Movements Books - Page 3

The Essential Writings of Abraham Isaac Kook

Abraham Isaac Kook

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

a sometimes interesting mix 4 out of 5 stars.
8 of 11 people found this review helpful.

This book includes a few writings by Rabbi Kook, the chief Orthodox rabbi of Jerusalem in the 1920s and one of the early promoters of religious Zionism.

The most interesting parts of this book for me were the introduction and Rabbi Kook's personal letters.

The letters tell us a lot about Rabbi Kook's character, especially:

*his ability to conceal criticism beneath an avalanche of praise -for example, after an enumeration of a Jerusalem newspaper's sins, he emphasizes that "no one can deny that [it] is generally is generally an asset to the religious community in Jerusalem in its present edition."

*his willingness to seek consensus where there was disagreement - for example, while rejecting a claim that ritual commandments were obsolete, he emphasized that of course they will "become obsolete in 'days to come' . . . There is a category of 'days to come' when they will not be obsolete and there is a category of 'days to come' where the commandments will be obsolete" and that the only disagreement was over which "days to come" fell into which category.

The introduction was especially interesting because it gave readers a window into Rabbi Kook's world, that of pre-WW II Israel. There was as much dissension then as now, and Rabbi Kook was caught between secularists to the left and ultra-Orthodox to the right, just as modern Orthoodox and more liberal Jews in Israel are today. Wrote the son of one leading Hasidic rabbi: "Kook, may his name be blotted out, a rasha gamur [wicked man]". Rabbi Kook was criticized not just for halachic leniencies, but also for his willingness to befriend secular Zionists. Some argued that the Zionist pioneers should be shunned as godless heretics. Rabbi Kook argued, by contrast, that even secular Jews were doing good by rebuilding a Jewish presence in Israel, and that by having good relations with secular Jews he could move them to a more religious viewpoint. (Given the growth of Israel's religious Zionist movement, I would have to say that Rabbi Kook was at least partially right).

His essays were less interesting to me, probably because I am not that mystically inclined. But a few points here and there grabbed me:

*Rabbi Kook seemed less interested in black-and-white moral problems than in tradeoffs between good goals. For example, he points out that even the most perverted idolatrous cults arose from the noble desire "to draw close to God", and that the task of religion is to balance this desire against the necesity to "refine the desire for God" by bringing it into proper channels. If the first impluse is too strong, religion goes wild. If the latter impulse is too strong, religion becomes legalistic, stodgy and unappealing.

*Rabbi Kook was not as hostile to modern science or as supportive of Biblical literalism as some of today's fundamentalists. He wrote that the Torah's purpose is not "to tell us stories about past events" but to give us "the inner meaning" of those stories. For example, it is not important whether there ever was an actual Garden of Eden; rather, the story of Adam teaches that "even if man should reach a higher state of development . . . if he should corrupt his behavior he may lose everything." And the rest of Genesis is about the patriarchs' ability to return to a higher level.

In particular, Rabbi Kook was friendly towards evolution, emphasizing that the development "from the lowest creation to the highest ... indicates an appointed goal for all existence. Thereby the greatness of God is enhanced." Eventually, "the possibility of progress beyond the limits of natural law is conceivable." By transforming evolution into progress, Kook turns evolution into a religious idea!

Defenders of the Faith: Inside Ultra-Orthodox Jewry

Samuel Heilman

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Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

In this first in-depth portrait of ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel today, Samuel Heilman introduces a community that to many may seem to be the very embodiment of the Jewish past. To outsiders who stumble upon these neighborhoods and find bearded men in caftans, children with earlocks, and women in long dresses, black kerchiefs and stockings, it may appear that these people still hold fast to every tradition while turning their backs to the contemporary world. But rather than being a relic from the past, ultra-Orthodox Jews, or haredim, are very much part of the contemporary landscape and are playing an increasingly prominent role in the Jewish world and in Israeli politics. Defenders of the Faith takes us inside the world of this contemporary fundamentalist community, its lifestyle and mores, including education, religious practices and beliefs, sexual ethics, and marriage. Heilman explores the reasons why this group is more militant and extreme than its pre-Holocaust brethren, and provides insight into the worldview of this small but influential sector of modern Jewry.

Rachel's Daughters: Newly Orthodox Jewish Women

Debra Renee Kaufman

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

An insightful read 5 out of 5 stars.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.

If you're interested in becoming an Orthodox Jewish woman, or are simply curious why young women have turned to the Jewish Orthodoxy, this book is for you. Also, if just you feel that you cannot fathom the highly-structured world of Orthodox Judaism, this book is a great starting place for you. The writer, inspired by her own sister's choice to (re)turn to Orthodox Judaism, wondered why women would want to subject themselves to a way of life that seems so patriarchal on the surface. In a time when many women were turning to women's liberation movements, the women who Debra Kaufman studied were becoming more religious. They weren't trying to gain the same kind of equality with men that other women wanted. The interviewees were seeking more defined spiritual and social roles that were different from men's roles, but equally important and meaningful. Above all, these women, like all other people have done, were looking for meaning in their lives. Kaufman compares and contrasts these women's views to those of other women who joined other religious and non-religious groups. I liked this book overall because it was sociologically-inspired, and not at all preachy.

Feminism Encounters Traditional Judaism: Resistance and Accommodation (Hbi Series on Jewish Women)

Tova Hartman

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Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

University professor and social activist Tova Hartman, discouraged by failed attempts to make her modern Orthodox synagogue in Jerusalem more inclusive of women, together with other worshippers, set about creating their own own, Shira Hadasha ("a new song").

Since it opened in 2002, this new synagogue's mission--to develop a religious community that embraces halakhah (Jewish law), tefillah (prayer), and feminism--has drawn thousands to services. The courageous act of creating the synagogue--against amazing odds--is testimony to Hartman's own deeply felt commitment to both feminism and modern Orthodox Judaism.

The story of the creation and ongoing development of similar "partnership minyans" in Jerusalem and elsewhere anchors and ties together this book's five essays, each of which explores a vital contact point between contemporary feminist thought and aspects of Jewish tradition. Hartman discusses three feminist analyses of Freudian psychology for reading Jewish texts; modesty and the religious male gaze; the backlash against feminism by traditional rabbis; the male imagery in liturgy; and Orthodox women and purity rituals. Throughout, Hartman emphasizes the importance of reinterpretation, asking her readers to view as "creative tensions" what seem like obvious and insurmountable contradictions between traditional and modern beliefs. Such tensions can offer unexpected connections as well as painful compromises. The conclusion revisits the construction of the synagogue as well as discusses its impediments and actualizing these types of social and religious changes.

Hartman's book will speak directly to scholars and students of gender, religion, and psychology, as well as anyone interested in the negotiation of feminism and tradition.

Your Word Is Fire: The Hasidic Masters on Contemplative Prayer (A Jewish Lights Classic Reprint)

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Exploring the Mystery of Prayer 5 out of 5 stars.
17 of 18 people found this review helpful.

This is a wonderful, wonderful reader in Hasidic perspectives on prayer. The book blossoms with deep insights into the spiritual dynamic between God and humans. Please consider the following:

"A father has a young child whom he greatly loves. Even though the child has hardly learned to speak, his father takes pleasure in listening to his words." (p. 102)

There is something both bold and humbling about and such a perspective on prayer. God is not only King, but Father as well. The Infinite One is both large and small, far and near.

Many of the different dynamics of prayer are explored in this work, each in its own section, and everything is referenced at the end of the book. The book opens with an academic essay that provides a good context for the Hasidic exploration of the vast sea of prayer, the experience of union with the Divine Presence (p. 80). As with most readers, any background knowledge of Hasidism is helpful, but at the same time not necessary to have in order to be touched by the wisdom of these mystics.

I think, though, that this book needs to be approached as an open door to the myster of prayer. Rather than just being read, it should be tested: to approach God as a child who is unable to speak is a humbling thing. To persist, nonetheless, and draw close to God as God draws us and pulls us close is to experience God's love. The reader of this book will have some far reaching light as s/he travels and progresses down the path of such prayer.

Editorial Review:

The power of prayer for spiritual renewal and personal transformation is at the core of all religious traditions. Through the advice, parables, and explanations presented in this book, the Hasidic masters of the past speak to our own attempts to find meaning in prayer, and pierce to the heart of the modern reader s search for God.

HERETICS

Gilbert, K. Chesterson

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Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Nothing more strangely indicates an enormous and silent evil of modern society than the extraordinary use which is made nowadays of the word "orthodox." In former days the heretic was proud of not being a heretic. It was the kingdoms of the world and the police and the judges who were heretics. He was orthodox. He had no pride in having rebelled against them; they had rebelled against him. The armies with their cruel security, the kings with their cold faces, the decorous processes of State, the reasonable processes of law--all these like sheep had gone astray. The man was proud of being orthodox, was proud of being right. If he stood alone in a howling wilderness he was more than a man; he was a church. He was the centre of the universe; it was round him that the stars swung. All the tortures torn out of forgotten hells could not make him admit that he was heretical. But a few modern phrases have made him boast of it. He says, with a conscious laugh, "I suppose I am very heretical," and looks round for applause. The word "heresy" not only means no longer being wrong; it practically means being clear-headed and courageous. The word "orthodoxy" not only no longer means being right; it practically means being wrong. All this can mean one thing, and one thing only. It means that people care less for whether they are philosophically right. For obviously a man ought to confess himself crazy before he confesses himself heretical. The Bohemian, with a red tie, ought to pique himself on his orthodoxy. The dynamiter, laying a bomb, ought to feel that, whatever else he is, at least he is orthodox. -- Gilbert K. Chesterson

Holy Woman: The Road to Greatness of Rebbetzin Chaya Sara Kramer

Sara Yoheved Rigler

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Lovely book 4 out of 5 stars.
7 of 10 people found this review helpful.

Ms. Rigler has produced a lovely first published work. Her style is very personal and warm, with her own thoughts at certain points in italic font.

Portraits of two wonderful human beings striving to be the best individuals they can be. Something for all of us to take heart in and look at our own lives for reflection.

This Book Blew Me Away 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful.

I'm not finished with it yet but I'm enjoying this book thoroughly. I feel like I'm learning a lot through the good deeds of this amazing woman. I often wonder at her outlook on life and how she decided on it. Especially after everything she lived through (i.e. Holocaust and watching her sister's murder at a death camp, among so many other things). The reason is that she gives Hakadosh Baruch Hu complete and total credit for everything. Sarah Rigler is an amazing writer and I'm already looking forward to reading her next book, "Lights from Jerusalem."

Sustainers of the world 4 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

A friend of mine who teaches Jewish studies, knowing my interest in hasidic spirituality, recommended Sara Rigler's Holy Woman to me. It's a fascinating portrait not only of the tzaddikah to whom the title refers, Chaya Sara Kramer, but also of her husband, Yaakov Moshe Kramer, whom many believe to have been one of the lamed-vav tzaddikim, one of the 36 undivulged holy men whose merit sustains the world.

Chaya Sara, born in Carpathia, survived Auschwitz (alone of her family) and migrated to Israel in 1946. There she met and married Yaakov Moshe and settled in a small farming community. Their lives were devoted to acts of devotion and chesed (loving-kindness, the chief characteristic of God). Living in voluntary poverty (which shocked many of their visitors), they gave unstintingly of money and time. Having no children of their own, they opened their home to a number of severely mentally and handicapped children, raising them with love and dedication. (In reading Rigler's account of their devotion to children that the world rejects, one's reminded of Jean Vanier's L'Arche communities.) Worried about diminished opportunity for children of once-hasidic families to benefit from an orthodox education, Yaakov Moshe dedicated years of his life to raising tuition money for indigent Jewish kids. In all these acts of charity, Yaakov Moshe tried to encourage "mutual givers": getting together people who could give financial help with needy people who could give prayers and blessings in turn.

One of the most fascinating points in the book is the story of Avramele, the retarded lad that the Kramer's raised from a toddler, and who was still living with Chaya Sara at her death. Chaya Sara and Yaakov Moshe considered Avramele a tzaddik in his own right, even though he had the intellect of a 5 year old. (In the Christian tradition, Avramele might be called a "holy fool.") For them, caring for Avramele was not only a loving joy. It was also an honor.

Rigler's writing is fresh and engaging. She makes me very much wish I could've met Chaya Sara and Yaakov Moshe, and that I could've received their blessing. In only one way is the book a bit flawed. Rigler violates her own principle, stated early on, that saints are exemplary: merely observing their behavior is a spiritual tonic for the rest of us. Instead of letting her wonderful stories about the Kramers speak for themselves and letting us observe them through her descriptions, however, she breaks the narrative flow with "signpost" interruptions in which she offers spiritual reflections. In all honesty, I began to find the signposts intrusive, and stopped reading them after awhile. Aside from this, though, the book is highly recommended.

Wrapped in a Holy Flame: Teachings and Tales of The Hasidic Masters

Zalman Schachter Shalomi

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Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Early in the eighteenth century the legendary holy man and teacher Rabbi Israel Ba'al Shem Tov launched a spiritual movement in Eastern Europe known as Hasidism. The Hasidic movement thrived on parables and stories promulgating joy, the potential for personal transformation, aspirations of the Divine, and the infusion of daily life with music, dancing, and loving exultation-- and there is no Jewish institution today that has not been affected by Hasidism. Since the time of the Ba'al Shem Tov, generations of disciples, holy men, gurus, rabbis, and teachers have spread the Hasidic movement throughout the world. Now this book presents in one volume a collection of profound insights from the greatest Hasidic masters.

Wrapped in a Holy Flame offers rare stories, new translations, and an innovative introduction to the meaning and value of these classic tales and teachings. It features the work of Hasidic masters of legendary fame and influence, including the Maggid of Mezritch, Reb Pinchas of Koretz, Shneur Zalman of Liadi, Reb Nachman of Bratzlav, all the way to the twentieth century Rebbe and artist Reb Shlomo Carlebach. The author has studied and taught Hasidic stories and teachings for over fifty years. This book contains a lifetime of experience and will stand for years to come as the basic, definitive work in the field.

The Rebbe, The Messiah, and the Scandal of Orthodox Indifference: With a New Introduction (Littman Library of Jewish Civilization)

David Berger

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Total reviews: 80 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

The dangers of extreme bias 1 out of 5 stars.
19 of 40 people found this review helpful.

If you are looking at the this book, it is clear that the entire framework is of some interest to you. In order to provide yourself with balance on this issue you MUST read the response to this book entitled:

"The Messiah Problem; Berger, The Angel and the Scandal of Reckless Indiscrimination" by Chaim Rapoport, published 2002.

You will only be getting a very dark half of the picture if you just read Berger's book. And it will become clear to you that Berger lacks any real appreciation for the revolution of Jews that return to Judasim daily because of the work of people who actually believe, in a real and tangible way, that there is One G-d running this world and that G-d is accessible to all... To people like Berger, the world is a place of divisiveness and darkenss. Perhaps he needs a little prayer and some love... We should all gather and sympathize with his clear state of spritual lack... For he clearly will never have 0.5% of the impact of the Lubavitcher Rebbe... and that eats him up alive.

Editorial Review:

'Years from now, this work will likely be seen as a primary text that formed part of the internal Jewish debate.' ~ N. R. Deutsch, Choice --- 'Passionate, powerful, brilliant...This is simply the most important book of Judaism - not about Judaism but of Judaism - to appear this year, and the most urgent in decades.' ~ Jacob Neusner, Jerusalem Post --- 'Throughly engrossing book...Berger's abiding Orthodox religious commitment, deep familiarity with religious texts and ideas, and specialized training in historical scholarship have singularly positioned and qualified him to embark on this defense of Judaism...Astute historian that he is, he offers trenchant and compelling explanations for this lack of aggressive Orthodox reaction to this latest false messianisman articulate, thoughtful, and passionate book.' ~ Benny Kraut, Shofar --- 'Compelling...imperative reading, as it carefully and systematically documents the true nature and scope of contemporary Lubavitch missionary work.' ~ Allan

Paradigm Shift: From the Jewish Renewal Teachings of Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi

Ellen Singer

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Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi is one of the most innovative and inspiring rabbis in the Jewish world today. Often considered the grandfather of the Havurah movement and the most influential advocate of the rapidly growing movement of Jewish Renewal, Reb Zalman (as he is known by his countless students and admirers) has earned a reputation as a courageous, profoundly spiritual contemporary master. Jewish Renewal, as Reb Zalman explains it, is based on Kabbalah, Hasidism, and other forms of Jewish mysticism. Jewish Renewal does not want to abandon sacred and cherished traditions, teaches Reb Zalman. Rather, the paradigm shift advocates of Jewish Renewal call for asks that we recognize - as we have in the past - that there are newly emerging ways of looking at reality. Just as humankind had to adjust to the knowledge that the earth is not the center of the universe, so too do we today have to recognize that our understanding of our world has undergone significant change. Reb Zalman teaches that we must let go of the old paradigms rather than cling to these obsolete ways of thinking. In this book, Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi offers what he calls the journey of my own recontextualization of Judaism as helped by Jewish mysticism. Reb Zalman points out that Judaism has undergone several paradigm shifts throughout its long history, such as the period after the destruction of the First and Second Temples, when, as Reb Zalman explains, all of our practice and belief had to be reframed. Paradigm Shift: From the Jewish Renewal Teachings of Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, in addition to being a record of the major teachings of Reb Zalman over the past thirty years, is a call for Jewish renewal once again. A passionate teacher of kabbalistic tradition, Reb Zalman offers a unique blend of Jewish mystical ideas as they encounter the forces and sensibilities of today.