Shechinah at the Art Institute - by Irwin Keller (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Shechinah at the Art Institute is a long-awaited collection of luminous essays, memoir, and poetry by rabbi, former drag queen, and self-proclaimed "hope-monger," Irwin Keller. In this book, Keller, most recently known for his viral protest poem, "Taking Sides," leads us on dazzling journeys into Jewish mysticism, love, loss, memory, gender, AIDS, and the Milky Way itself. Buckle your seatbelts.

"In Keller's luminous writings, divine messengers reveal both the radiance within the everyday and the clouds that subdue the sacred. With this dazzling book, Keller takes his place among the messengers."

"Quirky, playful, steeped in classical Jewish learning, Keller unveils long-suppressed queerness in Jewish tradition and encounters the sacred miraculously appearing in the secular world."

"This book makes my heart sing. Irwin reminds us that in this darkened world, there is still light. And there is love. It's what makes this book not just entertaining, but important."

"The wisdom, humor, and perspective in these stories will enrich you and gently bind you to other lives both ancient and modern. A good story heals the loneliness which is the hidden wound of our time. Bravo Irwin. What a gift you have offered to us all."

"Absolutely wonderful, so refreshing, hopeful in a world so desperate for peace."

Review Quotes

It has been said that God made people because God loves stories.

In which case Irwin is one of God's most beloved. The stories in

Shechinah at the Art Institute have many sources. Some are from the

life experience of the author. Others have been passed from hand

to hand for a thousand years. Still others are familiar as they are kin

to the stories which shape our own lives. The wisdom, humor, and

perspective in them all will enrich you and gently bind you to other

lives both ancient and modern. A good story heals the loneliness

which is the hidden wound of our time. Bravo Irwin. What a gift you

have offered to us all.

--Rachel Naomi Remen MD, author of Kitchen Table Wisdom and

My Grandfather's Blessings

I am not religious. But this book makes my heart sing. There's music

in Irwin's words. Wisdom, too. He reminds us that in this darkened

world, there is still light. And there is love. It's what makes this book

not just entertaining, but important.

--Linda Ellerbee, journalist and author

Quirky, playful, steeped in classical Jewish learning, Keller unveils

long-suppressed queerness in Jewish tradition and encounters the

sacred miraculously appearing in the secular world.

--Rabbi Dr. Rachel Adler, author of Engendering Judaism and Tales of

the Holy Mysticat

In these beautifully written meditations, Irwin Keller records his dialogue

with sacred texts of his Jewish tradition. Ay, absolutely wonderful,

so refreshing, hopeful in a world so desperate for peace.

--Greg Sarris, author of Grand Avenue and the forthcoming collection, The Forgetters