Steven Z. Leder

This slim volume of anecdotes by the Reform rabbi Steven Z. Leder discusses meaningful events, relationships, and phenomena that he has encountered in his life. Although I did expect more depth to this book, I found it a comfortable read nevertheless.

My favorite chapter was that in which the rabbi and his wife had been given a tenth anniversary present of a weekend at a New Age spa. His observations about many of the participants at that venue reflect my own feelings, but he was able to express them more succinctly.

“It turns out there’s a difference between Betsy and me, who returned to reality, and many of the spa’s other guests. Many weren’t just visiting the Dream State of Inner Peace; they were full-time citizens, going from spa to spa, seminar to guru, mud bath to watsu pool, cold cucumber wrap to crystals, and psychic to astrologer. They have plenty of money, time, and most of all, an unceasing interest in their own well-being to the exclusion of just about everything else. As far as I can tell, for these people and many who emulate them, the New Age pretty much boils down to “Me, me, me — far out!”

I also found the chapter in which Rabbi Leder wrote a letter to his mother on Mother’s Day very touching. As a mother of three myself, I can’t help but feel emotional when a son or daughter is able and willing to verbalize a note of thanks to Mom.

In addition, while discussing his work with the dying, Rabbi Zeder expressed what I’ve always felt as both a nurse and simply a person of compassion. “It may sound strange to the uninitiated, but for others—doctors, hospice nurses, rabbis—seeing people die well is a privilege.”

This book is based upon precepts of the Jewish faith, but I think those topics of which Rabbi Leder speaks in this book are universal enough for anyone to enjoy reading about them.… (más)