From Publishers Weekly
Rabbi Sonsino takes on the contention that religion can sometimes be an impediment to spirituality, arguing instead that spirituality is a powerful way of expressing religious yearnings. He defines spirituality as "the awareness of standing before God," no matter how God is defined. Though many Jews seeking spirituality turn to Eastern religions, he says that Judaism has a rich spiritual tradition of its own, including six distinct paths: acts of transcendence (single events that have long-lasting effects), study, prayer, meditation, ritual and good deeds. These paths don't have to be mutually exclusive, Sonsino maintains, nor can spirituality be imposed. It is a "personal and... private matter" that requires constant attention and energy. Lucidly and clearly written, this book brings in many voices and poignant anecdotes from historical and contemporary Judaism to personalize the paths Sonsino suggests. The only voice missing from the conversation is his own. The reader learns intriguing bits about Sonsino's background at the very beginning and end of the book: He grew up in Istanbul, attended an Orthodox religious school there, studied law, served in the Turkish army, received his ordination as a Reform rabbi in the United States, served congregations from Buenos Aires to Massachusetts, and calls himself a "rationalist" who examines issues from a historical and critical perspective. But a deeper integration of Sonsino's own experiences with the spiritual quest he describes would have enriched this thoughtful book. (Jan.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Rabbi Sonsino begins with a brief history of the role of spirituality from biblical times to the present. He discusses the Bible, Jewish mysticism, Hasidism, and Hellenistic and medieval thought. Subsequent chapters examine the six Jewish spiritual paths: acts of transcendence, study, prayer, meditation, ritual, and relationship and good deeds. Sonsino writes that "the challenge for the modern Jew is to understand these paths, to assimilate them, and then to choose out of the plethora of Jewish ideas, the approach to spirituality that best expresses a sense of personal transcendence." Sonsino's advice is highly relevant in today's chaotic world. George Cohen
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
