Customer Reviews

The Art of Amazement

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I'm not exaggerating - there's something about this book that speaks to me more than others in the genre. I've read a lot of books on "spirituality", "meditation", "Jewish meditation", "Kabbalah", and so on, and this is the first one that really inspired me to become a better person. The reason may be Rabbi Seinfeld's philosophical clarity - the way he explains the philosophical way to understand "God" (which he calls "The Infinite"), really works for me. He then brilliantly spplies this framework to a number of basic Jewish customs. For the first time, I feel like I understand what the rabbi was always trying to do in Temple, but I think even he didn't understand. It's like the fog has lifted and I see not only Judaism but my whole life dfferently now.

The audio CD was also useful - it was the same content as parts of the book, but good to hear it while driving.

Contrary to the apparent Judaic framework in which the author tries to fit this book, the content goes far beyond any particular culture or religion. The whole thread of the book is about introspection and starting to get into serious "meditation". Meditation is this process of going inside our beliefs, and questioning and reconsidering all choices we make in our life. This is the path of "mysticism", which is nothing else than going back to our human sources, those we knew while being kids, and which we covered with all sorts of social and cultural learning that makes us forget who we are.

Amazement is being able to see the beauty of Life in all its aspects, which is the achievement of any mystic path. If you seriously try to grasp fully the content of this book, you might be able to change your perspective on life for good.

In the interest of full disclosure, I should start this review by saying that Rabbi Seinfeld sent me a copy of the book to review on Amazon.

Pros: Rabbi Seinfeld's writing style is engaging and colorful; it's a nicely written book. Also, the ideas presented therein, particularly after the first few chapters, of being mindful of and grateful for the sublime in our lives in specific ways is touching and important both to Judaism and to modern life. He also ends each chapter with specific exercises - both meditational and Jewish - that can help increase mindfulness and Jewish observance.

Unfortunately, I don't think I'm the ideal person to read - or review - the book. I have never been one to connect strongly with Eastern philosophy, for example, so the first few chapters - intended to draw in those who are perhaps so-called "JuBus" - were not appropriate for me but may be great for you.

I'd recommend the book strongly for anyone Jewish who has been interested in the mindfulness aspects of Buddhism and who feels he or she is lacking that feeling about Judaism, whether or not you're already observant. The mindfulness is there; we just weren't taught about it.

Imagine a cake. Now take away the eggs, sugar, water, milk, icing sugar, chocolate...and what's left? A bowl of flour. Now cup your hand, grab a big scoop of flour, and put it in your mouth. And that's what Judaism tastes like for most Yids. We call it chocolate cake, but most shuls taste like a bowl of four.

The Art of Amazement provides numerous theories/practices/ideas to instill profound meaning into the day to day activities of our lives. Rabbi Seinfeld's book provides tools that could, if read, absorbed, practiced, shared and taught (at both the individual and organizational levels) revolutionize the way we live our lives as Jews. If nothing else, you'll think twice about the roots of meditation.

A sparkling work that I find myself returning to for inspiration and insights. A nice balance of conceptual analysis and practical excercises that I have rarely found in books on the subject. I highly recommend it!

This book brings new "wows" to Judaism that I never knew existed.

Sometimes a new idea will change your whole perspective on something, so it almost seems to change form before your eyes. And in the process it changes your relationship with something important and even changes your life.

This book made me go WOW. I never knew or understood the way Judaism looked at spirituality and meditation before. I could have been meditating in Synagogue all these years (maybe I was) but never knew it!

I feel like there is a set of stepping stones laid out for me now. I can walk closer to the divine if I want to and it has always be right there in front of me! I see my relationship to the Divine with new eyes, and maybe even from a new me.
Wow!

The greatest value in this book is its attention to the deep meaning of several common Jewish prayers. It also gives a kabbalistic explanation of the knowledge of God. Judaism rocks!