Return from Exile

by Carol Orsborn

At midlife, a spiritually hungry author of self-help books leaves behind her professional life to enrol in divinity school and emerges unexpectedly reconnected to the Judaism she thought she had left behind. In this book Carol Matzkin Orsborn discusses her first year at divinity school, the year that transformed her life. In this spiritual book, the reader is invited to share the author's friendships with similarly searching students, her encounters...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0826411029
• ISBN13: 9780826411020
• Release Date: September 1998
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Length: 215 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

From A Fellow Traveler

As I read the previous reviews, I was struck by the anger expressed by some, and the joy filled paragraphs of others. Carol Orsborn has obviously hit a few nerves here, which is exactly what a wonderful writer,(and I truly believe she is), should do. This journey, one I daresay few would be brave enough to begin, leads us down (and up) a glorious path, allowing the reader to feel the emotional and spiritual road beneath the writer's feet as if we are there alongside her. The name of your chosen faith is not the issue here. Take this walk with her and learn.

Carol Orsborn takes us on a journey of discovery.<p>

Carol Orsborn's works are always fun, exciting, informative, and a great read. When she lets us share her own experiential search and research, we know we have a good, solid guide to higher understanding. We recommend this and her other works unconditionally and hope that readers will give themselves the treat of reading them.In 'Return from Exile,' she once again guides us, this time on her own journey back to her Jewish roots and a deeper understanding of this ancient tradition. In so doing, she invites all of us to rethink the traditions on which our lives stand, finding gold where we might have only seen dust. Using her own experiences - which she shares with humor and candor - she allows her readers to experience with her the process of spiritual seeking as both a way of returning to one's own roots and a way of life.Whether your background is Jewish or not, this book can help you find genuine wisdom on your own spiritual path - and with Carol Orsborn, you know you'll find yourself both lighter and enlightened as you walk.

a woman's discovery of her own spiritual path

Carol Orsborn's story of her first year as a Theology student is an inspiring and exciting story. First, it is an engrossing and well written story of her process in school with her co-students and teachers. Even more engaging to me was the description of Ms. Orsborn's study of the bible and related writings through which she rediscovered spirital sustenance in the tradition of her youth and her ancestors. After "traveling the world" of spiritual traditions in her search for self understanding the irony is that the answers that mean the most to her were with her from birth. It was inspiring to me, a non-jew to know that maybe my own answers are as available as hers were. She has made her search so personal and accessible it has inspired me on my own search. I appreciated Ms Orsborn's willingness to be so forthcoming with her process and hope that she continues to include readers in her process during the next phase. I highly recommend this book - it was powerful!

A heartwarming and compelling story

This was a compelling story. I found this book hard to put down. The subject matter with regards to experiences in divinity school were unique. The triumph of the author's rediscovery of her faith were heartwarming.

Funny, moving story of return to faith

Carol Orsborn movingly describes her return to the faith of her childhood, Judaism. No sentimental hash here; this spiritual renewal came through study and hard work while Orsborn was a student at the Vanderbilt University Divinity School. She paints a very realistic picture of the current state of education in university-related divinity schools, and the composite characters she uses are sometimes howlingly funny (and familiar). This is not just a book for Jews; anyone hoping to make peace with the faith of his or her early years will find in this book a helpful, hopeful story. I have loaned it to several members of my church who are struggling with Christianity. What is important for me and the readers I know is not so much the faith to which Orsborn returns, but the journey she makes. That journey can be universal.