Description
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewByron Sherwin's controversial thesis that the most influential Jewish leaders throughout history were also miracle workers makes this book must reading for every person who takes religion seriously. No rabbi or faith community leader can afford to ignore this pioneering work by a great scholar. -- Harold Kasimow, George Drake Professor of Religious Studies, Grinnell College
In this comprehensive overview of "wonder-working" in religion, Rabbi Sherwin points out that "wonder-working" has been a central feature of Jewish religious leadership from biblical times onward and that rabbis need to recognize, appreciate, and utilize that aspect of their work today. Though "wonder-working" is, in the eye of the beholder, it is also in the "I" of both laity and clergy, who in relationship make ordained clergy "symbolic exemplars" of God, possessed of attributes that provide efficacy, influence, potency and power. -- Rabbi Jack H Bloom, Ph.D.,, author of The Rabbi as Symbolic Exemplar and the forthcoming The Rabbi as Relational Caregiver
In Workers of Wonders, Byron Sherwin does some wonder working of his own, shedding light on the secrets of religious leadership by linking it to the miraculous acts attributed to great religious figures from biblical prophets such as Elijah, to more recent mystical masters such as the Ba’al Shem Tov. ...[Sherwin] provides a sumptious history that makes its case with magical tales worthy of Scheherazade. -- Howard Schwartz, professor, University of Missouri at St. Louis and author of Tree of Souls: The Mythology of Judaism
In clear and accessible language, Sherwin leads the reader through an examination of one of the major questions confronting religion today: what gives religious figures their authority. Through a masterful analysis of Jewish texts from the Bible forward, Sherwin constructs an argument that throws light on all religious traditions. Thus, this is an important book not only for those interested in models of religious leadership in Judaism, but for all those interested in how religion can find a voice today. -- Peter J. Haas, Abba Hillel Silver Professor of Jewish Studies and director of The Samuel Rosenthal Center for Judaic Studies, Case Western Rese
Table of ContentsPart 1 Preface Chapter 2 Clergy Crisis Chapter 3 The Prophets of Biblical Israel Chapter 4 Rabbinic Sages and Miracle-Makers Chapter 5 The Ministry of Jesus of Nazareth Chapter 6 Babylonian Lawyer-Magicians Chapter 7 "By the Power Vested in Me": The Past Meets the Present Part 8 Glossary Part 9 Bibliography
