Ariel Evan Mayse
Yiscah Smith has done a remarkable job of painting a wonderfully textured method of reading the Torah as a guide for spiritual development.
Assistant professor of religious studies at Stanford University and coeditor of A New Hasidism: Roots and A New Hasidism: Branches
Rabbi Josh Feigelson
An important contribution to this emerging school of Torah commentary that is smart and intellectually sophisticated while also embodied and psychologically and spiritually informed.
President and CEO of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality
Rabbi Arthur
(Avraham Yitschak) Green
Yiscah Smith has written a warm, personal introduction to a Jewish spiritual path. Highly accessible and inviting, while rich in sources and their creative re-reading. A worthy guide for seekers!
Well-known historian of Hasidism and a theologian, author of many books
in both English and Hebrew.
Rabbi Aaron Leibowitz
Yiscah Smith's Planting Seeds of the Divine offers a rare and precious gift—a seamless weaving of scholarly insight with spiritual depth. Through her masterful engagement with classical commentaries and Chasidic wisdom, Smith illuminates each parashah in ways that speak directly to the soul. What distinguishes this work is its ability to transform ancient text into living practice, inviting readers into a sacred dialogue that nurtures personal growth. This is Torah study as it was meant to be: intellectually honest, spiritually courageous, and profoundly transformative.
Director of Rabbanut Yisraelit program, Shalom Hartman Institute, Jerusalem and serving Rabbi of Vaani Tefilah community, Jerusalem.
Melila Hellner-Eshed
In Planting Seeds of the Divine, Yiscah Smith has demonstrated her creative capacity to take abstract complex ideas from the world of Jewish mysticism and translate them into a living and practical guide for our life journeys.
Zohar scholar, Senior Fellow, Shalom Hartman Institute.
Michael Kagan
Yiscah Smith’s book Planting Seeds of the Divine is a sort of “lifting of the veil of illusion”, a reuniting with the Divine lover, the lover that never left, that’s always present, that’s always a present, just here, just…Using her deep knowledge of the Hasidic masters both old and new, Yiscah reveals the way to reconnect to the Divine using the weekly readings of the Torah as her map or guide.
PhD, author of The Holistic Haggadah and God’s Prayer.
Rabbi Daniel Silverstein
Planting Seeds of the Divine overflows with Yiscah Smith’s warmth, wisdom and dedication to many years of scholarship and spiritual practice. It is an inviting, enjoyable book that will provide any spiritual seeker with depth, inspiration and invaluable practice guidance.
Founder and Director of Applied Jewish Spirituality (AJS)
​Rabbi Meesh Hammer-Kossoy, PhD.
​Planting Seeds of the Divine makes the wisdom of Hassidic masters accessible. The conversation at my Shabbat table was elevated by the thoughts and questions emerging from its pages. Even more, it gave me exercises that I could bring into my week so that Yiscah’s beautiful Torah has a chance to sink enduring and nurturing roots into my heart. Planting Seeds of the Divine sprouts from a place of deep, personal, authentic learning and bears fruit that is sweet to readers, no matter how much or little background and prior knowledge they bring to the table.
​Rosh Beit Midrash, Year Programs at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies
​Rabbi Tamar
Elad-Appelbaum
This beautiful book grows from Yiscah’s garden in Jerusalem, from that beginning caring for us all, breathing into us weekly Love of Torah, gentle awareness to The presence of Hashem, gardening the internal with quietude, Middot and deep practice of light. In a trembling world today, this is a book for those who seek to breath and become gardeners in the Garden of Life.
Director, Rabbanut Yisraelit Network, Shalom Hartman Institute, Jerusalem and Founder, Kehilat Zion congregation, Jerusalem
Anonymous
I have your new book - I love it! The commentaries are not too simplistic, like too many are. Plus, they are not too esoteric either. You hit the perfect balance! I enjoy seeing all the views of the different Rebbes side by side and I like that you always put the place and time period each particular Rebbe lived in. That's such important info for context, in my opinion.
From a reader who wishes to remain anonymous.
