Minyan: Ten Principles for Living a Life of Integrity

I received the wrong book.

Rabbi Rami Shapiro's Minyan is a well written account of how to practice "non-dual" Judaism. This idea is that God is "not something or someone living somewhere out there in time and space... God is the One who manifests as all things in time and space. God is not something you pray to, but rather the greater reality to which you awake." Shapiro's book is quite specific about the pathway that may be right for the seeker of this type of Jewish mystical and philosophical view, life and practice. There is a mix of practical suggestions and theological speculation that compliment each other well. The book is deeply Jewish and concentrates on a type of non-kabbalistic mysticism we find in Abraham Abulafia as well as a healthy dose of Chabad inspired thought. There is an emphasis on meditation, practice and community commitment. Minyan is a excellent guide book for anyone seeking to find a new pathway in Judaism that respects the old; as well as anyone who seeks the old in the garb of the new.

This is an extremely interesting meditation on by a man who is passionately committed to living a life which is both solidly grounded in Jewish thought and tradition, and at the same time approaches the transcendent through mysticism. Fortunately, Judaism has had threads of mystical tradition for centuries, and this book provides detailed instructions on how to incorporate these techniques into your life. However, this is not primarily a how-to book, but rather is the nearly poetic expression of deep comtemplation and experience of an encounter with the transcendent through the medium of Jewish prayer, ethics and ritual.The prose clearly reflects the passion Rabbi Shapiro brings to his subject, so the book is an appealing reading experience. It is also a book which nearly cries out for rereading and serious thought. You do not have to be Jewish, or agree with everything the author says in order to find great value in this book. If nothing else, it is a case study in making traditional religion meaningful for contemporary people.

This book presents views of core elements of Judasim (e.g. mitzvoth, kashrut) from the perspective of today's knowledge, adding new life & meaning to them for enlightened individuals, and proceeds to offer suggestions on how to incorporate these consciously into our daily lives.

Rabbi Rami Shapiro is one of the most informed and responsible liberal-Jewish rabbis writing today. He is always worth a read, and this book is no exception even though I disagree with large portions of it.His opening chapters in particular are excellent; he presents what he calls "The Teaching" (a carefully nuanced version of quasi-Hasidic panentheism) succinctly and intelligibly. From there, he builds to a list of ten practices adapted from Jewish tradition and designed to increase one's awareness of Rabbi Shapiro's panentheistic G-d.I won't detail my agreements and disagreements here; let it suffice to say that I have some significant ones of each (particularly regarding what I see as important errors in the ethical and economic foundations of "eco-kashrut"). But Rabbi Shapiro's graceful prose and thoughtful ruminations will provoke you to explorations of your own whether you end up agreeing with him or not. What Rabbi Shapiro is clearly _most_ concerned about is that Jews care about being Jews. His stimulating work will undoubtedly promote that aim.

Rabbi Rami's flowing and easily readable style gives a succint and easy to understand explanation of a mystical theology that is applicable to all. He challenges us to accept responsibilty for our lives and, in doing so, to gain direct access to our spiritual selves. His suggestions make sense and can be implemented in small steps. The translations of sacred texts are exceptionally beautiful and inspirational. I recommend this book to all seekers-- especially those who are looking for a Jewish perspective that would be tolerated and welcomed in eccumenical circles. Although the forms are Jewish, the message is universal.