Judaism For Everyone: Renewing Your Life Through The Vibrant Lessons Of The Jewish Faith [Paperback]

Schmuley Boteach (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2003

The outspoken author of the best-selling Kosher Sex turns his energy and erudition to the core teachings of Judaism itself, presenting the Jewish faith as a source of inspiration and meaning to people of all religions.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

You think Jews don't evangelize? Think again. In Judaism for Everyone Shmuley Boteach imagines a future in which his religion provides "a locus of spirituality for men and women of all faiths." This sounds like a pretty good future. "In some religions the purpose of life is to perfect oneself," Shmuley begins. "For Judaism the purpose of life is the healing of the world." So, in the same way that Buddhist and Hindu traditions have spawned global interest in Eastern meditation and yoga, Judaism's broad concern for the holiness of this world may catch on with gentiles. Particular traditions of observance such as the Sabbath, for instance, may help gentiles to heal the alienation and lower the noise level of modern life. Throughout this book, Shmuley describes Judaism in terms that are both startlingly fresh and strangely commonsensical, a balanced perspective that will appeal to many readers, not least those who enjoyed his bestselling Kosher Sex. --Michael Joseph Gross --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Orthodox rabbi Boteach (Kosher Sex) attempts to bring Judaism into the everyday lives of Jews and non-Jews alike an unusual approach for a representative of a decidedly nonmissionary religion to take. He does not focus on the kabbalah, as many other authors have done of late, but rather examines a broad sweep of Jewish teachings on subjects such as prayer, suffering, God, idolatry, sex and gender, the Sabbath, and so forth. Boteach does not shy away from making direct, forthright, and respectful comparisons with Christianity on several issues of orientation and theology. Although he claims that he is not writing primarily for a Jewish audience, bringing the teachings and depth of Judaism to nonobservant Jews does seem to be one of the book's values. Boteach writes passionately, providing much for the thoughtful reader to consider in matters of spiritual and mundane conduct. This is neither a simplification of Judaism nor a historical introduction to the faith but instead a presentation of one rabbi's views of the ideas and values central to his faith and practice. Recommended for public libraries. Stephen Joseph, Butler Cty. Community Coll., PA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (April 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0465007953
• ISBN-13: 978-0465007950
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #790,125 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach is one of the world's leading relationship experts and spiritual authorities. His twenty-one books have been bestsellers in seventeen languages, and his award winning syndicated column is read by a global audience of millions. He is the host of TLC's award-winning Shalom in the Home and was Oprah Winfrey's love, marriage, and parenting expert on Oprah and Friends. He served for eleven years as rabbi at Oxford University, where he built the Oxford L'Chaim Society into the University's second largest student organization. Today, Newsweek calls him the most famous rabbi in America. The winner of the highly prestigious London Times Preacher of the Year award, Rabbi Shmuley is also the recipient of the National Fatherhood Award and the American Jewish Press Association's Highest Award for Excellence in Commentary. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, Debbie, and their nine children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A celebration of humanity and our relationship to God., December 29, 2002

By 

Joan E. Mounteer "ex-gypsy" (Golden, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Judaism for Everyone: Renewing Your Life through the Vibrant Lessons of the Jewish Faith (Hardcover)

I'm an athiest and ex-Catholic who bought this book with some skepticism. Yet, I heard the author being interviewed on the radio, which piqued my curiosity. What a wonderful, life-affirming book this is! It is written with a joy and verve that celebrates Life and Living by trumpeting its positive message relating to man, his strengths and weaknesses, and his relationship to God. From the author's explantions of the Creation story, the duties of man and wife in marriage, and some of the Jewish Holidays, such as Rosh Hashanah, this book will inspire you and make you happy to be alive in the world. In my opinion, so much of organized religion is negative with its emphasis on sin and the life hereafter. This book contains an entirely contrary message -- that man is good, that his soul is not tainted with original sin at birth. Man is good because he was created in the image of God, who is here with us, now, in the present. This book offers a truly uplifting, spiritual experience for the reader -- even for a cynical old athiest like me. Thank you, Rabbi!

37 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The latest and greatest hit by the world's greatest rabbi, April 23, 2002

By 

Maurizio Giuliano (Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Judaism for Everyone: Renewing Your Life through the Vibrant Lessons of the Jewish Faith (Hardcover)

H.R.H. Prince El-Hassan bin Talal of Jordan wrote: "In the modern world, it has become clear that people of all religions must bridge these differences and work together, to ensure our survival and realize the vision of peace that all faiths share". Yet, how do we put these beautiful words for world peace and harmony into real practice ? Is it enough to simply "tolerate" or "put up" with someone else's religion, barely trying to squeeze some vague common grounds out of one another's religious creeds ? The answer is a definite no, as this author shows us: we can easily go one step further. We can actually come to embrace one another's religions, by learning from them, and incorporate some of their principles and values into our everyday lives - which usually does not conflict with, but rather reinforces or enriches, the values or beliefs we may already be holding through our own religion. This step is extraordinarily exposed by H.E. Great Rabbi Shmuel Boteach, one of the world's greatest orthodox rabbis, and surely one of the top Halachic thinkers of the XXI Century. When he was appointed as Rabbi to Oxford University at age 21, young 'Shmuley' immediately embarked on an extremely challenging task, yet very successfully: to bring the students of Oxford - Catholics, Protestants, Mormons, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, and even Muslims - to share in the spirit of Judaism, through his marvelous creation which lives to this day, the renowned "L'Chaim Society". Students from all sorts of cultural, social and religious backgrounds came to experience the atmosphere and magic of the Holy Shabbat, the teachings of the Sacred Torah and the Holy Talmud, enriching their lives spiritually and culturally, yet without ever giving up anything from their own religion. Without any attempt whatsoever at proselytization, Rabbi Boteach has always worked to propose the great values and teachings of Judaism - universal values for all mankind - to those of other faiths. Indeed, to become just "a little bit Jewish", as shows us the author, can considerably enrich our daily lives, minds and spirits. This book, a true masterpiece not only in terms of intellectual work and rich content, but also for its superbly ravishing prose, is Rabbi Boteach's culmination in bringing Judaism to the world. It is a book truly "for everyone" who would like to learn more about Judaism, and maybe (no commitment !) put a bit of Judaism into their lives. Easy to read, fun to browse through, this book is great material for mind and soul alike.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book of advocacy for Judaism, May 16, 2005

By 

Shalom Freedman "Shalom Freedman" (Jerusalem,Israel) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Judaism For Everyone: Renewing Your Life Through The Vibrant Lessons Of The Jewish Faith (Paperback)

Shmuely Boteach is a somewhat controversial figure in the Jewish world. He is a dynamic outreach person who some believe has gone too far in his outreaching. But his love of Judaism and his love of people are very clear in this work. He is the kind of spiritual teacher who does not content himself with spouting platitudes but aims to make a real difference in people's lives.
He dares to be different, and he dares to be outspoken. And he dares to say that Judaism is not getting its fundamental messages across to its own people as well as to others.
Boteach writes in a vivid way. And generally his spirit of wishing to reach out to help others runs all through the work.
He sees Judaism as a living faith that has a message for mankind which no only those born as Jewish, but others can rationally and emotionally adopt as their own.
This is a wonderful book of advocacy for Judaism and is highly recommended.