Steven J. Gold

This book addresses the ancient tradition of Hebrew Spirituality that is the foundation for Judaism and other religions and its relevance for today. Universal underlying themes of monotheism, monism, East-West connections, meditation, mysticism, Kabala, Yoga and Vedanta, are explored by the author/editor and guest contributors covering perspectives from Yoga, Judaism, Sufism, and Mystical Christianity. Specific topics include an overview of Kabala, Ibrahim and non-dualism in Sufism, Bibliyoga, a system for synthesizing yoga postures with biblical teachings, Victor Frankl and Logotherapy, spiritual activism and green yoga, and atheism, agnosticism and Jewish Secular Humanism.

Grounded in the traditions of Torah and Veda, Steven J. Gold takes us on an oceanic tour of the depth and breadth of spiritual consciousness. Sharing personal stories and insights into various traditional scriptures as examples, he urges us to adopt a spiritual worldview, to "ponder infinity, awake and arise," to "find your inspiration and follow it." From the Introduction: Moving Beyond Ego to SpiritFor our own spiritual benefit, what if we could move beyond our egoic limitations that restrict us from having a broader, more inspiring and awesome perspective on ourselves and our place in the cosmos? Admittedly, for the sake of survival and sane functioning within the world in which we find ourselves, it is important to have some sense of self. But perhaps it does not have to be as all-consuming as it sometimes becomes. Perhaps many of us become, at least at times, more self-centered, self-absorbed, self-obsessed than we need to be for our own good - and for the good of those around us. Perhaps we might be better off, in the long run, if we didn't have so tight a grip on the reins of the ego-horses pulling our chariots. This book is about exploring the possibilities of what happens if we loosen our grip on those reins. The chapters jump between microcosmic and macrocosmic perspectives, sometimes between chapters, sometimes within the same chapter. "Microcosmic" is a fancy word for what occurs on a small scale - in this context, on an individual basis, both within oneself, and how one interacts with circumstances and people one encounters. "Macrocosmic" is a word for what is perceived as occurring on a more massive scale, outside of oneself - in this context, on mythical, archetypal, cosmic levels. The microcosmic sections involve intimate accounts of my own personal spiritual processes, experiences and adventures - to share them in the hope that others may relate to, and be inspired by them for the benefit of their own personal spiritual growth. The macrocosmic sections involve discussions of stories and descriptions of levels of functioning that appear to be outside of the individual, not personal to you or me - to illustrate the inspiration I derive from this material, in the hope that others will likewise be so inspired. Such depictions have captivated me and many others over the centuries, because they resonate within, due to a spiritual principle that "what is within is without" and vice-versa.

Autobiographical writings of Steven J. Gold, (author of Yoga and Judaism, Explorations of a Jewish Yogi; IVRI: The Essence of Hebrew Spirituality; Torah Portion Summaries, With Insights from the Perspective of Jewish Yogi; and Basic Spiritual Principles) describing his early spiritual journey in prose, poetry, art and journal entries. The material is explained and tied together by retrospective narratives.

The Store in the Hood is a comprehensive study of conflicts between immigrant merchants and customers throughout the U.S. during the 20th century. From the lynchings of Sicilian immigrant merchants in the late 1800s, to the riots in L.A. following the acquittal of the police officers who beat Rodney King, to present-day Detroit, recurrent conflicts between immigrant business owners and their customers have disrupted the stability of American life. Devastating human lives, property and public order, these conflicts have been the subject of periodic investigations that are generally limited in scope and emphasize the outlooks and cultural practices of the involved groups as the root of most disputes. This book develops a more nuanced understanding by exploring merchant/customer conflicts over the past hundred years across a wide range of ethnic groups and settings. Utilizing published research, official statistics, interviews, and ethnographic data collected from diverse locations, the book reveals how powerful groups and institutions have shaped the environments in which merchant/customer conflicts occur. These conflicts must be seen as products of the larger society's values, policies and structures, not solely as a consequence of actions by immigrants, the urban poor, and other marginal groups.

The idea of this book is to present in simple and straightforward terms some basic principles related to spirituality and spiritual processes and revelations. It contains expressions and formulations of some basic truths that have been divulged in various forms and fashions over the ages, drawing from eastern and western spiritual traditions. As such, it provides a framework to help address life's essential existential questions.

The Store in the Hood is a comprehensive study of conflicts between immigrant merchants and customers throughout the U.S. during the 20th century. From the lynchings of Sicilian immigrant merchants in the late 1800s, to the riots in L.A. following the acquittal of the police officers who beat Rodney King, to present-day Detroit, recurrent conflicts between immigrant business owners and their customers have disrupted the stability of American life. Devastating human lives, property and public order, these conflicts have been the subject of periodic investigations that are generally limited in scope and emphasize the outlooks and cultural practices of the involved groups as the root of most disputes. This book develops a more nuanced understanding by exploring merchant/customer conflicts over the past hundred years across a wide range of ethnic groups and settings. Utilizing published research, official statistics, interviews, and ethnographic data collected from diverse locations, the book reveals how powerful groups and institutions have shaped the environments in which merchant/customer conflicts occur. These conflicts must be seen as products of the larger society's values, policies and structures, not solely as a consequence of actions by immigrants, the urban poor, and other marginal groups.

This work is subtitled, "Om Shalom: Explorations of a Jewish Yogi". It expresses insights, connections and syntheses between the traditions of Judaism, including Jewish mysticism and kabala; the Western Mystical Tradition, including Theosophy and related subjects; and the Eastern Spiritual Tradition as expressed through Indian Yoga and Vedanta. It contains a succinct summary of basic spiritual principles distilled from years of study, meditation and self-transformation. The improved and expanded second edition contains new material on Hebrew Mantras and Jewish Healing Meditation, along with other additions and revisions. Learn about aspects of Yoga beyond the mat and Judaism beyond religion, and the many connections between these two ancient spiritual traditions. Includes practical guides to basic Yoga and Jewish meditation and healing meditation and their theoretical underpinnings. This Second Edition is the same as the other one listed, just with a different ISBN for different distribution.

This work is subtitled, "Om Shalom: Explorations of a Jewish Yogi". It expresses insights, connections and syntheses between the traditions of Judaism, including Jewish mysticism and kabala; the Western Mystical Tradition, including Theosophy and related subjects; and the Eastern Spiritual Tradition as expressed through Indian Yoga and Vedanta. It contains a succinct summary of basic spiritual principles distilled from years of study, meditation and self-transformation.

In this fascinating study, based on extensive field work in the major Israeli communities of New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris and Sydney, Steven J. Gold looks at their reasons for leaving - existing links abroad, political and economic dissatisfaction at home and, in the case of the Sephardim or Israelis of non-European origin, often a feeling of being treated as second-class citizens - the tensions, compromises and satisfactions involved in their relations with Israelis who have not left and with the Jewish and non-Jewish communities in the countries in which they settle. In a final chapter, he talks to those who, after years as emigrants, have made the decision to return. The end result is a major contribution to the study not just of the Israeli diaspora but also to our wider understanding of migration and transnational identity. Winner of the 2003 Thomas and Znaniecki Award (American Sociological Association International Migration Section)

In this fascinating study, based on extensive field work in the major Israeli communities of New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris and Sydney, Steven J. Gold looks at their reasons for leaving - existing links abroad, political and economic dissatisfaction at home and, in the case of the Sephardim or Israelis of non-European origin, often a feeling of being treated as second-class citizens - the tensions, compromises and satisfactions involved in their relations with Israelis who have not left and with the Jewish and non-Jewish communities in the countries in which they settle. In a final chapter, he talks to those who, after years as emigrants, have made the decision to return. The end result is a major contribution to the study not just of the Israeli diaspora but also to our wider understanding of migration and transnational identity. Winner of the 2003 Thomas and Znaniecki Award (American Sociological Association International Migration Section)

The phenomenon of increasingly visible groups of immigrant entrepreneurs raises a host of questions. What are the causes of immigrant entrepreneurship? What are its consequences, especially as regards upward mobility and inter-ethnic relations? And what accounts for differences in entrepreneurship among ethnic groups? Ethnic Economies provides a broad overview of ethnicity and entrepreneurship, connecting it with broader studies of economic life.