Dr. Eugene B. Borowitz, the leading theologian of liberal Judaism,
is the Sigmund L. Falk Distinguished Professor of Education and
Jewish Religious Thought at the New York School of Hebrew Union
College–Jewish Institute of Religion where he has taught since
1962. He is a prolific author, having written many articles and
books, and was the founding editor of Sh'ma: A Journal of Jewish
Responsibility. His book, The Mask Jews Wear, received the National
Jewish Book Award in the field of Jewish Thought.
Frances W. Schwartz is coauthor, with Borowitz, of The Jewish Moral
Virtues, and is adult learning coordinator of the Union for Reform
Judaism. She teaches Jewish adults in many different venues.
A Touch of the Sacred is a theological memoir, a collection of
powerful, soul-strengthening musings from the leading theologian of
liberal Judaism. It is edited for lay audiences by Frances
Schwartz, adult learning coordinator of the Union for Reform
Judaism.
In the Introduction, Borowitz informs us: "Too often, books on
religion are written either primarily for the head or for the
heart—as if thinking people don't also feel intuitively, and
spiritual types never think much at all. Bosh! Here is our special
mix for you…. It is our hope that these pieces will serve as unique
windows into Judaism—in bite-size, sacred 'touches'."
For the first time, Dr. Eugene Borowitz, the "dean" of liberal
Jewish theologians, opens his heart as well as his mind as he talks
about the mix of faith and doubt, of knowing and not-knowing—the
elements of Jewish belief—in an easily accessible style. In these
pages, Borowitz shares with the reader his rich inner life, which
draws from both the rational and mystical Jewish thought that have
inspired two generations of rabbis, cantors, and educators.
Borowitz explores such themes as Seeking the Sacred One, Doing Holy
Deeds, Creating Sacred Community, Reading Sacred Texts, Thinking
about Holiness, Learning from Holy Thinkers and much more….
This is not Prof. Borowitz’s most profound, academic or deep book,
but it is a powerful personal collection of his thoughts on Jewish
theology, Torah, revelation, ritual, the Jewish people, and a
variety of other topics, after having taught at HUC-JIR for over 50
years, and lectured in congregations throughout the world. It is an
enjoyable and fascinating read—as is anything by Gene Borowitz. We
are blessed to have him as our teacher.
*Jewish Media Review*
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