The synagogue remains a central institution in Jewish life as a place of study, worship, and assembly, but each day brings word of a new challenging development within each of the larger movements to which synagogues belong—Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist. Jewish religious communities today share a number of challenges, from the increase in secular or unaffiliated Jews to emerging Jewish spiritual communities forming outside the synagogue. There has never been a more ...

In this young reader novel set at the beginning of the 19th century, Libby is placed in chains and transported to London’s notorious Newgate Prison after which, in a show trial, she is found guilty of helping her brother escape justice for attacking a Peer of the Realm after he beat her. Her punishment? Death by hanging. But while living in the horrific conditions of Newgate Prison, she is befriended by Elizabeth Fry, a woman who is famous for her work with English prisoners. For reasons L...

In this thrilling sequel to The Nor’Wester, Duncan Scott returns to England from Canada to search for his long-lost sister, Libby. Arriving on the Liverpool docks, Duncan learns that his sister’s fate has captivated the entire country. He also learns a name: Elizabeth Fry, a prison reformer who helped Libby and who holds the key to her location. But before he can meet Fry and find his sister once and for all, Duncan is kidnapped by a Press Gang in a dockside inn. Forced to take the “King’s...

Welcome, and thank you for accompanying us, David and Francesca, on our inner space travels.Together, we will guide you on a soul journey to energetically expand into your best spiritual gifts. You don't need a ship to explore space; your body is a ship, and by using your consciousness, you can energetically travel anywhere in the Omniverse.There are those living life on auto-pilot, and there are those of us harnessing our source energy, evolving the world a little more eac...

In Like Joyful Tears, readers see first-hand the trauma and havoc wreaked by civil war. Victoria Deng of southern Sudan is sixteen when her school is attacked by northern soldiers and everyone but herself and her sister Mary are massacred. The girls are soon rescued by southern rebel soldiers, who are escorting hundreds of children on the harrowing and dangerous cross-desert journey to a refugee camp. Twenty years later in Vancouver, Canada, restless UBC student Abena Walker, look...

This gripping novel for young readers begins in 1805, when fifteen-year-old Duncan Scott and his sister Libby lose their parents in a Glasgow cotton mill fire. Their tragedy is compounded when, through one reckless act of grief, the Scott children become fugitives as well as orphans, and must flee Scotland. Across the border in England, Duncan and Libby are betrayed by their travelling companion. In a desperate attempt to save Duncan from the gallows, Libby sacrifices her freedom for her b...

In "California and the Californians," David Starr Jordan constructs a captivating narrative that intricately weaves the rich tapestry of California's diverse landscapes, cultures, and societal values. As a pioneering work in regional studies, this text exhibits Jordan's characteristic eloquence and keen observational style, blending scientific observations with eloquent descriptions to convey the uniqueness of California in the late 19th century. The book serves as both an exploration of t...

In "Life's Enthusiasms," David Starr Jordan crafts a poignant and introspective exploration of the wonders of life and the persistent pursuit of knowledge. Through a series of eloquent essays punctuated by lyrical prose, he reflects on nature, science, and the interconnectedness of all living things. Set against the backdrop of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a time of scientific awakening and philosophical questioning, Jordan'Äôs work embodies the spirit of the era, merging person...

Gerard's life had heretofore been defined entirely by work. The Richard family had always been exceptionally close. In fact, despite the children, now in their thirties, still lived together with their widowed mother in their large, Bristol town house. Gerard had thus taken it upon himself to be the 'man of the house', to be the primary provider for the family. After all, in this day and age, even the rich were poor. But Gerard's simple, focused existence was going to be upended, first by ...

In "The Call of the Twentieth Century, an Address to Young Men," David Starr Jordan presents a compelling manifesto aimed at inspiring a generation on the brink of modernity. Jordan's eloquence is matched by his insightful analysis of the societal responsibilities resting on the shoulders of young men as the twentieth century unfolds. Through a blend of philosophical ruminations and pragmatic advice, the book delves into themes of scientific inquiry, moral integrity, and the pursuit of kno...

The work contained within this manuscript was penned by David Starr Jordan circa 1904. The Wandering Host is an allegorical story about the search for spiritual meaning. Symbolic of Jesus Christ’s ministry, it succinctly embodies our Christian heritage and the fourth of the six sources Unitarian Universalists draw our faith from, namely that which calls us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves. Matrika Press is proud to preserve this work.

THE CALL OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY AN ADDRESS TO YOUNG MEN by DAVID STARR JORDAN is an inspiring work urging young men to embrace the challenges and opportunities of a new era. Jordan's words resonate with encouragement and vision.