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October 2022 MBR The Judaic Studies Shelf
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Midwest Book Review
Nov 2, 2022, 11:09:38 PM11/2/22
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The Judaic Studies Shelf
You
Penny Hashem
Visage Books
https://visagebooks.webflow.io
9781495822094, $28.95 Hardcover/$19.95 Paper/$8.49 kindle
https://www.amazon.com/You-Pnei-Hashem/dp/1495822095
You is a study in Judaic spirituality and philosophy that promotes self-help and growth for better understanding and enlightenment, and brings with it the flavor of wisdom embedded in the Torah. From this description, readers might think You is intended for Jewish audiences alone, but its messages are much broader than that. They offer insights to all thinking readers who look for books that reveal largely unknown secrets to understanding life.
While the ideas themselves are not original, the Torah-based path to them does provide routes that many won't have considered before. What makes Penny Hashem's journey different is the acknowledgement of how a Torah-based focus offers a refreshingly new perspective. As Hashem states, "Ultimately, this is a book about you." Thus, each reader's unique perspective, insights, and ideals of life's purpose will change the experience and value of what is to be gained from You. Much like Schrödinger's cat, the observer becomes an integral part of the experiment, which changes its results.
The main prerequisites for a successful reading of You are a spiritual belief in a higher force and an inquiring mind interested in considering the Torah's daily and overall presence in life. Armed with such a background, the reader receives explorations of biblical sources for God's incarnation in this world, Torah-based prayers or terms which are explained and explored as integral pieces of the investigation, and analyses that move between spiritual, philosophical, and psychological realms.
As literary allusions enter this study, readers will appreciate Hashem's ability to seamlessly move between disciplines to integrate their concepts and beliefs into bigger-picture thinking. The Torah insights she provides are specific and unique: "Torah provides us to help us liberate ourselves from the veils that shroud our Godly core. As we discussed, the lifecycle ceremonies (along with the daily rituals, and the weekly, monthly and yearly calendrical observances) are all facets of an integrated practice through which we train ourselves to penetrate the darkness.
The detailed and disciplined answer then to the question of how we can habituate ourselves to seeing the Godliness that is hidden within everything, is to take advantage of the tactics and exercises that Torah offers us." While the author's intention is to translate somewhat esoteric Torah readings into language and approaches the average reader can easily understand, it should be added that "average" translates to those who would absorb deeper layers of meaning than trite observation or easy answers. This audience will relish You for its integral ability to raise the bar on intellectual discourse.
While You will most likely appear in Jewish library collections, it shouldn't repose on a shelf or in a single reader's mind. Instead, it can become central to discussions and debates in reading groups interested in the intersection of Jewish, philosophical, spiritual, and psychological thought.
Awakenings
Rabbi Joshua Stanton, author
Rabbi Benjamin Spratt, author
Behrman House
https://store.behrmanhouse.com
9781681150895, $24.95, HC, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Awakenings-American-Transformations-Leadership-Belonging/dp/1681150891
Synopsis: Why are mainstream religious organizations on the decline? What changes have caused many of them to lose touch with modern spiritual needs? What does it take to remain relevant in today's world? With the publication of "Awakenings: American Jewish Transformations in Identity, Leadership, and Belonging", Rabbis Joshua Stanton and Benjamin Spratt take on these and other critical questions facing religion today. And they have answers that are frank and yet surprisingly upbeat.
Nearly every facet of American Jewish life (and of American religious life in general) faces both disruption and great prospects for renewal. In every corner of our community, Jewish identity, wisdom, ritual, and power are being remixed and reimagined. As centralized authority declines, American Judaism moves and grows in a multitude of directions.
As technology reduces the importance and restrictions of geographic boundaries, new opportunities for connection and new modes of exercising power emerge. New mixtures of ancient Jewish practice and modern needs are beginning to shape the renewal of American Judaism, widening access to Jewish wisdom and ritual, transforming Jewish consumers into Jewish co-creators, and building new networks of Jewish belonging.
The initial purposes that inspired much of the American Jewish infrastructure are now falling victim to their own success. As is an emphasis on nostalgia and authenticity encouraging us to mythologize the past and narrow our awareness of the present. A focus on buildings and centralized power by much of American Judaism reflects the realities of a century ago.
In understanding what keeps these organizations mired in the past, we can unearth a new purpose to unify the American Diaspora and guide it toward a new golden age.
Critique: Deftly organized into four major sections (Purpose Petrified; Transformations; Renewing; The Unfolding Awakening), and informatively enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of two Appendices (A Call to Action; A Brief History of Jewish Awakenings); twenty-five pages of Notes; and a five page Index, "Awakenings: American Jewish Transformations in Identity, Leadership, and Belonging" is especially and unreservedly recommended to personal, synagogue, community, and academic library Contemporary Judaic Studies collections. It should be noted that "Awakenings: American Jewish Transformations in Identity, Leadership, and Belonging" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.09).
Editorial Note #1: Rabbi Joshua Stanton (https://www.clal.org/team/joshua-stanton) is the Spiritual Co-Leader of East End Temple in New York and Senior Fellow of CLAL, the National Center of Learning and Leadership. Together with Rabbi Benjamin Spratt he writes a column for Religion News Service.
Editorial Note #2: Rabbi Benjamin Spratt (https://rodephsholom.org/rabbispratt) is Senior Rabbi of Congregation Rodeph Sholom in New York City.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.
The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com
Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number, and list price).
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
You
Penny Hashem
Visage Books
https://visagebooks.webflow.io
9781495822094, $28.95 Hardcover/$19.95 Paper/$8.49 kindle
https://www.amazon.com/You-Pnei-Hashem/dp/1495822095
You is a study in Judaic spirituality and philosophy that promotes self-help and growth for better understanding and enlightenment, and brings with it the flavor of wisdom embedded in the Torah. From this description, readers might think You is intended for Jewish audiences alone, but its messages are much broader than that. They offer insights to all thinking readers who look for books that reveal largely unknown secrets to understanding life.
While the ideas themselves are not original, the Torah-based path to them does provide routes that many won't have considered before. What makes Penny Hashem's journey different is the acknowledgement of how a Torah-based focus offers a refreshingly new perspective. As Hashem states, "Ultimately, this is a book about you." Thus, each reader's unique perspective, insights, and ideals of life's purpose will change the experience and value of what is to be gained from You. Much like Schrödinger's cat, the observer becomes an integral part of the experiment, which changes its results.
The main prerequisites for a successful reading of You are a spiritual belief in a higher force and an inquiring mind interested in considering the Torah's daily and overall presence in life. Armed with such a background, the reader receives explorations of biblical sources for God's incarnation in this world, Torah-based prayers or terms which are explained and explored as integral pieces of the investigation, and analyses that move between spiritual, philosophical, and psychological realms.
As literary allusions enter this study, readers will appreciate Hashem's ability to seamlessly move between disciplines to integrate their concepts and beliefs into bigger-picture thinking. The Torah insights she provides are specific and unique: "Torah provides us to help us liberate ourselves from the veils that shroud our Godly core. As we discussed, the lifecycle ceremonies (along with the daily rituals, and the weekly, monthly and yearly calendrical observances) are all facets of an integrated practice through which we train ourselves to penetrate the darkness.
The detailed and disciplined answer then to the question of how we can habituate ourselves to seeing the Godliness that is hidden within everything, is to take advantage of the tactics and exercises that Torah offers us." While the author's intention is to translate somewhat esoteric Torah readings into language and approaches the average reader can easily understand, it should be added that "average" translates to those who would absorb deeper layers of meaning than trite observation or easy answers. This audience will relish You for its integral ability to raise the bar on intellectual discourse.
While You will most likely appear in Jewish library collections, it shouldn't repose on a shelf or in a single reader's mind. Instead, it can become central to discussions and debates in reading groups interested in the intersection of Jewish, philosophical, spiritual, and psychological thought.
Awakenings
Rabbi Joshua Stanton, author
Rabbi Benjamin Spratt, author
Behrman House
https://store.behrmanhouse.com
9781681150895, $24.95, HC, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Awakenings-American-Transformations-Leadership-Belonging/dp/1681150891
Synopsis: Why are mainstream religious organizations on the decline? What changes have caused many of them to lose touch with modern spiritual needs? What does it take to remain relevant in today's world? With the publication of "Awakenings: American Jewish Transformations in Identity, Leadership, and Belonging", Rabbis Joshua Stanton and Benjamin Spratt take on these and other critical questions facing religion today. And they have answers that are frank and yet surprisingly upbeat.
Nearly every facet of American Jewish life (and of American religious life in general) faces both disruption and great prospects for renewal. In every corner of our community, Jewish identity, wisdom, ritual, and power are being remixed and reimagined. As centralized authority declines, American Judaism moves and grows in a multitude of directions.
As technology reduces the importance and restrictions of geographic boundaries, new opportunities for connection and new modes of exercising power emerge. New mixtures of ancient Jewish practice and modern needs are beginning to shape the renewal of American Judaism, widening access to Jewish wisdom and ritual, transforming Jewish consumers into Jewish co-creators, and building new networks of Jewish belonging.
The initial purposes that inspired much of the American Jewish infrastructure are now falling victim to their own success. As is an emphasis on nostalgia and authenticity encouraging us to mythologize the past and narrow our awareness of the present. A focus on buildings and centralized power by much of American Judaism reflects the realities of a century ago.
In understanding what keeps these organizations mired in the past, we can unearth a new purpose to unify the American Diaspora and guide it toward a new golden age.
Critique: Deftly organized into four major sections (Purpose Petrified; Transformations; Renewing; The Unfolding Awakening), and informatively enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of two Appendices (A Call to Action; A Brief History of Jewish Awakenings); twenty-five pages of Notes; and a five page Index, "Awakenings: American Jewish Transformations in Identity, Leadership, and Belonging" is especially and unreservedly recommended to personal, synagogue, community, and academic library Contemporary Judaic Studies collections. It should be noted that "Awakenings: American Jewish Transformations in Identity, Leadership, and Belonging" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.09).
Editorial Note #1: Rabbi Joshua Stanton (https://www.clal.org/team/joshua-stanton) is the Spiritual Co-Leader of East End Temple in New York and Senior Fellow of CLAL, the National Center of Learning and Leadership. Together with Rabbi Benjamin Spratt he writes a column for Religion News Service.
Editorial Note #2: Rabbi Benjamin Spratt (https://rodephsholom.org/rabbispratt) is Senior Rabbi of Congregation Rodeph Sholom in New York City.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.
The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com
Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number, and list price).
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
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