The Rhythms of Jewish Living: A Sephardic Exploration of Judaism's Spirituality

Reconnect with the ancient soul of Jewish spiritual life and practice.

"Jewish spirituality is organically linked to the natural rhythms of the universe. To a great extent, Jewish religious traditions serve to bring Jews into a sensitive relationship with the natural world. Many commandments and customs lead in this direction, drawing out the love and reverence that emerge from the contemplation of God's creations."
--from Chapter 1, "The Rhythms of Nature"

Judaism has provided the spiritual framework for millions of people for thousands of years. Yet its basic beliefs and observances often are disconnected from their original intent in our modern day.

With his engaging overview of the sacred times, places and ideas of Judaism, Rabbi Marc D. Angel gently reclaims the natural, balanced and insightful teachings of Sephardic Judaism that can and should imbue modern Jewish spirituality. He draws on many classic sources, illuminating the influence of the Golden Age of Spanish Jewry and the great mystics of sixteenth-century Safed on the Sephardic tradition. The result is an approach to Judaism that is deep, rich and diverse.

Rabbi Marc D. Angel, PhD, is founder and director of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals (www.jewishideas.org). Rabbi emeritus of Congregation Shearith Israel of New York City, he is author and editor of twenty-nine books, including Maimonides, Spinoza and Us: Toward an Intellectually Vibrant Judaism; Foundations of Sephardic Spirituality: The Inner Life of Jews of the Ottoman Empire (both finalists for the National Jewish Book Award); and Maimonides--Essential Teachings on Jewish Faith and Ethics: The Book of Knowledge and the Thirteen Principles of Faith--Annotated and Explained (all Jewish Lights).

Rabbi Marc D. Angel, PhD, is available to speak on the following topics:

• Maimonides, Spinoza and Us: Confronting Basic Issues of Faith
• The Orthodox and Non-Orthodox Jewish Communities: Can We Learn from Each Other?
• Conversion to Judaism: What the Jewish Community Can Learn from Converts
• Choosing to Be Jewish: The Orthodox Road to Conversion
• Losing the Rat Race, Winning at Life: Ethics for Moderns