“In Rising Moon, Moshe Miller has written a profound meditation on the Book of Ruth, shot through with fresh insights and arresting interpretations. A bold, original and deeply thought-provoking work.”
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Emeritus
Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew
Congregations of the Commonwealth
Rabbi Emmanuel Feldman,
Rabbi Emeritus, Congregation Beth Jacob, Atlanta
Former Editor of Tradition: A Journal of Orthodox Jewish Thought
Rabbi Moshe Miller has a mastery of the sources and a unique and uncanny ability to weave together seemingly disparate clues, allusions and facts in a way that produces a seamless tapestry of a story that is the foundation of the royal house of Israel. It is extremely creative and thought-provoking. One who studies this Sefer and internalizes its ideas and themes will never look at Megillat Ruth as the reader did before. Indeed, our very celebration of the Yom Tov of Shavuot will also never be the same. I highly recommend it.
This book is powerful stuff… R. Miller combines literary and psychological sensitivity with a midrashic outlook, somewhat along the lines of Aviva Zornberg. Additionally, I find the commentary very in tune with current trends in our community. R. Miller is very sensitive to issues of power and autonomy, without being radical and anti-authoritarian. He does all this while heeding to a careful reading of the text. This book is nothing short of a masterpiece.
Book Excerpt
The roots of Megillat Ruth go deep. Forming the backdrop is the saga of Abraham, Lot, and Sodom. Yet, as we have intimated, there are threads that reach back even farther, back to the dawn of history itself, to the very act of Creation. We are told that “olam hesed yibaneh” – “the world is built of hesed” (Psalms 89:3) – and with that formation of hesed comes the existential paradox we have been discussing: with each giving of hesed there is also a taking – with every act of hesed, independence is taken away. Hesed means not only kindness, but shame. The recipient becomes a dependent and views himself as inferior for having received. his paradox is what drove Lot away from Abraham. But it is not only Abraham who is compromised by the internal contradictions of “hesed-kindness-shame.”
Biblical Personalities:
Megillat Ruth:
Holidays:
Miscellaneous:
Purim Probability and Freewill
Rabbi Moshe Miller was ordained at the Ner Israel Rabbinical College in 1977 and embarked on a career of over thirty-five years as a Jewish educator. Along the way he has held the position of principal in schools in Santa Clara, California; Providence, Rhode Island where he earned an MA from the department of philosophy at Brown University in 1991; Atlanta, Georgia; and Miami Beach, Florida. He has also lectured at Michlalah Jerusalem College and was the Rosh Kollel of the Boca Raton Community Kollel. He and his wife, Grizzy, made aliyah in 2010 and live in Jerusalem where he writes and teaches.
To arrange for Rabbi Miller to speak to your congregation, students or organization contact the author.
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The Burial Plot of Ruth and Yishai – the father of King David. It is located on the top of Mount Hebron
“So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife… And these are the generations of Peretz: Peretz begat Chetzron. And Chetzron begat Ram and Ram begat Aminadav. And Aminadav begat Nachshon, and Nachshon begat Salma. And Salmon begat Boaz and Boaz begat Oved. And Oved begat Yishai and Yishai begat David.” (Ruth 4:18-22)
This has been a breathtaking read of Ruth. I already loved the sefer, but now, with Rabbi Miller’s commentary — I’ve been blown away. The depth, nuance, and innovative chiddushim have given me a new perspective to the megillah. And basically everything he says is rooted in chazal. A perfect read for Shavuot.
For the first time I realize the the Book of Ruth is really about Jewish destiny
My wife and I read this together. First of all, we found the book to be well written. That’s important. Furthermore, I find that Midrashim and Aggadot in the Gemora seem to provide a whole new dimension to the Tanach but it is often hard to decipher what exactly they mean. Rabbi Miller decoded it and presents everything in a clear but highly captivating manner. And true to form, Chazal see huge, sweeping themes in the book of Ruth – from creation to the end of time. I hate this cliche but for thinking Jews, this is a “must read.”
Fascinating! Chock full of stimulating ideas and references. Opens a whole new perspective about Jewish history and world history, and governance. I haven’t finished the book yet, but I highly recommend it. Extremely well written.