After long and arduous thought, I am pleased to announce the first
Recommended Book of the Week
in the Library of Temple Israel of Westport:
[Sefer Otiyot] The Book of Letters: A Mystical Alef-Bait by Lawrence Kushner.
What better way to start than with the letters used to create the words that fill so many Jewish texts!
This short, handcrafted book, written for adults, does not require previous knowledge of Hebrew (all Hebrew words are transliterated and translated), but it is so full of wisdom and insights and stories and obscure facts that even fluent speakers of the language can learn much from it.
Rabbi Kushner describes how the letters are pronounced and how to write them correctly and carefully; and he uses words that start with them to make profound connections. The Hebrew alphabet has long been seen as having mystical significance; some say it was around before the beginning of creation. This book makes us realize that exploring the apparently simple, basic building blocks of language can be lead to a deeper understanding of life, the universe, and everything.
