5 comments about 50 Reasons People Give for Believing in a God.

1. Guy Harrison has written a good book for the non-technically oriented person interested in the God hypothesis. Harrison does a wonderful job of articulating why it makes little sense to believe in the face of 50 of the real reasons why the average person in the pew believes. There are many gems of wisdom in this book as Harrison offers up intelligent answers that everyone can understand against the claims of believers.
   
   John W. Loftus, author of "Why I Became an Atheist."



2. Harrison is an anthropologist. He studies Man's cultures, including the thousands of religions that have been invented. Yes, he is of the mind that Man made it all up without even knowing it, but he does not discriminate, insult, or otherwise abuse believers. He likes them and frequently attends religious services with them. Harrison has made it a habit to ask believers why they believe in their god or gods. In this book he has compiled essays built around the fifty most common answers to that question.
   
   His essays are not formally philosophical and are not about splitting theological hairs. Instead, each essay is conversational common sense with statistics about religion thrown in. He does not capitalize god or gods, since he rarely talks about any specific deity, among the thousands that have existed. Several themes recur: He emphasizes that every believer is an atheist about every god other than their own preferred god. Which god a person believes in is almost always an accident of birth. Atheists don't choose to be atheists - they just end up not believing. They are the fourth most plentiful group, after Christians, Muslims, and Hindus - and that only counts the ones out of the closet. The fifth most plentiful group is animism. Various religions make irreconcilable claims that can't all be right, despite the zeal of their believers. This most likely suggests that none of them are true and that humans are good at inventing gods. The countries highest in atheism are the most peaceful and the countries highest in religiosity are the most violent. The same picture shows up in blue versus red states in the US. Although religions are capable of good things, on balance, they are bad for society.
   
   Harrison gives religion some direct hits, usually with a bit of humor:
   
   "...atheism is not a conscious act of turning away from all gods. It is simply the final destination for those who think...you will be pleased to discover that the sky does not fall down on your head...if you still want to pray, you can (the success rate of your prayers is unlikely to change)."
   
   "...it can be a wonderful life without gods...wise choices, hard work, being born somewhere other than an impoverished hellhole, good health, and a little luck can add up to a fine existence for just about anyone."
   
   "...couldn't natural disasters such as tsunamis, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, droughts, and tornados be unintelligent and indifferent events that can strike down anyone anywhere, regardless of which gods are prayed to? ...it matches the reality we see in our world."
   
   A fine addition to the recent surge of non-believer books. This one is a kinder, gentler version, and fun to read - with this disclaimer from the author: "No gods were harmed in the writing of this book."
   
   DB
   
   
   
   



3. This is an outstanding book. Each chapter is conversational, clear, and thoughtful. Rather than being heated and dogmatic, it is open, calm, and reasonable. I often think that anti-religion books just say the same arguments over and over, making the same old critiques, etc. -- and yet I found a lot of new material and novel insights in this book, and there were many ideas, concepts, arguments, and points that I had never thought of before. So I was pleasantly surprised by how many times I was impressed by a new insight or well-worded rebuttal to religious claims. I strongly recommend this accessible, engaging, fresh book.



4. Guy P. Harrison's, 50 Reasons People Give for Believing in a God, is an honest, funny and brilliantly simple look at belief. His tone is not that of an esoteric philosopher, but of a normal guy who gives simple reasons for why people's reasons for believing in a god or gods are not justifiable or provable.
   
   Harrison's book is written after discussing the topic of belief with many believers over his career as a journalist. Harrison is great at showing the counterarguments and then refuting them without being condescending or insulting to believers. He also shares several personal anecdotes that are meaningful and genuine to the overall context and tone of the book.
   
   The simple theme of the book ends up being that people have very little validity for why they believe what they believe. And although they are not by any means bad or stupid people for this, the question remains: how long will these people continue to deny the evidence against the existence of god or gods?
   
   Whether you are a devout Christian or a devout heathen, this book is a great read.



5. It's rather difficult to find a book on atheism versus religion that doesn't come across as snide or condescending. Guy P. Harrison does an amazing job of both taking the side of atheists and not belittling religious people in the slightest.
   
   The author's tone is very empathetic. He presents 50 chapters with 50 reasons people have given him for believing in a god. He doesn't discriminate any one religion in his responses, which is a first I've seen. Even more intriguing is that he is willing to point out the good in religion. At the same time, he won't pull his punches--if there's an ugly side, he'll lay it out for you.
   
   As a curious believer myself, I didn't find anything offensive in this book. It's a good, interesting, intelligent read and will certainly give any believer something to think about when they finish each chapter.
   
   Extremely well done, and highly recommended to everyone--even atheists, who may also walk away with a new understanding of believers.

5 comments about Generation to Generation: Family Process in Church and Synagogue.

1. "Generation to Generation" by Edwin Friedman is a groundbreaking book on the dynamics of organizational and religious leadership as seen through the lens of the multi-generational family systems model. In the book, Friedman uses case studies and examples drawn from his own leadership experience and uses them to illustrate how leadership can be understood and transformed by having an awareness of three major systems that directly affect organizational leadership:

   1. the personal multi-generational family system of the leader

   2. the organization itself as a system with both functional and dysfunctional elements

   3. the family systems of those person within the organization- for a religious congregation this would be the families within the congregation; for a company it would be that of the employees; for a hospital, it would be that of the employees, volunteers and patients who comprise that organization, etc.

   Friedman brilliantly shows how these three sets of systems intertwine with one another to make an organization function in a certain way. He asserts that by better understanding the dynamics of these systems and how they affect one another, leaders can move from a transactional style of leadership to one that is more transformational in the way it functions.

   In addition, Friedman's book is a tremendously helpful resource in seeking to gain a better understanding of one's own family of origin issues and how these dynamics manifest themselves in our relationships throughout the life cycle.

   In this sense, this book will be greatly beneficial, not only for leaders, but also for lay people as well as caregivers.

   The book is challenging reading in spots, but well worth the effort- get this book of you have not done so already- it will change your perspective on leadership and life.




2. This book has a reputation of revolutionizing the way its readers view congregational life. Based on his experience as a rabbi and marriage and family therapist, the late Ed Friedman gives the most comprehensive and practical understanding of congregations as emotional systems. Conflicts are explained not from a linear standpoint, i.e. "A causes B," but from a systemic perspective where all participants are contributors. Each part of the system is connected to, or has its own effect upon, every other part. This helps to explain why many "issues" that arise within a congregation cannot be settled on the level of content, but must be viewed as representations of how the persons surrounding the issues are participating in the relational system. "Issues" may seem settled, but if the relational system continues to function the same way, the same or other "issues" will reappear later, because they were merely symptomatic of the emotional dynamics among the people involved. This book begins by explaining the major concepts of family systems theory, and applies them to organizational life, leadership, and the leader's family. It is full of examples, which makes these complex ideas easier to grasp. Few books are as insightful and helpful in equipping church leaders to understand congregations. It is the standard in applying family systems theory to congregations.



3. This is a book to be absorbed slowly.
   
   I don't think I can summarize this book any better than Friedman himself does on page 1: "It is the thesis of this book that all clergymen and clergywomen, irrespective of faith, are simultaneously involved in three distinct families whose emotional forces interlock: the families within the congregation, our congregations, and our own. Because the emotional process in all of these systems is identical, unresolved issues in any one of them can produce symptoms in the others, and increased understanding of any one creates more effective functioning in all three."
   
   This book will invite you to take a good, hard look at your own functioning. "There is an intrinsic relationship between our capacity to put families together [or, Friedman would also say, to put congregations together] and our ability to put ourselves together" (page 3). Friedman looks at family issues and congregational issues from a systems perspective, arguing that when a member of a family (or a congregation) is demonstrating "symptoms," it is necessary to look at the whole network of relationships that that individual is involved in -- because the root cause of the problem may lie in a completely different part of the system.
   
   Friedman illustrates in detail how clergy can positively effect change in a family system or a congregational system. He also (somewhat indirectly) stresses the critical importance for clergy to resolve their own lingering family-of-origin issues.
   
   The book is heavy reading -- full of terms that may be unfamiliar (and that, unfortunately, he doesn't directly explain, which can be confusing at first), such as "identified patient" and "self-differentiation" and "detriangulating." Frankly, I think he could have used a good editor, so that the book would be more accessible to people who are new to the concepts of Bowen family systems theory.
   
   But don't miss this book. Read it, slowly. Digest it. Read a few pages at a time, then put it down and process what you have read before trying to proceed further. It took me months to work through the book. But I'm a heck of a lot stronger and wiser than I was when I first started. This book will help you grow.
   
   Then, if you want to keep learning and applying the concepts in this book, read Friedman's unfinished manuscript, A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix (available through the Edwin Friedman Trust), and/or do a Google search on The Center for Family Process in Bethesda, Maryland.



4. 
   Edwin Friedman's Generation to Generation is a classic work that examines how family systems therapy can be applied to religious systems. Friedman makes the case that religious leaders have a unique vantage point from which to initiate change. Multigenerational forces, involvement with families in rites of passage/"hinges of time", the length of time over which parishioners are a part of religious institutions, and pastors/priests/rabbis being viewed as leaders by the families in their flocks are the factors that provide such entrée into the lives of families and set up the opportunity for bringing about change.
   
   Friedman writes from a specifically Murray Bowen-inspired form of family systems theoretical perspective. Illustrative of this are his explications of Bowenian concepts such as: individuation, differentiation, triangulation, extended family field, homeostatsis, identified patient, genograms, parallel and series interdependency, family projection process, etc. Central to many of these concepts is the notion of lowering anxiety, becoming less emotionally reactive ("non-anxious presence") to symptomatic behavior, and more individuated and less controlled by projective processes/typical roles/"shoulds and musts".
   
   Religious congregations are multi-layered according to Friedman including individuals' families, the congregation as a family, and the leader's family. Since change is isomorphic change in any one of those systems can bring about change in the others. The leader as a self-differentiated person is perhaps Friedman's central concept in this volume. He sees it as pivotal for the leader's emotional well-being and resultant health of the religious body he serves. He offers an extended discussion of the "seven laws of an emotional triangle":
   (1) The relationship of any two members of an emotional triangle is kept in balance by the way a third party relates to each of them or to their relationship.
   (2) If one is the third party in an emotional triangle it is generally not possible to bring change to the relationship of the other two parts by trying to change their relationship directly.
   (3) Attempts to change the relationship of the other two sides of an emotional triangle not only are generally ineffective but also homeostatic forces often convert these efforts to their opposite effect.
   (4) To the extent a third party to an emotional triangle tries unsuccessfully to change the relationship of the other two, the more likely it is that the third party will wind up with the stress of the other two.
   (5) The various triangles in an emotional system interlock so that efforts to bring changes to any one of them are often resisted by homeostatic forces in the others or in the system itself.
   (6) One side of an emotional triangle tends to be more conflictual than the others.
   (7) We can only bring change to a relationship to which we belong.
   
   He also discusses churches or synagogues as locations where displaced unresolved family issues get played out. This underscores the need for differentiation to occur to bring about a new homeostatic balance.
   
   This is a seminal work in the integration of family systems theory and pastoral care. Friedman's gift was to be able to communicate in both a provocative and practical way. This book is no exception. For years I have used his Friedman's Fables in therapy sessions. They have opened windows of therapeutic opportunity for me as a therapist. I had never however read this book. I am glad I had the chance to do so. Having worked on pastoral staffs in churches and as a family therapist I found his insights to be profound. I heartily recommend it to therapists and ministers alike.



5. This book is a eye-opener. Very good and so helpful to understand family dynamics and workplace- or congregational-dynamics. A must for clergy and those who have family problems of any kind.

5 comments about Judaism for Dummies.

1. Here to take its place in the greatest informational series this side of a bookshelf full of encyclopedias, Judaism For Dummies continues the "Dummies" tradition of educating and never boring the inquiring mind of its reader. In this volume, which tells everything that might possibly ever be asked about humanity's oldest and most profoundly world-changing religion, concise facts are presented in such a way that anyone, from children to adults, can grasp the informative answers herein. From biographies of the great figures in Judaism, to simple answers on customs, holidays, dietary requirements, beliefs, the Kabala, rabbinical laws, the hows and whys of anything Jewish, it's all explained here. There's even a delightful page dedicated to Jewish humor, which includes a sardonic joke about two Jewish men in an alley who see a pair of tough-looking men approaching. The one Jew turns to the other and says, "I think we should get out of here cause there's two of them and you and I are alone." Ha, yeah, pretty good... Judaism For Dummies is a fine source of educational material and it impressed me, as so far every book in this series has.



2. I can't imagine how I would have survived giving a presentation during the past High Holiday, Yom Kippur.
   
   I was faced with a room of folks that thought they knew what it was to be a Jew or to be JewISH, and not a one of them had many clues.
   
   It was nice to have this format so that I could highlight my way through what eventually became a great presentation, and a great gathering of learning women.



3. Book gives a wide perspective on Judaism... Worth buying if on sale.



4. This book is especially helpful for those who align themselves with Judaism or simply do not understand the Jewish community or faith and its long-standing oppression. It explains in detail the differences in Jewish religion and their cultural importance. It is a book that contains humor and isn't militant about the Jewish faith. It is unpretentious and a great investment for anyone who is curious. It was a wonderful guide to Yiddish and commonly used Hebrew words. It is indexed to boot!



5. This book is really helping me to understand even more judaism, I didn't even imagine that I could find all the information I need to get started in just one book!

5 comments about Jewish New Testament Commentary: A Companion Volume to the Jewish New Testament.

1. I don't know how anyone can study the Bible w/out this reference. I also recommend the Jewis New Testment and the Complete Jewish Bible. They are clearly the best exegetical tools.
   
   Have a great read...
   
   Reverend Doctor Toni Jackson



2. This is one of the most carefully researched commentaries that I have ever used. More importantly, it reveals the actual source of the Bible unlike most other commentaries that ignorantly assume a Greek mindset. I am able to understand concepts so clearly that I had trouble understanding. Misconceptions have also been cleared away.



3. I bought the New Testament Commentary at the same time as the Complete Jewish Bible, both works by Dr. Stern. The Commentary is a good reference and I look forward to using it. But I found a few things that disappointed me.
   
   The author, Dr. Stern, is a Messianic Jew. In that light, I was hoping for some real insight into the Jewish Messianic thought. To the contrary, Dr. Stern mocks the distinction between Messiah ben Joseph and Messiah ben David, even though the former strengthens his position. And he never connects the Book of Daniel's Son of Man idea with Messianic thought, even though Jesus repeatedly mentioned it.
   
   From a historical perspective, Jesus did not meet the job description of Messiah. This is one of the reasons Jewish people have little interest in Christianity.
   
   The Messiah was to be a human descendant of King David. We have genealogies in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke that show this lineage, although they conflict with each other. Some say one is Mary's, but her name is not mentioned. The Gospels also say that Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit falling upon the Virgin Mary. OK, so which is it? Joseph or Holy Spirit? No Jewish person I know would leave that issue unchallenged.
   
   The Messiah was to lead the armies of Israel to victory and to restore the kingdom of Israel and put David's descendant to the throne. Jesus preached about God's Kingdom, not a human one. Jesus never raised an army or confronted even one Roman soldier. Forty years after his death, Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed. One hundred years after his death, Israel was wiped off the map, not to reappear until 1948.
   
   Prior to Israel's reappearance in 1948, the British, who held Palestine after the fall of the Ottoman empire following World War I, arranged with the neighboring Arabs to open the territory as a Jewish homeland. The Americans and other nations helped, too. The Jewish people who immigrated put in the work and sacrifice to make the desert blossom as a rose. But Jesus never showed up. So how can Jesus be Israel's Messiah? If anybody, the people of Israel are Israel's Messiah. Dr. Stern does not even mention it.
   
   One comment Dr. Stern made that really infuriated me is found in a list of complaints he made about Christians who do not live up to the ideals of their faith. His list was mostly valid, until it comes to the Holocaust. The Holocaust is a hot-button issue for all Jewish folks, their feelings are intense, though the points of view vary considerably. Dr. Stern says that the Christians did nothing even when they knew the Jews were being burned alive. In reality, the Christians, with Jews right beside them, were fighting a World War against the perpetrators of the genocide. None of the Allies, the Americans, British, or Russians, really understood what was happening in the death camps until their armies reached them. Then they were appalled beyond belief. If Dr. Stern were an aging camp survivor with a failing memory, I would have let his comment go. But Dr. Stern is an intelligent man who knows truth from exaggeration. He discredited himself and his otherwise valuable work.
   
   The book is worth reading. The hyperbole and diatribe are not.



4. Book arrived promptly and in great condition. The Jewish perspective and background on the Bible has become for me absolutely indispensible to my study of the Word. Much of the understanding of the Bible has been lost to us because our lack of understanding of this perspective.



5. 'Complete Jewish Bible' goes with
   'Jewish New Testament Commentary'.
   After I found the commentary on
   (Luke 17:20-21) 'The Kingdom of God'
   between 'among you' and 'within you',
   as is (Mattew 27:25) 'His Blood Be On Us...'
   note is a beaut.
   Round here it seems like during
   lynching of Jesus Christ
   when i start talkin 'Jesus'
   I am not welcome...younger
   neighbours are 'not interested'
   ...
   Commentary made five stars.

5 comments about 10 Conversations You Need to Have with Your Children.

1. I've seen Shmuley on TLC's "Shalom in the Home" and I really like the advice and counsel he gives on the show. When I saw that he also wrote books, I decided to check this one out. I ended up reading this book in one day. I could not put it down.
   
   Shmuley uses situations from his own life raising eight children as well as stories from the people he meets to illustrate the importance of a parent's role in their child's life. He has inspired me to be a better role model for my children, and also inspired me not to be afraid to discuss some of these critical topics with my children. This book has had a HUGE impact on how I look at my role as a parent: not simply as making my kids do what I want, but inspiring them to be the best individuals they can be. To discuss these deeply important topics, like what kind of person they want to be, the importance of dignity and forgiveness, being happy, how to ignite their passion for knowledge... these are critical things we simply are NOT teaching our children, which I believe is the reason why so many children have such a hard time dealing with the challenges of life today.
   
   This book has also helped me see that I can integrate these concepts into my own life to be an inspiration for my children. Many people tend to focus on Shmuley's Jewish beliefs, which he clearly articulates in this book. Come on! He's a Rabbi! Would you expect him NOT to write about them?? I am not Jewish nor Christian. I choose not to label or identify myself with any organized religion. Shmuley writes in the last chapter about the importance of teaching children about God. He gives very compelling reasons why this is important. He also gives examples of how America was founded "Under God," which is true. Shmuley simply states why he believes children need the concept of God, and of course he's going to talk about it from a Jewish perspective. Like I said, he's a Rabbi!! If people take his discussion on God as a condemnation of their own beliefs or some kind of Jewish recruiting ploy, I think they missed the point completely.
   
   This is a wonderful book that will inspire you to be a better person and parent.



2. I must admit that I am a bit biased towards Rabbi Shmuley - I am a huge fan of his TV and XM radio show. I found this book to be yet another example of Shmuley giving practical pointers that truly help parents navigate in this crazy world where many people seem to be traveling w/out rudders or sails! The book is not going to tell you something you don't know....but it is written in a way that helps you articulate important, sound, common sense advice to your kids. I am already incorporating several of his suggestions into our home, and it is definitely reaching my children. These are important conversations that all parents should be having with their families!!



3. This is a great book! I read it all and now I want to go back and read each individual chapter. This is more than a parenting book--it will really help you reflect our your own life. The writing is non-judgemental and easy to read. The author comes off as very friendly. I don't agree with the reviewer that says the religious chapter at the end ruins the book. It has a base in Judiasm but comes across as more spirtually based that can be applied to any religion you are. I am a psych nurse and have used these techniques in dealing with my adult inpatients so the information is very transferable to all aspects of your own life, not just your life as a parent.
   This is a great book!



4. This is such an important topic to address in our busy 24/7 world. Raising healthy and happy children requires that we have that special relationship with them where the communication gates are open wide. A must conversation that every parent must have should address the issue of bullying...which is so prevalent. Bully-Proofing Children: A Practical, Hands-On Guide to Stop Bullying is a fabulous must-read book for every parent on raising empowered children who will never become bullies or victims.



5. Great book, really helps you get perspective on what kind of people you want your kids to be. I liked it because it reinforced my own beliefs and helped articulate some thoughts I had about parenting. 10 Conversations You Need to Have with Your Children

5 comments about Overcoming Life's Disappointments.

1. "Overcoming Life's Disappointments" is an informative read. Mr. Kushner is well educated and writes a book that promotes the understanding that everyone experiences similar disappointments in life. He wrote the book on bad things happening to good people. Mr. Kushner offers a pragmatic way of dealing with life when dreams are dashed and hope is all that remains.



2. I purchased this book shortly after it was released, but did not read it until now (a year+ later). I'm glad I waited until what, serendipitously, was just the right time. Having experienced some disappointments of late, this book based on the life of Moses and his many disappointments showed me a way of moving beyond that which did not turn out precisely as I had (arrogantly and self-centeredly) expected.



3. This book is outstanding. a great source in learning to deal with and overcoming the hardest knocks life can throw at you. in my opinion Harold Kushner is one of the wise authors of our time. must read for anyone and everyone. a great clear voice in times of despair and hardship.



4. Rabbi Kushner is such a great writer. His style is direct and personal. It is easy to read and follow. You can skip around from chapter to chapter and still gain a lot of insight. It does not necessarily have to be read from cover to cover. Rabbi Kushner is obviously very grounded and in touch with what people need to know and how to convey information that can be quite philosophical.



5. Rabbi Kushner uses the story of Moses, as told in the Bible, to illustrate that although life can involve great sorrow, it also contains great happiness - and you can't have one without the other. The focus of the book is looking at ways to overcome the inevitable disappointments in life. Fortunately, it is not a formulaic how to be happy type of book.
   Although based on the Bible's account of Moses' life, the message is universal and can be of help to members of all religions or those who do not hold religious beliefs.
   It is written in Rabbi Kushner's typical down-to-earth and easy to relate to style. While the ideas on how to overcome disappointments are not new, they are presented in such a way that they give one a fresh view and useful reminder.
   There are some contradictions in the book, such as talking in one chapter of how Moses' burden made him old before his time, and in another how bright and energetic Moses was in spite of his advancing age. However, these do not detract from the overall quality of the book.

No comments about Studies in Maimonides and His Interpreters.

3 comments about Golda.

1. Burkett, Elinor. "Golda". Harper, 2008.
   
   Remembering Golda Meir
   
   
   Amos Lassen
   
   I doubt there are many people that do not recognize the name of Golda Meir. Many say she was more of a man then many men, others remember as the Prime Minister of Israel, some blame her for the disastrous Yom Kippur War in 1973. One thing is that there are few who have neutral feelings about her. She was quite a person and I have my own memories of her as she was Prime Minister for many of the years that I lived in Israel. In fact, when I lived in Tel Aviv, she lived right around the corner and we shopped at the same mini-market. Yes, Golda did her own shopping.
   Pulitzer Prize finalist, Elinor Burkett takes a look at Golda in her new biography of the former world leader. Golda Meir was the first female head of state in the Western world and without question a woman who exerted a great deal of influence. She was a founder of the State of Israel, helped to develop the infrastructure of the tiny country. She defended Israel as if it were her own child and she was utterly and completely devoted to keeping Israel safe. She changed the face of the politics of the Middle East in ways that are still felt today. She had the stamina of a bulldozer and when her mind was made up she did what she felt was the right thing to do. She also baked cookies and cakes and steeped tea She was the first to make the world aware of international terrorism and she could hold her own against powerful men like Henry Kissinger and others. Even as she pleaded for peace, she led Israel through the bloodiest war in its existence. Golda had the ability to raise funds and even while she, herself, was battling cancer, was able to steer Israel's ship of state.
   Burkett looks at the life of Golda (and she was always Golda) and writes of her victories and her disappointments, of her wins and her losses. We read of Golda as an idealistic girl in Milwaukee as a product of an immigrant family and we read of a woman who is what legends are made of. Golda had almost no definition unless we define her by her own contradictions. She was hard as nails and as sweet as sugar. She was the personification of the Jewish mother to a nation of people and she was also their leader She was tough and she was kind but most of all she loved Israel even though the populace did not always love her.
   Burkett has done serious research here including interviewing members of Golda's family who had never agreed to be interviewed before and she provides us with a picture of the woman who changed the course of history. I do not agree with all she writes but I find the book to be as honest as it can be. It is stylishly written and I t makes its point. The problem is that the legend of Golda Meir has been tainted by the terrible losses of October, 1973.



2. I heard the author discuss this book on my local NPR station. GOlda had always fascinated me so I purchased the book. I have almost finished it. It is very readable. GOlda was a complex woman, fiercely devoted to Israel, much to the detriment of her family. She was probably Israel's number one fund raiser, which enabled the country to assimilated hundreds of thousands of Jews from all over the world. Israel was also able to purchase the military hardward needed to defend itself against its hostile neighbors. She was the first woman head of state in the western world. Although she was flawed she managed to hold Israel together in trying times. I loved this book.



3. When I got this book, I was hoping for a personal look at Golda, the person. Having read it, I feel I learned more about Israel's long complicated history than about Golda as a person. Maybe that is because the woman did not have much of a personal life and her story was tied to that of her country. She lived and breathed politics and the book's lengthy description of Israeli politics (with countless parties and coalitions) is confusing and doesn't tell us much about her.
   
   It is as though the author couldn't find enough information about Golda's private life (which Golda guarded) and so the book becomes a history lesson in Israeli and Mid-East politics. No maps included which would have helped the reader a great deal in understanding some of this stuff.
   
   The author should have gotten more material from Golda's children, who didn't think much of Golda as a mother (she was MIA when it came to parenting).
   
   Time to read: It took me a little more than a week (with a lot of free time)

5 comments about The Essential Kabbalah: Heart of Jewish Mysticism, The.

1. The book Essential Kabbalah, compiled by Daniel Matt, is a wonderful basic introduction to a very mysterious and often overlooked mystical practice. So often in popular (and even educated) opinion, Judaism of old was considered legalistic and pedantic; however, the Kabbalistic practices introduced here helped to keep alive a true tradition of spirituality through Judaism (more heavily influencing Sephardic Judaism than others).
   
   According to Prof. Lawrence Fine (one of my professors when he and I were at Indiana University): 'Kabbalah is a mystical tradition filled with radiance, vitality, and spiritual depth. [In Matt's book] we catch a glimpse of the sparks of diving life about which the kabbalists speak.'
   
   'Those who persevere in this wisdom find that when they ponder these teachings many times, knowledge grows within them--an increase of essence. The search always leads to something new.'
   
   Kabbalah has often been a secret, or restricted, knowledge. Some have likened it to a gnostic framework. Some kabbalists would not teach, or indeed even discuss, kabbalistic knowledge and practice with anyone under forty years of age.
   
   'Other requirements included high moral standards, prior rabbinic learning, being married, and mental and emotional stability. The point is not to keep people away from Kabbalah, but to protect them.'
   
   The tendency for people to get lost in spirituality, essentially to get lost in the vastness of God to be found deep within themselves, has been noted in almost every spirituality of maturity throughout history. And many has been the false prophet who entices the unwary and uninitiated into mystical territory only to abandon them there.
   
   The similarity of some practice of Kabbalah and other mystical traditions can be seen in this passage on mental attachment:
   
   'In meditation, everything depends on thought. If your thought becomes attached to any created thing--even something unseen or spiritual, higher than any earthly creature, it is as if you were bowing down to an idol on your hands and knees.'
   
   Kabbalistic practices have not been restricted to Jewish practitioners, either (and I'm not talking about Madonna's recent excursion into the territory). Italian humanist Mirandola found great love for the Latin translation of Kabbalah during the Renaissance, and laid a foundation for a 'Christian' kabbalistic literature, expanded by Johannes Reuchlin and Knorr von Rosenroth (who in turn influenced the likes of Leibniz, Lessing, Swedenborg, and Blake).
   
   Kabbalah, translated from Hebrew, means 'receiving' or 'that which is received'. Kabbalah combines philosophical principles and divine instructions, heavily influenced by Talmud and Torah, infused with a heavy dose of feminine-God imagery, to explore the mysteries of human relationship with God as both father and mother, Lord and lover. There is the tradition that 'Kabbalah conveys our original nature: the unbounded awareness of Adam and Eve.'
   
   Around 1280, Moses de Leon of Spain began circulating literature, based on earlier uncompiled teachings, that merged with other materials into the Zohar, the book of radiance, now considered the canonical text of kabbalistic literature. The Zohar concentrates on the aspects of God in personal naming and attribute (a God-with-us) and the Ein Sof, the endless or infinite (a transcendent God). The Ein Sof incorporates the negative theology of Maimonides:
   
   'The description of God by means of negations is the correct description--a description that is not affected by an indulgence in facile language....With every increase in the negations regarding God, you come nearer to the apprehensions of God.'
   
   Kabbalah heavily influenced Hasidism, an eighteenth century Jewish revivalist movement. Imagery of sparks and fire are prominent in Hasidic teaching and lore; this comes often from kabbalistic texts.
   
   Most of the passages in Matt's book are from the Zohar, translated anew by Matt.



2. 
   In the book of Jeremiah the prophet said that his experience of God was just like Fire Shut up in his bones. Author Daniel Matt, nails some interesting Jewish content that reveals how the Kabbalists were touched by Fire and moved by exuberance. Their love for deep spiritual experience is unlike anything I've ever seen or read about before.
   
   "The Essential Kabbalah" is wonderfully written with great foundational principles and some strong historical references pointing to the Torah. The section of the book I really enjoyed was at the beginning under Ein Sof where it talks in depth about the qualities of God. The symbolisim is quite amazing as it talks in depth about the Shekinah Glory of God. The kabbalist were very radical, motivated by a passion that touches the soul deep with in. If you're interested in learning about some of the hidden secrets of ancient Rabbis then let Daniel Matt show you how to unfold that history and the complex symbols that are present. I really enjoyed the book and it was very well written too.
   
   Your Servant, Deremiah, *CPE



3. Daniel Matt did an excellent job in writing The Essential Kabbalah. The book opened many doors of my imagination and also many other doors of my rational mind. I will definately read it many more times in an attempt to grasp it's concepts.



4. I'm interested in the nondual expression contained in this book. Nonduality is the teaching that there is no separation from God, Self, or Truth. Nonduality is most openly revealed within the traditions of Buddhism and Hinduism (Advaita Vedanta). However, nondual teachings are found in all major religious traditions.
   
   In Judaism, nonduality is expressed explicitly in the Kabbalah. Daniel C. Matt's treatment of nonduality is uncompromising: "Do not say, 'This is a stone and not God.' God forbid! Rather, all existence is God, and the stone is a thing pervaded by divinity."
   
   The book hands the reader instruction in nondual practice: "Think of yourself as Ayin (nothingness) and forget yourself totally."
   
   This book is an important contribution to a popular nondual Judaism. For a present day view of nondual Judaism for the people, the works of Jay Michaelson and Rabbi Rami Shapiro could be consulted. Michael Laitman expresses the nondual truth of Kabbalah very clearly; he has videos on YouTube.
   
   Jerry Katz
   One: Essential Writings on Nonduality



5. This small book is a wonderful cross-section of some of Kabbalah's most important writings. Containing sections of the cornerstones of mystical Judaism, including those giants: the Zohar, the Sefer Yetzirah, the Sefer Bahir, the Orot ha-Qodesh, and others, it spans more than 700 years of oral tradition and contemplation. With words from the pens of illustrious seers such as Moses de Leon, Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, Rev. Kook, Azriel of Gerona, Maimonides, Isaac of Akko, Hayyim Vital, Abraham Abulafia, among others, this book renders in English key selections of so many worthy texts, the authors of which bristle with that knowledge that only Union with the Divine engenders. While not necessarily an introductory text, the book is accessible to anyone wishing to learn about Kabbalah.
   
   Daniel Matt has done English speakers a great service by presenting these morsels in a comprehensive form, providing a stunning bibliography and notes on the text in the rear of the book. Scholarly, yet humble, Matt keeps his comments separate (although easily perused) so as not to corrupt the presentation with cumbersome footnotes. Presented in a thoughtful series that compounds and expounds as it progresses, the reader is skimmed across the surface of this great ocean, peering into the depths, scintillating, all filled with light.

5 comments about Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures--The New JPS Translation According to the Traditional Hebrew Text.

1. The Tanakh (1985) is very readable and easy to understand. It includes informative footnotes and offers a more direct translation from the original Hebrew into English. (Many of our better-known translations are taken from the Greek version [the Septuagint], which was translated from the Hebrew after Greek replaced Hebrew and Aramaic as the dominant language).
   
   The Tanakh is based on the "original" Hebrew Bible, which means that it does not include any of the New Testament. The "Old Testament" books in the Tanakh are in a different order than other traditional English language Bible translations. The books are grouped together in three sections, based on the Hebrew tradition:
   
   The Torah (5 books of Moses)
   The Prophets
   The Writings
   
   If you are looking for a more direct translation based on original texts translated by Hebrew scholars -- without having to learn Hebrew! -- this book is a must read.



2. Its been over a month and I have still not received this book. I got the three other books i orded,so where is this one? This is not the first time this has happened to me with Amazon.



3. As a Religious Studies major, I chose this text to get the "feel" of reading old scripture. I was not disappointed. It is a wonderful, beautifully written form of the Hebrew Bible. It will treasure for all time as part of my Biblical "library."



4. This is a readable translation of Hebrew scriptures. It is easily understood in distinction to the KJV, but without the English poetry. It is far more authorative than KJV. The paperback version (mine) is easily held and convenient to read.



5. I think this is a truly beautiful translation. I was also very happy with the quality of the book itself. Well worth every penny.