By His Light: Character and Values in the Service of God

by Reuven Ziegler

In this volume, Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein explores the development of the religious personality. He advocates a life centered on the service of God, but recognizes multiple paths to this goal. Acknowledging that both the Jewish value system and human experience are multifaceted, he examines the relevant issues from an unusually wide perspective.
Rabbi Lichtenstein s essays reflect not only a staunch commitment to Halakha and a firm grounding in rigorous Torah study, but also a deep spirituality, a profound moral sensitivity, and a keen awareness of both the challenges and opportunities of modernity. While being enlightened by Rabbi Lichtenstein s penetrating analyses and wide-ranging learning, the reader will also be inspired by the beauty of his vision of the religious life.
Among the topics
-character refinement
-openness and insularity
-commandment and choice
-secular studies
-Torah and career
-setting religious priorities
-religion and morality
-trust in God
-the Holocaust
-the State of Israel
-Jewish solidarity
-repentance

These essays originated as lectures, and have been selected and adapted for print by Rabbi Reuven Ziegler.

Genres: Jewish, Judaism

252 pages, Hardcover

Published January 10, 2017

Reviews

[Jeffrey (Akiva) Savett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting but not perfect collection of lectures by Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik's son-in-law, Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein.

Let's focus on the good. Rav Lichtenstein's words regarding the many roads to a life committed to mitzvah, his thoughts about the dignity of work, the centrality of study are quite wonderful. In the final chapter, his argument for centrism, complexity, and dialecticism is probably the most compelling of the book. It made me very happy to be where I am. Here is a man who received his Rabbinic education from Rav Soloveichik and his PhD in English Literature (focus on Milton) from Harvard. Lichtenstein embodies the kind of informed thoughtfulness AND passion For which I strive.

I found the chapters on faith (bitachon) and teshuva less compelling. I don't necessarily think this is Rav Liechtenstein's fault, however. This book was adapted from a series of lectures, and the audience for content of those chapters was Jewish educators. Thus, much of the discussion wound up being about the pedagogical benefits or difficulties of differing positions on faith etc.

I'm very glad I read this. I feel larger. I feel more inspired. Yet there are other books I'd recommend to achieve the same results.

[Yisroel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep, erudite, well thought out, eye opening, authoritative, yet humbly expressed and accessible. Must read, first rate, hashkafa classic.

[Nechamah Goldfarb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, thought-provoking, and influential. Definitely worth reading for an intelligent insightful educated outlook into Judaism.

[Eli Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful read, giving one a peek into Rav Lichtensteins outlook..