Restful Reflections


Book Description

At day's end, quiet your mind and unburden your heart. These peaceful reflections offer wisdom to "sleep on." For each night of the year, an inspiring quote from a Jewish source and a personal reflection on it from an insightful spiritual leader help you to focus on your spiritual life and the lessons your day has offered.




Seventh Heaven


Book Description

Deepen your understanding of Shabbat, awaken to the possibilities, and experience the day with an extra measure of holiness. Seventh Heaven delves into the art of consciously observing Shabbat—exploring many of the day’s traditional religious practices within the context of life’s spiritual dynamics. With the help and wisdom of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov—one of the most important of the early Hasidic masters—this guidebook offers insight into the deeper meaning and purpose of a broad range of Shabbat observances and seeks to show how each custom or law fits within the whole. In accessible, easy-to-understand language, 7th Heaven is a spiritual guide for all levels of Shabbat observance: If Shabbat is new to you, or you’ve experienced it only in its popular form, but would like to deepen your understanding and connection. If Shabbat is something you grew up with, but you were never taught the inner meaning of all the customs and laws you were told to obey. If Shabbat has never been a part of your spiritual practice, but you would like to learn more about the Jewish pathway to wholeness and higher consciousness. Based on the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov (1772–1810) and those of his closest disciple, Reb Noson, the deep insights into Torah and spirituality revealed by these great Hasidic luminaries are as relevant in today’s world as they were some two centuries ago, when they were first taught.




The Seven Questions You're Asked in Heaven


Book Description

How do you get to the heart of a life well lived? Its all about the questions. If you can hear the questions and apply them to the way you live your life on earth today, then when the time comes, your soul will be ready to take that stairway to heaven, prepared to answer the Seven Questions with a resounding Yes!, and take your rightful place among the angels. from the Prologue In this charming, inspiring and wise guide to a well-lived life, beloved teacher Ron Wolfson provides an advance copy of the Seven Questions youll be asked in heavenwhether youre a believer or a non-believer. The answers to these questions will help you shape a life of purpose and meaning on earth today. Supported by wisdom from the Jewish tradition, lifes experiences, and personal anecdotes, Wolfson tells you about these transformative questions and explores the values that are at the heart of a life that matters. He offers funny, insightful and poignant stories of how peopleancient and contemporaryhave answered the Seven Questions through their everyday actions. He encourages you to reflect on your own life goals and provides ideas both big and small for achieving them.




Twelve Jewish Steps to Recovery (2nd Edition)


Book Description

This book is not just for Jewish people. It's for all people who would gain insight— and strength to heal—from Jewish tradition. • All people who are in trouble with alcohol, drugs, or other addictions—food, gambling, and sex • Anyone seeking an understanding of the Twelve Steps from a Jewish perspective—regardless of religious background or affiliation • Alcoholics and addicts in recovery • Codependents • Adult children of alcoholics • Specialists in recovery and treatment An updated and expanded edition of a recovery classic. A rabbi, a psychiatrist, and many recovering Jewish people share their understanding of the Twelve Jewish Steps of recovery from addiction of all kinds based on conversations with each other—and with God. They present a Jewish perspective on the Twelve Steps and offer consolation, inspiration, and motivation for recovery—for people of all faiths and backgrounds—by drawing on traditional and contemporary Jewish sources and by sharing what recovering people say about their experiences. They explore why some Jews are uncomfortable with the Twelve Steps, as well as how the Jewish understanding of the Twelve Steps differs from the Christian understanding of it.




The Book of Words


Book Description

"According to the Hebrew Bible, God made the world with words. God just spoke and the world became reality. (The Aramaic for 'I create as I speak' is avara k’davara, or in magician’s language, abracadabra.) . . . This does not protect words from the numbing effects of overuse in any religious tradition. . . . We need to dust off the words, shake away the accretions, wonder again about what they originally might have meant and enable ourselves to live in the word." —from the Introduction With creativity and poetry (and occasional heresy) Kushner dusts off thirty classical Hebrew words, shakes them free of the effects of generations of overuse, “re-translates” them, and liberates their ancient holy power. The result is a contemporary spiritual guide for your personal religious life. According to the Hebrew Bible, God made the world with words. God just spoke and the world came into being. Words therefore are not merely sounds signifying something else; they are instruments of creation, primary reality itself. They need only to be read, spoken, and interpreted. And to know them is to know reality itself. Kushner has designed the book himself, seamlessly blending graphics and content. In doing so he evokes the aesthetics of an ancient manuscript and a vision of our power to shape the future. Each finely crafted chapter begins with a Hebrew word and Kushner’s provocative English translation. At the bottom of the page is a transliteration of the Hebrew along with its more customary English rendering. In addition to his own intriguing definition, he includes a biblical citation anchoring the word, along with a more recent text showing the word’s evolution. Finally, we are offered a personal, meditative exercise designed to enable you to “live in the word.”




I'm God, You're Not


Book Description

"For most of us, only at the end of a lifetime do we begin to understan that even our life stories are sacred and that God has been involved all along."---from "The Life of Torah" --




Who By Fire, Who By Water


Book Description

The most controversial prayer of the Jewish New Year—what it means, who wrote it, why we say it. Over forty contributors who span three continents and all major Jewish denominations examine Un'taneh Tokef’s theology, authorship, and poetry through a set of lively commentaries. Men and women, scholars and rabbis, artists and poets trace the history of Un’taneh Tokef and connect the prayer to its biblical and rabbinic roots. They wrestle with the personal and community impact of its deeply moving imagery, probe its haunting message of human mortality, and reflect on its call for sanctity, transformation and renewal. Prayers of Awe: A multi-volume series designed to explore the High Holy Day liturgy and enrich the praying experience for everyone—whether experienced worshipers or guests who encounter Jewish prayer for the very first time. Contributors Merri Lovinger Arian Rabbi Tony Bayfield, DD Rabbi Sharon Brous Dr. Marc Brettler Dr. Erica Brown Rabbi Ruth Durchslag, PsyD Rabbi Edward Feinstein Rabbi Elyse D. Frishman Rabbi Andrew Goldstein, PhD Dr. Joel M. Hoffman Rabbi Delphine Horvilleur Rabbi Elie Kaunfer Rabbi Karyn D. Kedar Dr. Reuven Kimelman Rabbi Lawrence Kushner Rabbi Noa Kushner Rabbi Daniel Landes Rabbi Ruth Langer, PhD Liz Lerman Rabbi Asher Lopatin Catherine Madsen Rabbi Jonathan Magonet, PhD Rabbi Dalia Marx, PhD Ruth Messinger Rabbi Charles H. Middleburgh, PhD Rabbi Rachel Nussbaum Rabbi Aaron Panken, PhD Rabbi Or N. Rose Rabbi Marc Saperstein, PhD Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso Rabbi Jonathan P. Slater, DMin Rabbi Brent Chaim Spodek Rabbi David Stern Rabbi David A. Teutsch, PhD Rabbi Gordon Tucker, PhD Dr. Ellen M. Umansky Rabbi Avraham Weiss Rabbi Margaret Moers Wenig, DD Dr. Ron Wolfson Rabbi David J. Wolpe Rabbi Daniel G. Zemel Dr. Wendy Zierler




Jewish Theology in Our Time


Book Description

A powerful and challenging examination of what Jews believe today¿ by a new generation¿s dynamic and innovative thinkers. New in Paperback! At every critical juncture in Jewish history, Jews have understood a dynamic theology to be essential for a vital Jewish community. This important collection sets the next stage of Jewish theological thought, bringing together a cross section of interesting new voices from all movements in Judaism to inspire and stimulate discussion now and in the years to come. Provocative and wide-ranging, these invigorating and creative insights from a new generation¿s thought leaders provide a coherent and inspiring picture of Jewish belief in our time. The passionate voices of a new generation of Jewish thinkers continue the dialogue with God, examining the dynamics of what Jews can believe today. They explore: ¿ A dynamic God in process ¿ The canon of Jewish literature and its potential to be both contemporary and authentic to tradition ¿ Critical terms and categories for discussing Jewish theology ¿ The ongoing nature of the Jewish search for God ¿ Ruptures within the modern Jewish condition ¿ And much more




Making Prayer Real


Book Description

Fresh, Useful Perspectives on the Spiritual Dynamics of Prayer Better music, better sermons and better prayer books can only go so far. Many innovations have been tried around the world, and no doubt, synagogue leadership will continue to think creatively about improving services. But deep and lasting change will only come when each of us takes ownership and responsibility for what only we can really guideour inner lives. from the Preface Join over fifty Jewish spiritual leaders from all denominations in a candid conversation about the why and how of prayer: how prayer changes us and how to discern a response from God. In this fascinating forum, they share the challenges of prayer, what it means to pray, how to develop your own personal prayer voice, and how to rediscover meaning and Gods presence in the traditional Jewish prayer book.




Ehyeh


Book Description

What can Kabbalah teach us about our lives today? What can it teach us about our future? According to the Jewish mystical tradition of Kabbalah, Ehyeh,or “I shall be,” is the deepest, most hidden name of God. Arthur Green, one of the most respected teachers of Jewish mysticism of his generation, uses this simple Hebrew word to unlock the spiritual meaning of Kabbalah for our lives. When Moses experienced his great moment of call at the Burning Bush, he asked God, “When people ask me, ‘What is His name?’ what should I say to them?” God answers with this mysterious phrase, “I shall be what I shall be,” and says to Moses, “Tell them that ‘I shall be’ sent you.” God’s puzzling answer makes the conversation sound like a koan-dialogue between a Zen master and disciple.... Like the koan, the text here is reaching to some place beyond words, seeking to create a breakthrough in our consciousness. What is it trying to tell us? —from the Introduction Blending Jewish theology and mysticism, Arthur Green invites us on a contemporary exploration of Kabbalah, showing how the ancient Jewish mystical tradition can be retooled to address the needs of our generation. Drawing on the Zohar and other kabbalistic texts, Green examines the fundamental ideas and spiritual teachings of Kabbalah, encouraging today’s modern seeker to stretch to new ways of thinking with both heart and mind, setting us on a rewarding path to the wisdom Kabbalah has to offer.