Witnesses to the One: The Spiritual History of the Sh'ma

by Joseph B. Meszler and Rabbi Joseph B. Meszler

Book Overview

An exploration of Judaism's most sacred statement and world-changing idea. "Hear O Israel, the Eternal is Our God, the Eternal is One " There is arguably no more important statement in Judaism than... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1580234003
• ISBN13: 9781580234009
• Release Date: March 2009
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Publishing
• Length: 140 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Approachable and Insightful

Rabbi Meszler has a way of communicating with the reader in a very personal way. The foundation of this book is that in every generation, Jews must reinvent the meaning of their prayers, even if the texts remain the same; so, too, does each reader take from this book a lesson of his or her own choosing. Although the common thread in each chapter is one Jewish prayer - the Sh'ma - Rabbi Meszler uses the opportunity to tell a story about prominent movements in Judaism over the millenia, and how they each have viewed God and their religious tradition through different prisms. The interplay between tradition and innovation is fascinating, as well as the story of continuity amid massive social change among the Jews of many centuries. I can imagine this book appealing to a range of readers, from those looking for new ways to connect with spiritual aspects of Judaism, to those who have a deep interest in ancient Jewish history and some of the great thinkers who helped make it. Even those of us who cling to the most traditional aspects of Judaism cannot ignore the progressive focus of this book: that to decide anew what being Jewish means, is in fact to follow in the great traditions passed from Moses to Maimonides, from the mystics to the ascetics, and from my generation to that of my children.

Very Creative, educational, and spiritual

I thought the book took a very unique approach. For people who know about or say the prayer it adds a great deal of perspective and insight. It makes the prayer deeper and much more meaningful. For readers who may not be familiar with the Shema, this book provides an original approach to teaching the history of the Jewish people and some of the top Jewish minds during specific eras - ancient to modern.