The Place of All Possibility: Cultivating Creativity Through Ancient Jewish Wisdom

by Adina Allen

The Place of All Possibility is a paradigm-shifting book that reframes the whole of Torah as a guidebook for unlocking creativity and revitalizing your life. Drawing from the deep well of Jewish sacred texts and the surprisingly subversive reading practices of the ancient rabbis, Adina Allen radically reinterprets Judaism’s most foundational stories and myths for the twenty-first century. Putting ancient wisdom in conversation with the emergent fields of expressive arts therapy, deep ecology, and liberation theology, The Place of All Possibility recalibrates our understanding of religion, spirituality, and creativity—empowering each of us to rediscover our place in a world of mutual thriving. Packed with fresh insights into traditional texts, as well as practical exercises to help you unlock the power of your own creativity, The Place of All Possibility is for all people—from any tradition or none—who desire a life of imagination, abundance, and joy. 

Genres: Judaism, Jewish, Nonfiction, Religion, Spirituality

190 pages, Paperback

Published July 30, 2024

Reviews

[Reader Views · Rating 5 out of 5]

Studying scripture can be many things, but “creative” isn’t usually the first term that comes to mind. Rabbi Adina Allen would like to change that with the Jewish Studio Process (JSP), an art therapy program that uses the Torah and other sacred Jewish texts as a jumping-off point for self-discovery, or perhaps self-creation. What’s more remarkable is that the program doesn’t even require participants to be Jewish, or of any religious faith whatsoever; the only requirement is being open to using these specific texts as a place to begin one’s artistic journey.

As the daughter of renowned art therapist Pat B. Allen, Rabbi Allen practically grew up in an art studio. Using her mother’s ground-breaking work as a stepping-stone, Allen has created a program that blends Jewish study with the joy and healing potential of creativity. “The Place of All Possibility: Cultivating Creativity Through Ancient Jewish Wisdom” is largely a description and “how-to” book for JSP, but that’s not all it does. Allen also explores famous, iconic quotes from the Torah (and from Torah commentaries), pointing out how these phrases can have multiple meanings. Some of the meanings are so different from the conventional interpretations, they may completely change your view of critical passages of the Old Testament. The book also includes some more general creativity exercises.

While the book does not require an encyclopedic knowledge of Jewish lore, Allen is clearly proficient in it: the book features a wide range of sources, not just from the Torah but from commentaries, and commentaries of the commentaries. Some of these sources are more recent, while others go back to early antiquity, and even further back. Reading “The Place of All Possibility” is like having a highly trained Jewish scholar on hand to give you the highlights of several millennia of careful study. Allen also brings in some knowledge from different fields like Buddhism and Yoga, situating the book in a slightly more global spiritual territory.

What’s perhaps most valuable about this book is how the lessons Allen teaches can be applied to daily life. JSP is currently being taught in synagogues, community centers, and art classrooms across the country, but even if you do not have access to a place that offers JSP, you can benefit from the lessons here. Many of the books’ topics, like discovering how to get into a creative mindset and learning to deal with the presence of discomfort, are things that countless millions struggle with every day.

What is critically important for Allen is focusing on process; so many people refuse to get started with art because they feel like they don’t have enough artistic skill and their work won’t be any good. With a process-oriented mindset, nearly everyone can benefit from the healing potential of art creation. Of course, “process, not product” is an important concept in Judaism in general, so readers will be gently introduced to this aspect of the religion, even if they are pursuing art therapy for non-religious purposes.

There are countless books that claim to offer ways to help yourself; Adina Allen’s “A Place of All Possibility” stands out as a work that offers a scrupulously detailed model, based on the fruits of both religious and secular learning, that produces real results. Anyone who has any interest in art therapy (or modern Judaism, of course), should grab a copy of this book. You might even want to bust out a palette of watercolors and get painting, even if you haven’t done that since you were six.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating way of looking at Jewish literature and practical lessons for writing and other creative work! Useful for me as I m not very knowledgable about ancient Jewish wisdom, but I found the perspective and the exercises very engaging. An original!

[Ilana Jaffe-Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first Jewish book that feels like mine. Accessible, approachable, and earnest in a way that honors the work through which it came and the work that is most certainly to come.

[Althea J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual review to come, but to offer a sense of how much this book means to me —

it inspired HOPE in offering a fresh approach;

it offered AN ENGAGING CURIOSITY as I use the hashtag #makeartaboutit to offer my community a suggestion for processing the chaos of our world and our lives, and I actually stumbled upon this book while exploring other posts that use that hashtag (because Rabbi Adina also uses this hashtag on social media);

it offered VALIDATION as I am a teacher and advocate for the use of art-making as a pivotal option for both coping with the world outside, and for making sense of our inner worlds …a process that is underutilized yet SO EFFECTIVE;

it offered CONNECTION and PRIDE as I’ve always been culturally Jewish (loving the traditions and family gatherings around food and holidays) but never resonated with the religious practice, but this book welcomed me to connect to my Jewishness, in an entirely different way! maybe even in a spiritual way? offering the possibility of connecting the creativity within myself to the notion of a larger all-encompassing story of creation that is both historic and ever-present;

it offered A LOVING INVITATION to consider new ways of using a religious text!! whereas I live in the Biblebelt where religion has been weaponized to play into people’s desperate need to feel morally superior to others, as a means of putting someone in a box labeled “other,” as well as a justification people use to judge others and perpetuate harm;

it offered an exciting POTENTIAL for reaching those whom are practiced in going back to The Original Text (Bible) yet offering an entirely fresh use for that practice!!!! using the vocabulary & stories that are part of their identity, and offering a gentle option beyond the fundamentalism of clinging to a singular Truth, and celebrating a polyvocality that holds the possibility that something could mean multiple things at the same time — a multiplicity of truths that enable an understanding beyond black & white!!!

@-;—

I actually read the first half of the book out loud to my partner on a drive home in August 2024 from Nashville to NW Alabama, where we live — it was too good not to share!!!!

I immediately went online and had copies sent to three different friends…

One a friend from my Jewish youth group days, who (like me) has gone on to study and advocate for innovative educational approaches that tap into people’s innate skills and interests to spark their own journeys of learning & self discovery. — She immediately saw the value (and potential!) of this book!

One is my super creative sister-in-law who was raised fundamentalist Christian, and whose family has found a new church community that teaches them to express their Christianity in how they live their life, rather than clinging to a literal singular Truth that defined a distinct right and wrong. — She doesn’t consider herself “a reader” so she started it and keeps meaning to get back into it, but I’m DYING to hear her reaction!

One a friend who, after going thru treatment for addiction herself, has become a leader in our vibrant local Recovery community, and she’s the one who encouraged me to bring my approach (of art-making as a means of social/emotional growth) into Recovery spaces, where I now design art experiences to amplify their learning of things like growth mindset, The Four Agreements, and trauma-informed self-care practices.

@-;—

The book resonated so much with this last friend that she is now (Feb 2025) leading our book club/spirit circle of fellow open minded misfits, as we read this book together ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Our assignment for next week is to make ANY medium of art using the Jewish Studio Process and I CAN’T WAIT to see what everyone comes up with!!!!!

[Kellulomipuu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really is ki tov! As an atheist, it's just so amazing and interesting to read about religion in combination with creativity! Even though I couldn't always relate, I like the thought of many different interpretations "living" side by side next to each other.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now I want to "make art about it"!

[Kayla Ginsburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ideas in this book are life changing! The core theories follow me around in my day to day now — we are all created creative, creation comes from chaos and void, etc. — these ideas help me approach situations with a new sense of groundedness. A must read!

[Kim Childress · Rating 5 out of 5]

For creatives who are interested in spiritual growth,
this book explores the intersections of the creative process and divine inspiration.

I believe that every spiritual journey is its own, and this book offers something for every artist who understands how our creations influence and affect the lives of others. And for any who are open to the idea that their art may be inspired for a higher purpose.

The author offers a unique creative model she developed, with exercises combining self-reflection and study of key passages from the Torah. As a scholar of the Bible, I love looking at origins and roots of Scripture. I was fascinated and inspired as I learned much about Jewish theology and studies, how our works may be inspired when we reflect on ancient words of wisdom, and the possibilities that my works and art, of any kind, may be inspired by the divine.

I believe works like this are much-needed, and I am honored to have this book as the November 2024 Ink-a-Dink featured giveaway and Spotlight Review, “Books to Nourish Your Soul.” Read more at Ink-a-Dink.com.

[Emily Feldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

growing up with an artist for a mom and not having that same disposition for art, I didn’t consider myself creative until my early 20s. I love science and researching. when I had the realization that I was using lots of creativity in my work, I feel like my work actually improved. this book provides such an interesting conceptualization of creativity and how it can be understood within the teachings of Judaism. Even if you only read the book for those principles and don’t need the information on the “art practice,” it’s worth it! Also, I think that the Jewish studio making framework can be applied to many situations and projects more broadly.

[Rachel Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adina's Place of Possibility has inspired me to return to my everyday creativity whether in the arts, the kitchen, Jewish life, or on a neighborhood walk. Beautifully written and accessible.

[Jamie Goldstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic guide to reigniting the spark within us. Rabbi Allen’s words are both a balm and a friend to the deep parts of us longing to return to the every day.

[Daisy Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rabbi Adina's The Place of All Possibility is interesting, informative, and inspiring. Adina offers refreshing and accessible entry points into ancient wisdom by honoring both the sacredness of historical lessons and the unique challenges of today. Bolstered by years of practice, an obvious commitment to research/study, extensive rabbinic wisdom, and a deep understanding of the human spirit, Adina's book pushes us to inquire into new ideas, questions, and perspectives that challenge us individually and collectively. With care, grace, gentleness, plenty of practical applications, and language that is easy to befriend, Adina encourages us to create, to explore, and to go to the deepest places within ourselves. I highly recommend.

[Adam Sher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ultimately this is about finding new possibilities in seemingly impossible times. I love how it uses Jewish scripture and interpretive methods to expand our sense of what creativity is really about — beyond art and into imagination and tackling the toughest issues we face.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! Wow! I honestly picked it due to the pretty cover but I loved learning about the Jewish Studio process. Def invigorated me to be creative while also holding space for whatever religion people identify with.

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fantastic. Exactly what I needed.

[zoe olesker · Rating 3 out of 5]

i love the premise of approaching creativity with wisdom from torah, and there was a LOT of really beautiful images, phrases, and exercises in this book. i also really liked that the author had the approach that torah can teach anyone something - regardless of their faith background (including no faith). from a religious approach, i have a few notes on what i didn’t love as much.

it’s important to note that i am coming from a christian framework, so my experience with her book is filtered through this. first, i think the author watered down her theology a lot. i like that it made God approachable to likely an irreligious audience, but, for instance, she gave names for God that water Him down to modern “spiritual but not religious” terms like “the Divine” or “energy”. God is mighty and deserves our reverence, that is, separating Him from the mundane and the worldly with how we speak of Him.

with this, she has quite a few theologically problematic points in the book. again, it’s very likely this is a difference in theology, so i am cognizant of that. as an example, she said that the fruit in the garden “had to be eaten”. frequently, the way she talks about creativity gets into “energy” and the “universe”. she talks about prayer in similar language to manifestation, and she cites a book on tarot. finally, she also talked about wisdom as an entity, even saying “not even God does anything alone”. this was also theologically problematic to me. to me, as children of God, we are set apart and cannot adopt theology that’s contradictory to Him and His commandments.

there were a lot of beautiful and useful pieces to this book. i am glad to have read it - and grateful to have received it in the goodreads giveaway! the jewish studio process reminded me a lot of lectio divina, which i personally prefer more. i would still recommend, but with a grain of salt if you’re coming from religious framework.

[Sarah Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rabbi Adina Allen has created a beautifully readable and engaging guide that demonstrates (through illuminating text study, memorable personal and sacred stories, clear explanations, and inspiring exercises) that we are all “created creative,” and that there are rich and healing new ways to read Torah and make art. No one has to be a scholar or an artist to be part of any of this. I feel like I learned something on every page of this book, and suddenly all kinds of concepts or pieces of history or story made sense to me in new ways. She tells the history of the founding of the Jewish Studio Project, how they brought together the idea of beit midrash, the house of study, with the work of her mother—artist, art therapist, and teacher Pat Allen—the innovative open studio process. This touches me a lot, because my mother was a multimedia artist who passionately believed that art was for everyone and we all had creativity, but as a young artist, I felt that creativity was special, for artists, the result of hard work and “talent.“ Now that I’ve been teaching for so many years, I’ve come to believe that yes, creativity is essential for and available to everyone, and I know my mother would’ve loved this book. The mixture of the personal with the visionary, a sense of the need for personal and planetary renewal, with exciting explanations and exercises feels really transformative. As soon as I finished it, I started rereading.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is gorgeous. I love how beautifully the author grounds the reader in the beit midrash practice of participating in generations of Torah interpretations, the way she encourages readers to feel their reactions to the text inside their body with gentle observation and care and without judgment, and how she weaves this into a creative practice of tapping into our intuitive “well-spring” of inspiration. When I read this book bridging ancient Jewish text with the creative process, it reminded me of how Robin Wall Kimmerer bridges indigenous knowledge with the science of field biology in her book ‘Braiding Sweetgrass’. I have really loved ‘The Place of All Possibility’ and I highly recommend it!

[Michael Lewyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short set of essays is designed to show how Torah and human creativity can be intertwined: I would imagine it would speak to people who are highly open to new experiences. For example, in discussing the idea that people are created in God's image (Gen. 1:27) she notes that humans are "fundamentally creative creations." And just as God created the world out of a formless void (1:2) we create out of half-formed ideas and emotions. Allen also sees the story of the burning bush (Exodus 3) as relevant to us- just as the burning bush was not consumed, our creative process responds to what "catches our attention and inflames us".

[Jeffrey Kasowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading The Place of All Possibility is an invitation to living life in a new way - connected to a source of wisdom inside you that you may not have been in touch with since you were a child. This remarkably bold, yet grounded book is a source of hope in troubled times, a guide to approaching the messy in life as raw material for something new and needed, a pathway to unstuckness amidst abundant uncertainty. Read it, share it with friends, and enjoy!

[Diana Wasem · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to read this book as I do not come from a Jewish background and was hoping to learn more about Judaism, the Torah, or ancient Jewish wisdom. The first part spoke about this some, but the rest was about how to be creative. This is not a subject that interests me and to be honest I didn't finish reading it.

I did think the book was well written, the authore clearly intelligent and a good writter. It just wasn't my cup of tea.