As with my first book, there were many people involved in the creation of the present volume. Beyond the people I will mention are all the teachers, colleagues, students, friends and relatives who have made an impact on my perceptions of, and approach to, the Torah. I have taken all their input and made it into my own unique synthesis of the text, but that does not prevent it from also being theirs.
My association with the David Cardozo Academy in Jerusalem for the last seven years has been a labor of love. It has given me the opportunity to interact with many outstanding and creative individuals who have collectively provided a nurturing spiritual and intellectual community. To its Dean, Rabbi Dr. Nathan Lopes Cardozo, I am eternally grateful for his concern, support and encouragement. I wish him and his family much success in all their endeavors. Our administrative assistant, Mrs. Esther Peterman, has diligently used her formidable talents to help in this project as she does with whatever tasks are presented to her. For this I thank her very much.
The Academy’s friends and supporters have provided me with the aid and interested feedback that is so critical to any writing project. In particular, I want to thank my friends Andy Bloom, David and Ilene Brookler, Morris Dweck and David Sassoon for their support in this endeavor. Their constant involvement in worthwhile projects serves as a source of personal inspiration and makes me thankful to be associated with them. May they always inspire others with their good work.
I want to express my appreciation to Tzvi Mauer and all the fine people at Urim Publications for their help and support over the years. As a writer, it is important to have a publishing house that feels like one’s home. For me, Urim is certainly that and more. In particular, I would like to thank Ariel Walden and Sara Rosenbaum. To the various teachers and colleagues, Rabbi Dr. Nathan Lopes Carodzo, Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein, Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman, Rabbi Shalom Carmy, and Rabbi Nathaniel Helfgot, who all looked over the manuscript, I will always be grateful.
Last but not least, I would like to thank my family. My wife, Deena, put her finest efforts into editing this book. Before her revisions, it was far from ready for publication. Putting it into its current form was nothing short of a tour de force. I thank her for her encouragement in this project and in everything worthwhile that I do. I also want to thank my children, Yoel, Amalia, Tamar and Saadia, for their interest and support. The same is true of my mother, Mireille Nataf, and my in-laws, Sheldon and Marion Cohen.
A friend of mine who just finished writing his first book told me that one book in a lifetime is enough for him. At one point in my life, even that was just a dream. But to have my second book published and available to the general public is the realization of something I would not have even dreamed of. My prayer continues to be that I make good use of all the tremendous opportunities that the Almighty has so charitably sent my way.
— Francis Nataf
Jerusalem
Kislev 5770