The Real Name of God: Embracing the Full Essence of the Divine

Wayne Dosick. Inner Traditions, $19.95 (224p) ISBN 978-1-59477-473-7

To name is to know. So to know God, Dosick (20 Minute Kabbalah), a rabbi and radio program host, plumbs Hebrew etymology, numerology, and scripture to posit God's actual name: Anochi. Driven by the existence of multiple names of God found in the Torah, Dosick's effort is more than a semantic exercise. It is an attempt to reconcile all aspects of the divine. According to Dosick, Anochi (a translation of the Hebrew word for "I") is God; all other names represent particular aspects of Anochi. This overriding linguistic label allows Dosick to unify God's conflicting attributes. Importantly, the objective and subjective experience of God is explored through the interplay of the ultimate "Anochi, I-Source" and the personal "Anochi-I, God Within." Dosick stresses, however, that these two facets of Anochi are not identical because "we are of God, but we are not God." After introducing Anochi early on, Dosick fills most of the book with prayers, chants, and meditations on God's presence. Although he presents a genuine and moving expression of faith, Dosick's assertion that "we have found God's real Name" may be too bold for some readers. (July)

Reviewed on: 07/16/2012

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