One of the defining religious trends of our time is the gradual reconciliation of Christianity and Judaism, which usually takes the form of churches (most notably, the Vatican) accepting responsibility for the anti-Semitic aspects of their worship, theology, and history. No amount of official proclamation, however, can reconcile these religions until individual Christians and Jews recognize their common religious heritage and learn to respect the differences between their traditions. Jewish Spirituality: A Brief Introduction for Christians is an important resource for cultivating such awareness. The author, Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, has long been known for his sophisticated, accessible books on Jewish spirituality (including Honey from the Rock and God Was in This Place and I, I Did Not Know). His definition of spirituality, which loops and spirals in rabbinic fashion, includes the following observations: "Spirituality is religion experienced intimately.... Spirituality is where you and God meet--and what you do about it." And Jewish spirituality, he writes, is distinguished as "an approach to life in which we strive to become aware of God's presence and purpose--even and especially in what might strike the casual observer as gross or material things." This, he points out, is a fact that bridges the gap between Judaism and Christianity: the incarnation of Christ, as one pastor explains to Kushner, demands that believers "continuously seek to find God in every person." Beginning with a summary of Jewish ideas about Creation, and then exploring topics such as the Torah, the Commandments, and the nature of God, Kushner expertly defines many of the similarities and differences between the religions. His lively, storytelling style makes Jewish Spirituality a pleasurable and challenging book that would serve well as a personal devotional, a Bible-study or Sunday-school text, or an occasion for Jewish and Christian friends to set aside time to learn more about each other's faith. --Michael Joseph Gross

From Publishers Weekly
As the dust-jacket blurbs from Peter Gomes and Joan Chittister suggest, Rabbi Kushner's explorations of Jewish mysticism and spirituality have long attracted Christian readers. At last, he has written a book designed especially for Christians. However, it's not quite clear how this book's content differs from Kushner's other volumes (Honey from the Rock; Invisible Lines of Connection). Much of the content the midrash about Reuven and Shimon crossing the Red Sea, for example, or the discussion of Torah as a "blueprint for creation" will be familiar to Kushner fans; they are among his favorite motifs. The afterword does explain some of the differences between Judaism and Christianity: Kushner sketches a distinction between Jewish Torah and Christian nomos; he reminds readers that Judaism has no incarnate God; and he explains that Judaism is not a proselytizing religion. Christian readers may find some sections of this afterword illuminating, but they may take issue with other passages, such as Kushner's insistence that Judaism is this-worldly and Christianity is other-worldly. This short book is in many ways classic Kushner: the writing is felicitous, the spiritual insights often profound and the rendering of complicated kabbalistic ideas into simple prose (intelligible not only to Christians but also to Jews not steeped in Jewish text) praiseworthy. The book's flaw is also that it is too much classic Kushner a promising project that recycles old ideas for a new, ecumenical audience. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Kushner, a rabbi who has written several books about Jewish spirituality for Jews (e.g., Invisible Lines of Connection: Sacred Stories of the Ordinary), was inspired to write this book by his friendship with an Episcopal priest, through whom he came to understand Jesus. Here he explains Jewish spirituality to Christians, focusing on four topics Creation, Torah, Commandment, and The Holy One and using stories and biblical references to teach readers about the subject. He discusses the Talmud and the Torah, revealing parallels between Christian and Jewish concepts. Through his lively style, he brings vast and difficult subjects into the lay reader's grasp, and because he explains complex ideas simply, plainly, and succinctly, prior knowledge about Judaism and spirituality is not necessary. Though the book is intended for Christians, anyone interested in learning about Jewish spirituality will enjoy this introduction. Recommended for all public libraries and for academic libraries where appropriate. Naomi Hafter, Enoch Pratt Free Lib., Baltimore Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
For Christians traveling toward Jerusalem, Kushner lucidly explains the Jewish understanding of creation, the Torah, the commandments of God, and communion with God. He points out that conversion to Judaism is possible, but conversion isn't what he means to encourage. Rather, he stresses Judaism's deep conception of the immanence of God, which leads Judaism "to be much more oriented to this world" than Christianity and "to look for holiness in the here and now." As befits such a faith, Judaism isn't a religion of beliefs, but one of sacred deeds, the doing of which reunites the person and the community with God. A most appealing presentation, perhaps especially for so-called liberal Christians. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Book Description
A window into the Jewish soul--written especially for Christians. "I invite you to explore with me some of the rich and varied expressions of the Jewish spiritual imagination. It is a tradition that may at times, for Christians, feel strangely familiar and will, for Christians and Jews, always challenge you to see yourself and your world through a new lens." --from the Introduction Jewish spirituality is an approach to life that encourages us to become aware of God's presence and purpose, even in unlikely places. "This world and everything in it is a manifestation of God's presence," says Rabbi Lawrence Kushner. "Our challenge and goal is to find it and then act in such a way as to help others find it too." In this special book, Kushner guides Christians through the rich wisdom of Jewish spirituality. He tailors his unique style to address Christians' questions, and, in doing so, opens new windows on their own faith. Jewish Spirituality is a window into the Jewish soul that people of all faiths can understand and enjoy. From the Talmud and Torah, to "repentance" (teshuva) and "repairing the world" (tikkun olam), Kushner shows all of us how we can use the fundamentals of Jewish spirituality to enrich our own lives. This intriguing book offers an entry into the center of Jewish spirituality. Kushner explains its key elements and the ways in which Christians--and people of all faiths and backgrounds--can bring them into their everyday lives. In Jewish Spirituality: A Brief Introduction for Christians you will explore: * Holy things that happen around us every day
* Invisible lines of relation that connect us to each other and to God
* Torah--a blueprint for all of creation
* Everyday, holy deeds that mend the world
* God's Oneness
* How the Jewish experience of Teshuva is similar to the Christian experience of Jesus ...and much more.

About the Author
Lawrence Kushner is recognized as one of the most creative spiritual writers in America. The author of several award-winning books, Kushner has been a frequent commentator on National Public Radio's All Things Considered, and is one of the most sought-after speakers to Christian and Jewish audiences on the topic of spiritual renewal today. He is a leading teacher of Jewish mysticism and Rabbi-in-Residence at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. His other books include Invisible Lines of Connection: Sacred Stories of the Ordinary; Honey from the Rock: An Introduction to Jewish Mysticism; The River of Light: Jewish Mystical Awareness; The Book of Letters: A Mystical Hebrew Alphabet; The Way Into Jewish Mystical Tradition, and for children, Because Nothing Looks Like God (all Jewish Lights).

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

As the dust-jacket blurbs from Peter Gomes and Joan Chittister suggest, Rabbi Kushner's explorations of Jewish mysticism and spirituality have long attracted Christian readers. At last, he has written a book designed especially for Christians. However, it's not quite clear how this book's content differs from Kushner's other volumes (Honey from the Rock; Invisible Lines of Connection). Much of the content the midrash about Reuven and Shimon crossing the Red Sea, for example, or the discussion of Torah as a "blueprint for creation" will be familiar to Kushner fans; they are among his favorite motifs. The afterword does explain some of the differences between Judaism and Christianity: Kushner sketches a distinction between Jewish Torah and Christian nomos; he reminds readers that Judaism has no incarnate God; and he explains that Judaism is not a proselytizing religion. Christian readers may find some sections of this afterword illuminating, but they may take issue with other passages, such as Kushner's insistence that Judaism is this-worldly and Christianity is other-worldly. This short book is in many ways classic Kushner: the writing is felicitous, the spiritual insights often profound and the rendering of complicated kabbalistic ideas into simple prose (intelligible not only to Christians but also to Jews not steeped in Jewish text) praiseworthy. The book's flaw is also that it is too much classic Kushner a promising project that recycles old ideas for a new, ecumenical audience. (Oct.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal