God Is a Verb: Kabbalah and the Practice of Mystical Judaism

Working to improve my communication skills, I wanted to know how the great thinkers define communication.Plato and Aristotle discussed this. The first purpose of comunication is truth.I nodded. I get that.Then I looked up definitions of truth. Truth is love.I plugged it into an if/then statement: If the first purpose of communication is truth and truth is love, then we are loving each other when we communicate. Got it.Then I looked up love. Love is truth. Love is God. Ok. I've heard that before. I'll accept it as a given.I added God to my if/then:If the first purpose of communication is truth, and truth is love and love is God, then God is communication.I shook my head. I didn't get that.So, I moved the words around in every combination to try to change the if/then and still it came out 'God Is truth is love is communication is God .'I pushed myself back in my chair, and blinked my eyes and stared at the screen. Then, slowly whispered outloud to no one, "God is a verb. GOD is a VERB?!"I had never thought about that before, so I popped the phrase into a search engine and found this book by David A. Cooper. I will never again see the world, or my place in it, the same way I did before I opened the book. A Christian by culture, not by training or education in a church, I had never before thought about Judaism and had no idea what a Kabbalah was.David A. Cooper writes in way that communicates with me directly. I feel as though I'm sitting in the chair next to him while he's telling me stories.Communication requires a sender and a receiver. So, then does love and truth and God. Once I started godding, it is impossible to stop. I openly admit that my understanding of this is child-like, imperfect and incomplete, but I just do it! And enjoy my time and place in the beautiful tapestry of the life.

Su grado de profundidad en la superficialidad del lenguaje es asombrosa. Nos provee de nuevas herramientas para la Gran Búsqueda.

Using this in a small, intimate study group, and loving it (we finish next week). Great combination of story, scholarship, and exercises for personal practice. Great for those interested in the study and practice of mystical experience, from whatever tradition (I happen to be Christian, but am passionate about spiritual wisdom that spans various traditions). Very accessible.

The typesetting in the Kindle version is unreadable. Purchase the print version. I hope the author will reissue the kindle version in print-replica format.

I have read this book and now decided to write a short review about it. This book is by far one of the most balanced and fair books on Kabbalah and its believers. I appreciate David Coopers own experiences as well as his mishnah on the subject. I am a religious professor and have been looking for material to add to a better explanation of Kabbalah to Christians. It is an easy read, yet rich enough to feel like you have gained some insight. It is refreshing to know that on the Jewish side God is moving just like He is on the Christian side of the scriptures. This book may very well be a vehicle to mending some of the misconceptions between Jewish/Christian affairs. Addition: I have taught this book to our group and referred it to many seeking the more of God. This is by far the best book ever written on the subject.

Simply put, this book is a terrific introduction to the mystical side of Judaism. Although I've been a student of religion for some time now, I've only recently started to make the transition from reader to do-er, joining some friends at Temple and at a Passover Seder; I've been very much impressed at how alive the Jewish faith is, and God Is a Verb only reinforces that impression. The author does a tremendous job of explaining the basics of the religion, the basics of the mystical side of the religion, and the basics of actual Jewish meditative practice. Perhaps the best aspect of this book is all the wonderful Hasidic stores Rabbi Cooper uses to illustrate his points. I could not recommend this work more highly. It has given me the confidence to now try and crack some more esoteric and scholarly works on Kabbalah.

I am not done with this book yet, but wow, what a treasure. Highly recommend this book if you are willing to be challenged to grow in your believes and willing to think outside the box as well., I hope to write a better review later, but as for now... this book has tons to ponder. For me it is not a book to read through all at once. There is too much to really sit with and meditate on before you move on and thats why I love it so much too. Its a slow read if you want to get the depth of the book, but it is one worth to have in your library and study and explore with.

I've read other books on the study of the Kabalah. This was boring after a while. A few interesting bits and pieces. But to jumbled up. No real concrete step by step how to incorporate the Kabala principles. A lot of contradictions, which the author says it is. Very confusing. I like some of the other straight forward Kabala books. Rabbi Berg is good. A lot better books out there.

This is an encyclopaedic well written book, containing much of practical and theoretical importance concerning Kabbalah. If you are a beginner, you will learn much, if more advanced, it will significantly deepen your practice. Well written, quite dense as you would expect from a subject which can be quite difficult in places. Learnt a lot from it, and rereading.

A truly excellent book

This is without doubt the most helpful book I have found in the quest to practice Kabbalah rather than studying the subject as an academic exercise. Delightfully written and remarkably accessible given the complexity of mystical practice.

Excellent book.

Glorious