Spiritual Community: The Power to Restore Hope, Commitment and Joy

by David A. Teutsch

Reimagine the Possibilities for Your Own Congregation We all share a deep human need for meaning in our lives, a need to feel that we are part of something larger than ourselves. Yet many of us have discovered that successful careers, material affluence―even loving families―are not enough to satisfy this longing. And, too often, the congregations and organizations in which we seek greater meaning are uninspiring, or worse. The answer lies in belonging to a strong spiritual community―not just a collection of individuals but a dynamic, integrated congregation linked by commitment and vision, sustained by friendship and shared experience. But how to build it? Informative and encouraging, wise and practical, Spiritual Community looks at congregations and organizations―what they are and what they might become―and reveals the unique role they have the potential to play in refreshing our minds, transforming our hearts and giving our lives meaning. From establishing “radiant centers” to welcome people into the heart of the community, to reclaiming the power of ritual, to suggesting strategies for dealing with conflict―Rabbi Teutsch offers practical solutions to challenges congregations commonly face making themselves into spiritual communities. This is essential reading for every spiritual and lay leader―for anyone who wants to transform their congregation or organization into a strong spiritual community.

Genres: Judaism

144 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2005

About the author

Rabbi David A. Teutsch is the Louis and Myra Wiener Professor of Contemporary Jewish Civilization at RRC; he also chairs our department of Contemporary Jewish Civilization and directs the Levin-Lieber Program in Jewish Ethics. He is the author of many books, including Making a Difference: A Guide to Jewish Leadership and Not-for-Profit Management (2009) and Spiritual Community: The Power to Restore Hope, Community and Joy (Jewish Lights, 2005). Teutsch also is the editor in chief of the groundbreaking seven-volume Kol Haneshamah prayer book series.

Reviews

[Ari · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been seeking for years Jewish community in the every day-every minute sense, and am always on the hunt for sources that will help me create or find the type of community that I'm looking for. I picked up this book for the title, but sadly found just about nothing spiritual about it. The chapter headings are catchy, and the writing is full of buzzwords, but the best parts of the book are, sadly, where the author quotes other people. Definite miss.

[Margaret Klein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short book is one of the best I have read in the last decade. David Teutsch really understands community and what communities need to be successful and help people feel connected and invested. Every page had a gem. While I agreed with much, from time to time he really challenged my thinking. There is a piece of me that wishes I could just stand on the bimah for the High Holidays and read the book out loud paragraph by paragraph with his eloquent writing. Expect to hear more about this book and more about this topic.

[Eliezer Sneiderman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was a short overview of creating intentional spiritual communities. I would have liked to see more notes. A lot of the material was common sense. When Teutsch makes claims he does not back theit m up with research or other articles.

I think he also avoided the central challenge which is, If Judaism today is set up on a foundation of individualism, how can it then turn around and shape community. The two principles are in conflict.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reread this one as I was thinking again about how spiritual communities function well, and while I think there are some ways rich and real spiritual community has changed in relationship to technologies that help us connect and put more into community, Teutsch's wisdom holds.