Analysis of Honey from the Rock by Kushner - Book Report/Review Example

Honey from the Rock: A Response Paper Ever since it was originally published in the latter part of the 1970's, the book Honey from the Rock have touched its readers' hearts and enlightened their minds. Its articulation of the key points of Judaism have even made insightful effects on its Christian readers as well as on those belonging to other religions whose faith is well-founded in the belief of one God. Although it is a book that basically deals with Jewish mysticism and spirituality, its main thesis and conclusions are quite applicable for everyone who wishes to lead a life of faith and hope, and to radiate these to others.

Lawrence Kushner, who is a rabbi, an educator, and an accomplished writer, wrote the book. His being a good educator and a prolific writer can easily be noticed in the way the book is written. While the book deals with a very serious topic, which some other modern rabbinic authors may not help but use a tone and choice of words comparable to the Torah, Kushner was able to explain his points in a clear and concise manner typical of an academic. However, even while he did use a layman reader-friendly tone and vocabulary, his being a rabbi stood out with his weighty and astute articulation of the ten gates of Jewish mysticism.

He does not stop at being a rabbi and educator to his readers. He reaches out to them as a friend too through his exhortations to give life to the teachings by applying it to daily life. Some books of the same genre may sound too self-righteous at times. However, Honey from the Rock does not sound that way. Instead, Kushner merely points out the essence of the most important aspects of the Jewish faith and relates it to modern living's practical situations. It is up to the reader's degree of appreciation to the book that he gets enlightened.

It depends on how he grasps the meaning of every word that the author writes that he gets inspiration. The tone of the book alone proves how Kushner does not wish to impose his ideas on anyone of his readers. The gentle encouragement complemented well the sharpness of his analysis. He leaves it to the readers to make the first steps in renewing themselves and follow the path of the righteous. In the anniversary edition of his book, Kushner writes, "The great stories did not happen to the masters of old alone.

They happen to us. You and I. This moment. A tale unfolds." (Kushner) This actually summarizes the thesis of the whole book. Naturally, the author sees the need to remind the reader of the Jewish people's sufferings and struggles in the past. He needs to recount how God was with the people He loved through all these tribulations and how He led them out of slavery and the wilderness back to the Promised Land through the leaders of old. However, relates these stories to the trials that men now face in these modern times.

The Jewish faith may no longer be held by people who have the same troubles as heavy as those in the time of Moses but they certainly still have trials in their personal lives. Kushner proceeds to expound on the idea that people do not need to be driven out from their homeland and enslaved before going back to God's ways. In his own words, he said that people's personal miseries are the wildernesses in their lives, their weaknesses in morality are their enslavement, and their lack of faith is their exile.

Therefore, to overcome their sinful ways is their liberation and their return to worshipping God is going back to the Promised Land. This is how everyone can emulate the heroism and faith of the ancient Jews in these modern times. The book is an effective tool in altering one's outlook in life. Its effectiveness lies in the simplicity that Kushner explains his message. The book does not really present something new or original. After all, it merely provides its readers a review of the basics teachings of Judaism.

However, what makes the book interesting and unique, in its own right, is the way it packages such teachings to become more easily understood by the modern reader. Because of this, it is not impossible that Honey from the Rock will become a classic Jewish book years from now.Works CitedLawrence Kushner, Honey from the Rock: An Introduction to Jewish Mysticism, ISBN: 1-58023-073-3