Born in Detroit, Kushner graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Cincinnati, after which he went on to receive his rabbinical ordination from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. Kushner then went on to serve the Congregation Beth-El in Sudbury, Massachusetts for 28 years. Kushner is currently the Emanu-El Scholar-in-Residence at Congregation Emanu-El of San Francisco.

In addition, he is also an adjunct member of the faculty of the Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles, California. He previously taught spirituality and mysticism, as well as mentored rabbinic students as a visiting professor at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City, New York. Kushner and his wife have 3 children"About Rabbi Kushner." Rabbi Kushner. 12 Feb. 2008. . His daughter, Noa, is a rabbi at Congregation Rodef Sholom in San Rafael, California.

Rabbi Kushner has authored and co-authored numerous articles, as well as more than 18 books, for children and adults, which have been translated into six languages.

• The Book of Letters: A Mystical Alef-Bait Jewish Lights Publishing, 1990 ISBN 1879045001 (10) ISBN 978-1879045002 (13)
• Honey from the Rock: Visions of Jewish Mystical Renewal, Jewish Lights Publishing, 1977 ISBN 9780060649012 (13)
• The River of Light: Spirituality, Judaism, Consciousness Jewish Lights Publishing 2nd edition, September 1990, ISBN 1879045036 ISBN 978-1879045033 (13)
• God Was in This Place and I, I Did Not Know: Finding Self, Spirituality, and Ultimate Meaning Jewish Lights Publishing, 1993.
• The Book of Miracles: A Young Person's Guide to Jewish Spiritual Awareness Jewish Lights Publishing; 10th anniversary edition, 1997 ISBN 1879045788 (10) ISBN 978-1879045781 (13)
• Invisible Lines of Connection: Sacred Stories of the Ordinary Jewish Lights Publishing, March 1998, ISBN 978-1879045989 (13)
• Eyes Remade for Wonder: A Lawrence Kushner Reader Jewish Lights Publishing, September 1998 ISBN 1580230423 (10) ISBN 978-1580230421 (13)
• The Book of Words (Sefer Shel Devarim): Talking Spiritual Life, Living Spiritual Talk Jewish Lights Publishing, September 1998 ISBN 1580230202 (10) ISBN 978-1580230209 (13)
• Kabbalah: The Way of Light Peter Pauper Press, 1999 ISBN 0880881011 (10) ISBN 978-0880881012 (13)
• Honey from the Rock: An Introduction to Jewish Mysticism Jewish Lights Publishing, December 1999 ISBN 1580230733 (10) ISBN 978-1580230735 (13)
• Because Nothing Looks Like God Jewish Lights Publishing, November 2000, ISBN 158023092X (10) ISBN 978-1580230926 (13)
• Jewish Spirituality : A Brief Introduction for Christians Jewish Lights Publishing, August 2001, ISBN 1580231500 (10) ISBN 978-1580231503 (13)
• Five Cities of Refuge: Weekly Reflections on Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy Schocken Bilingual edition, 2003 ISBN 0805242201 (10) ISBN 978-0805242201 (13)
• In God's Hands Jewish Lights Publishing, June 27, 2005, ISBN 1580232248 (10) ISBN 978-1580232241 (13)
• Filling Words with Light: Hasidic and Mystical Reflections on Jewish Prayer, with Rabbi Nehemia Polen, Jewish Lights Publishing, August 30, 2007, ISBN 1580232388 (10), ISBN 978-1580232388 (13)
• Kabbalah: A Love Story, Morgan Road Books, 2006. ISBN 978-0767-92412-2
• I'm God; You're not: Observations on Organized Religion & Other Disguises of the Ego, Jewish Lights Publishing, October 2010, ISBN 978-1-58023-441-2