Miraculous Living: A Guided Journey Through the Ten Gates of the Tree of Life

In this charming book filed with wonderful insights, Rabbi Labowitz guides readers nimbly through a considerable thicket of Jewish mystical wisdom. Labowitz focuses his attention on the Tree of Life tradition of Jewish mysticism, and he explores each of the 10 branches of the Tree of Life: Intention, Wisdom, Understanding, Compassion, Strength, Harmony, Success, Glory, Creativity and Nobility. To illuminate this tour, he calls upon references to Buddhist spirituality, feminist lore and Taoist philosophy. Labowitz sets himself a full plate, and his book is often frustrating and confusing, for he mixes metaphors by describing the tree of life as possessing city gates rather than branches. In addition, the purpose of the book is not clear, caught somewhere between a workbook for a spiritual journey and a commentary on the wisdom tradition of the Tree of Life. Even so, Labowitz has written an interesting introduction to some of the most absorbing insights in this Tree of Life tradition. (Oct.)