ARYEH KAPLAN, who died in 1983, was a well-known Orthodox rabbi and teacher of Jewish meditation. He is the author of many books, including a translation of the Torah commentary Me'am Lo'ez.
Kaplan, Orthodox rabbi and author of Meditation and the Bible (Weiser, 1978) and Meditation and Kabbalah (Weiser, 1981), shows that meditation is consistent with traditional Jewish thought and practice. He then presents a guide to a variety of meditative techniques: mantra meditation (with suggested phrases and Bible verses to use as mantras); contemplation; visualization; experiencing nothingness (which he does not recommend for beginners); conversing with God; and prayer. His instructions are clear and explicit, and his advice is informed and sound, advocating that a simple 20-minute-a-day program can indeed help make the practitioner a better person and a better Jew, and develop a closer relationship to God and things spiritual. Recommended for general collections. Marcia G. Fuchs, Guilford Free Lib., Ct.
"The classic text for Jews who want to experience the meditative
methods of their own spiritual tradition."
--Daniel Goleman, author of The Meditative Mind
"[This is] the first book to read on the subject. It is a gentle,
clear introduction and provides exercises and practices that can be
used right away by any Jew who wants a deeper prayer
experience."
--Rodger Kamenetz, author of The Jew in the Lotus
"New and old davveners can learn from this sainted teacher
how to deepen their holy processes . . . One can, with the help of
God and the aid of this manual, tap into the Cosmic."
--Zalman M. Schachter-Shalomi "A guide to Jewish prayer and
meditation that is both grounded in the tradition and genuinely
mind-expanding. For anyone seeking to connect with the spiritual
side of Judaism, this book is essential."
--William Novak "At a time when Jews are rediscovering their hunger
for spirituality, Kaplan's clear and comprehensive book could well
be one of the most important Jewish books of our time.
--Harold S. Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good
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