This work is volume 2 of Boaz Cohen’s collected articles, with a new introduction by rabbinics scholar Natalie B. Dohrmann.

This work is volume 1 of Boaz Cohen’s collected articles, with a new introduction by rabbinics scholar Natalie B. Dohrmann.

An exploration of the ways in which crosses reflect and shape ideas and practices in Ethiopian culture: from religious values and rituals to magic and apocalyptic beliefs, and from individual identities to socio-political structures and power relations.

Psalms containing lexemes derived from the Hebrew root צרר (to bind, be in distress) reveal a previously-unnoticed generic subgroup in the Psalter. Through structural and cognitive linguistic principles, Rasmussen explores issues related to genre, Hebrew grammar, and syntax in order to arrive at a set of three cognitive domains of “powerlessness,” “palpable threat,” and “entreaty” which are relatively unique to psalms that include צרר lexemes. Rasmussen also makes suggestions about the editorial process of the Hebrew Psalter, concluding that after the Babylonian exile, distress was more strongly associated with divine discipline and displeasure, whereas before the exile it was more associated with declarations of innocence.

This volume is part of a series of English translations of the Syriac Peshitta along with the Syriac text carried out by an international team of scholars.

Scholars have long noted the importance of Isaiah in the Gospel of John, though few have focused exclusively on John’s use of Isaiah. The Servant of the Lord from Isaiah has also received much attention over the years, but commentators often only make passing reference to the Servant of the Lord in John. Day provides a systematic analysis of the Isaianic Servant in the Gospel of John.

Children today are living in a fast-paced world where one solitary voice can easily get lost amid the din. Regular meditation helps children to relax, generate energy and confidence, become aware of their innate goodness and engage more compassionately with their peers. Meditation with Children: A Resource for Teachers and Parents is a helpful guide to Christian meditation for children. The book encourages adults to experience meditation for themselves and equips them with the tools to introduce the practice to children, including simple lesson plans that can be implemented at home, in the classroom or on a whole-school basis. Noel Keating explores what the wisdom traditions and religions of the world say about meditation and identifies the practical rewards and spiritual fruits that arise from regular meditation. Featuring excerpts from interviews with Irish primary school children who have practised meditation regularly in the classroom, the book also gives voice to their first-hand experiences of its benefits, both psychological and spiritual. "This informative and engaging book sets out a strong case for the importance of meditation in the spiritual development of school-age children. Based on the personal voices of children engaged in school meditation, Dr Keating demonstrates the difference between the practical benefits of meditation and its deeper fruits of spiritual knowledge, greater clarity of perception, personal transformation, and authentic compassionate living. The study provides striking evidence of the depth of spiritual wisdom attained by school children through meditative practice." Bernard McGinn, Naomi Shenstone Donnelley Professor Emeritus, Divinity School, University of Chicago

This work represents the first time that a major part of the masorah of the great Leningrad Codex, that of the Former Prophets, is being published with an English translation and commentary. Almost nine-thousand notes are transcribed and annotated with biblical references.

In 2015 Pope Francis published Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home, the first papal encyclical devoted exclusively to the subject of the environment. Released to glowing reviews both in the Christian community and beyond, it continues to prompt great debate on the future of our planet and the need to redouble our efforts in protecting the environment from untold devastation.In this timely companion volume, Sean McDonagh has invited a host of eminent theologians, academics and environmentalists, all living and working in Ireland, to offer their own responses to this landmark work. With voices from various backgrounds — anthropological, sociological and theological — Laudato Si’: An Irish Response explores what one contributor dubs the ‘disruptive power’ of Pope Francis’ encyclical and its crucial call for ‘ecological conversion’.

As an indefatigable champion of the marginalised and dispossessed, Noel Clear was the very embodiment of Christ’s commandment to ‘love one another’. Best known for his innovative stewardship of the Society of St Vincent de Paul, where he served as national president from 1996 until 2002, Noel’s commitment to helping improve the lot of the poor and vulnerable informed every aspect of his life, both personally and professionally, until his untimely death, aged just sixty-five, in 2003. Noel Clear’s campaign for social justice can be traced back to his formative years growing up in Inchicore, where, as a deeply-committed youth work volunteer, he gave unstintingly of his time and energy. Later, Noel’s involvement with the Probation and Welfare Service, where he worked for almost four decades, endeared him to countless clients who experienced first-hand his deep-seated compassion and kindness. In Clear Vision, Gerry Jeffers pays tribute to this remarkable, self-effacing figure and explores the many facets of Noel’s character as campaigner, humanitarian and devoted family man. Featuring first-person testimonies from family members, as well as those who worked with him down through the years, Clear Vision offers a comprehensive portrait of a man who dedicated his life to others and whose legacy will inspire all who share in it.

For small children, attending Mass for the first time can be a somewhat daunting prospect. In this informative little book, Maura Hyland introduces younger readers to the various parts of the liturgy in a clear and engaging manner. The book not only provides a step-by-step account of the elements of the Mass and the celebration of Eucharist, it also shows them how, in the act of gathering together with our friends and family in the church to pray, we experience God’s great love for us in a special way. Ideal for parishes and classrooms.

This volume incorporates all the articles and reviews published in volume 14 (2014) of the Journal of Hebrew Scriptures.

To commemorate the centenary of Francis Ledwidge's death in the Battle of Passchendaele, John Quinn has compiled a selection of writings, both by Ledwidge and those closest to him. These poems, diary entries and letters follow Ledwidge's life from budding poet in County Meath to soldier facing the horrors of the battle on the western front. We discover, through Ledwidge's colourful verse, his reactions to the world around him, life as an Irish soldier in the British Army during the First World War, and his response to the execution of close friend Thomas McDonagh in the Easter Rising of 1916. Featuring an assessment by Seamus Heaney, this book will make a fine addition to any poetry and history lover's collection.

An English translation of Arman Akopian's comprehensive Introduction to Aramean and Syriac Studies, from the earliest appearances of Arameans in the historical record, through to the modern day.

In his apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia – the much anticipated response to the recent Synods on the Family– Pope Francis offered an eminently encouraging and consoling account of modern family life, both its comforts and challenges. In this thought-provoking companion volume, journalist Breda O’Brien has invited an array of contributors, both lay and religious, to each explore a chapter of Amoris Laetitia from a variety of perspectives. This rich collection of essays illuminates such subjects as the centrality of love, compassion and forgiveness to family life; the special place of marriage; the gift of children; the role of the parish; and spirituality, the bedrock of family life. The book also contains a series of questions to prompt reflection and, as such, is ideal not only for individual use but as a study aid in a group setting. As we prepare to celebrate the World Meeting of Families in Ireland in 2018, Exploring Amoris Laetitia offers timely and considered views on the joys and stumbling blocks facing families today.

In Recovering Common Goods, Patrick Riordan explores how Catholic social teaching and the principle of the common good can be successfully deployed in the public sphere, be it in relation to education, economics, democracy or civil rights. From global conflicts, to national politics and industrial disputes, we are bombarded with news of the divisions between people, the issues that separate them and the violence of their language and actions towards one another. However, in working together to uphold the common good we help enable both ourselves and our neighbour to realise objectives, and, in turn, to flourish both as individuals and as communities. Recovering Common Goods illuminates the power of social solidarity with recourse to scriptural analysis, philosophical inquiry and Church doctrine, and is aimed at anyone interested in creating a more equitable society, particularly those working with local communities or charitable organisations in the pursuit of social justice.