Dancing with God: Everyday Steps to Jewish Spiritual Renewal

Dosick, author of Living Judaism, argues that Judaism is entering a new era he calls ""Soul Judaism,"" characterized by a fuller personal relationship with God. According to Dosick, contemporary Judaism is ""stale, hollow and irrelevant"" to many Jews; the synagogues have become community centers rather than worship centers; and, traditional Jewish rituals have lost their meaning. He outlines here a three-part set of spiritual practices designed to bring about a personal renewal of Jewish faith. In ""Connecting with God,"" he suggests exercises such as breathing and visualization, repeating a mantra and meditating as ways of making connections with God. In ""Connecting with Jewish Tradition,"" Dosick recommends learning Hebrew--he even includes a list of 10 Hebrew words with which to begin--and making an effort to find the spirituality inherent in the Sabbath and holiday celebrations. Finally, in ""Connecting with the Universe,"" the author advocates a lively interest in other religions and suggests ways to nurture the soul. While Dosick's thesis that Judaism is entering a new ""Soul"" age may be questionable, his blueprint for spiritual renewal will be useful to many Jews looking for more meaning in traditional Judaism. (May)