There are times in life when we are caught utterly unprepared: a death
in the family, the end of a relationship, a health crisis. These are the
times when the solid ground we thought we stood on disappears beneath
our feet, leaving us reeling and heartbroken, as we stumble back to our
faith.
The Days of Awe encompass the weeks preceding Rosh Hashanah up to Yom
Kippur, a period in which Jews take part in a series of rituals and
prayers that reenact the journey of the soul through the world from
birth to death. This is a period of contemplation and repentance,
comparable to Lent and Ramadan. Yet, for Rabbi Alan Lew, the real
purpose of this annual passage is for us to experience brokenheartedness
and open our heart to God.
In This is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared, Lew has marked out
a journey of seven distinct stages, one that draws on these rituals to
awaken our soul and wholly transform us. Weaving together Torah
readings, Buddhist parables, Jewish fables and stories from his own
life, Lew lays bare the meanings of this ancient Jewish passage. He
reveals the path from terror to acceptance, confusion to clarity, doubt
to belief, and from complacency to awe.
In the tradition of When Bad Things Happen to Good People, This Is
Real And You Are Completely Unprepared enables believers of all faiths
to reconnect to their faith with a passion and intimacy that will
resonate throughout the year.
