A Diamond’s Rhythm: Thoughts on Planting Seeds of the Divine by Yiscah Smith
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Imagine if a book were like a well-cut diamond. You can look at it from different angles, and it is beautiful from all directions. At the same time, depending on your perspective, you see different beauty in it. That was exactly how I experienced Planting Seeds of the Divine by Yiscah Smith. Each chapter presents a new theme, with beauty shining through that I can relate to, love, and meditate on. Each presents a different aspect of the same truths that can guide a person towards one goal. This assumes, though, that one’s inner and outer goals involve becoming a better person towards oneself and others.
Before going into the inner and outer peace emanating content, I need to talk about the form of the book. The strength of a diamond comes from its solid inner structure. The same applies to this book. The meta structure, which consists of the five main parts of the book, follows that of the Torah, the five books of Moses. Within each section, most parashot, the weekly reading gets a chapter. Sometimes, two are combined, so we end up with 47 chapters. In this regard, the book follows ancient traditions of Torah commentaries, as there are countless similarly structured books.
What makes the book unique lies within this scaffolding: each chapter is constructed in the same way. The first four segments are relatively standard: parasha title, selected verses from it, a brief summary of the portion, and traditional commentaries. This last bit is where the author’s individual curatorial capacities start to shine: she weaves together distinct pieces from a wide range of authors, eras, and areas into a coherent narrative about the topic. This requires not just knowledge of the vast material, which the author clearly mastered, but also a keen eye and intellectual vigor, and most importantly, a sense of direction. She drives her chosen lessons forward and home with these interwoven selections with admirable precision.
The fifth segment of each chapter, titled “A Deeper Dive”, is where it really starts getting interesting for the spiritually inclined. I do not count myself particularly amongst those: I am more of a non-practicing spiritual person, who appreciates the idea of it though.. Nevertheless, even from my own perspective, it contains amazingly positive and progressive ideas that you, I, and anyone else can take to heart. Here are the paraphrases of my top five favorites. Even from this limited selection, you sense the kind of ideas and ideals she emphasizes.
- Bere’shit: Expressing one’s true self and forming genuine relationships are not just personal goals—they’re acts that help heal and evolve the world.
- Va-yeḥi: Your unique essence is a hidden light the world needs—when you recognize it in yourself, you help others shine too.
- Va-yak’hel / Pekudei: By awakening to the wonder hidden in everyday moments, we can transform the ordinary into the sacred—and help heal the world, one conscious act at a time.
- Tsav: If each person nurtures their inner fire and shares it with others, the combined warmth and light could help heal a fractured world and move it closer to the ideal we all hope for.
- Ḥukkat / Balak: When we root our conversations in shared values like respect and empathy, even disagreement can deepen connection—and our words become a force for healing, not division.
The sixth segment, “The Practice”, of each chapter brings these down back to Earth and inwards. They all start with the same three meditative steps that help the reader focus inward, and then the final series of questions helps visualize the topic to concentrate on. These practices allow the reader to examine not only whether and how they align with the chapter’s message or idea but also to observe and learn from their own emotional, physical, and spiritual reactions. This may sound dry, but if you actually do it, it can be highly rewarding. I admit I only did it a few times, but I gained new insights about myself. To reap the full benefits of the book has to offer, I should build a habit out of it. I read the book in a week. Instead of reading a chapter a week. I believe that would be the rhythm the author would recommend, too.
I started by comparing the book to a diamond. But it is the seed that is the recurring metaphor here. The process of planting and nurturing it is used to illustrate the gradual nature of spiritual and personal growth. Here, from page 258, is what the world and I need the most
“Compassion is a seed that can be planted in anyone’s garden. May we all plant this seed in our inner garden of divine consciousness so we can draw more compassion flowing from above.”
If this resonates with you, take this book as a guidebook, as it is a companion for anyone seeking to live with greater intention and depth. Smith invites readers to recognize the divine spark within themselves, not as a distant ideal but as a real, living presence to be nurtured. Her reflections encourage authenticity, reminding us that spiritual growth begins when our outer lives reflect our inner truths. And perhaps most importantly, she normalizes the ups and downs of the journey, showing that growth often comes in cycles—through revisiting, rethinking, and relearning. It’s a book that doesn’t just inform; it gently transforms.
About the Author
Yiscah Smith is a thought leader and spiritual activist committed to empowering and ennobling others in the spiritual practice of encountering the Divine spark within and beyond. She teaches Jewish contemplative practice and spiritual texts at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem and for the online platform Applied Jewish Spirituality. She is the author of Forty Years in the Wilderness: My Journey to Authentic Living and founder of Conscious Community Nachlaot, an alternative prayer space in Jerusalem. Her Authentic Jewish Living with Yiscah podcast episodes are available on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
The author’s website: yiscahsmith.com, podcasts and LinkedIn page
Disclaimer: I have received a digital copy of this book and a small amount from the author, which did not affect my review in any way.
Year first published: 2025
