You are not signed in. Sign in.

List Books: Buy books on ListBooks.org

Book of Life: Embracing Judaism as a Spiritual Practice »

Book cover image of Book of Life: Embracing Judaism as a Spiritual Practice by Michael Strassfeld

Authors: Michael Strassfeld
ISBN-13: 9781580232470, ISBN-10: 1580232477
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Jewish Lights Publishing
Date Published: January 2006
Edition: (Non-applicable)

Find Best Prices for This Book »

Author Biography: Michael Strassfeld

Book Synopsis

Michael Strassfeld, coauthor of the historic Jewish Catalogs, provides a fresh, innovative guide to recapturing Jewish spirituality. For all the cycles of life from waking in the morning to retiring at night, from the weekdays to the Sabbath and holidays, from the beginning of the year to its close, from birth to death Rabbi Strassfeld presents traditional Jewish teachings as a guide to behavior and values. Where the tradition is replete with rituals (for example, the Sabbath), he describes them and shows us how they can enrich our spiritual life. Where rituals are sparse or nonexistent (for example, returning home at the end of the workday), he suggests new ones gleaned from his own study and experience.

Rabbi Strassfeld also brings the principles of insight meditation to Jewish life, using this practice to recover and reconstruct Judaism s spiritual dimension. He describes a Judaism that encourages within us a spiritual awareness as we participate in both traditional Jewish practices and the mundane activities of daily life. By engaging with Jewish tradition in ways that recapture its original kavanah, or intention, we will, Rabbi Strassfeld maintains, achieve the two fundamental goals of Judaism, which are to make us better human beings and place us in the presence of God.

Burton L. Visotzky

Rabbi Strassfeld has set a sumptuous table for students of Judaism in his Book of Life. Paying equal attention to ethics, spirituality, and ritual, Strassfeld gently guides readers through the practices of Judaism that lead to a mindful Jewish life. This book is perfect for congregations, for undergraduate courses, for conversion classes, and for searchers from every walk of life.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Pt. 1Awakening to the Day
Dawning3
Speech22
Work37
Eating and Food66
The End of the Day94
Shabbat: A Day for Walking Softly Through the World103
Pt. 2The Three Paths
Torah: The Path of Study139
Avodah: The Path of Prayer176
Gemilut Hesed: The Path of Loving-kindness206
Pt. 3Living Through the Year: The Festivals
The Festivals227
The Jewish Calendar229
Pesah/Passover231
The Omer244
Shavuot253
The Three Weeks and Tisha be-Av256
High Holidays: Rosh ha-Shanah and Yom Kippur260
Sukkot274
Shemini Atzeret and Simhat Torah281
Hanukkah284
Tu Bishvat290
Purim293
Pt. 4Living a Life of Holiness
Genesis/Bereishit: Beginnings and Birth304
Genesis/Bereishit: Conversion324
Genesis/Bereishit: Parents and Children337
Exodus/Shemot: Bar/Bat Mitzvah345
Exodus/Shemot: On Being a Mentsch353
Leviticus/Va- Yikra: Relationships and Sexuality357
Leviticus/Va- Yikra: Marriage373
Numbers/Be-midbar: Living in the Desert396
Deuteronomy/Devarim: Aging425
Deuteronomy/Devarim: Death440
Pt. 5After Deuteronomy: Living in the Promised Land
Israel: Toward a Torah of Zion467
Ecology475
After the Words: God487
A Note on Sources/Glossary505

Subjects