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Living Inspired
Rabbi Akiva Tatz's bestselling, remarkable exploration of Torah patterns & Jewish thought will show you how to live an inspired life! Learn how understanding deep ideas of Torah will greatly affect and enrich your everyday experiences. Ever wondered why there is no parking on Golders Green Road on Wednesday nights? Because Wednesday night is Coffee Lounge and Deluxe Desserts with Rabbi Dr Akiva Tatz , internationally acclaimed lecturer and author on Jewish Philosophy and Medical Ethics, at the JLE in London! You, too, can taste the depth of Rabbi Tatz s Torah perspectives in his first and bestselling work, Living Inspired, which shows us exactly how "ultimately every detail of life is eminently worthwhile and of cosmic significance and that "such an approach to life generates happiness. This remarkable book gives an inspirational understanding of some of the deeper ideas and patterns of Torah and grapples with some of the most significant questions in Jewish doubt and certainty, the root of evil, truth and faith, mashiach and redemption. A masterpiece that has been a bestseller for decades! Ever wondered why there is no parking on Golders Green Road on Wednesday nights? Because Wednesday night is Coffee Lounge and Deluxe Desserts with Rabbi Dr Akiva Tatz , internationally acclaimed lecturer and author on Jewish Philosophy and Medical Ethics, at the JLE in London! You, too, can taste the depth of Rabbi Tatz s Torah perspectives in his first and bestselling work, Living Inspired, which shows us exactly how "ultimately every detail of life is eminently worthwhile and of cosmic significance and that "such an approach to life generates happiness. This remarkable book gives an inspirational understanding of some of the deeper ideas and patterns of Torah and grapples with some of the most significant questions in Jewish doubt and certainty, the root of evil, truth and faith, mashiach and redemption. A masterpiece that has been a bestseller for decades!
216 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1993
14 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
Akiva Tatz
16 books26 followersRabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. He graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, graduating with distinction in surgery. He then spent a year in St. Louis, Missouri as an American Field Service Scholar and subsequently returned there for elective work in internal medicine at Washington University. He then served as a medical officer in the South African Defense Forces and served in the Angolan Bush War. After practising in both South Africa and the United States, he moved to Israel, and worked both in private practice as well as in a hospital setting in Jerusalem.
Rabbi Tatz gives lectures to Jewish student groups and organisations across the UK, including an annual medical ethics lecture at University College London hosted by both the Jewish Society and Medical Ethics Society. He is also a regular lecturer on the Jewish Learning Exchange Genesis leadership programme. He has become a recognized expert in matters of Jewish thought and philosophy, which he covers in his authored texts. Zoketsu Norman Fischer, former abbot of the San Francisco Zen Center and founder of and teacher at the Everyday Zen Foundation, describes Tatz's work, Letters to a Buddhist Jew, as "a fascinating book - the most serious contribution in this field to date.
Tatz is both the founder and director of the Jerusalem Medical Ethics Forum, whose purpose is to promote knowledge of Jewish medical ethics internationally, giving lectures worldwide in Jewish thought and medical ethics, as well as on modern applications in medicine. He is also involved with the Jerusalem Center for Research in Medicine and Halacha, often speaking at their annual European events.
He currently resides in London, England.
Rabbi Tatz gives lectures to Jewish student groups and organisations across the UK, including an annual medical ethics lecture at University College London hosted by both the Jewish Society and Medical Ethics Society. He is also a regular lecturer on the Jewish Learning Exchange Genesis leadership programme. He has become a recognized expert in matters of Jewish thought and philosophy, which he covers in his authored texts. Zoketsu Norman Fischer, former abbot of the San Francisco Zen Center and founder of and teacher at the Everyday Zen Foundation, describes Tatz's work, Letters to a Buddhist Jew, as "a fascinating book - the most serious contribution in this field to date.
Tatz is both the founder and director of the Jerusalem Medical Ethics Forum, whose purpose is to promote knowledge of Jewish medical ethics internationally, giving lectures worldwide in Jewish thought and medical ethics, as well as on modern applications in medicine. He is also involved with the Jerusalem Center for Research in Medicine and Halacha, often speaking at their annual European events.
He currently resides in London, England.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 2, 2020
In this wonderful and insightful book Rabi Tatz relates how exploring and understanding some of the deeper and more spiritual Torah concepts can gives us true enlightenment and insight in our daily lives.
Rabbi Tatz reveals new dimensions of understanding and how we will find fulfillment and come closer to achieving our goals by reaching greater spiritual depth and understanding.
The author begins by explaining three key concepts associated with Creation.
The first being the beginning, the transition from nothing to something.
The second is the process itself, the condensing of creative energy into tangible form.
The first reality is male, the second female, the third element is the harmony of the two poles being melted into a new reality.
The author explains how inspiration can fade into disappointment and how we can make this give way to a greater inspiration and hope, giving the analogy of human birth.
He explains how suffering can become redemption as it has in the history of the Jewish people. The author deals as to the questions of why we are here, and explores the Torah concepts of the various physical, mental and spiritual levels of consciousness. The inner mind or 'da'as' being the vessel of knowledge and the root of wisdom being the 'ratzon' or will.
He also outlines the importance of women in Jewish destiny and gives several examples such as that the turning point was brought about by a little Jewish girl Miriam, who chided her father Amran when he separated from his wife Yocheved, resulting in them coming together again and giving birth to the redeemer Moses.
This book is highly instructive, highly enlightening and highly recommended, The pieces come together in a way that leaves us both amazed and inspired.
Rabbi Tatz reveals new dimensions of understanding and how we will find fulfillment and come closer to achieving our goals by reaching greater spiritual depth and understanding.
The author begins by explaining three key concepts associated with Creation.
The first being the beginning, the transition from nothing to something.
The second is the process itself, the condensing of creative energy into tangible form.
The first reality is male, the second female, the third element is the harmony of the two poles being melted into a new reality.
The author explains how inspiration can fade into disappointment and how we can make this give way to a greater inspiration and hope, giving the analogy of human birth.
He explains how suffering can become redemption as it has in the history of the Jewish people. The author deals as to the questions of why we are here, and explores the Torah concepts of the various physical, mental and spiritual levels of consciousness. The inner mind or 'da'as' being the vessel of knowledge and the root of wisdom being the 'ratzon' or will.
He also outlines the importance of women in Jewish destiny and gives several examples such as that the turning point was brought about by a little Jewish girl Miriam, who chided her father Amran when he separated from his wife Yocheved, resulting in them coming together again and giving birth to the redeemer Moses.
This book is highly instructive, highly enlightening and highly recommended, The pieces come together in a way that leaves us both amazed and inspired.
June 25, 2017
I bought this book primarily because it had 11 pages about astrology. His take on Astrology is that it is true, "The answer is that the stars too, are Hashem's words. He writes the book of the heavens." (pg. 75). However, he ends with, "Our challenge is to rise to the dimension of Hashem's will, the dimension where limits are set only by our own inertia, and not to live in the mechanical." (pg. 77)
This tends to be the typical approach currently in the Jewish religious world. Its really addressing an outdated understanding of how Astrology is utilized.
There are a number of interesting points that I enjoyed in this book. His classification of Ames v'Emunah, Truth and Faith as Truth is masculine [left brain] and Faith is feminine [right brain]. That's why the women did not sin in the desert, while the men did. He brings a number of interesting examples.
His main thesis of the book is the core of much of contemporary's Orthodox Judaism's approach to male, female, relationships and ultimate purposes. It is worthwhile contemplation.
"Put more simply, the three elements are as follows.
The first is the point of beginning, the transition from nothing to something. It is variously expressed as the moment of creation, the male experience or pole of reality, the number one, the right hand; and is embodied in the person of Avraham Avinu (Abraham). It is the pristine flash of energy which begins any process. It is by definition indivisible.
...The second is the process itself, the condensing of creative energy into tangible form. It is the expansion of the flash of the beginning into finite form. It is expressed as the female dimension, the number two, the left hand; and is embodied in Yitzchak Avinu (Isaac).
These two energies are paradoxical and antithetical. The first is related to infinity, the second finite. The first is indivisible, the second all fragmentation. No two concepts could possibly be more opposite, more mutually exclusive. And that leads to the mystery of the third: it is the resolution of this cosmic tension. The third element is the harmony of opposites; but its mystery and magic are that at deeper levels it reveals that in fact there never was a conflict. Both the first and second dimensions are melted into a new reality, a reality which somehow unifies them and yet allows each to be fully expressed in its own right. Of the three, this is perhaps the most difficult to express in words; it can only be experienced. It is however alluded to as harmony, balance, the return to source, truth, true marriage, the number three, the center of the body; and is the energy of Yaakov Avinu (Jacob) in the world.
...The natural mode of the first phase is ecstasy, of the second pain, and of the third, transcendence.
...If we consider male and female physically, biologically, we see illustrated all that we have alluded to so far. The development of a human being, perhaps the ultimate process in the world, requires father and mother. The male contribution is infinitesimally small in space and time, it consists of the contribution of a genetic code and no more. It involves no work and no pain. It is simply the flash of beginning. The female dimension, however, is opposite. It involves an expansion in space an time - the child is formed physically within the mother, over considerable time. Effort and pain are involved. The tiny gift of a code of genes is crystallized into tangible form within her body. And finally, a child is born - both father and mother have melted into one in this child, each unique component now blended into a third, a new human being who transcends from one generation to another.
This model of man and woman and their interaction, at all levels - biologically, emotionally, and spiritually - should be kept in mind as the central illustration of the pattern we are studying. This pattern is the root; all else is application. (pgs. 18 - 20)
This tends to be the typical approach currently in the Jewish religious world. Its really addressing an outdated understanding of how Astrology is utilized.
There are a number of interesting points that I enjoyed in this book. His classification of Ames v'Emunah, Truth and Faith as Truth is masculine [left brain] and Faith is feminine [right brain]. That's why the women did not sin in the desert, while the men did. He brings a number of interesting examples.
His main thesis of the book is the core of much of contemporary's Orthodox Judaism's approach to male, female, relationships and ultimate purposes. It is worthwhile contemplation.
"Put more simply, the three elements are as follows.
The first is the point of beginning, the transition from nothing to something. It is variously expressed as the moment of creation, the male experience or pole of reality, the number one, the right hand; and is embodied in the person of Avraham Avinu (Abraham). It is the pristine flash of energy which begins any process. It is by definition indivisible.
...The second is the process itself, the condensing of creative energy into tangible form. It is the expansion of the flash of the beginning into finite form. It is expressed as the female dimension, the number two, the left hand; and is embodied in Yitzchak Avinu (Isaac).
These two energies are paradoxical and antithetical. The first is related to infinity, the second finite. The first is indivisible, the second all fragmentation. No two concepts could possibly be more opposite, more mutually exclusive. And that leads to the mystery of the third: it is the resolution of this cosmic tension. The third element is the harmony of opposites; but its mystery and magic are that at deeper levels it reveals that in fact there never was a conflict. Both the first and second dimensions are melted into a new reality, a reality which somehow unifies them and yet allows each to be fully expressed in its own right. Of the three, this is perhaps the most difficult to express in words; it can only be experienced. It is however alluded to as harmony, balance, the return to source, truth, true marriage, the number three, the center of the body; and is the energy of Yaakov Avinu (Jacob) in the world.
...The natural mode of the first phase is ecstasy, of the second pain, and of the third, transcendence.
...If we consider male and female physically, biologically, we see illustrated all that we have alluded to so far. The development of a human being, perhaps the ultimate process in the world, requires father and mother. The male contribution is infinitesimally small in space and time, it consists of the contribution of a genetic code and no more. It involves no work and no pain. It is simply the flash of beginning. The female dimension, however, is opposite. It involves an expansion in space an time - the child is formed physically within the mother, over considerable time. Effort and pain are involved. The tiny gift of a code of genes is crystallized into tangible form within her body. And finally, a child is born - both father and mother have melted into one in this child, each unique component now blended into a third, a new human being who transcends from one generation to another.
This model of man and woman and their interaction, at all levels - biologically, emotionally, and spiritually - should be kept in mind as the central illustration of the pattern we are studying. This pattern is the root; all else is application. (pgs. 18 - 20)
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September 14, 2019“It gives a gives a glimpse of the limitless profundity of Torah....” So viscous in its wisdom that a single read is not enough.....
December 21, 2021
a legend at his best
July 28, 2025
A book about the thought patterns of jewish philosophy. 10/10 top tier recommendation for the baal teshuva!
September 7, 2011
Awesome!
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August 28, 2012Awesome!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews