Rabbi, Institute for Jewish Spirituality - Sheila Peltz Weinberg
"A tour de force.... It integrates the extensive research and teaching Rabbi Gold has pioneered and offers a luminous resource for the renewal of Jewish religious life and contemporary spirituality."
Rabbi, author, Amazing Chesed: Living a Grace-Filled Judaism - Rami Shapiro
"There are two ways to enter the gates of heaven: storm them from without or be invited in from within. Chanting is the way of invitation, and this book is the invitation to the invitation. I have chanted daily for decades, and Shefa was my teacher. Let her be yours as well."
Rabbi, Emanu-El Scholar at The Congregation Emanu-El of San Francisco; author, I'm God; You're Not: Observations on - Lawrence Kushner
"A literate, personal, inventive, beautifully written anthology of, and manual for, offering 'musical kavanot.' Gold offers American Jews seeking to rediscover the melody of meditation the perfect primer and inspiration."
Rabbi, author, The Path of Blessing: Experiencing the Energy and Abundance of the Divine - Marcia Prager
"A treasure of exquisite simplicity, wisdom and love! With mellifluous and stunning beauty ... offers a path of awakening through which outworn habits of heart and mind are discarded, core truths rediscovered and ever more expansive capacity for joy is born."
Rabbi, author, A Book of Life: Embracing Judaism as a Spiritual Practice - Michael Strassfeld
"Shefa Gold has transcribed the music and meaning of Hebrew chant onto the pages of this book. Yet the experience of these chants flows off the page and connects you to the Jewish past and this very moment."
Rabbi, Wiener Professor of Contemporary Jewish Civilization and director, Levin-Lieber Program in Jewish Ethics, Reconst - David Teutsch
"Combines the insight of a seeker, the textual knowledge of a rabbi, the clarity of a gifted teacher and the voice of a creative composer.... This moving volume provides sufficient guidance for a beginner while taking more advanced practitioners to new heights."
Rabbi, co-director of programs, Institute for Jewish Spirituality; series editor, LifeLights - Nancy Flam
"This is the finest flowering of Rabbi Gold's vast experience and deep dedication to working with and understanding the energies of body, soul, voice, intention and consciousness in relation to sacred Jewish text."
PhD, author, Evolving Dharma: Buddhism, Meditation and the Next Generation of Enlightenment and God in Your Body: - Jay Michaelson
"Wise, warm advice from the foremost expert in this form of Jewish devotional practice. It is encyclopedic, thoughtful, accessible and deep."
Rabbi, PhD, professor of Jewish thought, Hebrew College - Nehemia Polen
"Allows readers to inhabit the immersive, transformative, gently flowering yet powerful world of chant: an indispensable guide for the spiritual seeker of our time. Highly recommended!"
Cantor - Linda Hirschhorn
"Shefa has transformed the world of chant, allowing both the chanter and the listener to find personal meaning in Jewish prayer through the mesmerizing repetitions of words and meditative melody."
Rabbi, author, Does the Soul Survive? A Jewish Journey to Belief in Afterlife, Past Lives & Living with Purpose and Heal - Elie Kaplan Spitz
"Boldly yet gently beckons you inwardly with prescriptions of stirring sacred words, offering a practice of wisdom, a pathway of self-discovery and a yearning to reach expansively toward God and compassionately toward God's creation."
Rabbi, author, Making Prayer Real: Leading Jewish Spiritual Voices on Why Prayer Is Difficult and What to Do about I - Mike Comins
"As it brings text study, song and contemplative practice togetherbody, heart and mind acting as onechant is the ultimate, spiritual practice. Shefa Gold is its prophet."
Rabbi, author, Meaning & Mitzvah: Daily Practices for Reclaiming Judaism through Prayer, God, Torah, Hebrew, Mitzvot - Goldie Milgram
"An incredibly clear, valuable, often transcendent transmission of powerful, readily implementable approaches to Jewish spiritual awakening, growth and healing. This is a sacred book to savor and widely gift to family, students and friends."
Rabbi, author, Davening: A Guide to Meaningful Jewish Prayer and Jewish with Feeling: A Guide to Meaningful Jewi - Zalman Schachter-Shalomi
"Lots of people chant and few become enchanted.... Rabbi Shefa guides her readers past the sentries of the legal/rational border into the sacred space of the charismatic/ecstatic realm."
Rabbi, director, Spiritual Education at the Academy for Jewish Religion; author, The Jewish Book of Days: A Companio - Jill Hammer
"Thorough, honest, and wise.... [It] will appeal to regular practitioners of sacred chant, and those who are intrigued by the possibility of a chant practice.... The book itself is almost a long chant, able to transform the consciousness. All who read it will find a treasure, not only in the book but in themselves."
Rabbi, author, Jewish Meditation Practices for Everyday Life: Awakening Your Heart, Connecting with God - Jeff Roth
"A deeply important contribution to all those interested in contemplative practice. At the same time, Rabbi Gold facilitates a profound connection to the sacred texts of the Jewish tradition illustrating their continued relevance to contemporary Judaism."
Rabbi, LCSW, director of spiritual development, The Academy for Jewish Religion, California; author, Mourning and Mitzva - Anne Brener
"For those new to these pathways to the Great Mystery (aka God), here is an invitation to a richer and more profound life; for those seasoned in the disciplines of meditation, chant and prayer, it will frame your experience with insight and wisdom. It will deepen your practice; it has deepened mine."
The Rev., DD, founder, Interweave, Inc. - Robert Corin Morris
"Invites the reader of any spiritual path to enter more deeply into the heart of love. Her contribution to Jewish spirituality in particular is immeasurable. May it endure!"
Rabbi, coeditor, The Book of Jewish Sacred Practices: Clal's Guide to Everyday & Holiday Rituals & Blessings - Irwin Kula
"One of our great teachers shares her secrets of how to enter the heart, open the mind, stir the spirit and awaken nothing less than a transformation in your self-understanding and love for others. The profound wisdom and amazingly beautiful chants are a gift for human flourishing. Be prepared to be touched by a magician of the soul."