The Jew in the Lotus - by Rodger Kamenetz (Paperback)

About the Book

"A book for anyone who feels the narrowness of a wholly secular life or who wonders about the fate of esoteric spiritual traditions in a world that seems bent on destroying or vulgarizing them".--New York Times Book Review.

Book Synopsis

"A highly entertaining personal account of one man's surprising journey into the mystical heart of Judaism."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

From the Back Cover

While accompanying eight high-spirited Jewish delegates to Dharamsala, India, for a historic Buddhist-Jewish dialogue with the Dalai Lama, poet Rodger Kamenetz comes to understand the convergence of Buddhist and Jewish thought. Along the way he encounters Ram Dass and Richard Gere, and dialogues with leading rabbis and Jewish thinkers, including Zalman Schacter, Yitz and Blue Greenberg, and a host of religious and disaffected Jews and Jewish Buddhists.

This amazing journey through Tibetan Buddhism and Judaism leads Kamenetz to a renewed appreciation of his living Jewish roots.

Review Quotes

"A book for anyone who feels the narrowness of a wholly secular life ...." - New York Times Book Review

"It's fascinating to see what is good and true and real in terms of different religious sensibilities." - E. L. Doctorow

"A highly entertaining personal account of one man's surprising journey into the mystical heart of Judaism." - Kirkus Reviews

"A profound discussion of religion, exile, and survival in our time." - Andrei Codrescu, poet and NPR commentator

"A feast of truth sharing, self-examination of lineage, humor, and good will." - Ram Dass