God Was in This Place & I, I Did Not Know is about seven different ways to read the Bible verse quoted in its title (Genesis 28:16). The titular verse is Jacob's exclamation upon awakening from his vision of angels ascending and descending a ladder to heaven. For centuries, readers have tried to imagine what the angels were trying to tell Jacob; Rabbi Lawrence Kushner has now surveyed some of the most illuminating reflections on that question. The book's sources range from Shmuel bar Nachmnani in third-century Palestine, to Hannah Rachel Werbermacher of Ludomir, who lived in 18th-century Poland. Kushner blends these rabbinic interpretations with his own reflections on Jacob's vision in a strong, impassioned style. God Was in This Place is not only about the Jacob story, however; it is, most importantly, a brilliant book about the way that Scripture offers meaning: "Biblical words shatter and rearrange themselves before our sustained gaze," Kushner writes. "As we read in Jeremiah, 'My word is like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that shatters the rock.'" --Michael Joseph Gross


From Publishers Weekly
The interpretations of the Genesis (28:16) account of Jacob's dream of a ladder with ascending and descending angels by seven historical rabbis--one, Hannah Rachel Werbermacher, who lived in Poland 200 years ago--are gathered here in an arresting interplay of ideas and backgrounds. According to Massachusetts rabbi Kushner ( The Book of Letters ), this collection of views is "actually one long midrash, that is, fiction concealed beneath the apparent text of the biblical narrative." This imaginative volume is filled with reverence for the Hebrew word and the tradition that transmits as well the identity of its great teachers through the centuries. With considerable flexibility in blending ancient wisdom with contemporary illuminations, Kushner makes accessible to readers the richness and attractions of mystical inquiry. Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
Using a biblical verse (Genesis 28:16) as a starting point, Kushner, a Reform rabbi, introduces the reader to seven spiritual teachers of the 3rd to the 19th centuries who "come alive" in Kushner's presentation and offer midrashic interpretations of the verse. The book is not only an introduction to Jewish mysticism and to midrash, but also a profound exploration of the necessity of paying attention to God's presence, of the nature of evil, and of the dangers of egoism. These meditations can benefit Christians as well as Jews. Highly recommended for public libraries.Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.


The Christian Century, November 20-27, 1991
A combination of ancient wisdom, modern good sense, and the impetus for some do-it-yourself meaning-stalking.


Publishers Weekly, October 25, 1991
Makes accessible to readers the richness and attractions of mystical inquiry.


The Christian Century, November 20-27, 1991
"A combination of ancient wisdom, modern good sense, and the impetus for some do-it-yourself meaning-stalking."


David Mamet, playwright, author of American Buffalo
"A beautiful book which uses both reason and art...to bring the author and the reader closer to God."


Dr. Norman J. Cohen, Provost of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and Professor of Midrash, and author of Voices from Genesis
"A brilliant fabric of classic rabbinic interpretations, medieval commentary, hasidic insights, and literary criticism which warms and sustains us."


Father M. Basil Pennington, O.C.S.O.
"We have another Buber here, a Heschel....[Kushner] expresses the truly profound with joy, lightness and humor....anyone who loves The Book will love this book."


Rev. Robert G. Trache, Rector, Immanuel Church-on-the- Hill
"Kushner has taught me more about God and my own Christianity than any other teacher I have known....A bold attempt to translate the flavor of mystical Judaism intot he life of the 20th Century person, Jew and non-Jew alike, and he has been successful."


Values and Visions
"The value of this volume is Kushner's ability to calibrate the vibrancies of Jewish mysticism and bring them into relevance to the modern world."


Moment magazine
"A vital Jewish text of enormous transformational power."


The Jerusalem Post
"No one who reads this book will ever again be able to skim through the story of Jacob's dream casually."


Publishers Weekly, October 25, 1991
"Makes accessible to readers the richness and attractions of mystical inquiry."


Book Description
Who am I? Who is God? Kushner creates inspiring interpretations of Jacob s dream in Genesis, opening a window into Jewish spirituality for people of all faiths and backgrounds. Jacob lies down in the desert and dreams that angels are ascending and descending a ladder to heaven. For thousands of years, people have tried to listen to what messengers told Jacob in one of the great mystical encounters in Western religion. In a fascinating blend of scholarship, imagination, psychology, and history, seven Jewish spiritual masters ask and answer fundamental questions of human experience.


About the Author
Lawrence Kushner, Rabbi at Congregation Beth El in Sudbury, Massachusetts, is widely regarded as one of the most creative Jewish theologians in America. He has lectured extensively on the themes of personal and institutional spiritual renewal.

ANNOTATION

Kushner creates inspiring interpretations of Jacob's dream in Genesis, opening a window into spirituality from a Jewish perspective for people of all faiths and backgrounds. In a fascinating blend of scholarship, imagination, history, and psychology, seven Jewish spiritual masters ask and answer fundamental questions of human experience.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Opens a window into Jewish spirituality for people of all faiths and backgrounds. Blending scholarship, imagination, psychology and history, Kushner creates inspiring interpretations of Jacob's dream in Genesis. Through creative reconstructions of "conversations" with seven Jewish spiritual masters, he asks and answers the fundamental questoins of human existence: Who am I? Who is God? A new and dynamic spiritual and literary genre. Rabbi Kushner's insights put him at the forefront of America's spiritual renewal.

FROM THE CRITICS

Christian Century

"A combination of ancient wisdom, modern good sense, and the impetus for some do-it-yourself meaning-stalking."

Publishers Weekly

The interpretations of the Genesis (28:16) account of Jacob's dream of a ladder with ascending and descending angels by seven historical rabbis--one, Hannah Rachel Werbermacher, who lived in Poland 200 years ago--are gathered here in an arresting interplay of ideas and backgrounds. According to Massachusetts rabbi Kushner ( The Book of Letters ), this collection of views is ``actually one long midrash, that is, fiction concealed beneath the apparent text of the biblical narrative.'' This imaginative volume is filled with reverence for the Hebrew word and the tradition that transmits as well the identity of its great teachers through the centuries. With considerable flexibility in blending ancient wisdom with contemporary illuminations, Kushner makes accessible to readers the richness and attractions of mystical inquiry. (Dec.)

Library Journal

Using a biblical verse (Genesis 28:16) as a starting point, Kushner, a Reform rabbi, introduces the reader to seven spiritual teachers of the 3rd to the 19th centuries who ``come alive'' in Kushner's presentation and offer midrashic interpretations of the verse. The book is not only an introduction to Jewish mysticism and to midrash, but also a profound exploration of the necessity of paying attention to God's presence, of the nature of evil, and of the dangers of egoism. These meditations can benefit Christians as well as Jews. Highly recommended for public libraries.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

Strong, imaginative, open and profound.