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Reviews
Jewish With Feeling: A Guide to Meaningful Jewish Practice by Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, Joel Segel
dogs198's review against another edition
Was good. Just did not have the time because of schoolwork.
skylarkochava's review against another edition
2.0
My biggest "beef" with the book is that it's not what I thought it was. It describes itself as "a guide to meaningful Jewish practice," but it's really an Introduction to Judaism book. It's not a tool for people already Jewishly-committed to deepen their practice. I was let down, but the first couple of chapters were somewhat helpful. The later chapters...not so much.
My primary annoyance with the book is that there is never a current description of the author and his perspective on Judaism. There is no "about the author," nor does he ever come out and say he's part of the renewal movement. He goes into great depth about his history in the orthodox movement, but totally leaves out when or why he left orthodoxy to start/create/lead the renewal movement. (I never got around to Googling his role in the movement.) His biography just seems to end when he's sent out by the Lubavitch rebbe to do kiruv work.
I don't care which movement he's in or where he works, I just want to know this information in order to more fully understand the likely "context" of the book. For instance, when he began making suggestions for the reader to do prohibited activities on Shabbat if those activities were "Shabbat-like" for them, I wasn't sure whether it was...
A) An "ease into Shabbat observance" kiruv technique or
B) Saying that you can fully observe Shabbat without following the laws of Shabbat.
I went through the book thinking it was A, but at the end of the book, when he finally spoke about the renewal movement (still in a roundabout way), I realized he meant B. That's a big difference to a reader who finds that distinction important. If he doesn't think that distinction is important, then he should make himself clear.
His failure to address his background more thoroughly seems deliberate to me, and I don't like what that suggests. It seems like a purposeful manipulation of the readers' respect for his interpretation of Judaism. He should believe that his interpretation of Judaism is correct, whether or not he affiliates orthodox, and he shouldn't take advantage of the neophyte's stereotypical awe of orthodoxy as the end-all-be-all of Jewish knowledge. That smacks of either an inferiority complex vis a vis orthodoxy or a purposeful misleading of the reader. I don't like either scenario.
My primary annoyance with the book is that there is never a current description of the author and his perspective on Judaism. There is no "about the author," nor does he ever come out and say he's part of the renewal movement. He goes into great depth about his history in the orthodox movement, but totally leaves out when or why he left orthodoxy to start/create/lead the renewal movement. (I never got around to Googling his role in the movement.) His biography just seems to end when he's sent out by the Lubavitch rebbe to do kiruv work.
I don't care which movement he's in or where he works, I just want to know this information in order to more fully understand the likely "context" of the book. For instance, when he began making suggestions for the reader to do prohibited activities on Shabbat if those activities were "Shabbat-like" for them, I wasn't sure whether it was...
A) An "ease into Shabbat observance" kiruv technique or
B) Saying that you can fully observe Shabbat without following the laws of Shabbat.
I went through the book thinking it was A, but at the end of the book, when he finally spoke about the renewal movement (still in a roundabout way), I realized he meant B. That's a big difference to a reader who finds that distinction important. If he doesn't think that distinction is important, then he should make himself clear.
His failure to address his background more thoroughly seems deliberate to me, and I don't like what that suggests. It seems like a purposeful manipulation of the readers' respect for his interpretation of Judaism. He should believe that his interpretation of Judaism is correct, whether or not he affiliates orthodox, and he shouldn't take advantage of the neophyte's stereotypical awe of orthodoxy as the end-all-be-all of Jewish knowledge. That smacks of either an inferiority complex vis a vis orthodoxy or a purposeful misleading of the reader. I don't like either scenario.
emjuddz's review against another edition
5.0
This is, hands down, the most inspiring book I have ever read about Jewish practice. The author's enthusiasm and acceptance of all levels of Jewish practice is infectious, and he very gently lays out ideas and opinions without pressure or "shoulds". Rabbi Zalman is so positive about other faiths as well, and I love how he stresses that all humans should learn from each other. Definitely my kind of Judaism!
fenwilder's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
ewolf's review against another edition
5.0
A good book that I would recommend for any who are looking to to find or reconnect with their belief/faith. Not just those of Jewish practice. Though it is clear that it is written with a Jewish audience in mind there is a lot of information and guidance that a non-Jew can get from it and understand. The book is also written with the perspective that the reader may not understand/know all that is talked about in the practices. Making a great book for even newly converts or those who are interested in Judaism.
alyssakeiko's review
4.0
I really liked this and the environmentalism component was something that really grabbed me.
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