Changing the World from the Inside Out: A Jewish Approach to Personal and Social Change

by David Jaffe

WINNER OF THE 2016 JEWISH BOOK COUNCIL AWARD FOR CONTEMPORARY JEWISH LIFE AND PRACTICEAn inspiring and accessible guide, drawn from Jewish wisdom, for building the inner qualities necessary to work effectively for social justice.The world needs changing—and you’re just the person to do it!  It’s a matter of cultivating the inner resources you already have. If you are serious about working for social justice and change, this book will help you bring your most compassionate, wise, and courageous self to the job. Bringing positive social change to any system takes deep self-awareness, caring, determination, and long-term commitment. But polarization, the slow pace of change, and internal conflicts among activists and organizations often leads to burnout and discouragement among the very people needed to make a difference. Changing the World from the Inside Out distills centuries of Jewish wisdom about cultivating and refining the inner life into an accessible program for building the qualities necessary to accomplish sustainable change. Through explorations of deep motivation, inner-drive, and traits like trust and anger, this book engages the reader in a journey of self-development and transformation, demonstrating that sustainable activism is indeed a spiritual practice. Jaffe offers accessible and meaningful guidance for this journey—with exercises, contemplations, and discussion points that can be used individually or in a group.

Genres: Judaism

278 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 18, 2016

Reviews

[Deborah Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really resonated with me at a time I needed the inspiration it provided. I went in with really low expectations and finished with useful knowledge that I will carry with me. I had previously taken a class in Mussar and really didn't get to integrating it into my social justice life. This book has motivated me to take another look in order to stay balanced in the work I do.

[Seymour Hersh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book sets the foundation for change, personal, social and organizational. It also draws the strategic values needed to support long term change.