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New Age Judaism: Ancient Wisdom for the Modern World
A new take on Judaism seeks to demonstrate that the religion of Abraham and Moses and the teachings of the Kaballah and Jewish mysticism are in line with the contemporary New Age movement in the United States. Original. 50,000 first printing.
216 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 4, 2019
Very interesting and enlightening read. This book deals with Judaism in the here and now, as well as in the “new age” - the Messianic age. The meditations and insights Melinda shares have changed my life and I use them frequently.
Melinda has a lovely and easy to read writing style and she is able to explain complicated topics with ease.
Melinda has a lovely and easy to read writing style and she is able to explain complicated topics with ease.
October 22, 2024
NEW AGE AND JUDAISM? IT'S NOT AN OXYMORON
On the surface, Judaism and the New Age movement would seem totally contradictory: Judaism is all about "tradition," right? (At least, that's what the play "Fiddler On the Roof" said...)
Actually, Melinda Ribner's (2000) book points out that the TRADITION of Judaism also includes a substantial MYSTICAL tradition; in particular, the Kabbalah, and its most famous book, the Zohar, that actually taught vegetarianism, holistic healing, and reincarnation in places, not to mention belief in angels. There are also more "experiential" branches of Judaism such as Hasidism. So the two religious traditions may not be as far apart as one would think.
Melinda was authorized to teach meditation by the famous late rabbi, Schlomo Carlebach, and she has taught it for many years in the "Jewish Meditation Circle." Her book covers Kabbalistic concepts such as the "Tree of Life," and also includes chapters on the "Divine Blueprint," and even sexuality. The book also includes a series of guided meditations.
There are other Jewish teachers who write books with a similar focus (e.g., David Cooper, 'God Is a Verb: Kabbalah and the Practice of Mystical Judaism,' who with his wife Shoshana directs the Heart of Stillness Hermitage in the mountains in Colorado; Rabbi David Zeller 'The Soul of the Story: Meetings With Remarkable People'--a psychologist and musician who studied with Schlomo Carlebach from the mid-1960s; Joseph Gelberman, 'Zen Judaism: Teaching Tales by a Kabbalistic Rabbi,' as well as Tirzah Firestone, 'With Roots in Heaven: One Woman's Passionate Journey into the Heart of her Faith').
On the surface, Judaism and the New Age movement would seem totally contradictory: Judaism is all about "tradition," right? (At least, that's what the play "Fiddler On the Roof" said...)
Actually, Melinda Ribner's (2000) book points out that the TRADITION of Judaism also includes a substantial MYSTICAL tradition; in particular, the Kabbalah, and its most famous book, the Zohar, that actually taught vegetarianism, holistic healing, and reincarnation in places, not to mention belief in angels. There are also more "experiential" branches of Judaism such as Hasidism. So the two religious traditions may not be as far apart as one would think.
Melinda was authorized to teach meditation by the famous late rabbi, Schlomo Carlebach, and she has taught it for many years in the "Jewish Meditation Circle." Her book covers Kabbalistic concepts such as the "Tree of Life," and also includes chapters on the "Divine Blueprint," and even sexuality. The book also includes a series of guided meditations.
There are other Jewish teachers who write books with a similar focus (e.g., David Cooper, 'God Is a Verb: Kabbalah and the Practice of Mystical Judaism,' who with his wife Shoshana directs the Heart of Stillness Hermitage in the mountains in Colorado; Rabbi David Zeller 'The Soul of the Story: Meetings With Remarkable People'--a psychologist and musician who studied with Schlomo Carlebach from the mid-1960s; Joseph Gelberman, 'Zen Judaism: Teaching Tales by a Kabbalistic Rabbi,' as well as Tirzah Firestone, 'With Roots in Heaven: One Woman's Passionate Journey into the Heart of her Faith').
December 16, 2010
New Age Judaism is a thought provoking book which explores aspects of Judaism I had not previously considered. For anyone on a spiritual quest in Judaism, it sheds light on concepts not really touched on in other places such as meditation, holistic healing, suffering, vegetarianism, and more. The author is very uplifting and encouraging to readers about finding their own way to personalize Judaism and goes to far to say "G-d is infinite and the path to G-d is also infinite."
March 4, 2019
Very interesting and enlightening read. This book deals with Judaism in the here and now, as well as in the “new age” - the Messianic age. The meditations and insights Melinda shares have changed my life and I use them frequently.
Melinda has a lovely and easy to read writing style and she is able to explain complicated topics with ease.
Melinda has a lovely and easy to read writing style and she is able to explain complicated topics with ease.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews