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Rabbi Dr. Reuven P. Bulka

More Answers to Questions of the Spirit

Oakville, Ontario: Mosaic Press in Canada & Niagara Falls, New York: Mosaic Press in U.S.A., 2002, $20.00 CAN, $15.00 US ISBN 0-88962-788-6 163 pp.

Dr. Reuven P. Bulka is Rabbi of Congregation Machzikei Hadas in Ottawa; host of local radio and TV programs; a regular contributor to the Ottawa Citizen; a leader and activist in various charitable and religious organisations; an author/editor of 32 books and over 100 articles.

This is the second volume of a project undertaken by Rabbi Dr. Bulka and the Ottawa Citizen newspaper, published first as a series titled “Ask the Religion Experts.” The idea to publish Rabbi Dr. Bulka’s pieces as books was initiated with the profits designated to the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre Foundation.

Although the answers Rabbi Dr. Bulka supplies herein are rather brief-usually one or two pages-and by no means intended to be exhaustive; nonetheless, they are written with care, in the form of very accessible prose, most insightful and thought-provoking. Indeed, due to the engaging, conversational nature of this work, many readers may be “hooked” into reading the entire contents in one sitting!

The volume contains acknowledgements, an introduction, and is divided up into two parts: “World of Religion,” and “Religion in the World.” Each part consists of ten subsections, addressing topics such as: God, prayer, forgiveness, the hereafter, money matters, marriage issues, moral concerns, and the environment. There is also a concluding reflection and information about the author. Here is a small sample of the nature of some of the questions: Why do you believe in God? Why are there so many different kinds of houses of worship within the religions? Can Satan be forgiven? Is it a sin to be rich? Are there any lessons to be learned from the recent “collapse” of the high tech market? Recently, Holland passed a law legalizing doctor-assisted suicide under certain conditions. Should Canada follow suit?

Rabbi Dr. Bulka’s practical, down-to-earth wisdom and compassion are written large in this volume-hence, everyone from the academic, to clergy, to the laity shall benefit from this publication.

Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson is Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church and Chaplain, South Ridge Village, The Good Samaritan Society, Medicine Hat, Alberta