Books by Rabbi Nilton Bonder

Negative emotions have much to teach us about ourselves and our relationships with others and the world at large. In The Kabbalah of Envy, Rabbi Nilton Bonder draws on the wisdom of the Talmud, Hasidic tales, and Jewish mystical lore in presenting insights into the effects of envy, jealousy, hatred, and anger. He shows that whether we are on the giving or the receiving end of these unpleasant emotions, we can learn to transform them and live peacefully in the spirit of the biblical commandment "Love your neighbor as yourself." Among the topics discussed are:    •  the consequences of malicious gossip, slander, and insults    •  cultivating humility as the middle path between pride and lack of self- esteem   •  learning to rejoice in the happiness and success of others    •  knowing when it''s better not to be nice    •  the proper way to correct or criticize others    •  living with ill-will and avoiding fights    •  forgiveness and reconciliation    •  turning your enemy into your best friend

The Jewish preoccupation with nourishment, diets, and the enjoyment of eating is often a source of humor. But nourishment is more than just food in the Jewish tradition: our eating habits determine how we are nourished on many levels, not just the physical. In this third volume of his trilogy, Rabbi Bonder teaches us about creating a healthy exhcnage between ourselves and our environment. The discussion includes:     •  how to eat consciously, with ecological and political awareness    • how to connect with the energetic essence of our food    • how to avoid becoming overweight—in the emotional, spiritual, and moral as well as physical sense    • the inner meaning of religious customs and laws concerning food and eating Rabbi Bonder draws on parables and teachings of the Talmudic sages and Hasidic masters and examines a well-known text of Jewish law, the Shulhan Arukh, for its practical insights into diet and other concerns of daily life.