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thepermageek's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
A short prophetic text about one’s ability to feel radical amazement and enraptured gratitude by way of prayer & meditation.
A practical, hands-on introduction to Judaism as a lived, practiced daily reality
A practical, hands-on introduction to Judaism as a lived, practiced daily reality
razihecker's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
“Faith does not come to an end with attaining certainty of God’s existence. Faith is the beginning of an intense craving to enter an active relationship with Him who is beyond the mystery, to bring together all the might that is within us with all that is spiritual beyond us.”
"In no other act does man experience so often the disparity between the desire for expression and the means of expression as in prayer"
“This is the difference between religion and philosophy. Religion begins with the sense of the ineffable; philosophy ends with the sense of the ineffable. Religion begins where philosophy ends”
1. Prayer is the essential microcosm of all Jewish ritual, because it’s our closest to understanding and coming in commune with the ineffable.
2. Prayer isn’t about pleading to God it’s about self transcendence. “Prayer doesn’t save us, but it may make us worthy of being saved”
3. Kavana isn’t about the ritual itself, or having understanding of the ritual, it’s about having an appreciation of the ineffable.
"In no other act does man experience so often the disparity between the desire for expression and the means of expression as in prayer"
“This is the difference between religion and philosophy. Religion begins with the sense of the ineffable; philosophy ends with the sense of the ineffable. Religion begins where philosophy ends”
1. Prayer is the essential microcosm of all Jewish ritual, because it’s our closest to understanding and coming in commune with the ineffable.
2. Prayer isn’t about pleading to God it’s about self transcendence. “Prayer doesn’t save us, but it may make us worthy of being saved”
3. Kavana isn’t about the ritual itself, or having understanding of the ritual, it’s about having an appreciation of the ineffable.
mmazelli's review against another edition
4.0
There isn’t much overlap in this book with his other writings. Thought provoking, challenging and bold. Vintage Heschel. 4.5 ⭐️
m_h_'s review against another edition
4.0
It feels good to stretch my brain again. Heschel's writing is dense at times, but he also writes so fluidly that it's hard to not get caught up in his tidal waves of inspiration. His main points about praying as a sense of duty versus praying for the actual revealing of one's self to God are fascinating.
"To pray is to take notice of the wonder" is probably the best summation. My personal belief is that I can take notice of the wonder via methods alternate to praying, but this was still a really interesting read. All in all, Heschel seems concerned with empty prayer. He attempts to reconcile the idea of boring congregations who rush through prayers ("devotional sterility") and the idea of becoming out of practice with the act of praying.
Heschel believes that the purpose of worship is to "expand the presence of God in the world" and focuses on "acts of wonder" and "radical amazement" to pave the path of prayer. He views prayer as a time to "disregard [his] ego for at least a moment." I also find solace in those moments where I can successfully think beyond my daily realities and look at the beauty in the world - to be amazed by it and wonder at its existence and be inspired and moved deeply by it.
Regarding the fact that prayer is a commandment, Heschel writes, "To say that the mitzvoth have meaning is less accurate than saying that they lead us to wells of emergent meaning, to experiences which are full of hidden brilliance of the holy, suddenly blazing in our thoughts." I just really loved that last bit.
The fifth part about symbolism was probably my favorite part of this book. I loved the ins and outs of that discussion. I think I will revisit it frequently.
I will be reading some Jewish theology texts as well as my anti-racist books - bear with me.
"To pray is to take notice of the wonder" is probably the best summation. My personal belief is that I can take notice of the wonder via methods alternate to praying, but this was still a really interesting read. All in all, Heschel seems concerned with empty prayer. He attempts to reconcile the idea of boring congregations who rush through prayers ("devotional sterility") and the idea of becoming out of practice with the act of praying.
Heschel believes that the purpose of worship is to "expand the presence of God in the world" and focuses on "acts of wonder" and "radical amazement" to pave the path of prayer. He views prayer as a time to "disregard [his] ego for at least a moment." I also find solace in those moments where I can successfully think beyond my daily realities and look at the beauty in the world - to be amazed by it and wonder at its existence and be inspired and moved deeply by it.
Regarding the fact that prayer is a commandment, Heschel writes, "To say that the mitzvoth have meaning is less accurate than saying that they lead us to wells of emergent meaning, to experiences which are full of hidden brilliance of the holy, suddenly blazing in our thoughts." I just really loved that last bit.
The fifth part about symbolism was probably my favorite part of this book. I loved the ins and outs of that discussion. I think I will revisit it frequently.
I will be reading some Jewish theology texts as well as my anti-racist books - bear with me.
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