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32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Inspiring Journey, May 7, 2002
It's not often that one comes across a nonfiction book as smooth reading as "Climbing Jacob's Ladder." Alan Morinis has produced what might be called a spiritual autobiography, with a specific purpose, explained in the title as, "One Man's Discovery of a Jewish Spiritual Tradition." Underlying all is a searing honesty that is positively inspiring. The tradition in question is Mussar, which has its roots in Eastern Europe before the Holocaust. This so decimated Mussar practitioners that Mussar did not gain prominence in the study of Judaism as a whole. So, for Alan Morinis, after much research, it was a "find". His description of it is so impelling that it is hard to put aside. As an autobiography, the character of the author as a secular Jew comes through very clearly in all its ramifications during his journey towards spiritual fulfilment. Also central to the book's treatment of Mussar is the character of the person who ultimately became Morinis' teacher. Rabbi Yechiel Yitzchok Perr, living in New York to where the author travelled several times from Vancouver for study. Rabbi Perr, though orthodox himself teaches without imposing orthodoxy on the learner as the writer might have expected, since he found the subject grounded in orthodoxy. However, Mussar is not only for studying, but for practising: its basic principles emanating from the soul of every practitioner, different as they are from every other practitioner. I found the book positively exciting because of the honesty of expression about the author's feelings at every stage of the journey. The writing is imbued with a very human quality that draws the reader into the author's soul, which is the whole point of the exercise of Mussar: to develop the soul toward spiritual perfection as far as possible. We are all different from each other with regard to the elements of our characters. Mussar calls these elements, "soul-traits". "We don't have a soul. We are a soul". Through the discipline of Mussar we are helped to improve these various soul-traits: for example, by working on our anger, impatience, etc. until we become more holy. Rabbi Perr side-steps a definition of holiness, saying that, "you'll know about holiness just from the experience." There's a lot more to the book than can be described here, such as what the Mussar exercises consist of. Suffice it to say that the end result of the book is a beautiful document, the essence of it being the "soul-perspective", leading to the possibility of all who read it to face life with equanimity. A. Naomi Katz
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29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A personal account of Orthodox Jewish introspection, April 28, 2002
Picking up this book, I was afraid that it would be the standard fair of criticizing traditional Judaism and replacing it with a sophmoric system. However, as the back cover contained glowing praise from both Rabbi Jonathan Saks, Chief Rabbi of England, and Rabbi Abraham Twerski, the best English language author on traditional Judaism, I immediately purchased the book. The author who is an admitted neophyte on the book's subject, writes skillfully, respectfully and passionately. I easily absorbed the book in a single reading, feeling refreshed and inspired the whole way through. The book never becomes preachy or emotional but maintains a discipline of even handedness which is the hallmark of mussar, the book's sunject. The book is a journey taken in middle age by Alan Morinis, a professor and movie producer whose life hits a roadblock. Searching for a way to move forward, he stumbles across some texts relating to the mussar movement, a small but highly influential school of thought within Orthodox Judaism. Mussar, which thrived in Eastern Europe during the 19th century, applies a highly introspective and self-critical approach to life. The author locates and visits one of the great luminaries of the Mussar school, Rabbi Yechiel Perr. Perr is a traditional rabbi, dean of an orthodox yeshiva in the suburbs of New York. Far from being a strict disciplinarian, Rabbi Perr is described as a happy man with a great sense of humor and passion for life. Perr invites the author into his home and shares with him insights into ethics and life, which inspire the author.
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23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Climbing Jacob's Ladder, May 1, 2002
This is a wonderful book wrtten with courage, sensitivity and clarity. The theme is a story of getting lost on life's journey and on finding a way back- no easy task in our North American culture of "materialism and self-centeredness". Alan Morinis generously shares his "journey" which took him to the little known ancient Jewish spiritual practice called Musar. At first through his reading and studying of obscure texts and eventually with the guidance of a wise and compassionate teacher, the author rediscovers his "true nature". The book overflows with wisdom and ancient truths and the practices and techniques of Musar are clearly laid out at the end of each chapter. Morinis wrestles with the question of whether one has to be a practicing Orthodox Jew to follow the path of Musar and concludes that one doesn't. In fact, I think that the path of Musar is open to all who genuinely thirst after truth and wisdom. The author generously shares his "journey" and his discoveries in a way that enables the reader to begin an ancient practice that can be life transforming.
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