Thunder in the Soul: To Be Known By God

by Abraham Joshua Heschel, Susannah Heschel (Introduction), Robert Erlewine (Editor)

Like the Hebrew prophets before him, the great American rabbi and civil rights leader reveals God’s concern for this world and each of us.

Abraham Joshua Heschel, descended from a long line of Orthodox rabbis, fled Europe to escape the Nazis. He made the insights of traditional Jewish spirituality come alive for American Jews while speaking out boldly against war and racial injustice.

Heschel brought the fervor of the Hebrew prophets to his role as a public intellectual. He challenged the sensibilities of the modern West, which views science and human reason as sufficient. Only by rediscovering wonder and awe before mysteries that transcend knowledge can we hope to find God again. This God, Heschel says, is not distant but passionately concerned about our lives and human affairs, and asks something of us in return.

This little book, which brings together Heschel’s key insights on a range of topics, will reinvigorate readers of any faith who hunger for wonder and thirst for justice.

Plough Spiritual Guides briefly introduce the writings of great spiritual voices of the past to new readers.

Genres: Religion, Judaism, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Jewish, God, Judaica

168 pages, Paperback

Published March 2, 2021

About the author

Heschel was a descendant of preeminent rabbinic families of Europe, both on his father's (Moshe Mordechai Heschel, who died of influenza in 1916) and mother's (Reizel Perlow Heschel) side, and a descendant of Rebbe Avrohom Yehoshua Heshl of Apt and other dynasties. He was the youngest of six children including his siblings: Sarah, Dvora Miriam, Esther Sima, Gittel, and Jacob. In his teens he received a traditional yeshiva education, and obtained traditional semicha, rabbinical ordination. He then studied at the University of Berlin, where he obtained his doctorate, and at the Hochschule für die Wissenschaft des Judentums, where he earned a second liberal rabbinic ordination.

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plough, the publishing arm of the Bruderhof Christian community, is in the process of presenting the thoughts of some of the great religous philosophers of all faiths. Abraham Joshua Heschel is one of the great thinkers of the twentieth century and wrote in the fifties and sixties after fleeing Europe right before the Holocaust. Although a well-known name in the Jewish community, he is perhaps best known to the general public as someone who worked closely with Dr. King during the Civil Rights era, including participating int he famous march from Selma to Montgomery, and his work is discussed by theologians of both Christian and Jewish faiths. This short volume is a taste of Heschel[s work, not a complete collection of his works. Though short, it is rich and demands close reading. It is, moreover, written to be widely accessible to those interested in Western civilization and culture. It begins with a lengthy introduction by his daughter, a professor, who lays out his history and philosophy.

Written in beautiful prose, Heschel speaks about God, the soul, and the moment. He explains that: "The higher goal of spiritual living is not to amass a wealth of information, but to face sacred moments. In a religious experience, for example, it is not a thing that imposes itself on man but a spiritual prescence." Heschel argues that the world is filled with "beauty and charm," but that the "pious man realizes that life takes place under wide horizons, horizons that range beyond the span of an individual life or even the life of a nation, of a generation, or even of an era." And it because the pious individual recognizes the spiritual value of things that he sees the dignity of every human being. For Heschel, there is something beyond the material objects and that is wonder and awe that direct us to meaning. He explains that: "Faith is preceded by awe, by acts of amazement at things that we apprehend but cannot comprehend."

Of the existence of God, he explains that there are no proofs, only witnesses and testimony to the wonder and greatness. As to the justice, Heschel explains that the pathos and judgment of God transcend the human dimension and that people are not only an image of God, but a perpetual concern of God. Because he argues, we are made in God's image, an act of violence is a desecration and the oppression of man is a humiliation of God. He explains: "Faith in God is not simply and afterlife-insurance policy." He also argues that "Indifference to evil is more insidious than evil itself; it is more universal, more contagious, more dangerous."

Long before the internet, Heschel cautioned against reliance on technology and relying on the world as merely a "toolbox" rather than seeing the mystery and grandeur of life. For him, a modern life without spirituality is emptiness. "Thinking about God begins at the mind's rugged shore, where the murmur breaks off abruptly, where we do not know anymore how to yearn, how to be in awe."

Thus, "Thunder in the Soul" is a short-form entry into Heschel's philosophy and there is enough here in this short-form to occupy most readers for quite some time.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: A collection of the writings of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel concerning the life of knowing and being known by God.

The Plough Spiritual Guides are a great little series collecting the thoughts of some of the great spiritual thinkers of the last century. This latest is no exception. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel was truly one of the great spiritual figures of the twentieth century. He escaped to London from Poland trying to get family members visas before the coming Holocaust. Before he could succeed, they died. He went on as a Conservative Jewish leader whose life and works transcended his own faith community. I was in a seminar just the other day where his book The Sabbath was extensively referenced. He wrote towering works bringing spiritual insight to Jew and Christian, believer and skeptic alike: Man is Not Alone, Man’s Quest for God, God in Search of Man, and The Prophets. After the assault on Blacks at Selma in March 1965, he joined Dr. King in the march to Montgomery, earning himself a place on an FBI watchlist. He was close friends with Reinhold Niebuhr and delivered the eulogy at his funeral in 1971, following him in death a year later.

This little book collects excerpts of his writing that read as a seamless whole, a tribute to Robert Erlwine’s editing. These come under twelve headings:

1. Every Moment Touches Eternity
2. The Only Life Worth Living
3. In the Presence of Mystery
4. The Prophets Show us God Cares
5. God Demands Justice
6. Modernity Has Forfeited the Spirit
7. Prayer is Being Known by God
8. A Pattern for Living
9. The Deed is Wiser than the Heart
10. Something is Asked of Us
11. Faith is an Act of the Spirit
12. Not Our Vision of God but God’s Vision of Us

Reading the headings alone offers material for extended reflection. Often I like to select a quote or two from a book. This was a book where nearly every sentence could be a quote pull, and occasion to stop and think before one moves on. One of the big ideas that run through this selection is that we search for God only to discover that God seeks us. Heschel writes:

“When self-assertion is no more; when realizing that wonder is not our own achievement; that it is not by our own power alone that we are shuddered with radical amazement, it is not with our power anymore to assume the role of an examiner of a subject in search of an object, such as we are in search of a cause when perceiving thunder. Ultimate wonder is not the same as curiosity. Curiosity is the state of a mind in search of knowledge, while ultimate wonder is the state of knowledge in search of a mind; it is the thought of God in search of a soul.“

This search of God for us is the source of our worth. Heschel observes:

“We must continue to ask: What is man that God should care for him? And we must continue to remember that it is precisely God’s care for man that constitutes the greatness of man.”

Another key idea is that of faith as faithfulness, a response in every moment in how we live our life to the reality of God. Faith is not centered around the doctrine or dogmas of prior generations, which he considers “spiritual plagiarism.” Faith moves beyond our own reason and wisdom. “In faith, we do not seek to decipher, to articulate in our own terms, but to rise above our own wisdom, to think of the world in terms of God, to live in accord with what is relevant to God.” The life of faith is shaped by the law and the prophets. “The good is not an abstract idea but a commandment, and the ultimate meaning of its fulfillment is in its being an answer to God.”

Finally, Heschel talks about the paradigm shift of knowing God. We do not so much think about God as think within God. He explains:

“His is the call, ours the paraphrase; His is the creation, ours a reflection. He is not an object to be comprehended, a thesis to be endorsed, neither the sum of all that is (facts) nor a digest of all that ought to be (ideals). He is the ultimate subject.”

Some speak of God as Ultimate Reality. Often this sounds like an abstraction, but what I think Heschel would say is that God is the most Real, the really Real, by whom all else is understood.

This is a taste of what you will find here. Strong stuff. J. B. Phillips wrote a book titled Your God is too Small. I think Heschel would agree and this little book is a gateway to his thought. What is troubling to me is how rarely I encounter writing like this coming out of Christian publishing houses or in Christian media. This deceptively little book is, as the Wardrobe in C.S. Lewis, much bigger on the inside than the outside. Read slowly and be filled.

________________________________

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[James W Brede · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Thunder in the Soul: To Be Known by God by Abraham Joshua Heschel to be nothing short of a revelation. This book, a masterful curation of Heschel’s most profound passages drawn from works like God in Search of Man, The Insecurity of Freedom, Man Is Not Alone, Man’s Quest for God, The Prophets, The Sabbath, and Who Is Man?, feels less like a collection and more like a vibrant reorganization of timeless wisdom. I found myself highlighting nearly every passage, captivated by the poetic depth and universal resonance of Heschel’s insights.

This book is a must-read for anyone with a spiritual inclination, transcending the boundaries of Judaism to speak to seekers of all paths. Heschel explores weighty yet accessible themes: the idea that every moment holds a glimpse of eternity, the pursuit of a life worth living, the presence of divinity in mystery, and the question of whether God demands justice. Each topic is handled with a blend of intellectual rigor and lyrical beauty that is both moving and entertaining.

Heschel’s words are profound, insightful, and deeply poetic, offering a rare blend of clarity and wonder. This book doesn’t just inform—it inspires and challenges the reader to see the divine in the everyday. For anyone seeking meaning, Thunder in the Soul is an unforgettable journey that deserves a place on every bookshelf.

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Didn't follow or agree with everything, but I found the presentation of religion as an interaction with life's inherent mystery rather than a system for comprehensively, rationally understanding everything to be helpful.

[Richard Dominguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the blurb "Abraham Joshua Heschel, descended from a long line of Orthodox rabbis, fled Europe to escape the Nazis. He made the insights of traditional Jewish spirituality come alive for American Jews while speaking out boldly against war and racial injustice."
I want to say right away that I had no previous knowledge of Mr Heschel and anything I can express about him is entirely due to this book and some minor reference work I sought before having received the book from Plough Publishing for review.
"Thunder in the Soul: To Be Known By God" by Abraham Joshua Heschel is a look through his own words into the mind of a man most theologians consider the greatest and most influential thinker of his time and ours. A collection of Mr Heschel's thoughts on various subjects his words are meant to inspire thinking, to provoke you to think for yourself, unlike the dogma that passes for enlightenment in the current age.
The book begins with a couple of marvelous forwards,one written by Robert Erlewine in which he attempts to explain who Mr Heschel was,of which he openly says is not an easy thing to do "His life and work defy easy categorization".
The second forward is written by Mr Heschel's daughter Susannah Heschel in which she explains quite clearly how her father's words, his beliefs apply even today (and they do).
As I read through the chapters (highlighter in hand) I was struck by how profoundly clear his thoughts are outlined. There are times that his words inspired me to thought, times when I was forced to look at what I know from a different perspective that had simply never occurred to me. By the same token there are times when his words simple humbled me (pg 47 "God Demands Justice" where he speaks of the effrontery to the divine, the suffering of man a blot on the very conscience of God. He then sets about explaining why, in what the old saying would proclaim is "as easy as pie". Having marched with Martin Luther King Jr, his views on social inaction are just as inherent in his spirituality as any of his other views, "some are guilty, but all are responsible".
Engaging from the start, this work of spiritual wonder and awareness to how short we have fallen not just from the grace of God but from the very potential to which we can rise is truly a must read.
One more thought, after reading this i was struck with a memory, words spoken by Albert Einstein in reference to Gandhi "Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth."

[Joseph J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was provided to me by Plough Publishing House. This is the latest in the Plough Spiritual Classics "backpack" series of paperbacks featuring spiritual guidance from more recent writers. And while the accompanying mailing claims these can be absorbed in one sitting, I respectfully disagree. Revisited often YES, again and again, as Abraham Joshua Heschel is a rich and illuminating writer and prophet of his time. Born in Poland and escaping the Nazi onslaught of the mid-20th. century, Heschel came to the United States to write and teach, and to put his faith and belief into action. Less than ten years before his death in 1972, Heschel would head South to take part in the Civil Rights movement. Walking for justice: "I felt my legs were praying." (This is from a rewarding introduction by his daughter Susannah Heschel.) Over some time I slowly and prayerfully turned these pages (not one sitting), as they became my own Lenten journey. Each page and indeed paragraph are packed with prophetic insight and a call to action. By his own life and example Heschel calls us to put prophecy into action, and contemplation into change. His definition of the Black man/woman in the America of his day is no less relevant today in the reality of our 24 hour news cycle, the internet, and police cam video. Every page of this synthesis explores and challenges not only one's relationship to God, but the relation of God to his creation. Prayer, called out from places of worship to die, is redirected to action in relation to God and service to all. Prayer without works? Well...the call to faith is a call to act. Heschel in these pages emerges a a modern day prophet whose examination of the call to faith, the response of prayer, and the yearning of humankind for God AND God for us transcends the years of his own life, and serves as a guide for the future. I loved in the closing pages the challenge of a Hasid to learned philosophers, "If God were the way you imagine him, I would not believe in him." Heschel writes that "Never is our mind so inadequate as in trying to describe God." It is difficult here in a brief review to describe the power and richness of Heschel's faith and writing contained in these pages.

[Harry Allagree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was inspired by & greatly admired Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907-1972) throughout my long-ago seminary days & beyond, until his death in 1972. He died early, at age 65. For myself in those early years, he was a great theologian & quite active in opposing social injustice, particularly at that time, racism & the war in Vietnam.Except for a number of articles, however, I don't recall reading any of his numerous books until 2011 when I read "Man Is Not Alone" & "The Sabbath". Five years later I delved into his "Heavenly Torah", some 800+ pages! Through the years I kept only one book (unread) of his: "The Prophets" ("Die Prophetie"), which was his dissertation written in the 1930's, then expanded & published in English in 1962. It could be called one of his "seminal" books.

In this book, "Thunder in the Soul", a collection of quotes from many of Heschel's books, Robert Erlewine, of Illinois Wesleyan University, notes: "'Die Prophetie' is a work of comparative religion...it seeks to elucidate what makes the classical prophets of the Bible distinct as religious figures....At its most profound level, 'Die Prophetie' offers a meditation on, and critique of, the manner in which God and revelation have been understood in the West..." Heschel saw God, particularly as revealed through the prophets, as "profoundly concerned with human behavior", and as a God of 'pathos', "indeed, as vulnerable, in a very real sense, to human affairs".

This present book also contains a helpful article by Susannah Heschel, Abraham Heschel's only child, now a famous rabbi & writer. She says: "We live in an age of despair...Yet despair, my father used to remind me, is forbidden; to despair is to deny that God is present, with us, caring for us, and that there is no challenge we are given without the resources to cope....He speaks in the prophetic tradition of hope...."

One can find memorable quotations of Heschel & challenging thoughts on almost every page. He has continued to make me think, & I now need to read "The Prophets"!

[Miriam Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

In “Thunder in the Soul”, Abraham Joshua Heschel, a leading Jewish theologian and philosopher of the 20th century, makes traditionalist Jewish spirituality come alive for American Jews. He spoke out boldly and bravely against war and racial injustice.

As an inspired intellectual, Heschel brought the great spiritual fervor of the Hebrew prophets to his role as a theologian. He challenged the sensibilities of the modern West, which views science and human reason as sufficient.

To find God in our lives, we must rediscover wonder and awe before mysteries that transcend knowledge. Heschel firmly believes that God is passionately concerned about our lives and human affairs.

Thunder in the Soul presents Heschel’s profound insights on a wide range of important topics, to challenge, inspire and invigorate readers who hunger for childlike wonder and thirst for justice.

“Thunder in the Soul” aptly describes Heschel’s extremely intelligent state of mind and crystal clear mental framework. He spoke his mind fearlessly without mincing words. He sounds like a solitary voice in the wilderness, crying out against the injustices of our time.

Heschel had a profound social consciousness that made him a great civil rights leader. He was considered “one of the truly great men” of his day and a leading prophetic voice of our time. Heschel reminded American Jews that they had a profound moral responsibility for each other’s liberation and for the plight of all suffering people around the world.

I highly recommend “Thunder in the Soul” to all readers who wish to hear the prolific wisdom of Abraham Joshua Heschel. This book will appeal greatly to readers of our time and day.

Miriam Jacob

[Brian Wilcox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heschel remains a challenge to the prevalent domestication of the God-idea and, thereby, insipid, dogmatic, intellectualized theistic religion. His challenge derives from his fidelity to the Jewish teaching of a God of history, of action, and of feeling.

Religion, for Heschel, is an event of awe and intimacy; true religion for Heschel is of a God who feels, acts, and responds to humankind in time.

If we ask, "Who is God?," it is for the question has already been asked by God of us. God is always the center in Heschel's thought, even as in the Jewish faith he was schooled in and spoke from and of. Heschel speaks of the faltering words to speak of God in the Jewish Bible, and he says this inability highlights the grandeur of God. So, we must speak, and we must speak poorly.

How do we, then, know this God? For Heschel, God is the unrepresented God. He says we know this One through "knowledge by inaquaintance." Hence, we know God through an ecstatic intimacy, a knowingness that lifts us above ourselves into God. Yet, this lifting up is a realization that one is already in God; if one were not in God, one would not seek God. Our seeking God is enabled by God seeking us.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are many different ways to contemplate and study words of Torah. We can study the intricacies of the Chumash, the first five books, mining them for how best to live our lives. Or we can focus on the prophetic writings, which speak to ethics beyond ritual. Fortunately, we don’t have to choose only one option because there are books for every type of spiritual searcher. Those who prefer to study the parasha shel shavah (the portion of the week) can look to “Exodus: A Parsha Companion” by Rabbi David Fohrman (Aleph Beta Press/Maggid Books), which focuses on individual sections of the Chumash. Anyone looking for inspiration from the prophets in order to create a more just world will appreciate Abraham Joshua Heschel’s “Thunder in the Soul: To Be Known by God” (Plough Publishing House), which is edited by Robert Erlewine.
See the rest of my review at https://www.thereportergroup.org/past...

[BlueFalkon95 · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Inspiring story of how a rabbi and others during a war fleeing Europe just to escape from the Nazis to the safety of American soil. Racial discrimination and injustice were why the escape. Carefully reading the book gave me inspiration to finding God again and how he can help me with my daily life struggles. The book is recommended for readers who love to read inspirational stories that can increase their faith.
Review run date was set for but life and studies was just as important as writing a book review on 02 Mar 2021 so now 21 April 2021 the review was written and posted on NetGalley, Wordpress blog and Facebook blog, Amazon.com.au, goodreads, kobo, googlebooks and iBooks. My WordPress blog is http://bluefalkon95adorationofallgenr... My Facebook reader blog page link, is https://www.facebook.com/BlueFalkon95...
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Plough Publishing House through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#ThunderInTheSoul #NetGalley

[Tim Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent anthology of a key figure in Biblical interpretation with immediate 20th century applications in matters of justice -social righteousness; Heschel was a Jewish civil rights leader and proponent in the American and global context. Prof. Erlewine of Midwestern liberal arts college [ ILLINOIS Wesleyan Univ. of Bloomington, IL ] has a very readable and engaging introduction and interpreter's principle of including significant passages from the important corpus of sermons, books, and works of renown for this 20th Century giant who really continue to be a "SPIRTUAL GUIDE" across the faith perspective of modern Judaism in dialogue with Christians / interfaith dialogue partners. Thank you, PLOUGH PRESS for printing and inclusion of this anthology in your ongoing series. 5* out of 5. I appreciated this enough that I often share parts of it with others seeking a way ahead in such chaotic era with preference for the ways of evil, injustice, degradation of humanity. Highly recommended

[Kjell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will not walk through the contents of the book as this is done in many of the other reviews. I just want to state that rarely, if ever, have I felt that so much insight and wisdom is compressed into such a small space. While reading this book I sometimes felt that a single sentence could be the subject of an entire book.
This is the first book written by Abraham Joshua Heschel I have read and I will certainly read all his other central works. Being a Christian an not a jew I also find it extremely interesting to learn about the jewish view on religion, spirituality and how a good life is to be lived. As an example, the importance of deeds as opposed to reflection in isolation may seem evident but in practice it is not.
I know that the book is supposed to be digestable for a broad public, but as a non-native english speaker I frequently needed the help of a dictionary.
I cannot strongly enough recommend this book for anyone who wants to grow spiritually.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abraham Joshua Heschel was a Polish born American Rabbi. I had not heard of him before now. He died in 1972, but he wrote many books and was active in many civil discourses.

This little book gives bits and pieces from his writings and they are gems. Two of them really struck me. "Indifference to evil is more insidious than evil itself" and "Religion begins with the consciousness that something is being asked of us."

Rabbi Heschel was a Jew and I a Catholic and we share so much in our love of God. That was something that really touched me with his writing. His faith and love of God shines through and his words are really timeless as is God and His love for us.

Plough Publishing House was kind enough to provide me with a copy of this delightful little book to read and review. I am so glad they did. Thank you for introducing me to Rabbi Heschel!

[Alismcg · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Right living is like a work of art, the product of a vision and of a wrestling with concrete situations".

"The problem of the soul is how to live nobly in an animal environment; how to persuade and train the tongue and the senses to behave in agreement with the insights of the soul."

"We must continue to ask : What is man that God should care for him? And we must continue to remember that it is precisely God's care for man that constitutes the greatness of man. To be is to stand for, and what man stands for is the great mystery of being His partner. God is in need of man. "

"This notion that God can be intimately affected, that He possesses not merely intelligence and will, but also pathos, basically defines the prophetic consciousness of God."

_Abraham Heschel

A very small book in the hand, powerful in its 'breadth' , my 1st of Heschel's but definitely not my last.

[Angelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abraham Heschel was a Jewish Rabbi and civil rights activist whose writings on faith and religion still resonate today, almost 50 years after his death. His writing is concise, yet poetic. And his words stay with you long after you read them. Although over 50 years old, his writings on racism are as relevant today as they were then. When he calls out the "evil of indifference," it makes you examine your own soul and own up to your own apathy towards your fellow man.

There is something on every page of this book that will make you a better person, whether you're Jewish, Christian, Muslim or none of the above. Read this book. It will change your life for the better.

Thank you Plough Publishing for giving Rabbi Heschel's words new life.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was privileged to be gifted a pre-publication of this small volume by the publisher. I believe it actually has been released today.

This is an excellent addition to the shelves of works by and about Rabbi Heschel. The thematic organization makes for a nearly seamless and enticing read. The two introductory essays are valuable additions to our body of teaching about the importance of Rabbi Heschel’s Torah. The essay by his daughter, Susannah Heschel is especially meaningful and moving.


His voice lives on and this volume makes that possible both for newcomers to his thought as well as veteran readers of his works like myself. I found both familiar and new pieces of his Torah to imbibe.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book should not be missed. Herschel easily explains the world we are living in today; he also reinvigorates the word ineffable.
Comte wrote that the human mind advances through thought stages - the theological, the metaphysical, and the positive. Curiosity leads to knowledge; wonder and awe lead to the Divine.
“Wisdom is fostered by awe. Wisdom is the ability to look at all things from the point of view of God.”
As a civilization advances, it looks to scientific study and forgets about awe. Power and control lead to the desire to own rather than to share. Science can only study what begins with a fulfillment of God’s will. The grandeur around us begins with the Creator.

[Becky Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prepare to be challenged

Heschel’s pronoun language may feel dated as well as his philosophical terms, but hopefully neither will prevent the reader from understanding his well argued point that humanity’s relationship with God begins with God knowing us instead of we believing that we are the initiators of the conversation. His points of the limits of our knowledge and language regarding God is a call for humility in our walk of faith; an important point in today’s religious environment. He also makes the point that God can be known in the doing of life as much as, or more than, the contemplation of life because God permeates all of life.

[Marte Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

«For neither the lips nor the brain are the limits of the scene in which prayer takes place…Prayer is not a thought that rambles alone in the world, but an event that starts in man and ends in God. What goes on in our heart is a humble preliminary to an event in God»

«It takes three things to create a sense of significant being: God, a soul and a moment. And the three are always present.»

Denne boka speler på så mange vakre strenger i språk og tyngde - ikkje den mest lettleste, men vakker og tankevekkande i mange lag.

[Rebecca Brenner Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

In American Jewish history and Jewish studies, Abraham Joshua Heschel embodied a distinctive combination of commitment to Jewish laws and rituals and an openness to change. He was an approachable figure who criticized the “status quo” and guided American Judaism into the “public sphere” through accessible, often beautiful writing. His daughter Susannah, who penned a forward to this collection, remains a reliable presence at American Jewish studies conferences.

[G. Salter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some writers are bound by their time, and others say things in such a way that even decades later you can still feel the power in the ideas. Heschel's words continue to inspiring and enlightening, and the two forewords by his daughter Susannah Heschel and Robert Erlewine provide great biographical context to his ideas.

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abraham Heschel brings a wallop in this book, talking about a variety of topics, but all tied together through one common thread - faith. It was eye-opening, and thought provoking, with questions being raised and answered, different ideas and solutions thrown out, as well as a descriptive overview of views and highlights that are important.

Engaging and interesting read!

[Beth Morrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heschel's writing as encapsulated here is deeply moving. The writing is dense which forced me to slow down and concentrate on the content which ended up enhancing my experience. My only quibble would be the long introduction and prologue. While they were informative and provided context, I was more interested in Heschel's words themselves.

[Pamela Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommend the little Jewel of a book for all people of faith and those seeking to know God and love people. It took me along time to read because I savored each bit and it goes on my devotional stack to reread again.

[Robert Cowlishaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond Words

We experience G?D beyond words! This is a wonderful journey through Heschel’s teachings and thoughts…words fall short but words such as ineffable, wonder and grandeur…take on deeper meaning. A excellent place to start your study of Abraham Joshua Heschel.

[Laura S · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not a fan of books that take quotable parts of an author’s other work and put them together in a single book. There’s too much depth in Heschel’s writing that is necessarily lost, and I can’t recommend this.

[Marlene M. Oaks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely Thunder

As a lifelong seeker, I found him stirring some thunder in my in soul. What a great title! I highly recommend you read these magnificent words and ponder them deeply.

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book to own and keep on your nightstand, best read in tiny bits, all incredibly profound and/or thought-provoking and often beautifully poetic also.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a highly engaging read, especially the chapter on the Prophets.