This is an eloquent, soul-stirring, and illuminating collection of the writings of Abraham Joshua Hschel (1907 - 1972) edited by Susannah Heschel, who also provides a brief overview of her father's life and work. In these previously unreleased pieces, the inimitable Jewish theologian and teacher writes cogently about the mystery of God, reverence for human beings, the poignancy of prayer, the spiritual essence of being a Jew, the importance of study, the spiritual practice of wonder, the search for justice, and the homecoming of death.
The best essay is "An Analysis of Piety" in which Heschel celebrates a holy mode of living powered by gratitude and constant attentiveness to the presence and nearness of God. This remarkable book exudes the moral grandeur and spiritual audacity that is the hallmark of Judaism at its best.
