We all have our favorite trilogies. Many people point toward Star Wars, or Lord of the Rings. Others refer to the Hunger Games or the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and the risqué among us might whisper about the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy.
But as for me, I would vote for Rabbi Goldfeder’s three books. That is partly because I am Rabbi Goldfeder. But it is also because, with my just-released third book, I have now dealt with three of the topics that are most central to my thinking. The Omer Book – self-awareness as a basis for relationship with others; The Genesis of Togetherness – deepening the conversation within and about marriage; and now, my third book, Passionate Prayer, about cultivating intimate relationship with the Divine.
For people who pray regularly, there is always the danger of ennui. Regular prayer sounds, well, regular. Repetitive. Rote. And it certainly can be that way. But it can also be very intimate, emotive, evocative, complex, fresh, new, and real.
This book nudges us toward making that a reality. This is accomplished by seeing prayer for what it is: a relationship. And since it is a relationship, we can draw on universal wisdom about relationships and bring it to bear on prayer-relationship. And that’s what I do here – looking at the best thinking on marriage and developmental theory as a way to infuse prayer with relationship-awareness. And then I offer very practical guidance for how to turn regular prayer into an Intimate Encounter with the Divine.
If you’re someone who already practices, or is open to practicing, regular prayer, I hope you’ll give my book a try. And if you’re someone who is curious about the underlying principles that make prayer real, this book has something for you, too. And if you are someone who is curious about how ancient Torah sources interact with modern science and psychology, you won’t be disappointed, either.
You can order my new book, and others, here.
