heart of the matter, The

Book Description

In a religious tradition often focused on ritual observance and communal practice, Rabbi Arthur Green illuminates a quieter but equally profound path: the journey inward toward divine connection. This thoughtful exploration reveals how Judaism's mystical heart beats alongside its more visible expressions, offering seekers a doorway to deeper spiritual understanding.

Green weaves together his dual roles as scholar and spiritual seeker, presenting both historical insights into early Hasidic teachings and contemporary reflections on Jewish mystical practice. His approach bridges the gap between academic study and personal transformation, showing how ancient wisdom can speak directly to modern spiritual hunger.

Rather than simply cataloging mystical concepts, Green engages with the fundamental question that drives all authentic spiritual inquiry: what does it truly mean to live as a religious human being? Through careful examination of texts, symbols, and the voices of Jewish mystics across centuries, he creates a framework for understanding how inward devotion opens the human heart to divine presence.

This collection demonstrates how scholarly rigor and personal spiritual quest can inform and enrich each other. Green's work offers readers both historical grounding in Jewish mystical tradition and practical wisdom for cultivating their own relationship with the sacred. For those seeking to deepen their spiritual practice while honoring intellectual integrity, this volume provides a compelling model of how study and devotion can walk hand in hand.