Open Up Our Eyes
Moments That Shape Our Lives
By Rabbi Charles A. Kroloff
Rabbi Kroloff invites you to uncover experiences from your past and let them amaze you as never before. His amazing moments include: dancing ‘till one a.m. at the White House, rolling down a grassy knoll, mostly naked, in Big Sur, California; saying “No” to the Vice President of the United States; counseling a groom who has gotten cold feet and run into the woods; discovering the importance of self-care; swimming in the Yale pool; and returning home after spending a night with homeless guests.
He has also been amazed by the teachings of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, the philosopher, Martin Buber, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his rabbinic colleagues. In this concise, inspiring book, Rabbi Kroloff invites you to explore the challenging and the exhilarating moments of your life.
“Rabbi Kroloff threads life, rabbi-craft and perennial wisdom for a joyful read. Especially helpful through a pandemic and war era, Open Up Our Eyes waters the soul.”
— Anthony Randazzo, Pastor, Holy Trinity R.C. Church, Westfield, NJ
“In this book, Rabbi Kroloff urges us to discover the people in our lives with “wise hearts.” I was lucky enough to discover his wise heart several years ago, and loved reading his reflections about how to live a joyful and just life.”
— Congressman Tom Malinowski (NJ)
“Open Up Our Eyes recounts how everyday experiences can open our eyes to important truths as we journey from childhood to maturity. Whether looking for joy or seeking a greater sense of wholeness or learning to be the “assistants” that God so desperately needs, our every action can help repair the world. The kernels of wisdom in this pages will enrich your life.”
— Rabbi Sally J. Priesand, America’s first female rabbi
About Rabbi Kroloff
Rabbi Kroloff was spiritual leader of Temple Emanu-El, Westfield, New Jersey, one of the region's largest synagogues, for 36 years. He is past president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis which represents thousands of Reform rabbis worldwide. A graduate of Yale University, he was ordained at Hebrew Union College where he taught rabbinic students for three decades. An experienced marital and family therapist, he is the author of When Elijah Knocks: A Religious Response to Homelessness and 54 Ways You Can Help the Homeless. Rabbi Kroloff and his wife, Dr. Terry Kroloff, are the parents of three children who, with their spouses, have blessed them with seven grandchildren.
