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Find inspiration for a satisfying spiritual life of practice through the combination of contemporary mindfulness meditation and classical Hasidic spirituality.
The soul yearns to feel connected to something greater and to know happiness despite personal suffering and seemingly endless need. Surprisingly, the perspectives of the late eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Hasidic spiritual teachers offer a radically different Jewish theology that speaks directly to today's spiritual seekers whose faith has been shattered by both modernity and the Holocaust. These masters taught of interdependence, interconnectedness, selflessness, service and joy, anticipating the insights of contemporary science and twenty-first-century spirituality.
Bringing together the teachings of beloved Hasidic master Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berdichev (1740–1809) and the practice of mindfulness meditation, Rabbi Jonathan P. Slater reveals a new entrance into Jewish spiritual life. Covering the Five Books of Moses, these two volumes present accessible translations of selections from Kedushat Levi, R. Levi Yitzhak's Hasidic Torah commentary, which emphasizes our spiritual capacity to transform consciousness and so our life experience. The selections are paired with Rabbi Slater's commentaries to illuminate their message.
"The rediscovery of Hasidic texts as Jewish sources for contemporary spirituality will be greatly aided by [this] book…. It is almost as if the teacher were present in the same room with the student. Levi Isaac would be pleased."
—Rabbi Michael Strassfeld, author, A Book of Life: Embracing Judaism as a Spiritual Practice
"Create[s] a powerful spiritual language for the twenty-first century.... Offers a way to wake up to life that will transform the Jewish people and speak to all seekers."
—Rabbi Barbara Penzner, Temple Hillel B'nai Torah, West Roxbury, Massachusetts
"Skillfully presents us with practical tools to use mindfulness and Torah to craft a path of daily practice to realize a spiritual life. In so doing, the reader who uses these tools in their life will be able to directly experience their connection to the Divine while making a positive impact on the world."
—Rabbi Jeff Roth, author, Jewish Meditation Practices for Everyday Life: Awakening Your Heart, Connecting with God
"Offers us a beautiful blend of erudition and spiritual wisdom.... This book has everything a contemporary student of Jewish spirituality needs: serious Torah, tools to aid understanding of the text, and a wealth of suggestions for how to allow the Rebbe's teachings to invigorate and transform our own spiritual lives."
—Rabbi Amy Eilberg, author, From Enemy to Friend: Jewish Wisdom on the Pursuit of Peace
"Deeply wise and inspired.... This is not a book to 'read.' It is a nourishing wellspring. Return to it again and again as you grow and deepen your practice and water the garden of your soul."
—Marcia Prager, author, The Path of Blessing: Experiencing the Energy and Abundance of the Divine
The Book of Leviticus
Vayikra 3
Tzav 11
Shemini 16
Tazria 24
Metsora 32
Acharei Mot 41
Kedoshim 49
Emor 57
Behar 67
Bechukkotai 7
The Book of Numbers
Bemidbar 81
Naso 85
Beha'alotekha 92
Shelach Lekha 100
Korach 116
Chukkat 127
Balak 139
Pinchas 155
Mattot 167
Mase'ei 172
The Book of Deuteronomy
Devarim 179
Va’etchanan 190
Eikev 200
Re’eih 209
Shofetim 215
Ki Teitzei 222
Ki Tavo 229
Nitzavim 235
Vayeilekh 244
Ha’azinu 248
Vezot Haberakhah 254
Acknowledgments 257
Suggestions for Further Reading 263