The Holy Fire: The Teachings of Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Shapira, the Rebbe of the Warsaw Ghetto

I had long wanted to learn more about Rabbi Shapira. The book deals mostly with the last years of his life in the Warsaw Ghetto, and the evolution in his theological and mystical thinking as he tried to answer the question: how to maintain Jewish faith and practice in a situation that feels hopeless and where G-d has not intervened to save you?You may or may not agree with Rabbi Shapira's answers to this question. If I understand the book correctly, Rabbi Shapira came to believe that if grace would not descend from above -- G-d was withholding his presence from the trapped Jews of Warsaw for reasons not known to human beings -- then human beings should continue to reach upward to G-d and lead lives of holiness, trusting that we are part of G-d and can never be taken from G-d's presence.I gave the book four stars instead of five only because in some parts the author assumes that the reader has a familiarity with Hasidism that is true of me, but will not be the case with all readers. But the book is clearly and lucidly written, and one need not be a scholar to comprehend it.I recommend reading the book to see how his thought evolved to that point. I plan to re-read it. I also plan to buy his spiritual diary that is on sale at Amazon.

What an amazing book! The combination of Rabbi Shapira's spiritual genius in traversing centuries of Jewish teachings in order to craft his unique method of confronting the Holocaust without succumbing either to despair or to blind acceptance of "God's will" with Nehemia Polen's inspired commentary providing extra context to this remarkable text is a true miracle. Highly recommended.

No word can describe the struggle, the tremendous denying force and the Holy affirming presence of Hashem that Rabbi Shapira brought to the Jews of the Warsaw Ghetto. Nehemia Polen's commentaries are helpful and honorable to the Rabbi's blessed words

I read this book before I bought it and understood that I wanted to have it and re-read it many times.

THis is a superb presentation of one of the Chassidic giants. It is a must read.

This account, found in the Warsaw Ghetto, was written under the extreme deprivations and in the midst of the horrors of life under Nazi imprisonment and murder of Jews that Nehemia Polen experienced. As a Rabbi, he chose to seek and communicate paths to survival of the soul while one's physical life is being ravaged. But this book is more than a polemic; it is a transcendence beyond suffering evils and into the holy; its compilation of Polen writings, some no doubt spoken to his fellow sufferers, that reach for - and in mounting intensity - achieve living beyond pain and deprivation. While it is a manuscript to be marveled at, especially for those who are familiar with the history of the Warsaw Ghetto, it is also a meditation on how to rise above and remain human through adversity of a modern sort. Although a slight volume, it will challenge the reader to think; for those who are familiar with Judaism that thinking will probably be easier to access. But anyone, if he/she takes the time to contemplate the contents, will find it illuminating. Clearly, a hidden jewel among the ashes of the Ghetto.

Incredible account of a Nazi massacre. What is most disconcerting right now is what is going on in Israel and Europe today. Please, let this NOT happen again. Prayers to all the religions and non-religious!

Extended PhD of Rabbi Nechemia Polen, who teaches at Hebrew College. great insight into the Aish Kodesh.

Buyers in the United Kingdom and Ireland please be careful as this book is not printed by publisher Jason Aronson but Amazon Print on Demand.The Book itself and the scholarship in this book is brilliant, and I would give it more than 5 starts if that would be possible.Just be aware that printing quality is awful and that you will pay £31 for a cheap print quality version of this book.In other words you will pay an original price of Jason Aronson's original for a cheap Print On Demand book.

This is a beautiful insight into the survival of faith inside the Warsaw Getto and although not an easy read, due to the suffering of those who experience these times, is no less inspirational.