On the Road With Rabbi Steinsaltz: Twenty-five Years of Pre-dawn Car Trips, Mind-blowing Encounters, and Inspiring Conversations With a Man of Wisdom

by Arthur Kurzweil

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz is internationally regarded as one of the most brilliant and influential rabbis of our time. He has been lauded by Time magazine as a “once-in-a-millennium scholar” and by Ted Koppel of Night Line as “one of the very few wise men that I’ve ever met.”   Arthur Kurzweil—himself a Jewish scholar, author, teacher, and publisher—has been a disciple of Rabbi Steinsaltz’s for over 25 years, as well as the Rabbi’s designated chauffer in the United States. While stuck in countless traffic jams and attending the Rabbi’s lectures at universities, government agencies, synagogues and seminars, Arthur Kurzweil has had the rare opportunity of personally learning from his inspired teacher and has become intimately familiar with the Rabbi’s wisdom and teachings.  

Genres: Judaism, Nonfiction, Memoir, Judaica

290 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2006

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was definitely up there with my top favorite books. I enjoyed riding along and listening to Arthur's stories. This book inspired me to read more about Rabbi Steinsaltz. I still need to read his other books.

[Gemma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this but the total absence of reflection on views on gender in Orthodox Judaism left me frustrated. If Rabbi Steinsaltz is indeed a sage, I would expect some indication of where we stood on questions of women in Judaism.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book very informative and enlightening. There were aspects of Judaism I would like everyone to grasp. Excellent story, written very well. This book answer many questions many non Jews ask.

Read it.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kurzweil became a fan of Steinsaltz after reading his book entitled The Thirteen Petalled Rose. Looking for a spiritual teacher, he contacted Steinsaltz's office and after a few encounters, decided he wanted to work for him. The job he ended up getting was as Steinsaltz's driver when the rabbi came to New York. This book is a chronicle of those encounters mixed in with some of Rabbi Steinsaltz's lectures. I rather enjoyed Kurzweil's writing style. His love of the rabbi's teachings and knowledge really shines through. He's definitely a huge fan of his teacher and his enthusiasm made me curious about him too.

[Arlene Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doesn't really address any concerns from a woman's point of view. While some Orthodox and Chasid respect women and encourage their learning, it seems when push comes to shove, most men don't regard women as their intellectual equals. Either that, or this author's particular bias is showing.

[DROPPING OUT · Rating 4 out of 5]

A highly personal account of the relationship between Kurzweil, one of the premier Jewish teachers of our time and his teacher, Adin Steinsaltz, one of the most influential rabbis of our time.

[Seth Rogovoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspiring memoir of our present-day prophet.

[Ben Kruskal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Steinstaltz is clearly a great man. This collection of vignettes of time spent with him by a student is a lovely little spiritual memoir.