One God clapping

By Alan Lew

Book Description

Rabbi Alan Lew's spiritual journey defies conventional boundaries, weaving together two ancient traditions in unexpected ways. Born into Jewish ritual in Brooklyn, Lew finds himself spiritually adrift when his family relocates to suburban life. His search for meaning leads him to 1960s California, where he discovers Zen Buddhism among poets and countercultural seekers.

Through years of Buddhist practice, Lew develops profound self-awareness that ultimately reveals something surprising: his deep, unshakeable connection to his Jewish identity. This realization transforms his path entirely, drawing him away from Buddhism and toward rabbinical studies. Yet even as he assumes leadership of San Francisco's largest Conservative synagogue, his spiritual exploration continues.

Confronted with questions about his Buddhist background, Lew must examine what each tradition offers and how they might inform one another. His story unfolds through a series of revelatory moments, each offering insight without easy answers or simple conclusions.

This memoir captures the complexity of modern spiritual seeking, where East meets West in America's unique religious landscape. Lew's experience illuminates how ancient wisdom traditions can intersect and enrich one another, while honoring the authentic call of one's deepest spiritual roots. His journey speaks to anyone navigating between different paths of understanding, seeking integration rather than abandonment of their spiritual discoveries.