Abraham Joshua Heschel brings us Thunder in the Soul: To Be Known by God in which one realizes the depth of the title’s meaning, “to be Known by God.” As a rabbi and civil rights leader, he explains God’s personal concern for each of us. He challenges American Jews and rails against racial injustice and war.
Like Hebrew prophets of old, he challenges the modern West’s proclivity to view science and human reason as sufficient to know how to lead a good life. He describes the need for rediscovering wonder and awe to find God.
This book is inspiring as it is intimidating because reading it will move the reader to an examination of conscience.

This small book is not a new publication but is a compilation of excerpts from other works by Heschel. This book is well worth the time to read. Reading and digesting this material can help a person in developing and expanding his or her spiritual life.
The excerpts are chosen carefully. Each page has a new insight into the human situation. It is not about a search for God. It is not the human species that searches for God. God searches for the individual. Heschel’s words can help the person become aware of God’s search and God’s purpose for the life of the individual and the society. Reading and re-reading this book will help the reader understand the spiritual life in the presence of God.

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A good introduction to the writings of Rabbi Heschel, about whom I knew nothing prior to reading this. I found his way of thinking about human life and the world through the lens of his faith to be very relatable, and he makes the important point that religion cannot be merely a private practice; indeed, that to make it such has strongly negative effects on society. But many of his ideas have a unique twist to them, a way of looking at the world that casts a new light on things (e.g., the idea that time is unique, but space is not). Well worth reading and pondering. ( )

A good introduction to Rabbi Heschel. Each chapter is fairly short, so one may read a little but have much to contemplate. These thoughts are complex, deep, and serious, yet full of positivity, even joy. Exuberance for the world is evident, nature especially is seen in a positive way and, coming out of a more Christian background where all is in a fallen state, this appealed to me. Rabbi Heschel also speaks frequently about the ineffability of G-d or humankind's relationship to Him. This also interested me due to my study of mysticism.

This book in this series, due to the short but intense chapters, made me imagine the series would be good for group study (a chapter per week) or personal contemplation and practice.

As with any brilliant mind and fiery heart, Rabbi Heschel proves you don't have to be Jewish to find meaning and value in his words: I have so many page corners folded for future reference. I hope to see more spiritual leaders presented in this series.

Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers for allowing me to read and review this book. ( )

In “Thunder in the Soul”, Abraham Joshua Heschel, a leading Jewish theologian and philosopher of the 20th century, makes traditionalist Jewish spirituality come alive for American Jews. He spoke out boldly and bravely against war and racial injustice. As an inspired intellectual, Heschel brought the great spiritual fervor of the Hebrew prophets to his role as a theologian. He challenged the sensibilities of the modern West, which views science and human reason as sufficient. To find God in our lives, we must rediscover wonder and awe before mysteries that transcend knowledge. Heschel firmly believes that God is passionately concerned about our lives and human affairs. Thunder in the Soul presents Heschel’s profound insights on a wide range of important topics, to challenge, inspire and invigorate readers who hunger for childlike wonder and thirst for justice. “Thunder in the Soul” aptly describes Heschel’s extremely intelligent state of mind and crystal clear mental framework. He spoke his mind fearlessly without mincing words. He sounds like a solitary voice in the wilderness, crying out against the injustices of our time. Heschel had a profound social consciousness that made him a great civil rights leader. He was considered “one of the truly great men” of his day and a leading prophetic voice of our time. Heschel reminded American Jews that they had a profound moral responsibility for each other’s liberation and for the plight of all suffering people around the world. I highly recommend “Thunder in the Soul” to all readers who wish to hear the prolific wisdom of Abraham Joshua Heschel. This book will appeal greatly to readers of our time and day. - Miriam Jacob