By Rabbi Shalom Arush In Forest Fields: A Unique Guide to Personal Prayer

by Rav Shalom Arush

Written by the internationally best-selling author of "The Garden of Emuna," this book will definitely improve your relationship with yourself, by putting you in contact with your own soul. Rabbi Arush teaches us the vital basics of hitbodedut - the when, where, why, and how of speaking to G-d in our own personal and intimately individual way. It's a book you'll always want by your side.

Genres: Judaism, Jewish, Spirituality

Unknown Binding

About the author

Rav Shalom Arush is an Israeli Breslov rabbi and founder of the Chut Shel Chessed Institutions. He spreads the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov among Sephardic and Ashkenazic baalei teshuva, as well as many non-Jews, around the world through his books and speaking appearances.

Reviews

[Lara Celine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very repetitive. Many misspellings. Sometimes too oversimplified (no, not every single bad thing that happens to you is because you’ve transgressed).

[Rebecca]

I'm not sure exactly how many stars to give this book, because my reaction is hard to describe. Firstly, I have to explain that I gained a lot of strategies for effective prayer (and also connect prayer to emuna/faith) from In Forest Fields. I can definitely recommend the book on that level. I benefited in particular during the long Elul, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur period from the Breslov approach.

But the book also confirmed whatever previous suspicions that I had previously that I'm not a Breslover Chassid and never will be. A lot of the proofs that hitbodedut (one-on-one spontaneous conversation with G-d) is required for extended periods daily, 1 hour or more past formal prayer services, or that prayer is more important than learning Torah, are presented in an extremely one-sided manner. In particular, the repeated quotes of Mesillat Yesharim are taken out-of-context and, when in context, could actually be used to prove the opposite points.

I'm not saying that Breslov is wrong, but if you are Litvish/Yekke (like me), the direct attack on the Litvish approach to prayer might rub you the wrong way. I wish that Rabbi Arush had made his points without the (in my view) unnecessary put-down of the Litvish POV.

That said, I think readers will benefit greatly from In Forest Fields. The audience isn't necessarily Orthodox Jews, but a reader would definitely require some familiarity with Orthodox Judaism and its approach. A previous reading of the author's excellent Garden of Emuna would help.

[Stephanie Corbett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I've ever read on prayer.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspirational and practical guide to speaking with G♡D in our own words. Loved reading this every morning and gaining spiritual strength from the wisdom within