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If you were God / Immortality and the soul / A world of love
Three of Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan's notable essays: If You Were G-d, Immortality and the Soul, and A World of Love.
82 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
9 people are currently reading
199 people want to read
About the author
Aryeh Kaplan
95 books122 followersBorn in New York City.
Rabbi and Physicist.
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan ZT"L was a world-well-known author. In his short lifetime he wrote over over 50 books. He was born in the Bronx, New York City, and studied to the local Yeshiva. He later continued his training at different Yeshivot in Israel. As a graduate student, Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan was described in a scientific "Who's Who" as the most promising young physicist in America. When he decided to devote his overflowing heart and massive intellect to the writing and teaching of traditional Torah values, the Jewish people gained a prolific and brilliant expositor with the uncommon gift of analyzing and presenting the most complex ideas in accessible terms. And when he passed away suddenly at the age of 48 with decades of productive activity still ahead of him, Jewry lost a priceless, irreplaceable treasure.
Aryeh Kaplan left a legacy of the thousands of people whom he touched and elevated, and of the scores of books and papers that flowed from his pen. "The Aryeh Kaplan Reader" is a collection of his essays reflecting the broad range of his interest and genius. From biography to Kabbalah, from contemporary movements to cosmic speculation, Aryeh Kaplan was at home. His writing is original and incisive. But most of all, it is always clear and to the point. Every appetite for Jewish themes will be whetted and satisfied by this book. True, to read this collection is to feel a keen sense of loss at the premature passing of a bright star in the Jewish literary firmament. But it is an intensely satisfying experience as well, because this book is crammed with substance and enlightenment. We put it down enriched by the intellectual company of Aryeh Kaplan, and grateful for this "gift he left behind. He died in 1983 at the young age of 48 years. May his memory be for a blessing.
http://www.sephardicstudies.org/kapla...
Rabbi and Physicist.
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan ZT"L was a world-well-known author. In his short lifetime he wrote over over 50 books. He was born in the Bronx, New York City, and studied to the local Yeshiva. He later continued his training at different Yeshivot in Israel. As a graduate student, Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan was described in a scientific "Who's Who" as the most promising young physicist in America. When he decided to devote his overflowing heart and massive intellect to the writing and teaching of traditional Torah values, the Jewish people gained a prolific and brilliant expositor with the uncommon gift of analyzing and presenting the most complex ideas in accessible terms. And when he passed away suddenly at the age of 48 with decades of productive activity still ahead of him, Jewry lost a priceless, irreplaceable treasure.
Aryeh Kaplan left a legacy of the thousands of people whom he touched and elevated, and of the scores of books and papers that flowed from his pen. "The Aryeh Kaplan Reader" is a collection of his essays reflecting the broad range of his interest and genius. From biography to Kabbalah, from contemporary movements to cosmic speculation, Aryeh Kaplan was at home. His writing is original and incisive. But most of all, it is always clear and to the point. Every appetite for Jewish themes will be whetted and satisfied by this book. True, to read this collection is to feel a keen sense of loss at the premature passing of a bright star in the Jewish literary firmament. But it is an intensely satisfying experience as well, because this book is crammed with substance and enlightenment. We put it down enriched by the intellectual company of Aryeh Kaplan, and grateful for this "gift he left behind. He died in 1983 at the young age of 48 years. May his memory be for a blessing.
http://www.sephardicstudies.org/kapla...
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 3, 2016
Excelente libro con explicaciones básicas y a la vez profundas del sentido de la vida, y las reglas/leyes de este juego.
Kaplan utiliza referencias de cientos de libros y comentarios sagrados, que evidencian un conocimiento tremendo.
Kaplan utiliza referencias de cientos de libros y comentarios sagrados, que evidencian un conocimiento tremendo.
August 5, 2010
[This review also appears on FingerFlow.com, a site for review and discussion of creative works.]
If You Were God is a short book containing three works by the late Aryeh Kaplan.
The first, "If You Were God," is a short thought experiment where Kaplan asks the reader to imagine an island with several tribes of violent natives. The reader's assignment is figure out a way to improve life on the island without revealing him/herself. Armed with the latest surveillance, weather-controlling and telepathic technology, the reader must find a way to influence the natives of the island without revealing his/her presence. The reason why the "higher power" must be kept secret is because it would significantly disrupt the culture of the natives, either causing them to become completely dependent on the higher power for survival or to openly rebel against the higher power and erase any good that was accomplished.
Kaplan uses the scenario described above in order to explain God's dilemma with the real world. Specifically, he addresses the questions concerning the absence of miracles in the modern age and the reasons why God allows bad things to happen. In the course of his discussion, Kaplan reasons that God's presence must remain hidden in order to allow mankind to proceed with true free will; a verifiable and concrete revelation of God's presence would effectively eradicate any choice man would have in his actions.
In the second part of the book, Kaplan discusses "Immortality and the Soul." Citing the modern advances of organ transplants and digital data storage, Kaplan attempts to trace consciousness and the actual location of a person's personality, memories, etc. Later on, he posits that an additional function of the brain (besides the obvious ones) is to actually limit the information that we are bombarded with through our senses. He uses this supposition to begin a discussion concerning the soul's experience after death and it's interaction with the material world, the spiritual world and God.
The final and longest work in the book, "A World of Love," discusses God's purpose in creating the universe. Kaplan's main point in this section is that God created the world in order to bestow the greatest possible good upon it (this "greatest good" being God himself). In essence, God created the world as a place where humans can perform certain deeds and act in a certain way that allows him/her to resemble God (because resembling God brings spiritual closeness to God, which is in effect, receiving God's good).
If this review seems a bit heavy-handed and preachy, it's because the book is pretty much the same. It is packed full of Talmudic and Midrashic sources that can be pretty intimidating for someone who isn't at least somewhat familiar with ancient Jewish literature. Additionally, many of Kaplan's claims rely on the presupposition that everything that appears in Talmudic and Midrashic sources are given to be true and accurate. Despite this, If You Were God is still a compelling read, especially for those interested in contemplating God, the soul and the universe from a philosophical Jewish perspective. Of particular interest are the ideas of free will in this world, God's purpose in creating the world and the experience of the soul in all stages of its existence.
If You Were God is a short book containing three works by the late Aryeh Kaplan.
The first, "If You Were God," is a short thought experiment where Kaplan asks the reader to imagine an island with several tribes of violent natives. The reader's assignment is figure out a way to improve life on the island without revealing him/herself. Armed with the latest surveillance, weather-controlling and telepathic technology, the reader must find a way to influence the natives of the island without revealing his/her presence. The reason why the "higher power" must be kept secret is because it would significantly disrupt the culture of the natives, either causing them to become completely dependent on the higher power for survival or to openly rebel against the higher power and erase any good that was accomplished.
Kaplan uses the scenario described above in order to explain God's dilemma with the real world. Specifically, he addresses the questions concerning the absence of miracles in the modern age and the reasons why God allows bad things to happen. In the course of his discussion, Kaplan reasons that God's presence must remain hidden in order to allow mankind to proceed with true free will; a verifiable and concrete revelation of God's presence would effectively eradicate any choice man would have in his actions.
In the second part of the book, Kaplan discusses "Immortality and the Soul." Citing the modern advances of organ transplants and digital data storage, Kaplan attempts to trace consciousness and the actual location of a person's personality, memories, etc. Later on, he posits that an additional function of the brain (besides the obvious ones) is to actually limit the information that we are bombarded with through our senses. He uses this supposition to begin a discussion concerning the soul's experience after death and it's interaction with the material world, the spiritual world and God.
The final and longest work in the book, "A World of Love," discusses God's purpose in creating the universe. Kaplan's main point in this section is that God created the world in order to bestow the greatest possible good upon it (this "greatest good" being God himself). In essence, God created the world as a place where humans can perform certain deeds and act in a certain way that allows him/her to resemble God (because resembling God brings spiritual closeness to God, which is in effect, receiving God's good).
If this review seems a bit heavy-handed and preachy, it's because the book is pretty much the same. It is packed full of Talmudic and Midrashic sources that can be pretty intimidating for someone who isn't at least somewhat familiar with ancient Jewish literature. Additionally, many of Kaplan's claims rely on the presupposition that everything that appears in Talmudic and Midrashic sources are given to be true and accurate. Despite this, If You Were God is still a compelling read, especially for those interested in contemplating God, the soul and the universe from a philosophical Jewish perspective. Of particular interest are the ideas of free will in this world, God's purpose in creating the world and the experience of the soul in all stages of its existence.
October 15, 2023
This is a slender volume of three short, interrelated essays by one of the most brilliant rabbis of the 20th Century.
The essays delve into some of the core issues of Judaism, including our relationship with Hashem, and some esoteric topics, such as life after death and the nature of angels.
Like Rav Soloveitchik, Kaplan makes connections between secular knowledge and Jewish theology. He's educated beyond the walls of the yeshiva.
For instance, in the essay "Immortality and the Soul," Kaplan cites French philosopher Henri Bergson in suggesting that the main function of the brain is to filter out awareness, rather than produce it. Without that filter, we would be overwhelmed with the information that comes through our sense organs.
Kaplan contrasts that with the experience we will have after death, as disembodied souls "standing" before God. In that encounter, the valve will open wide and we'll remember everything we ever did, good and bad, Kaplan writes.
This is a pretty good example of what you'll find in this book. It's a quick read worth reading twice or more.
The essays delve into some of the core issues of Judaism, including our relationship with Hashem, and some esoteric topics, such as life after death and the nature of angels.
Like Rav Soloveitchik, Kaplan makes connections between secular knowledge and Jewish theology. He's educated beyond the walls of the yeshiva.
For instance, in the essay "Immortality and the Soul," Kaplan cites French philosopher Henri Bergson in suggesting that the main function of the brain is to filter out awareness, rather than produce it. Without that filter, we would be overwhelmed with the information that comes through our sense organs.
Kaplan contrasts that with the experience we will have after death, as disembodied souls "standing" before God. In that encounter, the valve will open wide and we'll remember everything we ever did, good and bad, Kaplan writes.
This is a pretty good example of what you'll find in this book. It's a quick read worth reading twice or more.
October 3, 2017
Lindo libro que usaré para una actividad con señoras para el Tikún de Hoshanáh Rabá. Se podría utilizar con adolescentes también. El autor trae una propuesta hipotética aceca del gobernante anónimo de una isla con diferentes tribus. Se da la consigna de que deben: mejorar la sociedad, enseñar a vivir en armonía y a reducir el sufrimiento y crear una sociedad sana. Luego, el autor relata diferentes problemas reales a los que se encuentra esa sociedad y cuales serían soluciones posibles.
Hay otros dos ensayos incluídos en el libro acerca de la inmortalidad del alma y de un mundo de misericordia.
Hay otros dos ensayos incluídos en el libro acerca de la inmortalidad del alma y de un mundo de misericordia.
April 12, 2020
It feels totally inappropriate to rate a book by the great Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan. I re-read this during the shelter in place portion of COVID-19, and was looking for some inspiration or solace. This was more about the underpinnings of the world and why it functions as it does.
This prompted me to begin re-reading other works by Rabbi Kaplan -- always a worthwhile endeavor. His erudition, warmth, and insight are always thought-provoking; and underscore how much we loss with his early passing.
This prompted me to begin re-reading other works by Rabbi Kaplan -- always a worthwhile endeavor. His erudition, warmth, and insight are always thought-provoking; and underscore how much we loss with his early passing.
May 15, 2025
This is a book of 3 essays. The first was utterly unconvincing and is about why God 'acts' the way he does. The second was a solid 4/5 talking about the afterlife of the soul. The last was about the spiritual world and why it exists in the first place, and it was by far the best essay.
This is definitely more of an intro-book to these topics.
This is definitely more of an intro-book to these topics.
February 25, 2023
There are some very interesting ideas here! I enjoyed learning a bit about the Jewish perspective. It definitely added to and deepened my understanding of my own religion. Obviously there were things I didn’t agree with, but that’s a good thing, it made me think.
June 13, 2024
My first book by Aryeh Kaplan. Impressive. Very clear explanations of the nature of evil. The nature of good. The purpose of free will. The relationship of the spiritual and physical. Our relationship to God.
May 8, 2018
One of the greatest minds of our time...
March 13, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. It was a very concise way of explaining the world and Judaism and how it all works.
February 9, 2017
The essay if you were god was good but the other two presupposed too much for me.
April 16, 2021
In this work the author forces the reader to look at the world from God’s perspective, at least as much as one’s imagination can fathom.
People judge other people and God from their observational perspective. But, they never try to look at matters from the angle of those they judge.
Hence, the title is the perfect description of this work.
People judge other people and God from their observational perspective. But, they never try to look at matters from the angle of those they judge.
Hence, the title is the perfect description of this work.
August 28, 2015
This book was referred to me by a rabbi in answer to my question of why there needs to be a "chosen people". I found it to be very helpful--especially the first article. The remaining articles were also interesting. It's especially interesting to hear the Jewish perspective on God.
March 1, 2015
I did not like this book because it really was meant for beginners to philosophical thoughts about G-d. I may have been the wrong audience and it may be a good book for the right audience.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews