Twelve Jewish Steps to Recovery: A Personal Guide to Turning from Alcoholism and Other Addictions - Drugs, Food, Gambling, Sex... Book

I spent Friday night and today reading the first half of this book, two of the four sections. It is a MIND OPENER. For years I have struggled with many aspects of Judaism, things I did not understand, difficult question about life, and all those questions that ache in the back of our minds but we somehow never quite come to answers that we understand. This book gives an excellent introductory explanation about Kabbalah, but goes far beyond that. The author also explains many aspects of Judaism and how the mystical world up above and the world down here interact.

I know little about Kabbalah but have a pretty good knowledge of Jewish texts and sources. Raised in a modern orthodox home I was curious to learn where Rabbi Cooper received rabbinic ordination as Wikipedia indicates his involvement in the Jewish Renewal movement, something I had not heard of. I have not been able to find the answer. But I can tell you three interesting things:
1) This book is well-referenced
2) His translations are accurate. Even to the point that when I was curious about the way he translated something I picked up a well-accpepted translation and as I looked at the words it turns our Rabbi Cooper's translation of the Hebrew might actually have been BETTER
3) Nowhere does he go against the grain of Orthodox Judaism

I get the sense that he lectures and interacts in mystical activities outside classic Judaism- but every word I have read in this book has been TOTALLY CONSISTENT with orthodox Judaism. This should not frighten anyone away. Even if you are not Jewish you will find this book FASCINATING. The reason I mention the issue of the Rabbi's views is that I had not heard of him, and when I pick up a book on Kaballah from an author I do not know I am a bit wary. Having completed half the book it seems to me that Rabbi Cooper is well-learned in classical Jewish learning, and I suspect he has studied Kabbalah with truly knowledgeable people. Finally, the book reads like a dream. The prose is clear, concise, just beautifully written.

In summary, I believe in two days this book has changed my interaction with the world, and I suspect it will do the same for everyone who reads it. HIGHLY recommended.