Jewish Mysticism and the Spiritual Life

by Fine, Dr Lawrence

• ISBN13: 9781580234344
• ISBN10: 1580234348
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-12-03
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Pub

Summary

Why have so many spiritual seekers turned to the teachings of Jewish mysticism in recent years? What is it about Kabbalah and Hasidism that has so captured the imagination of unprecedented numbers of Jewish and non-Jewish readers and practitioners? In this unique volume, leading scholars and teachers of the Jewish mystical tradition share their favorite texts¿some available in English for the first time¿ and explore why they think these materials are meaningful and relevant to contemporary life. The rich combination of classical texts and contemporary reflections provides both the newcomer and the seasoned reader with a beautiful array of inspirational and thought-provoking materials for contemplation, discussion and action. Organized thematically, each section of the book focuses on a different dimension of the spiritual life, including prayer and meditation, interpersonal relations, Torah study and ritual observance. This is an invitation to enter into the esoteric worlds of past Jewish thinkers and to engage with today¿s best interpreters in exploring how these sources might help us in our quest for meaning here and now.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. xi
Introduction	p. xii
Discovering God in All Reality
"Pass Not Away": Yearning for a Seamless Life of Connection	p. 3
Seeking the Sacred Self	p. 15
Yitro (Neo-)Hasidism, and a New American Piety	p. 22
Spiritual Growth, Inner Transformation
Approaching the Thick Cloud: Working with Obstacles in Our Spiritual Growth	p. 33
"Who Am I to Go to Pharoah?"	p. 39
The Cry of Redemption	p. 46
"All This and Maybe": The Doubting Servant	p. 51
Rabbi Nahum of Chernobyl and "Second Maturity"	p. 59
Embodied Spiritual Practice
Taking in the Torah of the Timeless Present	p. 67
Holiness in the Kitchen	p. 72
Eating as a Spiritual Ecosystem	p. 78
Loving God with the Evil Impulse	p. 86
Compassion, Loving Others
"A Better Way of Being in the World, a Way of Compassion"	p. 93
Rabbi Nahman's "OD": An Ode of Human Redemption	p. 103
Spiritual Friendship: "Go Among People Who Are Awake and Where a Light Shines Brightly"	p. 112
The Service of Love	p. 119
The Splendid Bird: Reflections on Prayer and Community	p. 129
Prayer, Repentance, Healing
Praying from the Depths	p. 137
The Tainted Produce: A Parable of Possibilities	p. 145
Spiritual Wounds	p. 152
Sarah and Moses: God's Teachers of Compassion	p. 162
Crisis and Repair, Trauma and Recovery	p. 171
Torah, Halakhah, Mitzvot
Shabbat Candle Lighting	p. 185
Why Do We Need the Mitzvot?	p. 192
Jacob's Remedy: A Prayer for the Dislocated	p. 201
On Faith Beyond Perception: The Slonimer Rebbe	p. 209
Conclusion: Teyku-Because Elijah Lives On!	p. 217
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 221
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