bereisheet) A hard rain’s a-gonna fall (Noach) Coming or going? (Lech Lecha) Boy named Will Laugh (Vayera) Life, death, and marriage (Chayei Sarah) Pot of beans (Toldot) Man on the run (Vayetzei) Wrestling match (Vayishlach) Many wives, many problems (Vayeishev) Fat cows, skinny cows (Mikeitz) Pathos and passion (Vayigash) Live and let die (Vayechi) The rise of Eve is the grande finale of the creation process. God takes from the male (ish) his rib/side to create the female (isha). Thus, writes Dosetai ben Yannai, a 2nd century Sage, it is natural “for a man to woo a woman.” Why? Because “he seeks what he lost.” To this, he adds the anecdote: Moishele is captivated when his Rabbi relates the tale of Adam and Eve. A few days later, the little boy isn’t feeling well. “Where does it hurt?” asks his concerned mother. “Here,” Moishele points to his side. “What do you think is the problem?” “I think I’m going to have a wife.”

REVIEWS

Jonathan Groner
VINE VOICE
1.0 out of 5 stars
A lame attempt at combining humor and the Jewish tradition
June 21, 2005
Joe Bobker, an Australian who is the former publisher and editor of the Los Angeles Jewish Times, seems to have felt that one could produce a good book by combining the close study of the weekly Torah portion with the telling of hundreds of old, musty jokes. Then Bobker went ahead and wrote that book. He should have resisted the impulse.

This is an odd volume indeed. It contains roughly 50 chapters, each corresponding to one or two of the weekly Torah sections read in synagogue services, and it is evidently intended to acquaint the reader lacking a profound Jewish education with the subtleties of the biblical texts. But in this book, brilliant comments by Hasidic rebbes, kabbalists, and Talmudic scholars vie for space on the page with some of the world's worst howlers.

If the jokes were funnier or newer, or if there were fewer of them, this concept might have had a slight chance to work. After all, Jews know how to laugh. The festival of Purim is dedicated to laughter, merriment, and learned parodies known as "Purim Torah." But instead, Bobker treats us to tired jokes about intrusive mothers-in-law, worn tales about greenhorns who just arrived in America, and bromides about kids in old-fashioned cheders and condemned spies facing the firing squad and henpecked husbands facing their spouses. The reader is not likely to be entertained but rather to feel beaten into submission.

+++

A. Perez
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the funniest, most delightful books I have read in a long time.
November 24, 2005
The Torah with a Twist is one of the funniest, most delightful books I have read in a long time. Author Joe Bobker makes learning the Torah a fresh new experience with an edge of excitement.

The jokes are very witty and well thought out. Each one relates to a particular message bringing them to life in a special way. A friend of mine gave me the book as a gift for my birthday, and I am glad he did.

I have never been that religious, but the author makes learning about the 10 Commandments, God Almighty, Creation, and the exploits of people like Lot, Abraham, Noah, and the "Rebel with out a Cause" (Moses) an interesting and fun experience throughout. It's accessible and yet still presents the Torah in full vibrancy, grandeur, and color. The message of the Torah is relayed simply and entertainingly, so everyone can understand it, not just the super elite studied group. I really enjoyed it.

I can't wait to see what this author writes next!

Note: So what do you do when you read two diametrically opposing reviews? I always wonder why this occurs, but it often seems to come down to "taste." For instance, the other day I was searching online to buy some paper products- toilet paper, tissues and paper towels. I wanted a site that offered the toilet paper, tissues and paper towels with free shipping of course. But I also wanted good prices and good reviews for the brands& products that I chose. I have to admit I always look at the low rated reviews because you often get more insights into the product than you would from a review that just said the customer loved it. If the comments of the negative review resonates with me, I won't buy the product. On the other hand if the reviewer rated the product low for a trivial reason I discount that review. In regards to Torah With A Twist Of Humor , I disregarded that one star review and bought the book. You can add my name to the 5 star reviewers. I enjoyed this book because it brings the Torah to life. And honestly, many of the jokes were good. If you really want to learn the 5 books of Moses, without being overwhelmed, I recommend this book.

Spirituality and Intimacy
Creating the Marriage You Want

by Raphael Aron Many couples are caught up in the numerous myths that abound regarding marriage. The prevailing view is that if an observant Jew talks about romance or passion in marriage, he is out of line. He is trying to make a Jewish marriage more attractive than it should be. He is certainly crossing a line and venturing into, what many couples would regard as, shaky ground. The brave couple that is prepared to explore their intimate relationship do so with a sense of trepidation, thankful for the fact that nobody knows and nobody can see. They pray that God will understand them and not judge them too harshly. Ultimately, the gift of marriage remains in its wrapper. The secrets that the mystics and the Rabbis have taught remain just that: secrets. Torah's powerful message and lesson regarding intimacy is closeted away. Spirituality and Intimacy touches on the halachic and therapeutic issues of a satisfying marriage, but ultimately this book is about passion, romance, intimacy and spirituality. Its task is to destroy the myths that in turn destroy relationships. The book sets up a genuine challenge for couples of all ages encouraging them to breathe new life into their relationships by taking a deeper look into how relationships can be guided by a Torah perspective. Raphael Aron studied at the Rabbinical College of Australia and New Zealand, Yeshivat Kol Torah in Jerusalem and University of Melbourne. Raphael is the Director of the Gateway Family Counselling Centre in Melbourne, Australia. He has assisted hundreds of individuals, couples and families in the spheres of marriage counselling and addictions. Raphael appears regularly in the media and provides expert evidence in relation to court matters involving family issues. He runs seminars at schools, as well as parenting and couples' workshops for the broader community, and lectures internationally. Raphael and his wife, Shani, live in Melbourne. They have nine children.

The Streets Of Jerusalem
Who, What, Why

by Ronald L. Eisenberg An up-to-date guide to the winding, wonderful, whimsical streets of the greatest city on earth, Jerusalem. Whether you are visiting Jerusalem, live in this Golden City, or just want to learn the history of this “crossroads of the world,” you’ll find this volume indispensable. Ronald Eisenberg has written over 20 books including The Jewish World of Stamps and Jewish Traditions.

Love in a World of Sorrow
A Teenage Girl's Holocaust Memoirs

by Fanya Gottesfeld Heller "There is not a false note in this book. No Vaseline is smeared on the lens of this camera which zeros in on all who are caught up in this world. It records unflinchingly: Grandfather Jakob caught by the Nazis, broken by the prospect of death, begins to save his life by turning in hiding Jews. Father and mother know that non-Jew Jan's love for their daughter has moved him to hide them…They know when the relationship turns physical and also resent the embarrassment of a Jewish-Gentile relationship….Scene after scene lacerates our souls and breakes our heart." From the Foreward by Irving (Yitz) Greenberg, Author, Living in the Image of God: Jewish Teachings to Perfect the World. Fanya Gottesfeld Heller was born into a traditional middle-class Jewish family in a small Ukrainian village in 1924. Defenseless against the German occupation, beset by hunger, marked for death by their neighbors and faced with the constant threat of discover and execution, the family hid from the Nazi death squads and survived the Holocaust thanks to the courage of two Christian rescuers. Mrs. Heller has made it her life's work to teach the lessons she learned about the victory of life over death and to share her message of hope with others around the world.

The Art Of Kavana
How to Ignite Your Judaism and Your Life

by Rabbi Alexander Seinfeld Contrary to most people's understanding of Judaism, the Torah's philosophy includes physical pleasures: that is, any experience that a person enjoys with one of the five senses. Either you smell it, touch it, taste it, see it, or hear it. Judaism views physical pleasure as central to living a good life. Hashem made a physical world not to frustrate us, but for us to enjoy. In fact, the tradition considers it a moral obligation to enjoy life's physical pleasures. For instance, consider the very first mitzvah of the Torah. What is the Torah's first mitzvah? It is not "Be fruitful and multiply." Nor is it "Do not eat from the tree of knowledge." Upon a close reading, the text plainly states that the very first mitzvah is "From every tree of the garden you must eat." However, the foundation of pleasure and the basis of Jewish spirituality is the discipline of mental control, of focusing the mind at will. To develop such a discipline requires a systematic development of mental focus, also known as meditation. It is the Art of Kavanah. Alexander Seinfeld received semicha from Harav Zalman Nehemia Goldberg, shlita, and two degrees from Stanford University. He founded Jewish Spiritual Literacy, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the ideas in this book. His audio recordings are available at jsli.org and other sites.

NEW FOR FALL 2007   Days of Purpose Days of Fulfillment by Cheryl Gunsher 208 Pages ISBN: 978-1- 932687-44-6 In Jewish tradition instructive stories and teachings of moral conduct, discipline and practice are called musar. In Days of Purpose – Days of Fulfillment, Cheryl Gunsher follows the musar tradition, sharing her personal stories of spiritual growth and development.     Jerusalem A Neighborhood Street Guide by Chanoch Shudofsky Illustrated 450 Pages ISBN: 978-1- 934440-01-8 An easy-to-use, updated guide of the 150 neighborhoods in Jerusalem including an alphabetical listing of the 2,500 streets, squares, thoroughfares, boulevards and alleyways that comprise these neighborhoods. COMPLETE JERUSALEM ILLUSTRATED MAP Jerusalem A Neighborhood Street Guide HEBREW EDITION! by Chanoch Shudofsky Illustrated 480 Pages ISBN: 978-1- 932687-24-8   An easy-to-use, updated guide of the 150 neighborhoods in Jerusalem including an alphabetical listing of the 2,500 streets, squares, thoroughfares, boulevards and alleyways that comprise these neighborhoods. COMPLETE JERUSALEM ILLUSTRATED MAP The Beast that Crouches at the Door Adam & Eve, Cain & Abel, and Beyond… by Rabbi David Fohrman 216 Pages ISBN: 978-1- 932687-79-8   This book examines the early stories in the Book of Genesis, calling attention to the big questions that bother us all, as well as to the hidden subtleties of text and language. As clues and questions are pieced together, deeper layers of meaning begin to emerge. In the end, the reader gains an experience in the richness and depth of Torah, and a profound confrontation with concepts that define the core of what it means to be a Jew.   Zion Before Zionism 1838-1880 by Arnold Blumberg 240 Pages ISBN: 978-1- 932687-82-8 This book studies the interaction of the European, Turkish, and Palestinian natives for a forty-two year period, just prior to when the great Jewish immigration to Palestine began. It examines the interplay between the native Palestinian population, the essentially foreign Turkish government imposed on them, and the aggressive ambitions of Christian nations represented by their consuls.   Living the Halachic Process Questions and Answers for the Modern Jew Eretz Hemdah Institute Chief Editor: Rabbi Daniel Mann 440 Pages ISBN: 978-1- 932687-88-0 The questions in this book have been culled from thousands of queries that have been sent by Jews from different backgrounds and levels of observance throughout the world to the Eretz Hemdah Institute in Jerusalem, Israel. They touch upon every area of Jewish law and reveal the basic desire of all Jews to understand their belief system.     Sondra's Search by Ester Katz Silvers 248 Pages ISBN: 978-1- 932687-95-8 Sondra Afelbaum and her cousin, Howie, are among the few Jews in Lincoln, the small, Kansas town where they live. The feeling of being different is only intensified for Sondra when she is eleven years old and discovers that her mother, Helga, was a concentration camp survivor. In the Footsteps of the Lost Ten Tribes by Avigdor Shachan 480 Pages ISBN: 978-1- 932687-97-2   The most fascinating legend of Jewish heritage, originating in the mists of history and ending with the greatest riddle in Jewish history, is the legend of the “Ten Lost Tribes” – the inhabitants of the Kingdom of Israel who were exiled by the Assyrians in 722 BCE. Inward Bound A Guide To Understanding Kabbalah by Rabbi Nissan Dovid Dubov 232 Pages ISBN: 978-1- 932687-98-9   What is kabbalah all about? How can I use kabbalah to help change my life for the better? These are just some of the basic questions that Reb Nissan, as he is called, deals with in this monumental work.   To Speak for the Silenced by Abraham Tracy 248 Pages ISBN: 978-1- 934440-05-6 Rising from the ashes of the Holocaust, Abraham Tracy built a new life, establishing a family that is his personal answer to the Final Solution. The manuscript of this memoir, originally written in Yiddish shortly after World War II, was kept hidden for many years, a secret memorial to the shtetl and the world that was destroyed. After being translated, it was edited by his first grandchild and made public – to speak for the silenced.   The Routine of War How One Northern Israeli Community Coped During the Second Lebanon War by Bethe Schoenfeld, Ph.D. 250 Pages ISBN: 978-1- 934440-10-0 The people who are interviewed in this book live on Kibbutz Gesher Haziv in the Western Galilee of Israel, as does the author. This kibbutz is just a few kilometers south of the Lebanese border. There is a beautiful beach not far away, and the valley around the kibbutz holds fields of wheat as well as groves of banana, avocado, and persimmon trees. On a normal day you would think you had found the Garden of Eden. But, during the Second Lebanon War, which lasted just 33 days, dozen of katyusha rockets rained down on Kibbutz Gesher Haziv. The families refused to move and exemplified the unwavering spirit of the Israeli people as they faced an unceasing barrage of missiles.   Artzy Books Far-Away Places Lessons in Exile by Howard Wolf, Ph.D. 160 Pages ISBN: 978-1- 932687-99-6   The essays in this collection could be called a cultural autobiography. At the time when the first of them was written, America was still looking primarily at the U.S.S.R. as the world power which might set the world ablaze. Then, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the rising suns of the South China coasts and the Pacific Rim cast their light across the world, and the many faces of Islam were often the images we saw on CNN. As the author travels through the beginning of the 21st century, he discovers that things never change as much as they stay the same.   101 Reasons to Visit Israel (and perhaps make aliyah) by Estie and Dovid Solomon 148 Pages ISBN: 978-1- 934440-02-5   What makes Israel so special? EVERYTHING! And here are more than 100 examples of the wondrous things you’ll find in the Land of Milk and Honey.

Schools and libraries are eligible for discounts.

More Background On Devora Publishing

Devora Publishing was an independent Jewish publishing house active primarily between 2003 and 2011. It described itself as a co-publishing venture — a model designed to support authors in bringing their work to market through collaboration rather than traditional acquisition. Headquartered between Jerusalem and New York, Devora sought to broaden the scope of Jewish publishing by covering subjects well beyond theology or liturgy.

The press aimed to “inspire, amuse, inform, and entertain” readers through eclectic, high-quality titles written by respected professionals and scholars. While Devora Publishing is no longer active under its original name, its entire backlist now lives on through Urim Publications, a Jerusalem-based Jewish publisher and distributor that continues to sell Devora titles worldwide.

Vision and Editorial Range

Devora positioned itself as a bridge between Jewish tradition and contemporary culture. Its catalog reflected a remarkably broad editorial range:

• Fantasy and Science Fiction with Jewish themes

• Philosophy, Bible study, and religion

• Holocaust memoirs and historical accounts

• Art and cooking

• Middle East conflict and Israeli life

• Humor and inspirational stories

This diversity distinguished Devora from more narrowly focused religious presses. The founders emphasized accessibility, ensuring that books appealed to both observant and secular readers who were curious about Jewish history, ethics, and spirituality in a modern voice.

Transition to Urim Publications

After 2011, Devora’s catalog was absorbed into Urim Publications — a respected Israeli publisher specializing in Jewish thought, halachic (legal) studies, biography, and modern Jewish identity. Urim now maintains Devora’s former inventory and continues to distribute its books through bookstores, libraries, and major online retailers.

This merger preserved Devora’s contributions, ensuring its titles remained available to scholars, educators, and general readers. In practice, “Devora Publishing” functions today as an imprint within Urim’s larger catalog, sustaining its legacy as a venue for eclectic Jewish literature.

Representative Titles and Their Impact

DNA & Tradition: The Genetic Link to the Ancient Hebrews

Author: Rabbi Yaakov Kleiman

One of Devora’s most talked-about releases, this book examines molecular population genetics to test biblical genealogies. It explores evidence of a genetic “Cohen gene” among descendants of Israel’s priestly class. Rabbi Kleiman, director of Jerusalem’s Center for Kohanim, wrote it to show how DNA research can affirm biblical lineage traditions.

Endorsed by noted scientists such as Dr. Harry Ostrer (NYU School of Medicine) and Professor Karl Skorecki (Technion), the book drew media attention for marrying Torah study with emerging genetics — a daring and scholarly fusion rarely attempted in religious publishing.

Torah With a Twist of Humor

Author: Joe Bobker

A lively re-telling of the weekly Torah portions, this book injected humor into biblical commentary. Each chapter mixed Midrashic sources with anecdotes and jokes, offering a fresh, accessible format for readers seeking enjoyment alongside study.

While opinions on its execution were divided — with some critics calling it “musty” and others “delightful” — the book exemplified Devora’s openness to experimentation. It reflected how the publisher welcomed unconventional formats that made Torah learning approachable to non-scholarly audiences.

Spirituality and Intimacy: Creating the Marriage You Want

Author: Raphael Aron

Aron, an Australian rabbi and counselor, tackled the sensitive intersection of Torah, romance, and modern marriage. The book challenged taboos around emotional and physical intimacy within Jewish life, blending halachic insight with therapeutic practice.

As a director of Melbourne’s Gateway Family Counselling Centre, Aron’s voice gave Devora Publishing international scope — bringing Australian Jewish perspectives into global discourse. Media coverage praised the book’s courage in addressing relationship myths within observant communities.

The Streets of Jerusalem: Who, What, Why

Author: Ronald L. Eisenberg

An indispensable guidebook to Jerusalem’s complex network of streets, neighborhoods, and their histories. Eisenberg, a prolific author with more than twenty titles, combined travel writing with cultural anthropology, making this one of Devora’s most practical and enduring works. It remains a useful reference for visitors, scholars, and educators studying Jerusalem’s topography.

Love in a World of Sorrow: A Teenage Girl’s Holocaust Memoirs

Author: Fanya Gottesfeld Heller

This acclaimed memoir recounts a Ukrainian Jewish teenager’s survival during the Holocaust through the help of two Christian rescuers. Heller’s testimony was later incorporated into Holocaust education programs across the U.S. and Israel. With an introduction by theologian Irving (Yitz) Greenberg, the book added emotional gravity to Devora’s catalog and reinforced the publisher’s reputation for authentic survivor narratives.

The Art of Kavanah: How to Ignite Your Judaism and Your Life

Author: Rabbi Alexander Seinfeld

Seinfeld argued that Jewish spirituality embraces sensory pleasure as a divine gift, linking mindfulness (“kavanah”) with joy. Drawing from both rabbinic sources and his Stanford education, Seinfeld bridged modern psychology and Torah values — another example of Devora’s fusion of intellect and faith.

Zion Before Zionism: 1838–1880

Author: Arnold Blumberg

Blumberg’s historical analysis examined interactions between Europeans, Turks, and Palestinian natives before mass Jewish immigration began. This scholarly title catered to academic audiences, showing Devora’s seriousness in historical publishing.

Inward Bound: A Guide to Understanding Kabbalah

Author: Rabbi Nissan Dovid Dubov

This guide offered a structured approach to Jewish mysticism, explaining how kabbalistic concepts can enhance daily life. It aligned with Devora’s educational goals — making complex traditions accessible to general readers.

The Routine of War: How One Northern Israeli Community Coped During the Second Lebanon War

Author: Bethe Schoenfeld, Ph.D.

A sociological account of Kibbutz Gesher Haziv under rocket fire, this book documented the resilience of Israeli civilians during the 2006 Lebanon War. The combination of field interviews and human stories fit Devora’s ethos: merging reportage with empathy and moral insight.

Far-Away Places: Lessons in Exile

Author: Howard Wolf, Ph.D.

Part memoir, part cultural commentary, Wolf’s essays traced identity and belonging from the Cold War era through the early 21st century. His reflections on displacement resonated with Jewish readers worldwide — embodying Devora’s concern with diaspora consciousness.

Devora’s Editorial Philosophy

Unlike many niche religious publishers, Devora embraced both the spiritual and the secular dimensions of Jewish life. Its editors viewed Judaism not as a closed system of dogma, but as a vast cultural ecosystem encompassing science, art, literature, humor, and personal experience.

Each title in its lineup reflected at least one of three guiding principles:

1. Curiosity and Inquiry – Books like DNA & Tradition and The Art of Kavanah encouraged questioning and intellectual exploration.

2. Personal Testimony – Memoirs such as Love in a World of Sorrow and To Speak for the Silenced preserved first-hand voices of survival and faith.

3. Joy and Accessibility – Works like Torah With a Twist of Humor and 101 Reasons to Visit Israel fostered positive engagement with Jewish identity.

Through these pillars, Devora made religious learning less formal and more emotionally resonant. Its hybrid model of co-publishing — where authors shared in financial and creative responsibilities — helped bring niche or unconventional manuscripts to print that larger houses might have rejected.

Readership and Audience

Devora’s readership included:

• Educated laypeople seeking approachable Jewish learning

• Jewish educators and rabbis looking for classroom materials

• Non-Jewish readers interested in Israel or biblical history

• Libraries and universities curating Jewish Studies collections

The publisher’s balanced tone — scholarly yet friendly — broadened its appeal. Many readers discovered Devora books in Judaica stores, synagogue libraries, and independent bookstores across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Israel.

Reviews, Reception, and Media Attention

Critical reception was as diverse as the catalog itself. Some titles, such as DNA & Tradition, received international notice in science-and-faith dialogues. Holocaust memoirs were featured in educational conferences and museum reading lists.

Readers praised Devora for daring to publish “books that no one else would.” Even when works like Torah With a Twist of Humor provoked mixed reactions, reviewers often acknowledged the creativity and spirit of experimentation that defined the press.

Devora’s collaboration with well-known scholars — including Dr. Harry Ostrer and Rabbi David Fohrman — gave its books intellectual credibility. Meanwhile, its more playful volumes, such as 101 Reasons to Visit Israel, showcased the lighter, celebratory side of Jewish publishing.

Cultural and Social Significance

Devora’s importance lies not only in its titles but in its philosophy. At a time when digital media began eroding print markets, Devora maintained the belief that Jewish books could still spark imagination and community conversation.

By supporting a spectrum of voices — from Holocaust survivors to scientists and stand-up-style humorists — Devora bridged generations and disciplines. Its willingness to treat humor, marriage, and genetics as legitimate lenses for faith discussion helped modernize Jewish nonfiction publishing.

In broader cultural terms, Devora represented a post-denominational Judaism — open, intellectual, and unafraid of complexity. Its legacy persists through Urim Publications, which continues to circulate Devora’s books globally, ensuring that these distinctive voices remain part of Jewish literary heritage.

Although DevoraPublishing.com is now a historical artifact, the press’s influence continues through its enduring titles and the institutions that champion them. From Love in a World of Sorrow to DNA & Tradition, Devora’s catalog encapsulated the Jewish world’s intellectual curiosity, humor, resilience, and humanity.

Its founders envisioned books that could both enlighten and entertain — and in that mission, Devora succeeded. Whether encountered today in print, library archives, or digital reprints, Devora Publishing’s works remain a testament to the vitality and adaptability of Jewish thought in the modern era.