First Steps to a New Jewish Spirit: Reb Zalman's Guide to Recapturing the Intimacy and Ecstasy in your Relationship with God [Paperback]

Rabbi Zalman M. Schachter-Shalomi (Author), Donald Gropman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2003

This extraordinary spiritual handbook is a compassionate call to reconnect with your spiritual roots and nourish your relationship with God. Breaking free from ways of Jewish worship that no longer inspire, Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi--one of the most important Jewish spiritual teachers since Abraham Joshua Heschel--guides you through practical exercises for enriching the most important aspects of everyday life--physical health, work, marriage, family, prayer--and empowers you with contemporary ways to satisfy your modern spiritual hunger.

Whether refreshing your soul with a midday mini-Sabbath or improving your relationships by refining your awareness, Reb Zalman will introduce you to new models of practicing Judaism. In doing so, he will challenge you to embrace your faith as both spiritually and emotionally enriching, and will awaken you to innovative, inspiring ways for leading a meaningful Jewish life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a book of courage. Zalman understands the heart of his reader." -- Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis

From the Inside Flap

In First Steps to a New Jewish Spirit, Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, the inspiration of the Jewish Renewal movement, journeys deep into the rich but hidden tradition of meditation, contemplation, and the spiritual search in Judaism for fresh and contemporary rituals to inspire spiritual growth.

Drawing from personal experience as a rabbi, teacher, father, lover, and friend, Reb Zalman will introduce you to new concepts and methods for restoring emotional, spiritual, and bodily vigor, such as:

Accessing organic time to soothe your hurried mind
Practicing visualization techniques to improve your relationship with others and with God
Using focusing techniques to reestablish your spiritual connection with sacred texts
Rediscovering the power of prayer through word and song

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Publishing; 1 edition (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580231829
• ISBN-13: 978-1580231824
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #227,389 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars written by a true spiritual leader, October 24, 2007

By 

Kristina Fraction "pepperdove" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: First Steps to a New Jewish Spirit: Reb Zalman's Guide to Recapturing the Intimacy and Ecstasy in your Relationship with God (Paperback)

Reb Zalman is an amazing man, and this book is an amazing piece. I have read it countless times and I am inspired every time. It is so simple and easy to read, yet it leaves you thinking about its words long after you put it down.
My favorite thing about this (and the rest of Reb Zalman's work) is that it is so positive. He does not make you feel guilty. He does not make it sound like a hardship. He makes loving G-d and the world pleasant, fufilling, and beautiful.