The Holy Thief

I just finished reading "The Holy Thief" by Rabbi Mark Borovitz. His is a fascinating story. I had heard his story before reading the book yet still found it compelling. Nevertheless, feel free to skip the next two paragraphs if you hate any type of spoiler.

Rabbi Borovitz grew up with a relatively traditional Jewish upbringing. He attended a large conservative synagogue and was active in his USY chapter. In his teens though, his life took a wrong turn. He became a con man working every angle he could. He started by selling stolen goods for a local gangster and kept moving to bigger scams until he wound up in prison. Immediately upon his release, he returned to a life of crime, all the while maintaining his alcohol addiction.

While sitting in the back of a police car upon an arrest that would send him to prison for another two years, he had an epiphany that changed his life. He looked at his hands and knew that they had caused him much trouble but could do much good. From that moment, even knowing that he would spend at least another two years in prison, he moved his life forward, immersing himself in learning Torah and helping not just himself but his fellow Jews conquer their demons. After leaving prison, he went to work for Beit T'Shuvah, a residential rehabilitation program for Jews. His first position was running the decrepit thrift shop but moved up the ranks to become an ordained rabbi who still works feverishly helping his fellow Jews.

The only issue I take with Rabbi Borovitz's theology or outlook is this passage about his Torah learning: "I would always come back to Jacob. I identified with him so deeply. Jacob was a con man and a thief and a hustler. And he changed. He struggled to find the balance in his life. Finally, he did. He became respected, a leader. I believed that if a reformed lowlife like Jacob could turn out so well, there was hope for me."

On the one hand, I recognize that Rabbi Borovitz was trying to provide himself with a benchmark in his pursuit of spiritual redemption. At the same time, I think that Rabbi Borovitz engages in unnecessary hyperbole. Jacob obviously fought hard to make sure that he emerged first from his mother's womb. He obviously also used trickery to get the firstborn right. Maybe I'm forgetting some other cases, but I think those are the only charges you could arguably bring against Jacob. Even in that case, that's assuming that you don't adopt the view that I have always learned, that Jacob's actions were for the sake of God and not just some scam to enrich himself. Calling him a con man, thief, hustler and lowlife who needed to struggle to find balance and reform himself seems just a tad over the top.

Having said all that, the book is a fascinating yet easy read. Friends who have heard him tell me that his lectures are equally entertaining and compelling. If you would like to hear Rabbi Borovitz speak, he will be here in the Detroit area on February 28th. For more details or to RSVP to go, click here.