ENTRANCE TO GARDEN EDEN

This is a deeply thought-provoking book. I ordered it because I have personally been involved in Jewish-Muslim-Christian dialogues (trialogues?) in the USA, and I resonated with the reviews I had read. What surprised (and saddened) me was the extreme difficulty that Yossi had in even finding people willing to dialogue in the Middle East. I had been told that Israel was a segregated society (not officially, but socially) but I did not realize how deeply the mistrust runs. Villages and monasteries that are within visual sight of each other might as well be on different planets.To cross the cultural divide can literally mean taking your life inot your hands.Author Yossi Klein takes that risk. With the help of various unconventional guides, he meets with Sufi shaykhs, Armenian priests, Catholic nuns and many others, hoping to communicate on the level of the soul rather than politics. Sometimes he succeeds, sometimes not. On so many occasions, history intrudes with its memories of past brutalities -- Crusades, Inquisitions, the Holocaust. This is not a sugar-coated utopian view of peace, but a scathingly honest chronicle of one seeker's search for common ground in a troubled land. With each new encounter, Yossi struggles with his own anger, distrust, and fear -- as did I when I read the book. Definitely a must-read for everyone who is or wants to be involved in interfaith dialogue.

This books is desperately needed in today's political environment. This Orthodox Jew can appreciate and even participate in the worship of OTHER PEOPLE, even gentiles, without losing his Jewish identity. WOW. If he can do it, anyone can do it. The Abrahamic religions all claim to love One God. Why we can't love one another and value each others' expressions of worship for One God is beyond me. As if God could have only one knee-mail address. Very enlightening and hopeful read.

fine book

While fascinating in its very intimate portrayal of the holy land's most religious residents, one of the truly great things about this book is the author's humility. Rabbi Halevi's journey into the holy land is done out of love for humanity and love for God: unlike Islam and Christianity (the former of which is my interest), Judaism is not an evangelical religion, meaning that Halevi was free to observe, free to live among and free to enjoy the beauty of these two other religions. His challenges, his desperate hope for the region, and his humility amongst people who believe very differently makes this book what it is, namely a personal journey during an incredibly important period of time.If you've ever wondered why we can't just get along, this is the book for you. I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Halevi in person, and he is as kind in person as he appears through his writing. He signed my book "With hope, despite everything".

The title is exact. Halevi is an extraordinary person: a mystic deeply rooted in his Jewish faith but who can share a common search for peace and religious experience with Christians, the historic persecutors of Jews, and with Muslims, who have now become the "enemy." I know three of the communities of Christians he shared with and the descriptions are accurate so I can assume the Muslim sections are just as fair. Anyone searching for religious and mystic truth that is non-violent but serious about faith and God will love this book.

One of the most readable historical and theological account of the Israel, Palestine conflict. Read in conjunction with Naim Stifan Ateek's 'Justice and Only Justices - A Palestinian Theology of Liberation', Yossi Klein Halevi 2001 writings may just offer some direction back to 'the Garden of Eden' for Jews, Muslims and Christians alike.

Relevant for today’s peace makers

One problem with writing intelligent books on religion is that religion demands the author experience it. Halevi takes this difficult challenge and seeks common ground with Christians and Muslims. To find this common ground he is willing to push his boundaries, go beyond his fears to find a common ground.In his efforts he encounters a Catholic order of religious that seeks to return to the Jewish roots of Jesus as a common ground for Jewish-Christian relations; a Catholic monk of the Melkite rite (Jerusalem rite) seeing Arab-Jewish understanding through the Arab Christian; a common ground of genocide with Armenian Christians; a common ground of love with Sufi sheiks ...Throughout his search runs a thread of the common monotheistic underpinnings of the three major religions of Israel. A second thread is a more universal acceptance that includes the great Eastern traditions - Buddhism and Hinduism. The third thread is the history of the Jewish people and the reality of strife in Israel. Through these threads, Halevi challenges the reader to confront his or her prejudices in the political and religious arenas.The net result is not a great book, but one I highly recommend because of the issues raised and the author's personal willingness to share his experience in addressing the issues.