CROSSING THE BOUNDARY Stories of Jewish Leaders of Other Spiritual Paths
by Alan Levin
Paperback / $24.95 / isbn: 978-1-58790-322-9 / 454 pass / 7” x 10”
Religious Thought
ABOUT THE BOOK
Fourteen Jewish men and women stepped beyond their family religion to become leaders of other spiritual paths. They became a Sikh, Sufi, Buddhist, Taoist, Hindu chant master, visionary artist, Advaita teacher, Pagan witch, interfaith minister, Catholic priest, and a leader of a syncretic Brazilian church. Alan Levin shares their fascinating stories and their wisdom with rich reflections on the meaning of tribal identity, heresy, and who and what we truly are.
“....A boundary crosser himself, Levin has much to teach all of us who seek to deepen our own spiritual lives.”
— Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor Tikkun and chair, the Network of Spiritual Progressives and author of Jewish Renewal and Healing Israel/Palestine
"This book is an engaging, illuminating discussion about spirituality and how it intersects (or doesn't) with religion."
— Sylvia Boorstein, Insight Meditation teacher and author of That's Funny, You Don't Look Buddhist: On Being a Faithful Jew and a Passionate Buddhist, and Pay Attention for Goodness' Sake: The Buddhist Path of Kindness
“Exclusively focused on Jews who have crossed boundaries, or taken up residence in more than one house of spirituality, it still reads like a universal story..... “
— Mark C. Johnson, Executive Director, The Center and Library for the Bible and Social Justice
“While acknowledging our roots in tribal identities, Levin’s work marks out sacred space between and among a wide variety of spiritual traditions....”
— Leonard Grob, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Fairleigh Dickinson University and co-editor of Encountering the Stranger: A Jewish-Christian-Muslim Trialogue and Anguished Hope: Holocaust Scholars Confront the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict
“In Crossing the Boundary, Alan Levin presents and demonstrates the restless spiritual curiosity and courage that distinguishes Jewish people everywhere.... Although meant as a study of identity, Crossing the Boundary is an affirmation of spiritual intelligence, resistance to easy answers, and universal love that renews the world.”
— Alex Grey, Artist, Author, Co-Founder CoSM, Chapel of Sacred Mirrors
“The root of our personal and world dilemma is the fact that we don't know who we are. The ego and wego (collective identity) is a lifetime study, and Alan Levin demonstrates his skills of writer, student and teacher herein.”
— Sister Dorothy Maxwell, OP (Dominican Order of Preachers)
“....from the often gruesome persecution history of European Jewry has emerged a synergistic rainbow of spiritual teachings that honors the ancestral wisdom and devotion embedded in traditional Jewish religious life. This book offers rich and moving testimony to this unique historic process.”
— Ralph Metzner, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Emeritus, California Institute of Integral Studies. Author, The Unfolding Self, The Well of Remembrance
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alan Levin has been studying and teaching spiritual practices from a wide range of traditions for over forty years. He is a licensed psychotherapist in California and New York and is dedicated to fostering compassion between humans and all living beings. He was the founder of Holos Institute in San Francisco and currently works with his wife, Ginny Brooke, as Sacred River Healing in New York.