Our Lives as Torah: Finding God in Our Own Stories - Paperback

by Carol Ochs (Author)

In this powerful book, Carol Ochs shows us how to develop a personal theology by examining our life stories, learning to recognize God at work in them, and bringing them into conversation with Torah. Using timeless biblical texts as lenses to see the present, she helps us understand who we are and who God is for us by exploring the tightly interwoven basic elements of our lives--our love, suffering, work, bodies, prayer, community, and experiences of death.

Through the process of seeing our experiences in relation to Biblical stories, we begin to recognize our lives as part of the ongoing story of the Jewish people--as Torah. This insight allows us to see these experiences as meaningful, not accidental, and opens us to recognizing God's power in and through all that happens to us. Rather than a collection of random events, our lives are part of the Jewish people's ongoing adventure. Armed with our personally shaped theology, we can face this adventure of living in the vanguard of history with awareness and confidence.

Front Jacket

Many of us struggle with the image of God we were taught as children. The harsh, capricious, and impersonal Adonai we may have heard about in Hebrew school is not the God we have come to know and love today. But how do we find words to articulate our understanding of God or to describe our powerful relationship with this transcendent presence? In this powerful book, Carol Ochs shows us how to develop a personal theology by examining our life stories, learning to recognize God at work in them, and bringing them into conversation with Torah. Using timeless biblical texts as lenses to see the present, she helps us understand who we are and who God is for us by exploring the tightly interwoven basic elements of our lives-our love, suffering, work, bodies, prayer, community, and experiences of death. In our quest for meaning, we seek answers to life's central questions: "Who am I?" "Why am I?" "Who is God and how do we relate to the holy?" The answers to these questions define our own personal convictions. While the theology we received from our tradition and Hebrew scriptures may give us the building blocks, the language, and even the questions to be addressed, it cannot provide the answers. Only we can create a belief system out of our life experiences, adding to what we received and reshaping it as we live our lives. All our stories, holidays, and practices are means to an end-our relationship and deepening intimacy with God. Through the process of seeing our experiences in relation to Biblical stories, we begin to recognize our lives as part of the ongoing story of the Jewish people-as Torah. This insight allows us to see these experiences as meaningful, not accidental, and opens us to recognizing God's power in and through all that happens to us. Rather than a collection of random events, our lives are part of the Jewish people's ongoing adventure. And armed with our personally shaped theology, we can face this adventure of living in the vanguard of history with awareness and confidence. The Author Carol Ochs is director of Graduate Studies and Visiting Professor of Philosophy at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City. She holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Brandeis University and taught philosophy at Simmons College in Boston.

Back Jacket

A most intriguing book! What is it? A work of theology? Personal reflection and childhood memories? Biblical commentary? Psychotherapeutic exploration of the unconscious, epic stories of love and loss, a self-help guide, poetry of the soul, a book of healing? Suddenly the mind penetrates to the core of this work and grasps its inner meaning: it is all of the above and more. This is a poignantly beautiful work of theological understanding. --Blu Greenberg, author of On Women and Judaism and How to Run a Traditional Jewish Household "A moving and inspiring book that should be read by anyone wishing to have a richer, deeper life. Ochs's approach to Jewish theology will be helpful to people of all faiths and to those in search of faith." --Professor Susannah Heschel, author of Abraham Geiger and the Jewish Jesus "Through her powerful stories, piercing intellect, and challenging commentary, [Ochs] enables each of us to discover God's presence in all that happens to us." --Rabbi Norman J. Cohen, provost, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion "With uncommon wisdom, Carol Ochs blends the discipline of theology with the art of story-telling to help us achieve the kind of self-awareness that can only enrich our lives." --Neil Gillman, professor of Jewish philosophy, The Jewish Theological Seminary "Show[s] us how to find ancient hints?a curved leaf here, a splash of water there?that help us shape a path that is ours alone, yet God's as well." --Rabbi Arthur Waskow, director of the Shalom Center and author of Godwrestling?Round 2 and Down-to-Earth Judaism "Anyone seeking to sanctify his or her life, in all of its detail, will be enriched and enlightened by this book." --Jacob J. Staub, vice president for academic affairs, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College "Gently and eloquently guides readers in discovering both the power of God to heal and comfort and that experientially grounded ... theology already in our possession." --Dr. Ellen M. Umansky, Carl and Dorothy Bennett professor Judaic studies and coeditor, Four Centuries of Jewish Women's Spirituality

Author Biography

CAROL OCHS is director of Graduate Studies and Visiting Professor of Philosophy at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City. She holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Brandeis University and taught philosophy at Simmons College in Boston.