Stages of Spiritual Growth — Resolving the Tension Between Self-expression and Submission to Divine Will

R. Tzadok Hakohen of Lublin (1823-1900), Chassidic master of Torah, taught that spiritual growth follows a predictable sequence of stages.""Stages of Spiritual Growth"" explores R. Tzadok’s system. It clarifies the necessary steps within each stage of growth, explains why each stage of life lends itself to that specific facet of development, examines some of the underlying axioms of non-Jewish culture that sabotage our psychological and spiritual progress, and perhaps most significant for the current generation, dispels the common misconception that spiritual growth in Torah stifles an individual’s self expression.

Batya Gallant has been teaching Torah in women's community classes, post-high school seminaries and women's beginner programs since 1973. Currently teaching in Darchei Binah Seminary, she focuses primarily on Torah psychology, philosophy and intellectual history. These interests coalesced to form the basis for Stages of Spiritual Growth. Mrs. Gallant and her husband, Dr. Reuven Gallant, made aliyah from New Haven, Connecticut, in 1987. They live with their twins, Sara and Akiva, in Har Nof, Jerusalem.