Review
Author: Harold S. Kushner
Reviewed by: SHA
Issue: March 2017
Harold Kushner is rabbi laureate of Temple Israel in Natick, Massachusetts, having served that and other congregations for many years. He is also a prolific author, having now written 13 books, the most well-known of which is When Bad Things Happen to Good People. Rabbi Kushner notes in the Preface that this book is in part a memoir and centers on rethinking religion and theology to address the spiritual needs of the younger generation, which has been the defining issue of my rabbinate and underlies much of which I write about in this book. His "nine essential things" reflect considerable wisdom but there were three that particularly got my attention. The first was "God Does Not Send the Problem: God Sends Us the Strength to Deal With the Problem," which seems self-explanatory, but directed at those who question or deny God's existence when bad things happen. The second is "Forgiveness Is a Favor You Do Yourself". He states that nursing a grudge or seeking revenge only perpetuates the offender's power over you. He continues to live in your head, reinforcing your frustration, polluting your imagination with thoughts of getting even. Kushner says that letting go is the best revenge and that forgiveness is the identifying marker of the stronger party to the dispute. My third favorite of the nine is "Religion Is What You Do, Not What You Believe". Kushner notes that he and other clergymen have heard the following words from marginal congregants trying to justify their noninvolvement: "I may not be religious in the conventional sense, but I am a very spiritual person." To clarify, he noted the following from a colleague: Spirituality is what you feel, theology is what you believe, religion is what you do. The most sublime religious faith becomes real only when it is translated into behavior: attending church, giving charity, and performing good deeds. Sent to me by our son, Peter, this slim volume will provide substantial food for thought and discussion.