God in All Moments: Mystical & Practical Spiritual Wisdom from Hasidic Masters

by Ebn Leader (With), Ebn D. Leader (Editor), Ebn D. Leader (With)

Overview

Mystical and practical wisdom—for daily life.

The least known of the Hasidic masters’ teachings—the hanhagot, or “spiritual practices”—are at the heart of this book. These short lists of instructions were created for their followers, inspirational treasures intended to be carried with you at all times. They were to be read again and again—providing spiritual guidance, centering, and aid in bringing joy and God’s presence into daily life.

Practical, personal, and wise, these brief teachings range from straightforward instructions to visualization exercises, meditations, and mantras. Also included are the hanhagot of two neo-Hasidic thinkers: the modern journalist and mystic Hillel Zeitlin (1871–1942), and the contemporary theologian Arthur Green.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781580231862
Publisher:	Turner Publishing Company
Publication date:	11/01/2003
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	2.17(w) x 3.35(h) x 0.53(d)

About the Author

Rabbi Or N. Rose is an associate dean at the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College. He is the coeditor of God in All Moments: Mystical and Practical Spiritual Wisdom from Hasidic Masters and Righteous Indignation: A Jewish Call for Justice; Jewish Mysticism and the Spiritual Life: Classical Texts, Contemporary Reflections and Speaking Torah: Spiritual Teachings from around the Maggid's Table, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 (all Jewish Lights).

Rabbi Ebn Leader is director of the Bet Midrash and an instructor in Talmud, Jewish law and Jewish mysticism at the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College. He is the coeditor of God in All Moments: Mystical and Practical Wisdom from Hasidic Masters, and has contributed to Jewish Mysticism and the Spiritual Life: Classical Texts, Contemporary Reflections (both Jewish Lights). Prior to coming to Hebrew College, he served for several years as an educator at Jewish secondary schools in Jerusalem and Boston.

Table of Contents

Introduction ix

I. Awakening & Renewal 1
A Meditation upon Rising 3
Creative Awakening 5
Knowing God 7
Healthy Body, Healthy Soul 9
Waters of Renewal 11
Know Your Soul 13
The Importance of Silence 15
Soul Searching before Prayer 17
Tefilah and Tzedakah 19
II. Prayer 21
Prayer before Dawn 23
The Unfolding of Tefilah [Prayer] 25
The Eros of Prayer 27
The Word: Body and Soul 29
Removing the Veil 31
Eyes Open or Closed 33
The Gift of Inner Focus 35
Divine Hide & Seek 37
Individual Prayer 39
III. Preparation for Daily Life 41
Mirror Images 43
Divine Homecoming 45
Spiritual Practice 47
Many Paths to God 49
King Solomon's Example 51
The Power of the Human Mind 53
Holy Sparks 55
Preparing for Hard Times 57
IV. Personal & Interpersonal Conduct 59
Divine Surrender 61
Creating Your Own Reality 63
True Fear 65
Do Not Reach for Spiritual Heights 67
The Humble Way 69
All God’s Creatures 71
Arrogance Begets Anger 75
Righteous Indignation 77
Love Your Neighbor 79
Concealed and Revealed Acts of Piety 81
Know Who Stands before You 83
Beware of the Glowing Coals 85
V. Torah Study & Mitzvot 89
Fear, Love, and Torah Study 91
Refining the Soul 93
A Divine Study Partner 95
The Guidance of Torah 97
Creating Angels 99
The Joy of Service 101
Tzedakah: The Root of Life 105
When Storm Clouds Gather 107
Mindful Practice 109
God Loves the Body 111
VI. In Speech & In Silence 113
Choose Silence, Not Torah 115
The Cycle of Speech 117
Mystical Engagement 119
Emotional Mindfulness 121
Solitude in Community 123
A Single Thought 125
Spiritual "Talk Therapy" 127
Nightly Teshuvah 129
Joining Day and Night 131

Epilogue: Your Inner Voice 133
Appendices: Neo-Hasidic Hanhagot 135
Hillel Zeitlin 137
Arthur Green 141
Notes 145
Glossary 153
Bibliography of Hasidic Sources 157
Suggestions for Further Reading 159
Acknowledgments 163

Editorial Reviews

God in All Moments contains mystical and practical wisdom—for daily life. The least known of the Hasidic masters' teachings—the hanhagot, or "spiritual practices"—are at the heart of this book. These short lists of instructions were created for their followers, inspirational treasures intended to be carried with you at all times. They were to be read again and again—providing spiritual guidance, centering and aid in bringing joy and God’s presence into daily life. Practical, personal and wise, these brief teachings range from straightforward instructions to visualization exercises, meditations and mantras. Also included are the hanhagot of two neo-Hasidic thinkers: the modern journalist and mystic Hillel Zeitlin (1871–1942), and the contemporary theologian Arthur Green. As reviewer Rabbi Edward Feinstein writes on the back cover, “We open this book and come upon a hidden treasure of Jewish wisdom and insight. Or Rose has provided the key to the luminous riches of Hasidic thought and life.” In modern transpersonal psychology these “hanhagot” might be called “affirmations,” which I have found to be very helpful in my own spiritual development. An extremely important contribution to our understanding of Hasidut, and to our own spiritual growth.

Jewish Media Review - Dov Peretz Elkins

"We open this book and come upon a hidden treasure of Jewish wisdom and insight. Or Rose has provided the key to the luminous riches of Hasidic thought and life."
—Rabbi Edward Feinstein, author of Tough Questions Jews Ask

“Superb translations, wise selections: this anthology is a splendid introduction into the world of Hasidic spirituality and to the specific steps that one can take to begin on the path. Especially valuable are the appendices containing modern, updated suggestions by Hillel Zeitlin and Arthur Green. Truly a gift for the soul!”
—Nehemia Polen, professor of Jewish thought and director of the Hasidic Text Institute at Hebrew College

From the Publisher

Rose and Leader, codirectors of Hebrew College's house of study in Boston, shed light on a hitherto little-known aspect of Hasidic life: the hanhagot, or "spiritual practices." These commands were typically brief, gnomic instructions appended to collections of homilies. These hanhagot have, for the most part, a practical approach not found in the more remotely mystical Hasidic works, and yet the mystical Jewish cosmology familiar from other sources is not absent here: "By carrying out a holy deed or an act of life-sustaining charity,/ you redeem a spark from the evil forces/ and thus increase your own holiness." Most of these adjurations come from 18th- and 19th-century sources, but the authors include an appendix of "neo-Hasidic hanhagot" as well. Those interested in Jewish spiritual practice should find this work especially interesting. This translation fills a gap in the sources available to English-language readers. For most collections. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

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