Living a Joyous Life: The True Spirit of Jewish Practice

by Rabbi David Aaron

Secular and religious Jews alike will find wisdom and inspiration in this new book in which Rabbi David Aaron reveals the joy that living a Jewish life can bring. With his characteristic humor, enthusiasm, and insight, Rabbi Aaron looks at key, and often misunderstood, aspects of Jewish practice—our relationship with God, Torah study, prayer, living the commandments, celebrating the Sabbath, and keeping kosher—and shows us how they enable us to access and express the godliness within us.   

Celebrating Shabbat, for example, reminds us that we are created in the image of God, empowered with free choice and intention; studying the Torah releases our chen , or inner beauty and grace; and observing kosher laws helps keep us in touch with our human sensitivity. Rabbi Aaron clarifies why many Jews today feel disconnected from their heritage. He invites readers who have lost touch with their Jewish roots to "unpack their spiritual baggage" and discover the true spirit of Judaism.

Rabbi Aaron is one of the most dynamic and accessible teachers of Kabbalah and Jewish wisdom today, and this book is a warm invitation to anyone struggling to find fresh meaning in Jewish practice.

To learn more about the author, Rabbi David Aaron, visit his website at . 

Genres: Judaism

192 pages, Hardcover

First published August 14, 2007

Reviews

[Ambria Irlbeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had excellent insights into prayer, kashrut, and Shabbat. Especially for potential converts and those looking for a deeper understanding of the "why" behind mainstays in Jewish life, Aaron covers a lot of ground with a lot of humor in a fast, easy book.

[Joey Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect Shabbat read. I could not put it down… This book will inspire you to be better!

[Michael Lewyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book felt like two books: the first half is more about God, and the second more about following the Torah. The first half is about why God is not the God that an alienated secularist might revolt against- not an imaginary vengeful old man, but "the timeless ultimate reality." Aaron writes that life without religion is like color-blindness, and that Judaism "offers a way to see deeper purples and brighter yellows."

The second half, basically explaining why readers should follow the Torah, struck me as tailored to an entirely different audience: the reader who already thinks that the Torah is the God-given blueprint for Jewish life, and just needs a pep talk about why he or she should do it with a bit more spirit. The reader who is a bit more uncertain about this proposition will find this part of the book to be of less value.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in a story form, it explains what life is like living a Jewish life & traditions. I can appreciate their traditions, the importance keeping the name of our Lord divine and why sabbath keeping is so sacred. Rabbi David Aaron defines who is G-O-D, Torah, prayer, Shabbat and our beliefs; what's it in for us?

[samuel stolper · Rating 1 out of 5]

Decent points, but in the greater scheme of Orthodox Judaism it seems like an attempt to mask the not-so-joyous aspects of fundamentalism.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting interpretations of what G-d wants from us, on keeping kosher, etc. I enjoyed it, but it's not a sit down and read kind of book. Best in small doses (chapters).

[Arlene Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite (legitimate) writers on Kabbalah.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, easy to read book that gives a good foundation for traditional Jewish practice, basically focusing on positive psychology.