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Divine-Human Encounter
The Path to God in the Thought of Abraham Joshua Heschel
Foreword by Maurice Friedman
Introduction by Jo-Ann Mort
Imprint: Wipf and Stock
In his seminal work God in Search of Man, Heschel illustrates three paths to God and provides a practical guide for how the modern mind can open itself to God, or more precisely, through which the contemporary mind can respond to a God who is in search of human beings. In this book, Harold Kasimow clarifies the meaning of Heschel's "path to God" by devoting one chapter to each of the three aspects of this path. Using this "path to God" in its three aspects as an organizing principle, this book illustrates how Heschel's thought presents a balance between the rational and mystical poles of the Jewish tradition. A careful content analysis of his thinking reveals that Heschel is an authentic Jewish voice who presents an accurate Jewish theology. The first chapter is devoted to the Hasidic influence on Heschel, which Kasimow feels is most important for understanding Heschel's thought. The final chapter focuses on Heschel's unique attitude toward Asian religious traditions, which are becoming critical for authentic religious dialogue today.
Harold Kasimow is the George Drake Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at Grinnell College. He is the author, editor, and co-editor of a number of books on interreligious dialogue and on his teacher Abraham Joshua Heschel. His books include No Religion Is an Island: Abraham Joshua Heschel and Interreligious Dialogue and Abraham Joshua Heschel Today: Voices from Warsaw and Jerusalem.
“Few, if any, theologians have written as convincingly about the divine-human encounter as did Abraham Joshua Heschel, and Harold Kasimow offers an enlightening account of Heschel’s vision of that encounter. This book’s first edition inspired many readers to undertake their own exploration of Heschel’s theology, and this new version, skillfully edited by Jo-Ann Mort, makes that theology accessible to a far wider audience.”
—John Merkle, professor emeritus of theology, College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University
“This book gives important context to the great teacher Abraham Joshua Heschel by highlighting the theological underpinnings of his scholarship and his activism. It is an important addition to Heschel scholarship, especially at a time when we need teachers like Heschel to remind us that prayer often can inspire us to march and to engage.”
—Rick Jacobs, president, Union of Reform Judaism
“This is a book I never want to finish. Not for lack of captivation or relevance, but because I never want to leave the beautiful world of Abraham Joshua Heschel, of his ‘wonder, awe and inner devotion.’”
—Leonya Ivanov, author of Vechernie Nuni (Evening Whimpers)