Overview

Find inspiration for a satisfying spiritual life of practice through the combination of contemporary mindfulness meditation and classical Hasidic spirituality. The soul yearns to feel connected to something greater and to know happiness despite personal suffering and seemingly endless need. Surprisingly, the perspectives of the late eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Hasidic spiritual teachers offer a radically different Jewish theology that speaks directly to today's spiritual seekers whose faith has been shattered by both modernity and the Holocaust. These masters taught of interdependence, interconnectedness, selflessness, service and joy, anticipating the insights of contemporary science and twenty-first-century spirituality. Bringing together the teachings of beloved Hasidic master Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berdichev (1740-1809) and the practice of mindfulness meditation, Rabbi Jonathan P. Slater reveals a new entrance into Jewish spiritual life. Covering the Five Books of Moses, these two volumes present accessible translations of selections from Kedushat Levi, R. Levi Yitzhak's Hasidic Torah commentary, which emphasises our spiritual capacity to transform consciousness and so our life experience. The selections are paired with Rabbi Slater's commentaries to illuminate their message.

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9781580237956

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Reviews

The rediscovery of Hasidic texts as Jewish sources for contemporary spirituality will be greatly aided by [this] book . It is almost as if the teacher were present in the same room with the student. Levi Isaac would be pleased. Rabbi Michael Strassfeld, author, A Book of Life: Embracing Judaism as a Spiritual Practice Create[s] a powerful spiritual language for the twenty-first century.... Offers a way to wake up to life that will transform the Jewish people and speak to all seekers. Rabbi Barbara Penzner, Temple Hillel B'nai Torah, West Roxbury, Massachusetts Skillfully presents us with practical tools to use mindfulness and Torah to craft a path of daily practice to realize a spiritual life. In so doing, the reader who uses these tools in their life will be able to directly experience their connection to the Divine while making a positive impact on the world. Rabbi Jeff Roth, author, Jewish Meditation Practices for Everyday Life: Awakening Your Heart, Connecting with God Offers us a beautiful blend of erudition and spiritual wisdom.... This book has everything a contemporary student of Jewish spirituality needs: serious Torah, tools to aid understanding of the text, and a wealth of suggestions for how to allow the Rebbe s teachings to invigorate and transform our own spiritual lives. Rabbi Amy Eilberg, author, From Enemy to Friend: Jewish Wisdom on the Pursuit of Peace Deeply wise and inspired.... This is not a book to 'read. It is a nourishing wellspring. Return to it again and again as you grow and deepen your practice and water the garden of your soul. Marcia Prager, author, The Path of Blessing: Experiencing the Energy and Abundance of the Divine

The rediscovery of Hasidic texts as Jewish sources for contemporary spirituality will be greatly aided by [this] book . It is almost as if the teacher were present in the same room with the student. Levi Isaac would be pleased. Rabbi Michael Strassfeld, author, A Book of Life: Embracing Judaism as a Spiritual Practice Create[s] a powerful spiritual language for the twenty-first century.... Offers a way to wake up to life that will transform the Jewish people and speak to all seekers. Rabbi Barbara Penzner, Temple Hillel B'nai Torah, West Roxbury, Massachusetts Skillfully presents us with practical tools to use mindfulness and Torah to craft a path of daily practice to realize a spiritual life. In so doing, the reader who uses these tools in their life will be able to directly experience their connection to the Divine while making a positive impact on the world. Rabbi Jeff Roth, author, Jewish Meditation Practices for Everyday Life: Awakening Your Heart, Connecting with God Offers us a beautiful blend of erudition and spiritual wisdom.... This book has everything a contemporary student of Jewish spirituality needs: serious Torah, tools to aid understanding of the text, and a wealth of suggestions for how to allow the Rebbe's teachings to invigorate and transform our own spiritual lives. Rabbi Amy Eilberg, author, From Enemy to Friend: Jewish Wisdom on the Pursuit of Peace Deeply wise and inspired.... This is not a book to 'read.' It is a nourishing wellspring. Return to it again and again as you grow and deepen your practice and water the garden of your soul. Marcia Prager, author, The Path of Blessing: Experiencing the Energy and Abundance of the Divine

The rediscovery of Hasidic texts as Jewish sources for contemporary spirituality will be greatly aided by [this] book.... It is almost as if the teacher were present in the same room with the student. Levi Isaac would be pleased. -Rabbi Michael Strassfeld, author, A Book of Life: Embracing Judaism as a Spiritual Practice Create[s] a powerful spiritual language for the twenty-first century.... Offers a way to wake up to life that will transform the Jewish people and speak to all seekers. -Rabbi Barbara Penzner, Temple Hillel B'nai Torah, West Roxbury, Massachusetts Skillfully presents us with practical tools to use mindfulness and Torah to craft a path of daily practice to realize a spiritual life. In so doing, the reader who uses these tools in their life will be able to directly experience their connection to the Divine while making a positive impact on the world. -Rabbi Jeff Roth, author, Jewish Meditation Practices for Everyday Life: Awakening Your Heart, Connecting with God Offers us a beautiful blend of erudition and spiritual wisdom.... This book has everything a contemporary student of Jewish spirituality needs: serious Torah, tools to aid understanding of the text, and a wealth of suggestions for how to allow the Rebbe's teachings to invigorate and transform our own spiritual lives. -Rabbi Amy Eilberg, author, From Enemy to Friend: Jewish Wisdom on the Pursuit of Peace Deeply wise and inspired.... This is not a book to 'read.' It is a nourishing wellspring. Return to it again and again as you grow and deepen your practice and water the garden of your soul. -Marcia Prager, author, The Path of Blessing: Experiencing the Energy and Abundance of the Divine

The rediscovery of Hasidic texts as Jewish sources for contemporary spirituality will be greatly aided by [this] book . It is almost as if the teacher were present in the same room with the student. Levi Isaac would be pleased. Rabbi Michael Strassfeld, author, A Book of Life: Embracing Judaism as a Spiritual Practice Create[s] a powerful spiritual language for the twenty-first century.... Offers a way to wake up to life that will transform the Jewish people and speak to all seekers. Rabbi Barbara Penzner, Temple Hillel B'nai Torah, West Roxbury, Massachusetts Skillfully presents us with practical tools to use mindfulness and Torah to craft a path of daily practice to realize a spiritual life. In so doing, the reader who uses these tools in their life will be able to directly experience their connection to the Divine while making a positive impact on the world. Rabbi Jeff Roth, author, Jewish Meditation Practices for Everyday Life: Awakening Your Heart, Connecting with God Offers us a beautiful blend of erudition and spiritual wisdom.... This book has everything a contemporary student of Jewish spirituality needs: serious Torah, tools to aid understanding of the text, and a wealth of suggestions for how to allow the Rebbe's teachings to invigorate and transform our own spiritual lives. Rabbi Amy Eilberg, author, From Enemy to Friend: Jewish Wisdom on the Pursuit of Peace Deeply wise and inspired.... This is not a book to 'read.' It is a nourishing wellspring. Return to it again and again as you grow and deepen your practice and water the garden of your soul. Marcia Prager, author, The Path of Blessing: Experiencing the Energy and Abundance of the Divine

Author Information

Rabbi Jonathan P. Slater, DMin, was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and has a doctor of ministry degree from the Pacific School of Religion. He is the author of Mindful Jewish Living: Compassionate Practice and codirector of programs at the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, as well as an instructor in meditation at the JCC in Manhattan and other venues. He contributed to Who by Fire, Who by Water—Un'taneh Tokef; We Have Sinned: Sin and Confession in Judaism—Ashamnu and Al Chet; and All These Vows—Kol Nidre (both Jewish Lights). Rabbi Nancy Flam is cofounder of the National Center for Jewish Healing and former director of the Jewish Community Healing Program of Ruach Ami: Bay Area Jewish Healing Center. She cofounded the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, was its founding director, and now serves as codirector of programs. She edited the Jewish Lights series of pastoral-care pamphlets, LifeLights, and writes and teaches widely on Judaism, healing, prayer, spirituality, and social justice. Arthur Green, PhD, is recognized as one of the world's preeminent authorities on Jewish thought and spirituality. He is the Irving Brudnick professor of philosophy and religion at Hebrew College and rector of the Rabbinical School, which he founded in 2004. Professor emeritus at Brandeis University, he also taught at the University of Pennsylvania and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, where he served as dean and president. Dr. Green is author of several books including Judaism's Ten Best Ideas: A Brief Guide for Seekers; Ehyeh: A Kabbalah for Tomorrow; Seek My Face: A Jewish Mystical Theology; Your Word Is Fire: The Hasidic Masters on Contemplative Prayer and Tormented Master: The Life and Spiritual Quest of Rabbi Nahman of Bratslav (all Jewish Lights). He is also author of Radical Judaism (Yale University Press) and coauthor of Speaking Torah: Spiritual Teachings from around the Maggid's Table. He is long associated with the Havurah movement and a neo-Hasidic approach to Judaism.

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