What do you think?
Rate this book
The December Project: An Extraordinary Rabbi and a Skeptical Seeker Confront Life's Greatest Mystery – A Jewish Book Award Finalist Memoir on Facing Mortality with Gratitude and Spiritual Tools
In 2009, New York Times bestselling author Sara Davidson was surprised by a call from Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, asking her to engage with him in what he called "The December Project." At eighty-five, Reb Zalman wanted to teach people how to navigate the December of life and to help them "not freak out about dying."
Davidson jumped at the chance. She feared that death would be a complete annihilation, while Reb Zalman felt certain that "something continues." For two years, they met every Friday to discuss this and how getting "up close with mortality" quickens our ability to relish every day.
Woven through their talks are sketches from Reb Zalman's life: escaping the Nazis; becoming an orthodox rabbi in the U.S.; landing in San Francisco during the sexual revolution; taking L.S.D. with Timothy Leary; befriending other faith leaders, including Thomas Merton and the Dalai Lama; and founding the Jewish Renewal movement.
During their time together, Davidson was nearly killed by a suicide bomb and Reb Zalman faced a steep decline in health. They created strategies to deal with pain and memory loss and found tools to cultivate fearlessness and joy--at any age. Davidson includes twelve exercises so readers can experience what she did, a sea change in facing what we all must face: mortality.
Davidson jumped at the chance. She feared that death would be a complete annihilation, while Reb Zalman felt certain that "something continues." For two years, they met every Friday to discuss this and how getting "up close with mortality" quickens our ability to relish every day.
Woven through their talks are sketches from Reb Zalman's life: escaping the Nazis; becoming an orthodox rabbi in the U.S.; landing in San Francisco during the sexual revolution; taking L.S.D. with Timothy Leary; befriending other faith leaders, including Thomas Merton and the Dalai Lama; and founding the Jewish Renewal movement.
During their time together, Davidson was nearly killed by a suicide bomb and Reb Zalman faced a steep decline in health. They created strategies to deal with pain and memory loss and found tools to cultivate fearlessness and joy--at any age. Davidson includes twelve exercises so readers can experience what she did, a sea change in facing what we all must face: mortality.
208 pages, Paperback
First published February 25, 2014
104 people are currently reading
349 people want to read
About the author
Sara Davidson
33 books23 followersSara was born in 1943 and grew up in California. She went to Berkeley in the Sixties, where the rite of passage was to "get stoned, get laid and get arrested."
After Berkeley she headed for New York to attend the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. Her first job was with the Boston Globe, where she became a national correspondent, covering everything from the election campaigns of Bobby Kennedy and Richard Nixon to the Woodstock Festival and the student strike at Columbia.
Returning to New York, she worked as a free-lance journalist for magazines ranging from Harpers, Esquire and the New York Times to Rolling Stone. She was one of the group who developed the craft of literary journalism, combining the techniques of fiction with rigorous reporting to bring real events and people to life. Her work is collected in the textbook,The Literary Journalists, by Norman Sims.
Sara moved back to California where for 25 years, she alternated between writing for television and writing books. The books tend to fall in the gray zone between memoir and fiction. She uses the voice of the intimate journalist, drawing on material from her life and that of others and shaping it into a narrative that reads like fiction.
In television, she created two drama series, Jack and Mike, and Heart Beat, which ran on A.B.C. She was later co-executive producer of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, wrote hundreds of hours of drama episodes, movies and miniseries, and in 1994 was nominated for a Golden Globe.
In the year 2000, her life began to unravel. She was divorced, her children were leaving for college and she couldn't find work in television. Following her intuition, knowing nobody, she drove to Boulder, Colorado for three months to be a visiting writer at the University of Colorado. She never drove back, and is piecing together a different life which she writes about in Leap
Her current passions are: singing with friends, the "Shady Angels," learning piano, skiing and hiking in the Rockies.
After Berkeley she headed for New York to attend the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. Her first job was with the Boston Globe, where she became a national correspondent, covering everything from the election campaigns of Bobby Kennedy and Richard Nixon to the Woodstock Festival and the student strike at Columbia.
Returning to New York, she worked as a free-lance journalist for magazines ranging from Harpers, Esquire and the New York Times to Rolling Stone. She was one of the group who developed the craft of literary journalism, combining the techniques of fiction with rigorous reporting to bring real events and people to life. Her work is collected in the textbook,The Literary Journalists, by Norman Sims.
Sara moved back to California where for 25 years, she alternated between writing for television and writing books. The books tend to fall in the gray zone between memoir and fiction. She uses the voice of the intimate journalist, drawing on material from her life and that of others and shaping it into a narrative that reads like fiction.
In television, she created two drama series, Jack and Mike, and Heart Beat, which ran on A.B.C. She was later co-executive producer of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, wrote hundreds of hours of drama episodes, movies and miniseries, and in 1994 was nominated for a Golden Globe.
In the year 2000, her life began to unravel. She was divorced, her children were leaving for college and she couldn't find work in television. Following her intuition, knowing nobody, she drove to Boulder, Colorado for three months to be a visiting writer at the University of Colorado. She never drove back, and is piecing together a different life which she writes about in Leap
Her current passions are: singing with friends, the "Shady Angels," learning piano, skiing and hiking in the Rockies.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
May 7, 2014
I loved THE DECEMBER PROJECT for so many reasons I hardly know where to begin. Sara Davidson asked the very questions of Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi that I would have, about the mystery of death in the context of an extremely vital life. I saw Reb Zalman only once, at a Bar Mitzvah, and felt the depth of his presence. Sara Davidson brings her own brilliant discernment to her conversations with him over a two-year period. Their discussions illuminate profound questions of the inner life, made all the more urgent by Reb Zalman's sense of his mortality. A long-time fan of Davidson's other books, I was especially interested in this piece de resistance--the work of a writer at the height of her powers and personal evolution. I also learned a great deal about the Jewish Renewal Movement, and how beautifully it resonates within the heart of a long tradition. THE DECEMBER PROJECT reveals universal truths with both seriousness and wit, in the words of a great man and insightful woman. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in a readable, entertaining heart-to-heart talk about aging, dying, one's relationship with others, oneself, and especially with God.
October 3, 2014
The December Project is an account of weekly meetings between an elderly Jewish Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and a skeptical Jewish journalist Sara Davidson as the old rabbi feels his body winding down in what he calls "the December years" of life.
Having no real background in Judaism I was a little overwhelmed by the heavy use of what I guess are Yiddish terms and references to Jewish ceremonies and holy events, but in no way is this book trying to convert the reader to Judaism.
The December Project is filled with wisdom. The book is intended to help one in preparing for the final years of life as indeed every person who is born will sooner or later have to confront the reality of their own mortality.
The wisdom of this book, however, would serve well persons of any age. The kinds of thinking and activities recommended by Rabbi Zalman are not only useful as one faces death but might help one lead a better life. As no one knows the moment of their death and we are not guaranteed years of time in senescence, it seems the best time to prepare for the end of life is right now.
Personally I find the worth of a book is best measured by how it affects my thinking or actions. I found my thoughts directly affected by the philosophy of Rabbi Zalman. Here is just one example based on a short anecdote at the end of a chapter. In response to a blog about the Rabbi giving to beggars:
Reducing judgement is an ideal I strive for in my life, so the Rabbi's words resonated strongly with me.
Ultimately I found the story and philosophy of a Jewish Rabbi who escaped the holocaust, was ordained in Hasidism, did LSD with Timothy Leary, partied in San Francisco in the 1960's, and founded the Jewish Renewal movement while also studying with prominent Sufi, Catholic, Hindu, and Buddhist figures to be highly entertaining and perhaps more important thought provoking and inspiring.
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone facing the reality of death or interested in ensuring they find as much meaning in life as possible.
Having no real background in Judaism I was a little overwhelmed by the heavy use of what I guess are Yiddish terms and references to Jewish ceremonies and holy events, but in no way is this book trying to convert the reader to Judaism.
The December Project is filled with wisdom. The book is intended to help one in preparing for the final years of life as indeed every person who is born will sooner or later have to confront the reality of their own mortality.
The wisdom of this book, however, would serve well persons of any age. The kinds of thinking and activities recommended by Rabbi Zalman are not only useful as one faces death but might help one lead a better life. As no one knows the moment of their death and we are not guaranteed years of time in senescence, it seems the best time to prepare for the end of life is right now.
Personally I find the worth of a book is best measured by how it affects my thinking or actions. I found my thoughts directly affected by the philosophy of Rabbi Zalman. Here is just one example based on a short anecdote at the end of a chapter. In response to a blog about the Rabbi giving to beggars:
A doctor wrote, "Is it really a mitzvah to give an alcoholic money to buy more alcohol or drugs? He might commit a crime and hurt others. If you really want to help, why not give the person food or clothing, or donate to a shelter?"
Reb Zalman responded, "If you give a gift, it's none of your business what a person does with it. That's making a judgement. I never ask the person, why are you out here like this? The question for me is, do I turn away from a hand that's stretched out?"
Reducing judgement is an ideal I strive for in my life, so the Rabbi's words resonated strongly with me.
Ultimately I found the story and philosophy of a Jewish Rabbi who escaped the holocaust, was ordained in Hasidism, did LSD with Timothy Leary, partied in San Francisco in the 1960's, and founded the Jewish Renewal movement while also studying with prominent Sufi, Catholic, Hindu, and Buddhist figures to be highly entertaining and perhaps more important thought provoking and inspiring.
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone facing the reality of death or interested in ensuring they find as much meaning in life as possible.
October 12, 2018
In The December Project, for two years Sara Davidson, spends every Friday with Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi in his eighties discussing the “December” of his life. In what he called The December Project he searched the meaning of life.
"When you can feel in your cells that you're coming to the end of your tour of duty," he said, "what is the spiritual work of this time, and how do we prepare for the mystery?"
In their weekly discussions, Sara learned he barely escaped the Nazis, became an orthodox rabbi, was married numerous times and had 11 children. He formed friendships with leaders of other faiths, Sufi, Catholic, Hindu and Buddhist which included Thomas Merton and the Dalai Lama. He later formed the Jewish Renewal Movement to encourage people to have a direct experience of God.
Their discussions dealt with aging, dying, ones relationship with others, oneself and especially God. This book was filled with wisdom. I savored the words of this rabbi and found him to have been an extraordinary man. This was a deeply moving book and very skillfully written.
"When you can feel in your cells that you're coming to the end of your tour of duty," he said, "what is the spiritual work of this time, and how do we prepare for the mystery?"
In their weekly discussions, Sara learned he barely escaped the Nazis, became an orthodox rabbi, was married numerous times and had 11 children. He formed friendships with leaders of other faiths, Sufi, Catholic, Hindu and Buddhist which included Thomas Merton and the Dalai Lama. He later formed the Jewish Renewal Movement to encourage people to have a direct experience of God.
Their discussions dealt with aging, dying, ones relationship with others, oneself and especially God. This book was filled with wisdom. I savored the words of this rabbi and found him to have been an extraordinary man. This was a deeply moving book and very skillfully written.
March 31, 2019
When you’re feeling a little scared about life and what it’s all about, read this. Interesting, feel good, and calming.
December 1, 2021
I missed out on the great irony of having read this book in the month of December. :P But I have a schedule to keep!
This book is a slight memoir that chronicles, in part, the conversations between a New York Times bestselling journalist and the founder of Judaism’s Renewal Movement. :P No big thing.
Really, that’s what makes it special. Two individuals from very different Jewish backgrounds and two different generations finding their way to one another to discuss the one thing that might unite us all—death. Sooner or later, it comes for all of us.
They start these conversations when Sara Davidson, the journalist, is in her 60s, and Rabbi Zalman Schaechter-Shalomi is in his 80s. Mileage may vary here. I wrote of these two having different religious trajectories, but beyond being Jewish they each dabbled in a more eastern mysticism. Their adherence to ideas of energy flow and alternative medicine are a bit beyond my experience. Reb Zalman would say that this is due to my exposure to the “rationalist” strain of American Judaism.
It could, of course, also be my own age, where I don’t quite hear the ticking crocodile quite yet. Though this does bring me to a little bit of a bias in this book. It assumes a sort of able-bodied, neuro-typicalness, where not only death but also hardship are brought on by old age (or perhaps a trip to a warzone in Davidson’s case.) It assumes these things because they seem to be the experience for Davidson and Zalman. But hopefully anyone dealing with a sort of existential crisis could get something out of this. Philosophical talking points punted out into the void aren’t really my personal jam.
Another criticism I might levy at this book is that it felt a little disjointed. Yes, part of the narrative was about these mortality discussions, and even about some of the near-death experiences of these two characters. Another part was very much focused on the dynamic and eclectic life of Reb Zalman. I’m ashamed to admit how little I knew about the Jewish Renewal movement before this. I recognized the denomination name from the “Ask the Rabbis” segment in Moment Magazine. :P But I didn’t even know it was so closely connected to Hasidim!
This is a very slight book; Zalman wrote plenty of his own, too! Suffice to say he led a fascinating life by way of spiritual journeying. This glimpse certainly made me want to learn more. And it filled me with warm fuzzies, regarding the ways that even the most stereotypically stringent Jews may have hidden layers.
Judaism itself has lots of hidden layers, some of which are teased in this book. I couldn’t help but think that Davidson and Zalman’s focus on probing relationships for apology and forgiveness is the very backbone of the annual High Holidays. People with even less religious knowledge than I have might know that the High Holidays are, more or less, meant to be a dress rehearsal for death. Not so much about the afterlife (Judaism isn’t afterlife-free, but I haven’t found a way to connect with that yet,) but in how you want to live this one. The Davidson/Zalman talks could be divided into “legacy” vs “afterlife,” and the former spoke to me more.
All in all, I liked this. Zalman’s characterization seemed to leap off the page. The writing was quick paced and mostly engaging. There were exercises in the back that certainly merited more than a quick readthrough, so perhaps I should go back to them. :P
I’ll be discussing this book in early December with my mom and aunties club. This sort of earnest soul-seeking will probably speak to the group. I am looking forward to our discussion!
This book is a slight memoir that chronicles, in part, the conversations between a New York Times bestselling journalist and the founder of Judaism’s Renewal Movement. :P No big thing.
Really, that’s what makes it special. Two individuals from very different Jewish backgrounds and two different generations finding their way to one another to discuss the one thing that might unite us all—death. Sooner or later, it comes for all of us.
They start these conversations when Sara Davidson, the journalist, is in her 60s, and Rabbi Zalman Schaechter-Shalomi is in his 80s. Mileage may vary here. I wrote of these two having different religious trajectories, but beyond being Jewish they each dabbled in a more eastern mysticism. Their adherence to ideas of energy flow and alternative medicine are a bit beyond my experience. Reb Zalman would say that this is due to my exposure to the “rationalist” strain of American Judaism.
It could, of course, also be my own age, where I don’t quite hear the ticking crocodile quite yet. Though this does bring me to a little bit of a bias in this book. It assumes a sort of able-bodied, neuro-typicalness, where not only death but also hardship are brought on by old age (or perhaps a trip to a warzone in Davidson’s case.) It assumes these things because they seem to be the experience for Davidson and Zalman. But hopefully anyone dealing with a sort of existential crisis could get something out of this. Philosophical talking points punted out into the void aren’t really my personal jam.
Another criticism I might levy at this book is that it felt a little disjointed. Yes, part of the narrative was about these mortality discussions, and even about some of the near-death experiences of these two characters. Another part was very much focused on the dynamic and eclectic life of Reb Zalman. I’m ashamed to admit how little I knew about the Jewish Renewal movement before this. I recognized the denomination name from the “Ask the Rabbis” segment in Moment Magazine. :P But I didn’t even know it was so closely connected to Hasidim!
This is a very slight book; Zalman wrote plenty of his own, too! Suffice to say he led a fascinating life by way of spiritual journeying. This glimpse certainly made me want to learn more. And it filled me with warm fuzzies, regarding the ways that even the most stereotypically stringent Jews may have hidden layers.
Judaism itself has lots of hidden layers, some of which are teased in this book. I couldn’t help but think that Davidson and Zalman’s focus on probing relationships for apology and forgiveness is the very backbone of the annual High Holidays. People with even less religious knowledge than I have might know that the High Holidays are, more or less, meant to be a dress rehearsal for death. Not so much about the afterlife (Judaism isn’t afterlife-free, but I haven’t found a way to connect with that yet,) but in how you want to live this one. The Davidson/Zalman talks could be divided into “legacy” vs “afterlife,” and the former spoke to me more.
All in all, I liked this. Zalman’s characterization seemed to leap off the page. The writing was quick paced and mostly engaging. There were exercises in the back that certainly merited more than a quick readthrough, so perhaps I should go back to them. :P
I’ll be discussing this book in early December with my mom and aunties club. This sort of earnest soul-seeking will probably speak to the group. I am looking forward to our discussion!
January 12, 2025
I found a lot to consider in this book. The Jewish faith has such depth and meaning which offers insight to different aspects of my journey here. Reb Zalman certainly did a lot to understand his faith and to explore those faiths around him throughout his life in a pursuit of keeping the flame of faith strong and growing.
The exercises at the end offer several I believe will be worth trying.
I may adopt his final poem for my own farewell one day.
The exercises at the end offer several I believe will be worth trying.
I may adopt his final poem for my own farewell one day.
April 1, 2019
Fascinating as a spiritual biography and as food for thought.
December 23, 2019
Minuteman. Some insights, not profound.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2020
Inspiring and practical. Good exercises recap at the end. Nice reading time passed with them.
July 12, 2016
[I wrote and posted a review for this book more than a month ago, but for some reason, that review mysteriously disappeared. (Cue eery music here...) So, let's give 'er another go, because I truly LOVED this book.]
What did I think? Turn to the word "wonderful" in your thesaurus. See all those words there? THAT'S what I think of this book. And then some.
Do you consider yourself a seeker? I mean, have you consciously sought a better understanding of yourself, of life, spirituality, and ... death? Yes, death. I know; it isn't a topic many people feel comfortable discussing around the dinner table... or anywhere else, for that matter... but don't you sometimes wonder about it? After all, death is life's ultimate mystery and final challenge, and each of us is eventually gonna have to face it, so why not talk about it? Gee, wouldn't it be fantastic if someone older and wiser were willing to discuss old age and death with us? Maybe he could let us in on some of the spiritual wisdom and insights he's gained through a long life of both traditional, and non-traditional, seeking... and finding.
Guess what? Someone IS willing, and an amazing somebody he is. When in his mid-eighties, Reb Zalman, a beloved rabbi, reformer, innovator, and life-long seeker, teamed up with writer Sara Davidson with the intention of creating a book that could gently guide readers through the labyrinth of old age, and away from the usual "freak out" factor regarding death. Once a week for two years, they met and talked. This book... this wonderful book... is the product of those intimate interviews.
It doesn't matter what your religious background is. You will love this rabbi, and savor his honesty and down-to-earth humanity. I found his sense of humor, his joyful approach to life, and his genuine love of God and his fellow man irresistible. Thanks to Davidson's skillful writing, Reb Zalman now feels like a beloved friend, and one I will never forget. My bet is you'd feel exactly the same way.
It's been a long time since a book affected me so deeply. The rabbi is an extraordinary man who has lived an extraordinary life, and as he now approaches his ninetieth birthday, I'm deeply grateful that he cared so much about the rest of us to join forces with Davidson to create this book. For us. For you. For me. Extraordinary.
What did I think? Turn to the word "wonderful" in your thesaurus. See all those words there? THAT'S what I think of this book. And then some.
Do you consider yourself a seeker? I mean, have you consciously sought a better understanding of yourself, of life, spirituality, and ... death? Yes, death. I know; it isn't a topic many people feel comfortable discussing around the dinner table... or anywhere else, for that matter... but don't you sometimes wonder about it? After all, death is life's ultimate mystery and final challenge, and each of us is eventually gonna have to face it, so why not talk about it? Gee, wouldn't it be fantastic if someone older and wiser were willing to discuss old age and death with us? Maybe he could let us in on some of the spiritual wisdom and insights he's gained through a long life of both traditional, and non-traditional, seeking... and finding.
Guess what? Someone IS willing, and an amazing somebody he is. When in his mid-eighties, Reb Zalman, a beloved rabbi, reformer, innovator, and life-long seeker, teamed up with writer Sara Davidson with the intention of creating a book that could gently guide readers through the labyrinth of old age, and away from the usual "freak out" factor regarding death. Once a week for two years, they met and talked. This book... this wonderful book... is the product of those intimate interviews.
It doesn't matter what your religious background is. You will love this rabbi, and savor his honesty and down-to-earth humanity. I found his sense of humor, his joyful approach to life, and his genuine love of God and his fellow man irresistible. Thanks to Davidson's skillful writing, Reb Zalman now feels like a beloved friend, and one I will never forget. My bet is you'd feel exactly the same way.
It's been a long time since a book affected me so deeply. The rabbi is an extraordinary man who has lived an extraordinary life, and as he now approaches his ninetieth birthday, I'm deeply grateful that he cared so much about the rest of us to join forces with Davidson to create this book. For us. For you. For me. Extraordinary.
September 3, 2016
What did I think? Turn to the word "wonderful" in your thesaurus. See all those words there? THAT'S what I think of this book. And then some.
Do you consider yourself a seeker? I mean, have you consciously sought a better understanding of yourself, of life, spirituality, and ... death? Yes, death. I know; it isn't a topic many people feel comfortable discussing around the dinner table... or anywhere else, for that matter... but don't you sometimes wonder about it? After all, death is life's ultimate mystery and final challenge, and each of us is eventually gonna have to face it, so why not talk about it? Gee, wouldn't it be fantastic if someone older and wiser were willing to discuss old age and death with us? Maybe he could let us in on some of the spiritual wisdom and insights he's gained through a long life of both traditional, and non-traditional, seeking... and finding.
Guess what? Someone IS willing, and an amazing somebody he is. When in his mid-eighties, Reb Zalman, a beloved rabbi, reformer, innovator, and life-long seeker, teamed up with writer Sara Davidson with the intention of creating a book that could gently guide readers through the labyrinth of old age, and away from the usual "freak out" factor regarding death. Once a week for two years, they met and talked. This book... this wonderful book... is the product of those intimate interviews.
It doesn't matter what your religious background is. You will love this rabbi, and savor his honesty and down-to-earth humanity. I found his sense of humor, his joyful approach to life, and his genuine love of God and his fellow man irresistible. Thanks to Davidson's skillful writing, Reb Zalman now feels like a beloved friend, and one I will never forget. My bet is you'd feel exactly the same way.
It's been a long time since a book affected me so deeply. The rabbi is an extraordinary man who has lived an extraordinary life, and as he now approaches his ninetieth birthday, I'm deeply grateful that he cared so much about the rest of us to join forces with Davidson to create this book. For us. For you. For me. Extraordinary.
Do you consider yourself a seeker? I mean, have you consciously sought a better understanding of yourself, of life, spirituality, and ... death? Yes, death. I know; it isn't a topic many people feel comfortable discussing around the dinner table... or anywhere else, for that matter... but don't you sometimes wonder about it? After all, death is life's ultimate mystery and final challenge, and each of us is eventually gonna have to face it, so why not talk about it? Gee, wouldn't it be fantastic if someone older and wiser were willing to discuss old age and death with us? Maybe he could let us in on some of the spiritual wisdom and insights he's gained through a long life of both traditional, and non-traditional, seeking... and finding.
Guess what? Someone IS willing, and an amazing somebody he is. When in his mid-eighties, Reb Zalman, a beloved rabbi, reformer, innovator, and life-long seeker, teamed up with writer Sara Davidson with the intention of creating a book that could gently guide readers through the labyrinth of old age, and away from the usual "freak out" factor regarding death. Once a week for two years, they met and talked. This book... this wonderful book... is the product of those intimate interviews.
It doesn't matter what your religious background is. You will love this rabbi, and savor his honesty and down-to-earth humanity. I found his sense of humor, his joyful approach to life, and his genuine love of God and his fellow man irresistible. Thanks to Davidson's skillful writing, Reb Zalman now feels like a beloved friend, and one I will never forget. My bet is you'd feel exactly the same way.
It's been a long time since a book affected me so deeply. The rabbi is an extraordinary man who has lived an extraordinary life, and as he now approaches his ninetieth birthday, I'm deeply grateful that he cared so much about the rest of us to join forces with Davidson to create this book. For us. For you. For me. Extraordinary.
July 15, 2014
I read on a Facebook post that Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi recently died and this book was mentioned. I hadn't ever heard of the Rabbi, and the book sounded interesting, so out of respect and curiosity I decided to read about The December Project. It was hard to rate this book using the five star system in place on Goodreads. So take my three star rating with a grain of salt. What I can absolutely say is the Rabbi Zalman sounded like a most remarkable man. One about whom I am very glad to now be aware. In our lives most of us don't leave much of a mark on the world. Oh we influence, perhaps, those around us, but this man clearly had a significant impact. I am not Jewish, but I felt it really didn't matter at all. The reach and impact of his observations about life and death and his compassion are universal. His ability to describe his faith, his love of the world, and his understanding of human nature was at all times honest and inspiring. His commitment to prepare himself for his eventual death and his desire to share that process with the help of the book's author is quite a remarkable gift. I feel like there is much wisdom here, but I also feel like in the telling and transmittal of the Rabbi's ideas, the author far too often got in the way and the Rabbi was obscured. Hers was a significant challenge, I appreciate that, and I think she made a well intended effort, but for me she offered too much of her story and that weakened the effort. Perhaps I'm being too harsh. Here's the thing - I think, especially if you are older like me, or younger and not afraid to confront human mortality in a mature practical way, read the book and especially the exercises at the end and decide for yourself how you think the author did. This is a tough subject about which to write and in spite of maybe its flaws this is one of the most clear headed insightful books on spiritually and psychologically preparing for death I have read. Maybe I'll go back and add a star...or two.
July 16, 2014
This looked like a really good book, but I found it to be more form than substance. I expected another Tuesdays With Morrie, but I felt it didn't measure up. The book tells stories about the rabbi's and the author's backgrounds, as well as some of the stories in the rabbi's repertoire. These were interesting enough to keep me reading, and they both seem like wonderful people. The stories were meant as metaphors for deeper lessons, of course, but I found them so obscure and hidden that I essentially missed them. The last chapter summarizes the lessons in direct form, and I admit the author indeed touched on all of them during the course of the book.stories. But it must have been so tangential, and the author so dedicated to letting the stories speak for themselves, that they didn't jump out at me enough to make a lasting impression. I am willing to accept that I like my philosophy more direct, so others may like this more indirect, metaphorical style of teaching/relating than I did.
March 10, 2015
This book consists of a dialogue between a writer in her sixties and a Rabbi in his eighties, what he calls 'the December' of his life.
For two years, every Friday they get together and discuss life, death, rebirth, religion, and aging. Along the way, we get a bird's eye view of the Rabbi's life, as well as a peek into the author's life. The Rabbi is experiencing his body slowing down; the skeptical seeker/author barely misses being killed in a suicide bombing on a trip to Afghanistan, and shortly afterward finds herself standing at her mother's bedside, watching as her mother crosses the river of death.
The book contains many life lessons. It is a spiritually powerful story that ultimately uplifts the reader. It closes with a primer on how one might complete these lessons in one's own life. Highly recommended.
For two years, every Friday they get together and discuss life, death, rebirth, religion, and aging. Along the way, we get a bird's eye view of the Rabbi's life, as well as a peek into the author's life. The Rabbi is experiencing his body slowing down; the skeptical seeker/author barely misses being killed in a suicide bombing on a trip to Afghanistan, and shortly afterward finds herself standing at her mother's bedside, watching as her mother crosses the river of death.
The book contains many life lessons. It is a spiritually powerful story that ultimately uplifts the reader. It closes with a primer on how one might complete these lessons in one's own life. Highly recommended.
May 22, 2014
I feel really mixed about this book. The topic is terrific, and the exercises at the end are quite doable and make a lot of sense. The section on forgiving people you've harmed, people who've harmed you, and forgiving yourself make reading the book worthwhile. My disappointment has to do with parts of the book seeming to be too simplistic without the depth I expected from such a renowned rabbi. On the other hand, the tidbits about the life of the rabbi/rebbe allowed me to begin to appreciate what he has done for modern Judaism and humanism. Jewish Renewal, which combines mysticism with modern living, really appeals to me. So, what can I say--the book is worth reading but be prepared to glom on to the parts that connect with you and let go of the parts that don't.
July 23, 2016
A book similar to Tuesdays with Morrie, except it is Fridays with 85 year old Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi. Throughout the book he reminisces about the past with stories of meaning and history such as his family's escape from the Nazis, the 60's and the drug experience and sexual revolution, and meeting other spiritual leaders. Also, through the two years of interviews, the reader follows his progression of aging and decline of the body. Near the end of the book, Reb explains exercises that were created to help you become more at ease with mortality: Give Thanks, Solitude, Meditating, Misidentifying with your Body, Forgiveness, Intuition, Kvetching to God, and Letting Go.
May 6, 2014
Julie and Julia for Old Jews - Reb Zalman's wisdom, life-enthusiasm and God-enthusiasm (in between inevitable kranks and kvetches) compelling; Sara Davidson's (mostly kvetches) not. I think the exercises at the end will prove doable and valuable. The history of Jewish Renewal has probably been told elsewhere, but as a practitioner, I was interested to know it, especially its roots in Lubavitcher Chassidism.
Davidson's whinging (the Julie part) was disturbing. I did not mean to laugh, but being somewhere else when the place you were in ten days ago is bombed is an awful coincidence but not, in my view, a near-death experience.
Davidson's whinging (the Julie part) was disturbing. I did not mean to laugh, but being somewhere else when the place you were in ten days ago is bombed is an awful coincidence but not, in my view, a near-death experience.
April 17, 2015
I've been fascinated by this out-of-the-box man ever since I read a book of his about chassidus. Though these reflections are far more apt for a person of more advanced age, it is good, methinks, to get a thought preview on the process as I turn 40 and enter middle age. I was just as fascinated with the ruminations as I was when reading Christopher Hitchens' "Mortality", though, clearly, the road taken, and lessons learned, vary greatly. The chronicler kept it real by allowing her stressful musings to be at the surface, rather than opaque. A good, worthy exploration, even it's May for me (or earlier, I can hope).
July 18, 2014
Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, founder of Renewal Judaism (and recently deceased), and Sara Davidson, author and journalist, got together weekly a few years ago in Boulder, Colorado, where they both live, for talks about mortality and end-of-life issues--this book is the result. It brims with love, wisdom, and joy. The exercises at the end of the book are invaluable, not just for elders but for us all. Lessons in forgiveness, gratitude, and surrender are ones we would do well to inculcate, no matter what stage of life we are in.
July 27, 2014
I liked this book but didn't love it. Rabbi Zalman, who recently passed away was a remarkable man. The book tackles a difficult subject, the end of life, with candor and humor. In the end, Rabbi Zalman talks about letting go at the end of life which is what I believe so many of us struggle with. I rated the book four stars instead of five because I was left wanting more from Rabbi Zalman. More wisdom and a more thorough discussion of some of this insights.
May 5, 2014
This is a must read. It opens up the conversation that we never want to have - the last month of the year, the last chapter in our journey of life.
Insightful, heartfelt and intelligent. The book has helped me come to peace with the passing of both my parents and in laws.
Insightful, heartfelt and intelligent. The book has helped me come to peace with the passing of both my parents and in laws.
July 13, 2014
This book gave me a lot to think about. Although I didn't know much about the Hasidic traditions, nor the Jewish Renewal movement, I learned quite a lot from The December Project. It is changing how I see my life and what I want to accomplish.
August 21, 2014
Reb Zalman was an incredible person. This book is the story of his life and his path as an Orthodox Jew to starting the Jewish Renewal movement. It is also about winding down your life and letting go. A great book filled with wisdom.
September 13, 2014
This is a self-help book for those of us who are aging. The Rabbi is a remarkable person. There are exercises at the end for learning to accept the changes we experience as we age. Ultimately, we will all need to let go. Whether we do so gracefully is up to us.
July 19, 2015
Definitely worth reading. Makes you reflect and appreciate life while coming to a better understanding of old age and death. Definitely an important topic that helps me to tune into my grandmothers on a different level of compassion and spirituality.
Read
July 20, 2016Colorado author and skeptic Sara Davidson chronicles her relationship and discussions on spirituality and life with a Rabbi. This brand new book is a good choice for fans of Tuesdays with Morrie.
August 6, 2014
The last few chapters are the best. Most of the book is too much about Davidson and not enough of Reb's wonderful wisdom and perspectives, given my expectations.
June 23, 2014
Interesting, to read about the life of Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, who was in at the beginning of "Jewish Renewal," along with personal reactions of the author, Sara Davidson.
August 1, 2014
A real kooky rebbe.
September 8, 2014
An interesting introduction to the rebbe who created the Jewish Renewal movement and his thoughts on living and dying.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews