Dosick - Living Judaism: the Complete Guide to Jewish Belief, Tradition, and Practice

Hanistarot la-Adonai Elohanu, vhaniglot lanu ulvananu ad olam

The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are
revealed belong to us and to our children forever

DEUTERONOMY 29:28

I take great pleasure in extending deepest thanks and gratitude to those whose teachings and influence are reflected in this book:

The rabbis of my youth, Rabbi Ralph Simon and Rabbi Benjamin Daskal , in whose synagogue, Congregation Rodfei Zedek, Chicago, Illinois, I learned to love Judaism.

The seven modern masters to whom this book is dedicated: Dr. Irving H. Skolnick, Rabbi Dr. Jakob J. Petuchowski , Dr. Yehuda Shabatay, Rabbi Dr. Abraham Joshua Heschel , Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach , Rabbi Dr. Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, and Rabbi Jack Riemer. Each guided and taught mesome from intimately near, some from afarin a unique way; each profoundly affected my mind, my heart, and my spirit. Those who remain in this life continue to teach me every day; the voices of those who have gone to the Great Beyond echo deeply within me.

My teachers, who brought down to me the greatness of Jewish learning, and my rebbes , who inspired me to the goodness of Jewish living.

Four sweet singers of Israel, whoeach in his own very different way, and each at the exactly right cosmic momenttaught me to sing new songs unto the Lord (Psalms 96:1)Cantor Maurice Goldberg , Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach , Cantor Paul Zim, and Rabbi David Zeller.

The men, women, and children of the congregations in which I have served and taught: Congregation Beth Shalom, Wilmington, Delaware; Congregation Beth El, La Jolla, California; Congregation Beth Am, Solana Beach, California; and especially, The Elijah Minyan of Greater San Diego. I am particularly grateful to those who studied from this ever-developing text: the hundreds of people in the Introduction to Judaism classes who came seeking their heritage; the eighty-six people of the most recent Adult Bnai Mitzvah classes who affirmed their future by finding their past; and the scores of remarkable people who learned and chose Judaismexploring the past in order to embrace their future. I am most humbly and eternally grateful to five precious human beings who have learned with me continually for more than twenty years: Abe and Paula Kassam; Florence and Dr. Sheldon Kronfeld; and Dr. Gary Hartmanfellow seekers, all.

The students of the University of San Diego, who have given me the honor of sharing Judaism with them, and whose genuine curiosity, probing questions, and lovingly critical reactions have helped hone and sharpen this, their ever-evolving text; and the members of the administration and faculty who have welcomed me so warmly, especially the chairs of the Department of Religious and Theological Studies: the Rev. Dr. Robert Kress, the Rev. Dr. Ronald Pachence, Dr. Kathleen Dugan, and Dr. Gary Macy. I am profoundly grateful to my cherished friend, the Rev. James J. OLeary, S.J., for the gift of his sacred spirit.

I express deepest thanks to the Jewish Chautauqua Society and its indefatigable San Diego representative, my long-time friend, Richard Stern, who originally made it possible for me to come to USD.

Colleagues and friends who read all or parts of the manuscript of this book and enriched it immeasurably with their wisdom and insight: Dr. Lawrence Baron, Rabbi Marc Berkson, Dr. David Ellenson, Dr. Barbara Gereboff, Dr. Joel Gereboff, Rabbi Michael Gotlieb, Rabbi Roberto Graetz, Dr. Steven Helfgot, Rabbi Menahem Herman, Rabbi Ellen Lippmann, Rabbi Jack Moline, Rabbi David Posner, Rabbi Deborah Prinz, Rabbi Arnold Rachlis, Rabbi Dennis Sasso, Alvin Schultzberg, Rabbi Elie Spitz, and Cantor Paul Zim.

I am, once more, deeply grateful to three of the men to whom this book is dedicated for sharing the depths of their learning by extensively reviewing the manuscript, and thus continuing to teach me Torah: Rabbi Jack Riemer, Dr. Yehuda Shabatay, and Dr. Irving H. Skolnick.

My extraordinary literary agent, Sandra Dijkstra, and her talented assistant, Rita Holm, who keep the faith and work their magic; and the good folks at Harper San Francisco, especially Tom Grady, Steve Hanselman, Laura Galinson, and Mimi Kusch whose company commitment is to the opening and unfolding of the world of the spirit. I am particularly grateful to my outstanding editor, Kandace Hawkinson, who brings to her work a sharp blue pencil and her great big heart and soul.

My parents, Hyman and Roberta Dosick, and my parents-in-law, Clarence and Anna Kaufman, who live Judaism with all their heart, all their soul, all their might (after Deuteronomy 6:5); who took us to shul , who made Shabbas, who guided us to Gods ways, and whose faith inspires us and sustains us.

My sons, Scott and Seth. Their love envelops me always.

HaMalach hagoel oti mekol ra, yvarech et hanarim

May the angel who guards me from all evil bless these young men, and may my name be blessed in them, along with the names of my ancestors, and let them grow to greatness in this world (Genesis 48:16).

Ellenprecious wife, cherished partner, spiritual guide, planetary healer. She is a woman in whom the spirit of God lives (after Genesis 41:38). By her faithfulness, she has proven to be a worthy prophet; by her words, she is known as a trusted visionary (after Ben Sirah: 46:15).

The spirits who guide us; the guides who fill us with their spirit. Miriam: And all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam sang to them (Exodus 15: 20-21); Aaron: And Aaron spoke all the words which the Lord had spoken (Exodus 4:30); Elijah: And Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11); and Jonah: And the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time (Jonah 3:1).