Synopses & Reviews
One of Reform Judaisms Significant Jewish Books Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman is widely recognized as a leader in bringing spiritual innovation into modern Jewish life and worship. Now, drawing on a lifetime of study, he explores the Jewish way of being in the worldthe Jewish relationship to God and to questions of human purpose that lie just below the surface of biblical and rabbinic literature.
Through seamless excursions into history, law, comparative religion, art, music, literature, psychology, sociology and philosophy, he examines the Jewish way of mapping reality to meet our most important challenge: finding shape in our lives. . . . Hoffmans lucid and eloquent interpretations will appeal to Jewish and non-Jewish readers searching to understand Judaism and to connect the dots in their own lives.” Publishers Weekly, starred review
Hoffmans analysis of Jewish spiritual wisdom and its relevance to todays world is both lucid and perceptive.” George Cohen, Booklist
Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman is professor of liturgy at Hebrew Union CollegeJewish Institute of Religion. Author of Israel: A Spiritual Travel Guide and many other books, he lectures widely to Jewish and Christian audiences. He lives in Rye, New York.
"Hoffman's enterprise is worthy of its task...and I expect his book will attain the status of a classic, as much read and responded to as it is praised and celebrated. What Abraham J. Heschel in his day sought to do...is what Hoffman has accomplished, in all humanity and art, for the generation of those who these days seek God." --Jacob Neusner, Jewish Post and Opinion
Synopsis
Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman is widely recognized as a leader in bringing spiritual innovation into modern Jewish life and worship. Now, drawing on a lifetime of study, he explores the Jewish way of being in the world-the Jewish relationship to God and to questions of human purpose that lie just below the surface of biblical and rabbinic literature.
About the Author
Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman is professor of liturgy at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Author of Israel: A Spiritual Travel Guide and many other books, he lectures widely to Jewish and Christian audiences. He lives in Rye, New York.
Table of Contents
Chapter One Returning Home: Spirituality with Jewish Integrity
Chapter Two Connecting the Dots: The Spirituality of Jewish Metaphor
Chapter Three Living with Blessings: The Spirituality of Stewardship
Chapter Four Living by Torah: The Spirituality of Discovery
Chapter Five Having a Home: The Spirituality of Landedness
Chapter Six Spiritual Thinking: The Spirituality of Translation
Chapter Seven When It Is Night: Spirituality for the Suffering
Chapter Eight A Fourth Generation: Spirituality of Community