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This first book by the author of the bestselling More Beautiful Than Before and The Beauty of What Remains has been reissued with a new foreword by Steve Leder, reflecting anew--20 years later--on these inspirational essays and the influence they have had. Through vignettes at times funny and poignant, Rabbi Lederpoints out those easily overlooked connections between everyday experiences andthe teachings of Judaism. God and spirituality can be found in every aspect ofour daily routines. Ordinary things--a pet frog, a weekend fishing trip, aroller coaster ride--become extraordinary when re-examined through Jewish eyes. Woven throughout Rabbi Leder's essays are midrashic texts,talmudic excerpts, and passages from the Torah, reflecting thousands of yearsof Jewish wisdom. Whether recalling a memorable walk along the beach with Dad,teaching a child the commandment of tzedakah, or stepping into the shoes of ananxious father-to-be as he paces the halls of the maternity ward, these storiesreveal Judaism's power to illuminate our lives.… (more)
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My favorite chapter was that in which the rabbi
“It turns out there’s a difference between Betsy and me, who returned to reality, and many of the spa’s other guests. Many weren’t just visiting the Dream State of Inner Peace; they were full-time citizens, going from spa to spa, seminar to guru, mud bath to watsu pool, cold cucumber wrap to crystals, and psychic to astrologer. They have plenty of money, time, and most of all, an unceasing interest in their own well-being to the exclusion of just about everything else. As far as I can tell, for these people and many who emulate them, the New Age pretty much boils down to “Me, me, me — far out!”
I also found the chapter in which Rabbi Leder wrote a letter to his mother on Mother’s Day very touching. As a mother of three myself, I can’t help but feel emotional when a son or daughter is able and willing to verbalize a note of thanks to Mom.
In addition, while discussing his work with the dying, Rabbi Zeder expressed what I’ve always felt as both a nurse and simply a person of compassion. “It may sound strange to the uninitiated, but for others—doctors, hospice nurses, rabbis—seeing people die well is a privilege.”
This book is based upon precepts of the Jewish faith, but I think those topics of which Rabbi Leder speaks in this book are universal enough for anyone to enjoy reading about them.