Taking Miracles Seriously: A Journey to Everyday Spirituality

by Michael Zedek

Miracles are possible. An accomplished storyteller with a refreshing, humorous voice, Rabbi Zedek draws on a range of materials including biblical tales, Indian and Japanese folklore, the works of St. Augustine, Einstein, Isaac Bashevis Singer, and Groucho Marx to take readers on a truly original search for spiritual sustenance in everyday life. Readers will learn how to identify and appreciate the miraculous in an often mundane world; how to take God seriously when much of the intellectual world doesn’t; and how to make the most out of underutilized spiritual resources such as poetry and prayer. Heartfelt and amusing, Taking Miracles Seriously is a master course on how to craft an enriched and enriching spiritual life.

Genres: Nonfiction

178 pages, Paperback

Published September 26, 2023

Reviews

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read this for a book group. I am of two minds about whether I like it or whether it was worth my time and effort of reading.

To be clear, I have no doubt that Rabbi Zedek is a good man, and that the program he describes here contributes to that fundamental decency. But for me… no. My experience touches his at many points, but barely overlaps.

I would say that I was mostly with him for the first chapter; I recognized the commonality in our experience of what he calls miracles and I would call the continual surprises that reality presents us with. But for the next at least 15 chapters I found Rabbi Zedek’s ideas and explanations somewhere between unappealing and deeply frustrating.

I would sum up my reaction to the middle chapters of the book as, why complicate deep, ethical and compassionate living with talk of God/Deity? Yes, I found various statements that resonate deeply, but NONE of them depends on, or are improved by, talk of Deity — at least for me.

Chapter 17 was interesting in that it helped clarify my own view of prayer. Congregational prayer is (in my view) valid and important, because it helps draw people together and strengthen communal bonds. But personal prayer has no interest at all for me, though I understand it matters deeply to some. (And why would I quibble with what helps my neighbors live fully?)

And then… then I got to chapter 18 (and the appendix), which in my view stands at a much different level than the rest of the books. I loved the poetry (as I love much poetry in the world). The thing about poetry is, it is a fully human activity. I find sufficient inspirations in non-divine, “merely” human expression. There is nothing “mere” about humanity and humane personal expression!

To put an end to this rather long review, I would say that the strength of this book is Rabbi Zedek’s affirmation of the fullness of human experience. The weakness of this book is his assertion that full and deep human experience is impossible without the experience of or need for Deity.

[Gimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aurorabook Ohicsbookclub, I was amazed at how Rabbi Zedek turns big spiritual questions into gentle, personal reflections. The chapter where he explores how people overlook the miraculous because they expect fireworks really sat with me. His examples whether from ancient texts or everyday life felt so relatable. Spiritual Matthew’s narration carried that thoughtful tone beautifully, making it feel like a conversation rather than a lecture. This book reminded me that sometimes the miracle is simply paying attention.

[Jame · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who reads a lot of spiritual and philosophical books in Aurorabook Ohicsbookclub, this one stood out instantly. It’s not preachy, not abstract, not dated it’s alive. Rabbi Zedek’s approach to storytelling is both bold and tender. He moves from Augustine to Einstein to Groucho Marx without ever losing the thread. The chapter on “reclaiming spiritual tools we abandon too easily” sparked a two-hour discussion in our club. It’s refreshing to find a book that honors both skepticism and faith with equal respect.

[Margaret Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short book with plenty of footnotes is just what the world needs to find meaning in life. Rabbi Zedek, who I know personally, finds meaning in everyday miracles. For him, they are the path to the Divine, which he calls Deity. Some may not like the book, because he dares to question Deity's very existence. Zedek is oh so literate, reminding me of literature and poetry that I have not thought of for decades. While written from his uniquely Jewish perspective, he is able to blend traditions including Islam, Christianity, Indian and Buddhist. At some levels it reminds my of Henri Nouwen's Life of the Beloved teaching how we can live a spiritual life in a secular world, and any number of writings by Harold Kushner and Abraham Joshua Heschel. As I write this on Father's Day, my father was an avowed atheist. I never won that argument. I was hopeful Zedek would. I am not sure he did. Yet, there are questions at the end of the each chapter, so each reader can relate to the material in his/her own way and find meaning. Spoiler alert, the very best part is the Epilogue. Don't, however, jump ahead.

[Marien · Rating 5 out of 5]

To the author, from a grateful listener in Aurorabook Ohicsbookclub thank you for giving us a new lens for daily life. The way you place small acts, small choices, and small realizations at the center of spirituality made the book incredibly accessible. The Indian folklore stories were my favorite; they added humor and depth while tying the message together perfectly. This book feels like a companion you can revisit whenever life feels too loud or too empty.

[Marion M.Gulley · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a member of Aurorabook Ohicsbookclub, I found the book deeply uplifting. The gentle wisdom, the humor, the cultural references, and the narrator’s heartfelt delivery all combined into a listening experience I’ll return to again.

[Daniel Janes · Rating 5 out of 5]

We at Aurorabook Ohicsbookclub enjoyed how practical this book feels without being preachy. The invitation to use prayer and poetry as grounding tools was something many of us have started applying in our own routines.

[Mali · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a member of Aurorabook Ohicsbookclub, I found the book deeply uplifting. The gentle wisdom, the humor, the cultural references, and the narrator’s heartfelt delivery all combined into a listening experience I’ll return to again.

[Kandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

We at Aurorabook Ohicsbookclub enjoyed how practical this book feels without being preachy. The invitation to use prayer and poetry as grounding tools was something many of us have started applying in our own routines.

[J. Badillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our group at Aurorabook Ohicsbookclub loved the constant reminder that spirituality isn’t reserved for “special” people it’s available to anyone willing to pay attention. This is the kind of audiobook that changes how you see your daily life.

[Annemarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

To the author from Aurorabook Ohicsbookclub thank you for this work. The storytelling is rich, the insights are sincere, and the humor makes everything more accessible. This book helped me appreciate simple moments with fresh eyes.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a reader with Aurorabook Ohicsbookclub, I enjoyed how the author mixes personal stories with larger philosophical questions. It’s rare to find a spiritual book that is equally comforting and intellectually stimulating.

[P. McMann · Rating 5 out of 5]

We at Aurorabook Ohicsbookclub loved how the audiobook blends deep spiritual reflection with playful storytelling. The Singer and Augustine references added surprising depth, and the narrator’s pacing was perfect for absorbing it.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greetings from Aurorabook Ohicsbookclub! What struck me most was how the author uses humor to open the door to deep spiritual insights. The chapter about seeing the miraculous in small, overlooked moments hit home for many of us. The message stayed with me long after I finished.

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Several of us at Aurorabook Ohicsbookclub agreed that the narrator, Spiritual Matthew, brought such warmth to the book. The tone matched Rabbi Zedek’s humor and sincerity perfectly. The chapter on underused spiritual tools poetry and prayer was eye opening.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone listening on behalf of Aurorabook Ohicsbookclub, I loved how the book invites you to reconsider what qualifies as a “miracle.” It’s not dramatic events it’s awareness. The storytelling felt so natural and grounded.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book and the guide for life it is.

[Sabol · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Aurorabook Ohicsbookclub: I appreciated the gentle challenge in this book. It nudges you to question your assumptions about what counts as spiritual, but always with kindness and humor.

[Dorothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speaking as a listener from Aurorabook Ohicsbookclub, the stories from Indian and Japanese folklore were my favorite. They brought such color to the book and made the theme of everyday miracles feel universal.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first glance, the two books in this review have little in common. After all, one focuses on rational Talmud study, while the other uses a variety of sources to identify miracles. Yet, “How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book” by Liel Leibovitz (W. W. Norton and Company) and “Taking Miracles Seriously: a Journey to Everyday Spirituality” by Rabbi Michael Zedek (Sutherland House) are similar in one way: they offer two distinct, but very Jewish, paths to improving one’s life.
For the rest of my review, visit https://www.thereportergroup.org/book...