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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.
View Table of ContentsReprinting selections from a person's writings can be a dodgy process, but here it works great. The editors choose sections that each work as an isolated text. Heschel's writing style and ideas proves to be just as compelling today as over 50 years ago, and the biographical info included from his daughter adds a great layer of context. Well worth reading.
On reading “Thunder in the Soul” by Abraham Joshua Herschel you must be willing to think, but more, to adore. Not adore the writer or his words, or simply comprehend the words, but to immerse yourself in the sweetness of the beautiful God behind the world that Herschel brings to us. This is the loveliness of the book. Herschel frequently describes ineffable moments with God, moments beyond our ability to express, and yet he does. As we read Herschel, we meet this glorious God that defies our understanding and we are drawn into the wonder. And it is at those times when we are left only to adore. Henry Lewis
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
