This Is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared

September 22, 2003
Lew's exploration of the Days of Awe begins not with Rosh Hashanah—which is not featured until chapter six—but with Tisha B'Av and the month of Elul. These observances, Lew feels, set a tone of rigorous introspection in the Jewish calendar. He follows the story through Yom Kippur and Sukkot, drawing on Jewish tradition, his own experiences and a few Buddhist stories (Lew is a self-described "Zen rabbi") to take the reader on a journey of spiritual transformation—"from birth to death and back to renewal again." Lew is far more concerned with inner motivations and awareness than with external rituals, a refreshing and sometimes startling perspective. He is a perceptive thinker and a highly skilled writer, making this book a hard-hitting yet compassionate cry for spiritual renewal during the High Holy Days as well as the rest of the year.

August 1, 2003
Has the title got your attention? Indeed, Lew (One God Clapping: The Spiritual Path of a Zen Rabbi), spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Sholom in San Francisco, conveys a sense of urgency about the Jewish High Holidays, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, as well as the key holidays and rituals that surround them: Tisha B'Av, Elul, Selichot, Teshuvah, Ne'ilah, and Sukkot. Taken together, they constitute a journey from birth to death to renewal, a journey of self-discovery, spiritual discipline, self-forgiveness, and spiritual evolution: "This is the longest journey we will ever make, and we must complete it in that brief instant before the gates of heaven clang shut." In order to help us prepare for the journey, Lew draws from Talmudic text, lore and commentary, Kabbala, some Zen Buddhism, psychology, and literature, as well as his own personal experiences. He is a patient and compassionate guide as he conveys the message that we must take our holy tasks seriously, but if we don't make it this year we can try again next year. A fresh look at a more than 2000-year-old mandate, highly recommended for collections of Judaica.-Marcia Welsh, Dartmouth Coll., Hanover, NH

Copyright 2003 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2003
The Days of Awe, the Jewish rituals observed each year between roughly mid-August and mid-October, include Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and the 10 days between the two High Holy days. Citing the Hebrew Bible, Talmud, Kabbalah, and other sources, Lew offers advice on how we can live our lives in a meaningful and joyful way through prayer and meditation. Author of "One God Clapping: The Spiritual Path of a Zen Rabbi "(1999), he writes of the importance of introspection and self-evaluation in this period of repentance and contemplation. His insights into how we can make the most of our time are astute and profound and should be of interest to readers of all faiths. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2003, American Library Association.)