Alan Lew

Alan Lew (1943–2009) was a Conservative rabbi best known for establishing the world's first Jewish meditation center and for his work bridging Jewish and Buddhist traditions.[1][2] Lew was often described as "the Zen rabbi," a phrase that he himself used in the title of his book One God Clapping: The Spiritual Path of a Zen Rabbi.[2][3]

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Lew grew up in a secular Jewish household. In the 1960s, he experimented with Asian spiritual practices and eventually discovered Zen Buddhism.[4] When preparing for ordination as a Zen Buddhist priest, he had an epiphany regarding his Jewish identity which set him on a path to exploring Judaism.[1] Lew went on to become a Conservative rabbi, leading Congregation Beth Sholom in San Francisco, California, and focusing on teaching meditation in Jewish contexts. He established the Makor Or meditation center at Beth Sholom, the world's first synagogue-based Jewish meditation center.[1] He has been noted for his books and for his work on how meditation plays an important role in the process of teshuvah (repentance).[4]

Lew's books include:

  • One God Clapping: The Spiritual Path of a Zen Rabbi (1999)[5]
  • This Is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared: The Days of Awe as a Journey of Transformation (2003)
  • Be Still and Get Going: A Jewish Meditation Practice for Real Life (2007)

References
  1. Green, David B. (2015-01-12). "This Day in Jewish History 2009: A Man Who Brought Buddhist Enlightenment to Jews Dies". Haaretz. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  2. "Zen rabbi Alan Lew dies". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 2009-01-14. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  3. Palevsky, Stacey (2009-01-14). "Rabbi Alan Lew, influential Zen rabbi, dies suddenly at 65". J. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  4. "September 15, 2006 ~ Rabbi Alan Lew | September 15, 2006 | Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly | PBS". Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly. 2006-09-15. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  5. Google Books (Click on "p. iv" link for full data)
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