Jewish Meditation: A Practical Guide by Aryeh Kaplan is the best book I have read so far on this topic. It is extremely interesting, inspiring, and easy to understand and has a wealth of information. I liked the fact that the author warns his readers about certain methods of meditation that are not for beginners while at the same time gives clarity about the various types of meditations that are safe with guidelines how to practice them. There are also a lot of extremely interesting facts about Judaism that I was happy to learn. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in meditation from a Jewish perspective and gaining some basic knowledge about Kabbalah.

Even though this book focuses on Jewish meditation and the Quabalah, the book can be read and used by anyone, either practically by following the exercises or simply to enrich their knowledge of meditation intellectually.



Some readers may avoid the book thinking that it would only be worthwhile to a follower of a Jewish tradition, a pity, since the book has much to offer everyone interested in meditating.



For those interested in a more in-depth treatment of Jewish Meditation and the Quabalah Aryeh Kaplan's other book 'Meditation and Kabbalah' goes into further detail.

Even though this book focuses on Jewish meditation and the Quabalah, the book can be read and used by anyone, either practically by following the exercises or simply to enrich their knowledge of meditation intellectually.

Some readers may avoid the book thinking that it would only be worthwhile to a follower of a Jewish tradition, a pity, since the book has much to offer everyone interested in meditating.

For those interested in a more in-depth treatment of Jewish Meditation and the Quabalah Aryeh Kaplan's other book 'Meditation and Kabbalah' goes into further detail.

Aryeh Kaplan was a rare individual. A Jewish scholar taken from us too early. If you get the chance take a look at his biography. This is one of his better books and the best book on Jewish meditation. Nothing comes close. Oddly enough, it is also a book that I think would have great appeal to anyone who is not Jewish or perhaps not even that relegious. This book has a lot of pleasant surprises. Enjoy and learn.

Rabbi Kaplan's book is a great and very practical place to start the experience of "walking with God" or devekut while praying or meditating. His book is particularly helpful in understanding that there are multiple techniques available to use in meditation and the spiritual quest. Sometimes we are more familiar with techniques from other cultures, such as Zen chanting, the whirling dervishes of Sufism and the body oriented techniques of Tai Chi.

Rabbi Kaplan points out techniques that have been used by Jews in the past. Not all of the methods are strictly Jewish per se. A particularly invaluable discussion that he begins relates to the portions of the prayer service and how to utilize them in a meditative manner. This definitely helps make prayer a more spiritual experience and reinvigorates the words with the true spiritual intent of their original authors.

Rabbi Kaplan, did not live long enough in his short life, to enable all of his knowledge to be shared with us all. But during those short years of his life, he was a most prolific writer. He was an Orthodox Jew who was able to straddle and live in both the secular and Orthodox Jewish worlds with relative ease. He was on the "Who is Who" in Physics, as well as, being a respected Rabbi and teacher for many in the Orthodox Jewish community.

He was the first, who brought the ideas of Kabbalah, which had been "hidden" as secret teachings between specific Rabbis and their pupils over the centuries. to the non-initiated, with a prose and style of writing which made the ideas crystal clear and relevant in our world and in our time.

This short book is a very concise practical guidebook to Jewish Meditation practices. Highly recommended!

In this work, the late Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan explores the Jewish roots of meditation, as well as a practical on how to meditate according to Jewish tradition.

He points out how meditation is an ancient part of Jewish religious tradition, contrary to popular belief. How the synagogue was meant originally to be a meditative experience, and how much of Jewish prayer liturgy is meant to be a meditative type connection with the Creator.

He marvels at how so many Jews look outside their Judaism for spiritual enlightenment, while it is all available within their own spiritual tradition.

As Kaplan takes us on this journey of exploration he deals with such questions as `What is meditation?', `Why meditate' , the various types of meditation available and how to do them as well as a chapter on
Musar, self-perfection, an important school in Jewish thought.

After reading this excellent work, you will never see Judaism, spirituality or meditation in the same way. It also can serve as a simple and helpful aid to begin your own meditation.

The first part of this book is a well- written introduction to the subject of Jewish Meditation including a historical survey of the subject. The second part consists in describing and evaluating various meditation techniques. As I do not 'meditate' myself I cannot be a proper judge of how effective the second part of the work is. The first part did however give me some understanding of what I understand to be a subject one must really ' experience' to know.