Thursday, February 1, 2024

God was in this place and I, I did not know

God was in this place and I, I did not know

By Lawrence Kushner

Jewish Lights 2016. 183 pages. Nonfiction

In a daring blend of scholarship and imagination, psychology and history, Lawrence Kushner gathers an inspiring range of interpretations of Genesis 28:16 given by sages, from Shmuel bar Nachmani in third-century Palestine to Hannah Rachel Werbermacher of Ludomir who lived in Poland two hundred years ago. Through a fascinating new literary genre and Kushner's creative reconstruction of the teachers' lives and times, we enter the study halls and sit at the feet of these spiritual masters to learn what each discovered about God's Self and ourselves as they ascend and descend Jacob's ladder.

I really loved this book, and how well the author pulls of an entire book discussing one verse of scripture. The story of Jacob is a thought-provoking one on it's own. To dive into one aspect of it brings up so many questions and ideas. What I especially liked was Kushner's warm approach and how the book ends up being a wonderful discussion of being in the moment: what that means and how to do it in our fast-paced modern world. His interpretation of Moses and the burning bush will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend this book. 

If you liked God was in this place and I, I did not know, you may also like: 

By Harold Kushner
Nextbook 2012. 201 pages. Nonfiction

Draws on lessons from the Book of Job to offer advice on how to retain faith in the face of adversity and explains how to recognize controllable and uncontrollable factors.

Reflections on the Psalms
By C.S. Lewis
Harper Collins 2017 (1958). 178 pages. Nonfiction

In this wise and enlightening book, C. S. Lewis--the great British writer, scholar, lay theologian, broadcaster, Christian apologist, and bestselling author examines the Psalms. As Lewis divines the meaning behind these timeless poetic verses, he makes clear their significance in our daily lives, and reminds us of their power to illuminate moments of grace.

By Jeffrey R. Holland
Deseret Book 2019. 168 pages. Nonfiction

An apostolic witness of Jesus Christ shares notes and insights resulting from his decades of studying the various names of Christ found throughout the scriptures.



MGB

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