Jewish With Feeling: A Guide to Meaningful Jewish Practice [Paperback]

Zalman Schachter (Author), Joel Segel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 7, 2006

For decades, Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi has been helping Jews of all ages and beliefs to find a Judaism that moves their hearts, minds, souls, even their bodies. With teachings and stories from many traditions, as well as numerous practical suggestions, Jewish with Feeling is Reb Zalman's uniquely warm and welcoming approach to awakening the soul.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Whether by birth, by marriage or by choice, whether practicing or not, virtually anyone remotely affiliated with Judaism should read this book. Schachter-Shalomi, a founder and leader of the Jewish Renewal movement, offers a Judaism with a keen sense of the present infused with the sacredness of the past, yet written with a hopeful eye toward the future. Sharing his own struggles with faith, Schachter-Shalomi reminds readers that not only is it okay to question God, as Jews it's expected. More than a book, his dialogue takes on the tone of a late Shabbos afternoon in his study. His combination of rich, illustrative Hasidic tales interspersed with probing questions for today and creative suggestions for bringing Judaism into the world reach out to Jews of all ages and virtually all denominations. He addresses prayer, reminding readers that the act of praying is not about the words but about the feeling, and that they should pray from the heart, not by rote. He celebrates diversity, within and among religions, eschewing triumphalism. Most importantly, he offers a path for return to the oneness God intended when he created human beings—oneness with ourselves, the world, each other and ultimately with God. (Mar. 3)
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Review

Rabbi Zalman has blended mysticism, scholarship, and sechel into a unique and down-to-earth book... (Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D., author of Kitchen Table Wisdom) [An] enlightening mystical masterpiece...inspiring and expansive. (SpiritualityHealth.com)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Riverhead Trade (March 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594481806
• ISBN-13: 978-1594481802
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #328,662 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deepened my Spiritual Path, April 10, 2006

By 

Mary Blye Howe (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jewish With Feeling: A Guide to Meaningful Jewish Practice (Paperback)

Perhaps the greatest compliment an author of a spiritual book can be paid is that he has, through virtually every page of his book, changed your life, deepened your connection with God, and brought new life to your spiritual disciplines. This is precisely what Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi has done for me through "Jewish with Feeling." It's the only book I keep among my prayer books, and each day I read something I've underlined (I've highlighted approximately half the book!)so that I might bring that spiritual practice or thought or way of interacting with others into my life .

Rabbi Schachter (or, Reb Zalman, as he's known to many of us) lives a life full of delight, creativity and joy and, through this book, he infused mine with a desire for the same zest and exuberance. While he loves his own religion of Judaism, as do I, he brings in fresh insights telling us how to connect - not just dialogue - with people of other faiths. He tells us of the unique contributions that Judaism has brought to the world, and at the same time, reminds us of the rich traditions given to the world by those of other faiths. Yet he doesn't stop there. Reb Zalman shows us how our spiritual life can be deepened through a literal sharing of one another's spiritual practices.

In addition, his personal experiences and stories captivated me, and his unique way of telling these stories, helped along by Joel Segel's extraordinary writing style, makes this a book I'll return to many, many times. Very often, it's a tribute to a book to say, "I just couldn't put this book down." But I think Reb Zalman would greatly appreciate the fact that I had to put this book down many times - to dance, to pray, and to reflect on how to live all I was reading.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is profound and delightful, a must-read, April 21, 2005

By 

Karen Key - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jewish With Feeling: A Guide to Meaningful Jewish Practice (Hardcover)

This is a book that I pick up with a sense of excitement and wonder, and am reading slowly and savoring. I am familiar with Reb Zalman's work, and so bought this book with a sense of anticipation. The book exceeds my high expectations - it is a gift to anyone exploring Spirit, of any faith. It is of deep value to Jews like me who have found their way back to connection with our tradition through gifted spiritual leaders, Reb Zalman among them, who help us experience the joy and light of Jewish spiritual practice. I cannot recommend this book more highly. By the way, though an avid reader, this is the first time I've felt moved to write an Amazon review.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Profound and pithy, April 20, 2005

By 

Estelle Frankel "sacredtherapy.com" (Berkeley, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jewish With Feeling: A Guide to Meaningful Jewish Practice (Hardcover)

This latest offering by Reb Zalman has something for everyone. Whether you are a seasoned scholar of Jewish thought or a novice spiritual seeker, this inspirational book will show you how to create a meaningful Jewish spiritual practice that is: rooted in tradition, open to creativity and innovation, and relevant to the unique challenges of our time.
I felt especially touched by the autobiographical parts of the book, where Reb Zalman candidly shared poignant scenes from his own spiritual journey and his encounters with spiritual teachers from other faith traditions, including the Dalai Lama and Rufus Goodstriker, a native American teacher he met at an interfaith gathering. These stories are Reb Zalman at his best, showing us how all faith traditions share a common spiritual legacy, yet honoring the unique contribution each religion can make to the evolution of consciousness.