Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Barber uses inspiration from ancient writings of Rabbi Yehonatan Eybeshitz but takes them a step further. Barber’s work offers philosophical exploration, but also instructs readers on ways to apply the valuable ideas in daily life.
Prose: Even though the writing is based on teachings of the Torah, Barber’s explanations are easy to understand and broadly relatable. His tone and words are comforting and therapeutic to the reader.
Originality: Barber brings a fresh and unique perspective to the ancient texts and teachings he presents.
Character/Execution: Barber’s organization is spot on. He makes the text accessible by alphabetizing the entries according to topic; this enables readers to browse the teachings at their own pace.
Date Submitted: October 13, 2022
Barber’s rich second collection of writings and teachings from 18th century Rabbi Yehonatan Eybeshitz continues the project of offering the English world its first translations of the work of the storied Kabbalist, but with an inviting twist. This time, demonstrating that it’s erroneous to believe that “the teachings of our great rabbis do not speak and address the issues that we face in the twenty-first century,” the material is arranged for reader accessibility, by topics (alphabetically ordered chapter titles include perennial concerns like “Conflict,” “Honesty,” “Marriage,” and “Punishment”), with Barber taking what he calls “the liberty” to translate with an eye for the “spirit of the ideas” rather than the direct literal translations of the earlier work, while also offering quick, clarifying commentary about how those ideas apply to contemporary life.The result is illuminating and engaging, a user-friendly collection that’s no less profound than its predecessor but significantly more suited to browsing—and more welcoming to non-expert readers eager to make a connection to one of the great experts on Jewish law. This new approach means the language here is less rich, but Barber’s distillations of the rabbi’s teaching on topics like circumcision preserves the richness and power of the original writing, in prose that’s scrupulously clear and precise: “If Abraham and his descendants needed to be circumcised to reach perfection, why were they not born circumcised? God wanted man to play an active role in bringing himself and the world to a level of perfection.”
Barber’s helpful additions, clearly marked in italics, continue that spirit of lucidity, at times going beyond explanations to offer compelling fresh examples, surprising connections (he draws on Mark Twain in the excellent chapter on Israel), and of-our-age advice, when he notes, sensibly, in the chapter on “Fear” that some debilitating fears need to be treated by professionals. This second collection is companionable, often challenging in its ideas but always rewarding and never obscure.
Takeaway: An inviting collection of insights and teachings from a great 18th century rabbi, freshly translated into English.
Great for fans of: Rabbi Yehonatan Eybeshitz’s Pearls of Wisdom, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
