Tag: Judaism

Mysticism for the Modern Seeker: A Review of ‘Embodied Kabbalah’ by Matthew Ponak

‘Embodied Kabbalah: Jewish Mysticism for All People’ by Matthew Ponak. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Matthew Ponak is a rabbi, a teacher of Jewish Mysticism, and a spiritual counselor. His book “Embodied Kabbalah: Jewish Mysticism for All” is a collection of 42 mystical texts with commentary that presents the essential teachings from Kabbalah and places them side-by-side with profound inspirations from our era and the world’s great wisdom traditions.

The never before translated texts shed light on unknown traditions of mystical enlightenment. Fascinating descriptions of the paradoxical nature of reality are placed next to cautionary guidance against travelling too quickly on the road to expanded consciousness. Spiritual practices for dealing with depression and sadness come along with illuminated poetry of what our world could look like if we all tried to be truly loving. Using the stunning visual layouts of traditional Torah commentary, Ponak opens the gateway for Judaism to add its much needed voice to the universal quest for meaning, inner knowing, and rooted transcendence. (Barnes & Noble, 2025)

Review:

This is a refreshing and accessible exploration of Jewish mysticism, blending ancient wisdom with modern sensibilities. The author’s goal is to give “perspectives which emphasize the harmony between the physical and the spiritual.” Unlike many scholarly works on Kabbalah that focus on esoteric theory, Ponak brings a grounded, practical approach, emphasizing how these mystical teachings can be integrated into daily life.

The book is presented as a journey through key Kabbalistic concepts, combined with insights from meditation, embodied spirituality, and psychological well-being. Ponak’s background as a rabbi and spiritual teacher enriches the text, making it deeply rooted in tradition and adaptable for contemporary seekers, regardless of religious background. His writing is clear and inviting, avoiding overly complex jargon while still preserving the depth of the teachings.

By focusing on embodiment—rather than treating Kabbalah as an abstract intellectual pursuit, Ponak encourages readers to experience it through mindfulness, movement, and personal reflection. He does this by including sections on reflection and ways to put into practice the material in our personal lives. This makes it an excellent resource for those seeking a more holistic spiritual practice.

Overall, “Embodied Kabbalah” is a thoughtful and inspiring read, bridging the gap between mysticism and everyday life. It is a must-read for anyone interested in Jewish spirituality, personal growth, or embodied wisdom traditions.

“The practice of connecting with nature can be as simple as spending time outdoors, but preferably in a place that feels less urban. Try taking time each day, for one week, to be in nature: by trees, a body of water, a field, mountains, etc.”

Rating: 4 out of 5.

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

New book release: ‘Hesed: Does the Tanakh Foreshadow Jesus?’ by Mark Stouffer

‘Hesed: Does the Tanakh Foreshadow Jesus?’ is volume one in the series by Mark Stouffer. Photo: Mark Stouffer, used with permission.

The Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, is Judaism’s foundational text. If you ever wanted to delve into the teachings of this Hebrew text, then today’s new book release might be of interest to you. In “Hesed: Does the Tanakh Foreshadow Jesus?,” Mark Stouffer proposes that it foreshadows the Messiah that the Jewish people have been waiting for. Join the author as he leads readers on a quest to hear the message of the Tanakh, as opposed to what they want to hear. Whether Jewish or Christian, or even if you are just interested in biblical studies in general, this book promises a well researched examination of both faiths. It is available on Amazon.

Mark Stouffer is an engineer who lives with his family in Columbus, Ohio. Mark was born in 1960 and grew up loving sports. Mark has a passion for the Bible, which he has been studying and teaching for nearly 40 years. Mark has been to Israel and has great respect for the Jewish people. His new book, “Hesed: Does the Tanakh Foreshadow Jesus?,” is for Jewish people who want to know the truth about Jesus. It is also for Christians who want to learn about the Hebrew Bible. (Mark Stouffer, 2023)

“Hesed: Does the Tanakh Foreshadow Jesus?”
While arguing with the Jewish religious leaders, Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me; . . .” In this book, the author examines the Tanakh in order to see if Jesus’ claim has any merit.

“Hesed: Volume One” is the first book in a four volume series written for Jewish people who want to know the truth about Jesus. This book is also good for Christians who want to learn about the Tanakh, or Old Testament. The series examines five elements in the Tanakh that appear to foreshadow Jesus. Volume One covers the first two elements.

The five elements are:

1. Sacrificial atonement in the Torah
2. A series of Biblical heroes who had experiences that were similar to things that happened to Jesus
3. The messianic prophecy of the Tanakh
4. G-d’s plan for humanity
5. The incompleteness of the Tanakh in which the issue of our moral guilt is not decisively resolved

Volume One examines the subject of sacrificial atonement in the Torah to see if it foreshadows Jesus’ death on the cross. It also covers the lives of Isaac, Joseph, Moses, David, Daniel, and Cyrus. For they each went through experiences that Jesus also wound up going through many centuries later. The question is, were these moments from their lives placed in the Tanakh intentionally or coincidentally?

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