A Wild Faith: Jewish Ways into the Wilderness, Wilderness Ways into Judaism

In this lyrical but practical primer to fusing Torah and nature, Comins writes: "Far from humans, in God's handiwork, my heart sheds its burdens and my prayers flow." An ordained rabbi, he felt suffocated by books and buildings until he returned to the source of his first spiritual feelings: the wilderness. Ironically, he writes, "I felt compelled to rebel against the very tradition that planted the thirst for God within me." To overcome the stereotype that "Jews just don't do that outdoor stuff," Comins offers insights from Jewish philosophers and spiritual practices that include meditations, mindfulness, journal-writing, reciting and writing psalms and blessings, and much more. As the subtitle indicates, Comins asserts that the relationship between Torah and nature is a two-way trail: wilderness is the best place to work out a personal, unscripted, fresh relationship with divinity, and Judaism offers a vocabulary and practice to translate the experience of wilderness into a life of purpose and meaning. For those who love nature and know little about Judaism, and those who love Judaism but know little about wilderness, Comins's message is clear: one need not choose between the two to find potential, promise and fulfillment. (Apr.)