While I usually enjoy the book review section of The Pilot, I was deeply disturbed by the gross inaccuracy in Herb Garris’ review of Rachel Naomi Remen’s book, “My Grandfather’s Blessings.”

Garris states that Remen’s grandfather is from “a renowned family from Russia and from the Russian Orthodox Church.” In fact, Remen’s grandfather was a Russian who was an Orthodox Jewish rabbi. On Page 4 of the reviewed book and Page 1 of her previous book, “Kitchen Table Wisdom,” Remen clearly makes this point. It is a far leap to conclude that a person from Russia who is Orthodox, is therefore a member of the Orthodox Russian Church.

Remen’s spirituality is derived from her grandfather’s teaching of Judaism, and especially the mystical teachings of the Kabbalah, a system of mystical interpretation of the scriptures originally developed orally among ancient Jewish rabbis, holding such tenets as supremacy of man’s spirit over his desires.

A reader of the review would receive an erroneous impression of the basis for Remen’s spirituality, which is based on the tenets of Judaism and not the teachings of the Russian Orthodox Church.

I also felt the public should be made aware of this error since many in this community had the privilege to hear Remen speak at the last FirstHealth Hospital Foundation Luncheon.

Harriet B. Ecker