Little Lower Than the Angels

Plot

Roland B. Gittlesohn here constructs a book which is directed towards students of Judaism, searching to confront life's most meaningful questions. He brings a great deal of the up-to-date scientific information in his trying to provide reliable and rational guidance. Above all he searches to provide for his students a basis for dialogue, a way of enabling them to contribute their own questions and perceptions, to answer for themselves life's most meaningful questions. He speaks about Religion and Science, about Prayer, about the Jewish way of life,and the meaning value of the Jewish tradition. He ends his book with a chapter which he says has no conclusion, indicating that he understands that each person must find and make the answers for their own life. What he has done has provided a Jewish framework and guidance for doing so.
One insight struck me strongly. He asks why in the Amidah or Shmoneh Esreh do we not open the prayer by just speaking of the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob but rather speak of the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob. He says that because for each one the circumstances of his life and its own unique questions and difficulties led him to a slightly different perception of God than others. So Gittlesohn sees Judaism evolving in its perception of God, and its perception of itself.
A truly instructive and inspiring volume.