A Fine Blend of Scholarly & Popular Jewish Books
A Fine Blend of Scholarly & Popular Jewish Books
$22.95
In an age of great spiritual disconnection and alienation from the deepest aspects of our souls, Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel’s A Shepherd’s Song: Psalm 23 and the Shepherd Metaphor in Jewish Thought takes us on a spiritual journey through the luminous imagery of the shepherd archetype. The transformative power and message intimated by the shepherd metaphor and its history serves to remind us that we are not alone in a universe that is bereft of God’s ethical Presence. Timeless and inspirational, the shepherd metaphor addresses the fundamental relationship between God and man, speaking directly to questions raised by centuries of persecution. What is the nature of suffering in a just universe? How does suffering alter our perceptions of God? How can we rediscover our faith in difficult and challenging times? Rabbi Samuel explores questions of faith that are as old as the story of Job and as modern as the Holocaust.
A Shepherd’s Song by Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel Reviewed by Fred Reiss, Ed.D., May 1, 2014 WINCHESTER, California — Psalm 23 is arguably the most well known of the one hundred fifty psalms. Its opening line, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” presents a powerful image of the most awesome entity in […]
A Shepherd’s Song by Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel Reviewed by Jenna Black, San Diego State University, May 24, 2014 In reviewing Rabbi Michael Samuel’s inspiring and deeply spiritual book, I first want to establish my personal spiritual connection to his theme, the 23rd Psalm. The first two passages from the Bible that my devout Christian grandmother […]
Seek the Shepherd When He Is Near: A Book Review for Elul Reviewed on Olam Haemet September 7, 2014 Rabbi Michael L. Samuel’s new book, A Shepherd’s Song: Psalm 23 and the Shepherd Metaphor in Jewish Thought, has a unique application to the weeks approaching Rosh Hashanah. The Rabbis of the Talmud are fond of quoting, […]
A Shepherd’s Song: Psalm 23 and the Shepherd Metaphor in Jewish Thought by Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel Reviewed by Association of Jewish Libraries, November/December 2014 The image of the shepherd is a recurring theme in sacred Jewish texts. Especially familiar to Jews and Christians is the 23rd Psalm, the main theme of this book, which […]
… recommended for anyone who wants to delve into a deeper understanding of the nature and meaning of prayer and the reading of sacred text. – Association of Jewish Libraries, December 214. Read full review
Seek the Shepherd When He Is Near – Olam Haemet, September 1, 2014. Read full review
Psalm 23 is arguably the most well known of the one hundred fifty psalms. Its opening line, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” presents a powerful image of the most awesome entity in the universe providing you a comfortable place to rest, all you can eat and drink, and even protection from your enemies. How bad is that? To get these, all you have to be is ……… a sheep. – Fred Reiss, Ed. D., May 1, 2014. Read full review
Rabbi Samuel takes us step by step through the rabbinic expositions on the 23rd Psalm and the daily life and work of the shepherd with his (or her) flock as a metaphor of God’s love for Israel. – Jenna Black, San Diego State University, May 1, 2014. Read full review
Michael Samuel
