A Time for Every Purpose Under Heaven
 Ocean Waskow & Phyllis Ocean Berman
 (Associate Reviewer - Victor Cohen)
 2002 Farrar, Straus, & Giroux
  ISBN: 0374277796


The Jewish Life-Spiral as a Spiritual Path.

Guest Reviewer Victor Cohen writes:

I first met Arthur Ocean Waskow at a conference of Jewish educators (at that time, he called himself Arthur I. Waskow) where he autographed my copy of his God-Wrestling. Behind his beard & beneath his kipa one knew there was an intelligence, an originality, & a spiritualism that was distinctive in the Jewish renewal movement. Arthur's depth of religious commitment was unmistakable & unimpeachable.

Since that time, twenty years ago, Arthur has continued to write prolifically & to serve as an authentic leader for those not content with practicing Judaism by rote. His latest book, A Time for Every Purpose Under Heaven has been co-authored with his present wife, Phyllis Ocean Berman. As the biographical notes at the end tell us, she has had her own impressive career as an educator & religious leader: “Director of the Summer Program of the Elat Chayyim retreat center, and a Jewish-renewal liturgist, prayer leader, Torah-teacher, and storyteller.” (p. 251) She has written for Moment, Worlds of Jewish Prayer, & Tikkun, & as an Eyshet Chazon (a title bestowed on her by the Jewish-renewal community) she is currently studying for the rabbinate. One would expect a remarkable book from two such inspiring individuals, & A Time for Every Purpose Under Heaven is one.

Unlike most other works on Jewish life cycle events, which are primarily how-to manuals that adhere to halakhic ritual, A Time for Every Purpose Under Heaven is a guide for spiritual exploration. It is a manual for twenty-first century Jews who believe their religious practice & religious identity need to be redefined & renewed. In some ways this book is similar to Waskow's Seasons of Our Joy, which is an innovative guide to celebrating the events of the Jewish calendar, using a circle as its metaphor, the circle of the seasons.

In A Time for Every Purpose Under Heaven Arthur & Phyllis choose a somewhat different metaphor, the “Jewish Life-Spiral as a Spiritual Path.” Unlike a circle, upon which points of celebration return upon themselves, on the life-spiral the celebrant not only turns but moves ever upward. If I interpret this metaphor correctly, following a path along this spiral from cradle to grave, one's soul reaches higher up toward God, the Majesty or Breathing Spirit of the Universe (the book's translation of melekh or ruach haolam).

This new spin on the traditional melekh haolam or “King of the Universe” reflects on some of the major themes in the book. Arthur & Phyllis are filling many old bottles with new kosher wine through reinterpretation & retranslation. Of course, the obliteration of sexism (implicit in melekh) underlines many of their themes.

Another central theme for the new century is the acceptance & acknowledgement of same-sex relationships within Judaism. Suggestions within the chapter called “The Covenant of Huppa” are made on how such relationships can be consecrated Jewishly. Other topics are taken up that traditionally have not been included within Jewish life-cycle discussions; e.g., menarche, menopause, adoption, birthdays, “coming out,” name changes, & creating a household. It appears that for Arthur & Phyllis any act upon which we can confer significance may be sanctified & ritualized. Thus, this is not a manual for those who seek only traditionalism & dogma. Nor does it merely advocate hefker or “anything goes.”

The discussions & suggestions in A Time for Every Purpose Under Heaven are based upon a wealth of tradition, an exploration of biblical practices, rabbinic halakha, & existing contemporary ritual.

Arthur & Phyllis provide ample examples of prayers to be used & sources to be studied, along with history & midrash. One could, if s/he wished, piece together rituals from the substantial content presented in A Time for Every Purpose Under Heaven. But such an approach, I believe, would be a denial of the spirit of this book. Ritual is to be personalized & re-institutionalized. One of the truly delightful aspects of A Time for Every Purpose Under Heaven are the sections that begin “Phyllis recalls” or “Arthur recalls,” which give us a more intimate view of the authors' journey along the Jewish Life-Spiral.

A Time for Every Purpose Under Heaven starts out, in fact, with separate prefaces by each of the authors, expressing her & his point of view, as well as a collaborative preface written together. This separateness & togetherness of their Jewish lives as husband & wife, authors & teachers, is a motif that repeats itself throughout A Time for Every Purpose Under Heaven.

For the halakhically orthodox, this book is certain to present problems. Even for those Jews who are more open to change & adaptation, there are almost certainly ideas & suggestions that will not be to their taste. This is true of my own reading. I am not as touchy-feely as the authors & I must admit to being a bit scornful of some suggestions (especially those that are linguistic in nature). Nevertheless, if you are seeking enrichment in your Jewish life & would be grateful for expert guides to show you the way up the Life-Spiral, A Time for Every Purpose Under Heaven is a stimulating & indispensable companion.

More from Arthur Waskow:
God-Wrestling: Round 2, Seasons of Our Joy, These Holy Sparks, Down-to-Earth Judaism & The Freedom Seder.
By Arthur Waskow & Phyllis Berman: Tales of Tikkun: New Jewish Stories to Heal the Wounded World
(03/23/03)

Victor
2003©Victor Cohen
A RebeccasReads.Com Associate Reviewer

Reviewer's Bio:
Victor Cohen has degrees in Mathematics, Literature, & Linguistics. He has worked as a writer & translator, university instructor, school director, & software engineer. With a lifelong interest in music, he was a builder & teacher of recorders, & director of a consort in Israel. He is a founder of the Triad Early Music Society of Greensboro, North Carolina. Today, retired from his software career, he leads recorder workshops & teaches English at the Center for ESL at the University of Arizona in Tucson.