Midrash Sinim: Hasidic Legend and Commentary on the Torah

Publisher Marketing: I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter dark sayings concerning days of old; That which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us, We will not hide from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength, and His wondrous works that He hath done. -PSALM 78:2-4 Midrash Sinim: Hasidic Legend and Commentary on the Torah, author Yong Zhao explores the Scripture in light of Jewish tradition, archaeology, history, linguistics, literature, sociology, mathematics, geology, and so on. He offers thoughtful and intelligent commentaries, for example, Prior to creating the world, G-d kept the Sabbath. Adam's first prayer was for a help meet for him and the tree of life was actually an atonement tree. By means of the flood, G-d destroyed the heaven and the earth, and re-created a new world. Compared with Joseph, Judah was the real hero. Genesis 38 has a narrative function within the wider Joseph narrative, but far more is involved. "Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars" (Prov. 9:1). The seven pillars refer to seven books (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Talmud and Zohar) and seven righteous men (Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Amram and Moses). In Exodus event the aliens converted to Judaism on a large scale. While many other works on the Scriptures exist solely to relay content to readers, Midrash Sinim is found provocative and intriguing, much interesting food for thought. It unveils numerical codes, deciphers long-term puzzles, solves controversial questions and provides gripping tales of Biblical figures, through which the profundity of the Torah and Jewish traditions shines with even greater brilliance. Contributor Bio:  Zhao, Yong Yong Zhao currently serves as the Presidential Chair and Director of the Institute for Global and Online Education in the College of Education, University of Oregon, where he is also a Professor in the Department of Educational Measurement, Policy, and Leadership. He is also a professorial fellow at the Mitchell Institute for Health and Education Policy, Victoria University. His works focus on the implications of globalization and technology on education. He has published over 100 articles and 20 books, including Who s Afraid of the Big Bad Dragon: Why China has the Best (and Worst) Education System in the World, Catching Up or Leading the Way: American Education in the Age of Globalization and World Class Learners: Educating Creative and Entrepreneurial Students. He is a recipient of the Early Career Award from the American Educational Research Association and was named one of the 2012 10 most influential people in educational technology by the Tech & Learn Magazine. He is an elected fellow of the International Academy for Education. His latest book World Class Learners has won several awards including the Society of Professors of Education Book Award (2013), Association of Education Publishers (AEP) Judges Award and Distinguished Achievement Award in Education Leadership(2013).