Spiritual Judaism: Restoring Heart and Soul to Jewish Life [Hardcover]

David Ariel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 9, 1998

In the first comprehensive guide of its kind, a noted Judaic scholar applied Jewish spiritual principles to daily life.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

According to Ariel (What Do Jews Believe?), many Jews are alienated from their faith and find it difficult to incorporate their Jewish heritage into everyday life. While Jewish spirituality follows an inward path, Ariel contends, the externals of the Jewish traditions like scripture and ritual can be made a part of daily life. For example, Ariel argues that we can connect our own personal spirituality to the Torah. The voice of God resides in the sacred texts of Judaism, and we can become an ear that hears what the universe is saying to us. Ariel also describes the stages of human development as steps on the way to growing into the image of God. The author argues that the best way for alienated Jews to reclaim the fire of their traditions is for Jewish congregations to study and to mature together in their spiritual journey.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Writing to help Jews who want to know more about the spiritual aspects of their religion but are not ready to involve themselves in a traditional, congregational setting, Ariel (president, Cleveland Coll. of Jewish Studies) approaches Judaism by examining Hasidic and Kabbalistic literature and by focusing on problems of God, prayer, and our place in the universe. The chapters on prayer and the development of the different branches of Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist) are especially strong. This book will be most helpful to Jews seeking a more mystical, meditative approach to the religious process. Those seeking a more rational treatment will prefer Rabbi Harold Schulweis's For Those Who Cannot Believe (HarperPerennial, 1994). Though the book lacks an index, the resources section gives excellent overview of materials covering Torah study and spiritual Judaism in general. Recommended for public and academic libraries.?Olga Bornstein-Wise, Compaq Computers Tandem Division Lib., Austin, TX
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; 1st edition (September 9, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786863064
• ISBN-13: 978-0786863068
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,985,312 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful vision of Jewish spirituality, November 16, 2000

By 

Robert L. Rose (Blooming Glen, PA, 18911-0064, Bucks County,United States)) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Spiritual Judaism: Restoring Heart and Soul to Jewish Life (Hardcover)

Ariel's books (see his earlier, The Mystic Quest) make Judaism and spirituality live. His discussion of our present spiritual situation (page two) cuts right to the heart of the contemporary human situation and reminds us that venerable religious traditions offer great assistance to those seeking to "restore heart and soul" to all of life.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Gentle book... perhaps too much so, November 12, 2009

By 

Eric Maroney (Trumansburg, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spiritual Judaism: Restoring Heart and Soul to Jewish Life (Hardcover)

David Ariel's book is a gentle page turner that picks up speed in the latter half. For the reader looking for a rigorous look at Jewish renewal from a historical or philosophical perpsective, this is not the book for you. Ariel is interested in reawakening Jewish interest for the great middle mass of people; Jews who have lapsed, who were turned away from organized Jewish life, and wish to return with a more adult sense of Jewish spirituality to the faith. As such, the book clears away a great deal of general cultural issues in the begininng. In the latter half of the book, Ariel gets into halakah and specially Jewish matters. It seems unfortunate that Ariel did not move some of the matter in the last half of the book to the front. Had he done this, the book might have had a bit more bite. The New Age patina of the beginning would have been modified by some of the sharp and trenchant things he has to say about Jewish diversity in the latter half.