|
FINDING EACH OTHER IN JUDAISM by Rabbi Harold Schulweis, URJ Press.
Book Review
Rabbi Schulweis is a very interesting thinker- a leading Conservative
rabbi, a proponent of inter and intra-faith dialogue, a student
of Reconstructionist theology, and now the author of a book on
the Jewish life cycle published by the Reform movement press.
Finding Each Other in Judaism is not a "how-to" book about the Jewish life cycle- rather, it is an
exploration of the teachings contained in Jewish rituals and texts.
It is a guide to meaning, not a guide to practice, per se.
Thus, each section (birth, bar/bat mitzvah, wedding, and so on),
has within it a selection of contemporary and classic poetry pertaining
to that particular life passage. Rabbi Schulweis is very, very
concerned that we be able to say things we can believe- he does
not want our life cycle passages to seem magical or have them
depend on a theology that modern minds cannot accept. Some of
his own poetry veers towards a very naturalistic theology (some
would argue that he's a better theologian than poet), but much
of both the poetry and prose sections would be appropriate to
excerpt for inclusion in life rituals themselves.
If you want extensive information about the history of life cycle
rituals or a very practical guide to putting one together, this
might not be the book for you. (Though you will certainly know
more about how these rituals are practiced after you've finished
each chapter, check out the JewishGates website for life cycle basics.) If, however, you want to think deeply
about how contemporary religious practice can create meaningful
guideposts for life's inevitable milestones, Rabbi Schulweis will
challenge you, inform you, and help you envision a wholistic,
theologically consistent Judaism.
NJL
|
|
