Close Encounters: Jewish Views About God »

Although it is primarily a book about God, this unique volume is more specifically about the ways in which Jews have spoken of and written about God throughout four millennia of history. By looking at the Bible, rabbinic literature, the liturgy, and the work of ancient and modern Jewish theologians, best-selling author and respected rabbi Ronald Isaacs presents the ways in which Jewish tradition responds to and grapples with questions about God, including God's nature, attributes, and plan for the universe. Topics explored include: basic conceptions of God, early classical proofs of God's existence, theories of revelation, writing and pronouncing God's name, prayer, God in Jewish mysticism, Jewish theology since the Holocaust, how to respond when children ask about God, and how to develop a personal theology. For many people, the search for personal growth and spiritual fulfillment has raised numerous questions of faith. A introduction to the broad spectrum of issues about God, Close Encounters: Jewish Views about God will provide intellectual sustenance and ideas for further exploration for those readers seeking to strengthen their spiritual identities.

Publishers Weekly

Beginning with the premise that there is no universally accepted Jewish concept of God, Issacs introduces a variety of Jewish approaches to understanding God. He presents the ways in which the Bible, rabbinic literature, mysticism and prayerbooks view God, and he examines the perspectives on God of ancient, medieval and modern theologians and philosophers. Issacs, a rabbi and an author of numerous handbooks on Judaism, has an ability to break down difficult concepts into succinct segments, creating an accessible reference guide for the lay reader. The book's comprehensive scope ranges from classical proofs of the existence of God to answers to children's questions about God. Its most serious omission, however, is any mention of modern Jewish feminist theology. English transliterations of Hebrew words are not as accurate or consistent as they could be, leading to possible mispronunciations. But overall, this is a valuable, well-organized guide that could be a catalyst for further study. (Nov.)