Jewish Spiritual Direction: An Innovative Guide from Traditional & Contemporary Sources - Addison, Howard Avruhm, and Barbara Eve Breitman, eds. Jewish Lights, 2006. 356p. $30.00, hardcover. ISBN-10: 1-58023-230-2. ISBN-13: 978-1-58023-230-2. 296.6’1 Spiritual direction—Judaism. Jewish way of life.

Both Rabbi Howard Addison and Barbara Breitman teach Jewish spiritual direction, a contemplative form of Judaism. Essays from sixteen contributors span the practice of several areas of Jewish spiritual direction: guidance for the practice itself, the Jewish path to spiritual direction, and new dimensions in spiritual guidance. In addition to biblical sources, extensive references are made to the leaders of Jewish mystical tradition. Contemporary situations are cited, too.

A rabbi reflects, “Like wearing eyeglasses with different-colored lenses, people of different spiritual types actually ‘see’ the world differently.” So in spiritual direction, a goal is respecting differences for the common good.

The author of another chapter talks about contemplative listening as he explains spiritual direction within the Mussar tradition (an emphasis on spirituality in ethical and moral behavior). In the new dimension section, various creative forms (music, art, poetry, dance) are proposed as ways to guide spiritual direction.

A glossary, resource section, index of terms and concepts, and an index of classical sources cited are included. This book is recommended as a basic resource for those synagogue libraries whose congregants are amenable to both contemporary and traditional methods in healing, spirituality, and mysticism.

Evelyn Pockrass
Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation
Indianapolis, Indiana