Filling Words with Light
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Lawrence Kushner, author, lecturer and spiritual leader, is regarded as one of the most creative religious thinkers and writers in America. A commentator on National Public Radio's All Things Considered, he has focused us on spiritual renewal with wisdom and humor. Through his books and lectures, people of every faith and background have found inspiration and new strength for spiritual search and growth. It has been said that some spiritual leaders blend religion and psychology to help us walk better on the ground, but Lawrence Kushner draws on the wisdom of the mystics to help us dance better on the ceiling.
Kushner's acclaimed books include I'm God; You're Not: Observations on Organized Religion & Other Disguises of the Ego; Honey from the Rock: An Easy Introduction to Jewish Mysticism; Invisible Lines of Connection: Sacred Stories of the Ordinary; The Book of Letters: A Mystical Hebrew Alphabet; Jewish Spirituality: A Brief Introduction for Christians; and In God's Hands, an inspiring fable for children, with Gary Schmidt (all Jewish Lights).
Kushner served as rabbi at Congregation Beth El in Sudbury, Massachusetts, for almost thirty years; he is currently the Emanu-El scholar at Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco, and an adjunct faculty member at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. He is fascinated by graphic design and computers (designing most of his Jewish Lights books). He enjoys Mozart, hanging around sailboats, and making his granddaughters giggle.
Content
Introduction xi
1. The Blessings of Morning: Birkhot Hashachar
1.1 Awakening 3
1.2 Gratitude 6
1.3 Tents of Jacob 7
1.4 The Manner of Arabs 8
1.5 Fringes 9
1.6 A Sign on Your Hand 11
1.7 The Human Body 13
1.8 Apertures and Organs 15
1.9 Sweet in Our Mouths 17
1.10 No Fixed Measure 19
1.11 Acts of Love 20
1.12 Sacrifices 21
1.13 Rabbi Ishmael 23
2. Verses of Song: Pesukei D'zimrah
2.1 The Hidden God 27
2.2 Decrees 29
2.3 Tears of God 31
2.4 Serving in Joy 33
2.5 The Eternal Name 35
2.6 Generations 37
2.7 Those Who Fall 38
2.8 God's Majesty 39
2.9 Every Soul 40
2.10 Song at the Sea 42
2.11 Remnant of a Melody 43
3. The Shema and Its Blessings: Shema U'virkhoteha
3.1 Blessing 47
3.2 Light 49
3.3 Commandments 52
3.4 Unity 56
3.5 Likeness 59
3.6 Lying Down 62
3.7 The Adversary 63
4. The Standing Prayer: Amidah
4.1 Open My Lips 67
4.2 Abraham 70
4.3 Resurrection 72
4.4 Sanctification 74
4.5 The Holy God 76
4.6 Pleasures 80
4.7 Joy 81
4.8 Wisdom 82
4.9 Repentance 83
4.10 Healing 85
4.11 Favor 86
4.11 Gratitude 88
4.13 The Light of Face 89
5. The Reading of Torah: K'riat HaTorah
5.1 The Ark 93
5.2 Adonai, Adonai 97
5.3 A Favorable Moment 99
5.4 Your Place 100
5.5 An Open Heart 102
5.6 Cleaving 103
5.7 Giving Torah 105
5.8 This Is the Torah 106
5.9 Open Your Hand 108
6. Supplication and Obligation: Tachanun v'Alenu
6.1 Compassion 111
6.2 Reverence 114
6.3 Open Your Eyes 116
6.4 Support from Zion 117
6.5 None Else 118
6.6 God's Will 120
6.7 The Messiah 122
6.8 None Like Our God 124
7. The Sabbath: Shabbat
7.1 Sabbath Lights 127
7.2 Come, My Beloved 129
7.3 Flame Fused to Wick 131
7.4 Pieces of Peace 133
7.5 Planned All Along 134
7.6 The Table 136
7.7 Messengers 138
7.8 Children 140
7.9 An Extended Hand 142
7.10 Now Finished 145
7.11 Faint with Yearning 147
7.12 Lights of Fire 149
7.13 Completion 152
7.14 Elijah 153