Jewish with Feeling: A Guide to Meaningful Jewish Practice

From the time he was first sent out with Shlomo Carlebach by the then Lubavitch Rebbe Rav Zalman has been a major Jewish outreach person. He has followed the dictates of his own heart and experience. And he has tried to make Judaism a living spiritual reality for many. There are those who say he went outside the fold in doing this, went far too far especially in his efforts at syncretic connection with other religious traditions. But there are others his followers who claim that in the words of Reb Shlomo he is the 'holiest of the holy'. While recognizing his deep feeling for Jewish life and story, his deep readiness to feel the mystical presence of God, his hunger for life, real life in religion- I wonder if he does not make a bit too little of traditional Halachic practice, underplay the way for many observance is the key to the higher spirituality. Whatever one feels about it, this work provides a clear and story- filled picture of Rav Zalman 's personal way of seeing his life as a Jew, and making it holy.

Perhaps the greatest compliment an author of a spiritual book can be paid is that he has, through virtually every page of his book, changed your life, deepened your connection with God, and brought new life to your spiritual disciplines. This is precisely what Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi has done for me through "Jewish with Feeling." It's the only book I keep among my prayer books, and each day I read something I've underlined (I've highlighted approximately half the book!)so that I might bring that spiritual practice or thought or way of interacting with others into my life . Rabbi Schachter (or, Reb Zalman, as he's known to many of us) lives a life full of delight, creativity and joy and, through this book, he infused mine with a desire for the same zest and exuberance. While he loves his own religion of Judaism, as do I, he brings in fresh insights telling us how to connect - not just dialogue - with people of other faiths. He tells us of the unique contributions that Judaism has brought to the world, and at the same time, reminds us of the rich traditions given to the world by those of other faiths. Yet he doesn't stop there. Reb Zalman shows us how our spiritual life can be deepened through a literal sharing of one another's spiritual practices. In addition, his personal experiences and stories captivated me, and his unique way of telling these stories, helped along by Joel Segel's extraordinary writing style, makes this a book I'll return to many, many times. Very often, it's a tribute to a book to say, "I just couldn't put this book down." But I think Reb Zalman would greatly appreciate the fact that I had to put this book down many times - to dance, to pray, and to reflect on how to live all I was reading.

This latest offering by Reb Zalman has something for everyone. Whether you are a seasoned scholar of Jewish thought or a novice spiritual seeker, this inspirational book will show you how to create a meaningful Jewish spiritual practice that is: rooted in tradition, open to creativity and innovation, and relevant to the unique challenges of our time. I felt especially touched by the autobiographical parts of the book, where Reb Zalman candidly shared poignant scenes from his own spiritual journey and his encounters with spiritual teachers from other faith traditions, including the Dalai Lama and Rufus Goodstriker, a native American teacher he met at an interfaith gathering. These stories are Reb Zalman at his best, showing us how all faith traditions share a common spiritual legacy, yet honoring the unique contribution each religion can make to the evolution of consciousness.

I have read many books on Jewish practice and spirituality and this one really impressed me with its depth, honesty, and down-to-earth approach. I was particularly moved by the sections that talked about interacting with people from other faiths, a difficult and controversial topic that was addressed here with humor, compassion and love. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a deeper connection to Judaism.