‘The Bible’s call for compassion, moral responsibility and justice’
In Torah Wrestling, Rabbi Roy Furman reinterprets often misunderstood stories in the Bible’s first five books, inviting readers to see ourselves and our daily moral dilemmas in new and helpful ways. Torah Wrestling is ideal for Jewish, Christian and Muslim readers. That includes scholars, preachers, rabbis, teachers and all others who want to spark small-group discussions about the Bible’s call for compassion, moral responsibility and social justice.
Advance Praise for Torah Wrestling
Rabbi Roy Furman offers a series of scriptural meditations that are fearless and provocative and thus faithful in the best sense—to the text, the people, and God. … I learned a very great deal from this book.
The Rev. Dr. David P. Gushee, one of America’s leading Christian ethicists
(AND, for more on Rabbi Furman’s admiration for Dr. Gushee’s preaching on similar themes—see this April 2025 column in which the rabbi praises, in particular, Dr. Gushee’s Palm Sunday 2025 sermon.)
Rabbi Furman reminds us that we are composed of a multitude of identities, and we can always find common ground with at least one to see the potential of the “other” as the “self.”
From Saeed Khan’s Afterword from a Muslim Perspective
Whether you have been wrestling with Torah for many years or are coming to Torah for the first time, Rabbi Furman’s innovative insights into familiar and not so familiar stories will not only intrigue you, but also empower you to challenge some of the moral issues of our time.
Rabbi Laura Geller, Rabbi Emerita of Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills and co-author of Getting Good at Getting Older.
The Torah serves as a mirror for our world today. And, in this volume, Rabbi Roy Furman shows us how to look deeply into that mirror to enrich and challenge our lives and community.
From Rabbi Allan Kensky’s Preface
In Torah Wrestling, Rabbi Roy Furman enters into an honest, sensitive, and sometimes difficult dialogue with troubling texts from Scripture. … His approach to Torah-wrestling is a profound continuation of the process of Torah itself.
Ben Sommer, professor of Bible at Jewish Theological Seminary in New York and author of Jewish Concepts of Scripture.
Watch the book trailer …
Download a free “Study Guide” …
OR, CLICK HERE for a simpler version of the Study Guide’s questions—in a format that’s suitable for easily making copies on a home or office printer.
Care to Read a Sample?
Here’s the Introduction to Torah Wrestling formatted in a PDF “proof” that’s convenient for reading.
About the Author:
Rabbi Roy Furman is a native of New York, educated at Queens College, and ordained by Hebrew Union College—Jewish Institute of Religion in 1971. His writing and thinking as a rabbi and as a Jew have been influenced by his work with
- havurot (Jewish fellowship groups), minyanim (prayer groups), and Jewish congregations in Los Angeles, Portland, Chicago, and Evanston, Illinois;
- Hillel work at the University of Southern California and DePaul University;
- graduate studies in the history of religions, ancient Judaism and early Christianity;
- teaching courses in comparative religion and Jewish studies at DePaul University;
- training and practice as a clinical social worker;
- and his numerous stays in Israel: traveling, working, studying, and doing archaeological work over the entire course of his adult life.
He now lives in Chicago with his wife, Dr. Frida Kerner Furman, a retired DePaul professor of social ethics and religious studies. His daughter Daniella, is a neuroscientist living in Berkeley, California, with her wife, Yula, and their absolutely adorable child, Ilani.
News About Rabbi Furman and Torah Wrestling
Links to latest news, including recent columns, podcasts and videos:
- Rabbi Roy Furman’s call to compassion for the world’s most vulnerable is both timeless—and very timely
- Rabbi Roy Furman on Passover: The Unleavened Bread of Social Justice
For media professionals …
Interested in a complete press kit for Torah Wrestling or high-resolution images of Rabbi Furman and his book cover that you can share with your audience? Email Susan Stitt
Interested in scheduling a study session with Rabbi Roy Furman?
If your group would like to learn more about scheduling time with Rabbi Roy Furman—in person or via Zoom— Email Susan Stitt
For information about group orders …
We always encourage readers to order from their preferred booksellers. However, if you are interested in more than 10 copies, email [email protected] to inquire about our prices for direct shipment in quantity. For larger group orders, we could modify a shipment of your books with your organization’s logo and additional pages telling readers about your group or event.
Want to help spread the news?
Please, review Rabbi Furman’s book on Amazon
After the book’s launch date—reviews of Torah Wrestling on Amazon are especially helpful in spreading the word to other readers about the inspiring experience you’ve had with Torah Wrestling.
Are you active at Goodreads, the Amazon-owned global community of readers? Discussing the book on Goodreads also helps to spread this good news.
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