Experiencing the Divine: A Practical Jewish Guide
Living in 20th century Warsaw, R. Kalonymus Kalmish Shapira wrote works intended to revitalize the Hasidic movement, which had become in many ways a social rather than a spiritual movement. He wrote books that described the theory of Hasidic spirituality, offered a spiritual psychology and proposed practical means of living a God-inspired life. He was killed by the Nazis in the Warsaw Ghetto, and his manuscripts miraculously survived.
Experiencing the Divine: A Practical Jewish Guide is a short book that he originally wrote in the 1920's for a small circle of students. Incidentally, it has been translated into English under the title Conscious Community. This translation is more literal, with a more practical feel.
Attaining Good Traits
by R. Kalonymus Kalmish Shapira
Whatever good thing you see, whatever spiritual attainment or positive personality trait that you hear about or you read about in some holy volume that some holy person possessed, do not despair and say, "This is beyond my capacity." To the contrary, desire it and say, "Wasn't this person just a human being like me? If he had wasted his time the way I do, he also wouldn't have attained it. So why shouldn't I myself be able to reach that level?"
Even when you hear some explanation of a verse or of a passage in the Talmud that pleases you, feel a twinge of pain and say, "Why didn't I come up with that? Isn't that person a human being like me?"...
To get the entire book, please don't hesitate!
You can contact me at [email protected].
Experiencing the Divine: A Practical Jewish Guide is a short book that he originally wrote in the 1920's for a small circle of students. Incidentally, it has been translated into English under the title Conscious Community. This translation is more literal, with a more practical feel.
Attaining Good Traits
by R. Kalonymus Kalmish Shapira
Whatever good thing you see, whatever spiritual attainment or positive personality trait that you hear about or you read about in some holy volume that some holy person possessed, do not despair and say, "This is beyond my capacity." To the contrary, desire it and say, "Wasn't this person just a human being like me? If he had wasted his time the way I do, he also wouldn't have attained it. So why shouldn't I myself be able to reach that level?"
Even when you hear some explanation of a verse or of a passage in the Talmud that pleases you, feel a twinge of pain and say, "Why didn't I come up with that? Isn't that person a human being like me?"...
To get the entire book, please don't hesitate!
You can contact me at [email protected].