The classic tales of the Jewish sages in the Talmud defined Judaism then and help us find our way even today. In this highly accessible collection of funny, wise and poignant narratives, master teacher Burt Visotzky leads the reader through stories of the Rabbis who lived in the first generations following the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 CE. Opening up these sage tales to the modern reader, Visotzky illustrates how these ancient stories illuminate modern life"s most pressing issues: * What is the good way to choose in life? * How a family copes with death * How a people copes with tragedy (the destruction of Jerusalem, but think 9/11) * How we experience God * How we find joy For people of all faiths and all backgrounds, this book guides readers through the accumulated wisdom of a millennium of wise narrative. Organized in 22 engaging chapters--one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet-- the book also includes a detailed glossary, a guide to the rabbis and other characters in the stories, the complete texts, the original sources, and suggestions for further reading.