The Book of Miracles: A Young Person's Guide to Jewish Spiritual Awareness [Hardcover]

Lawrence Kushner (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

The special 10th Anniversary Edition of a spiritual guide-for children.From one of today's most innovative and creative theologians, a book to introduce children ages 9-12 to a way of spiritual thinking to last a lifetime.Kushner, whose award-winning books have brought Jewish spirituality to life for countless adults, here introduces the spiritual richness of Jewish tradition to children. This easy-to-read, beautifully illustrated book encourages kids' awareness of their own spirituality.Revealing the essence of Judaism in a language they can understand and enjoy, The Book of Miracles combines Talmud, midrash, mystical and biblical stories to help readers make-and treasure-the connections between traditional sources and modern living.This intriguing guide challenges and inspires children to find the sacred in the mysterious and beautiful occurrences of their everyday lives. For parents to read to their children, for children to read to their parents-The Book of Miracles shows young people how to use Judaism as a foundation on which to build their lives.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The Book of Miracles: A Young Person's Guide to Jewish Spiritual Awareness brings Lawrence Kushner's funny, warm, smart perspective on Judaism to young readers. (This book will be most popular among kids ages 9 to 13.) Kushner's chapters on "Seeing," "Hearing," and "Doing" tell stories based on the Hebrew Scriptures in a style that is perfect for bedtime reading. "To be a Jew means to wake up and to keep your eyes open to the many beautiful, mysterious, and holy things that happen all around us every day," Kushner writes. "Many of them are like little miracles: when we wake up and see the morning light, when we taste food and grow strong, when we learn from others and grow wise, when we hug the people we love and feel warm." Kushner's goal in The Book of Miracles is to help children learn to ask good questions about spirituality by speaking directly to their concrete way of thinking and their voracious curiosity. The spiritual goal that Kushner guides children to assume is one that many adults will take for themselves as well. "The goal of spirituality is the bringing together of seeing, hearing, and doing into one whole person," he writes. "It is to see yourself mirrored in the heavens above and to realize that the Holy One created you personally to help complete the work of repairing the world." --Michael Joseph Gross

Review

"A well-written, easy-to-understand, very lovely guide to Jewish spirituality. I recommend it to all teens as a good read." -- Kimberly Kirberger, co-author of Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul

"A wonderful introduction to Jewish spirituality for children but just as importantly, for their parents; it belongs in every Jewish home." -- Dr. Ron Wolfson, Whizin Institute for Jewish Family Life, University of Judaism; author of The Art of Jewish Living Series

"Enables young and old alike to savor the mysteries and the meanings of spiritual life." -- Values & Visions

"Many religion books give our young people facts to learn; here is a book which gives them wisdom to remember." -- Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, author of God's Paintbrush, God in Between and other titles.

"The beauty of The Book of Miracles is its universality. Its message, although coming from a Jewish tradition, speaks to the souls of all." -- Dr. Ronald J. Valenti, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Archdiocese of Baltimore

"The beauty of this book is that its message, though it comes from the Jewish faith, reaches far beyond any cultural definitions and helps to develop appreciation of life's daily miracles as well as those that anchor religious tradition." -- NAPRA Review, November/December 1998

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Publishing; 10th anniversary edition (December 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879045788
• ISBN-13: 978-1879045781
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #316,257 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #46 in Books > Children's Books > Religions > Judaism

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful introduction to Judaism..., September 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Book of Miracles: A Young Person's Guide to Jewish Spiritual Awareness (Hardcover)

Kushner writes elegantly of the Jewish faith and introduces children in such a gentle way to their heritage. Lovely book from beginning to end. G-d speaks in this writing.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Family book, May 3, 2009

By 

Gary Canner "bookfan" (APO, AP United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Book of Miracles: A Young Person's Guide to Jewish Spiritual Awareness (Hardcover)

This is a great family book. Appropriate for all ages with wonderful insight into Jewish spirituality.

4.0 out of 5 stars read for using as teen book club book, December 11, 2011

By 

A. M. White - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Book of Miracles: A Young Person's Guide to Jewish Spiritual Awareness (Hardcover)

I am a supplementary jewish school middle school teacher. I have purchased this book to review it as a source for material for my class. However I have decided that it is written in a way that we could use the entire book for our book club. It is thoughtful, inclusive and written in a way that children can relate to. I recommend for class 6-8th grades.