The Book of Letters: A Mystical Alef-Bait (The Kushner series) (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "Alef is the first letter..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The Book of Letters: A Mystical Alef-Bait is written in English, but the format is classically Talmudic. The book opens from right to left, ending on the page where most readers are accustomed to beginning. Lawrence Kushner, a Massachusetts rabbi whose writings have helped restore a mystical dimension to popular Judaism in America, wrote The Book of Letters in beautiful calligraphy that is reproduced on every page of this finely bound edition. The text does not so much analyze or explain the letters of the Hebrew alphabet as play with them, teasing their forms and functions for hints of their significance. Noting that aleph, the unpronounceable first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, is also the first letter of the names of the first man (Adam), the first Jew (Abraham), and the herald of the last man (Elijah), as well as the first letter of the first commandment, Kushner notes that "The most basic words there are begin with the most primal sound there is." The Book of Letters is full of seriously playful insights like this. It's a marvelous guide to meditation, a primer for students of Hebrew calligraphy, and a fun introduction to learning Hebrew. --Michael Joseph Gross

Review

"A valuable resource for all students of American spiritual life. As an introduction to Jewish literature and history, it is a particularly engaging, informing and informed volume. Essential for special and private collections; highly recommended for public and academic libraries serving Jewish constituents or religious communities." -- MultiCultural Review, April 1992

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Publishing; 2nd edition (September 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879045001
• ISBN-13: 978-1879045002
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #152,685 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #5 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Authors, A-Z > ( K ) > Kushner, Lawrence
  #33 in	Books > Reference > Foreign Languages > Hebrew > Instruction

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Every Time I Read It, September 9, 2000

By	"smatlins" (Woodstock, VT United States) - See all my reviews

I borrowed this book and read it for the first time about 15 years ago. How could such a slim volume have so much wisdom and power and poetry in it? Both my wife and I found it deeply moving and enlightening as we explored what it meant to be Jews in a modern world, while part of a faith and tradition that had deep and ancient roots. When I tried to buy a copy, I learned that it was out of print and had been for a while. We decided that this was an unacceptable situation. We heard about so many people who loved this book and wanted to share it with others. So, we started Jewish Lights Publishing to bring it back into print. Read it and you'll understand why, whether you are Jewish or Christian or just seeking. And, the whole thing is in calligraphy from Larry Kushner's own hand -- just the icing on this mystical treat.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sublime!, October 15, 1997

By	[e-mail] (California, USA) - See all my reviews

Though I have returned to this book again and again, it always seems fresh. Pure gestalt! Kushner's design and words are elegant in their unassuming simplicity, often inducing the mental equivalent of a double-take. This book is full of wonderful inspiration for use in a meditative practice.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, August 16, 2000

By A Customer

This is a beautiful book. I look at it from time to time and remember the beauty of the hebrew alphabet and words that can be formed. We all need to be reminded of the beautiful creation of the world from time to time.