"One of the most interesting books on the last forty years of American Jewish life that I have read…. A rare combination of passionate love of the Jewish people and love of ethics and goodness."
—Dennis Prager, nationally syndicated radio talk-show host and columnist, and bestselling author
“A testimony to the power of conscience, courage and compassion. Breathes with the love of the Jewish people, drawn from the spirit of Jewish moral sensibility and the energy of Jewish ethical activity.”
—Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis, Valley Beth Shalom
“A serious treatise on activism. Outlines the what, the why and the how—how to be an activist, how to root our activism in our faith, how we might begin to emulate the life choices Rabbi Weiss has made in order to protect the Jewish people and improve our future.... Immensely rewarding.”
—Ruth Messinger, president, American Jewish World Service
“Masterfully weaves rich insights from Jewish text and tradition with the powerful moral and political lessons from [Weiss's] unparalleled experiences as one of American Jewry’s most courageous, inspiring and, yes, controversial spiritual activists.”
—Rabbi David Saperstein, director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
“Proves [Weiss] is a pioneer not only in practicing activism but also in developing the theoretical foundations of the role of activism in organized Jewish community life. A must read for all who want to understand the power of activism to effect change.”
—Natan Sharansky
“Profound and insightful.... Responds to the central challenges to the Jewish people from the latter part of the twentieth century.”
—Rabbi Saul J. Berman, director, Continuing Rabbinic Education at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School
What can one person possibly do to change the world? Rabbi Weiss, a Jewish activist par excellence who has participated in hundreds of demonstrations, marches, vigils, hunger strikes and acts of nonviolent civil disobedience, outlines his answers clearly in this handbook. Activism is not reckless or impulsive behavior, he writes.Its goal-to help others and thereby to help repair the world-is based on a serious analysis of moral, political and logistical issues, bound by Torah. Weiss describes the foundations of spiritual activism and delineates its principles: choosing the cause, making partners, designing the strategy, leading other people and seeing the big picture. He expands and elucidates each facet with personal examples, from his efforts to free Soviet Jews to protesting Yasser Arafat's Nobel Peace Prize and installing handicapped ramps in his synagogue. Though the book has a Jewish focus, its principles are universal.Readers may not agree with all of Weiss's choices, but it is hard not to be moved when he asks, "For me the question is not, Why go to the end of the world to help another Jew? But rather, How can one not go to the end of the world to help another Jew?" (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Rabbi Weiss (founder & president, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, New York) has been called one of the 50 most influential rabbis in America. Here, he uses the materials of his own life to show how one can become an effective spiritual with an impact on social change. Includes a step-by-step "Spiritual Activist's Action Plan."
—Graham Christian
