Connecting to God: Ancient Kabbalah and Modern Psychology [Hardcover]

Abner Weiss (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 13, 2005

Distinguished rabbi, marriage and family therapist, kabbalist, and popular lecturer, Abner Weiss is extraordinarily qualified to write this book. In Connecting to God, he elucidates the teachings of Kabbalah, showing how the Ten Sefirot of the Tree of Life are the transformers of divine energy in our bodies and the building blocks of creation—Weiss calls them “our spiritual genome.”

He has created a psychological system and diagnostic method from kabbalistic texts, and he uses these clinically tested interventions in his therapeutic practice. Here he tells twenty-eight stories of people he has helped liberate from their dysfunctional behavior, empowering them to achieve spiritual growth. With Rabbi Weiss as our guide, we can use this kabbalistic approach to psychology to inform our lives with its insights, rebalance what is out of kilter, and heal the emotional wounds we have suffered. Connecting to God is a wise, wonderful, and transformational book.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Armed with advance degrees in Jewish philosophy and psychology, as well as decades of work as both a licensed therapist and a congregational rabbi, Weiss thoughtfully shares the fruits of 40 years of Kabbalah study. He merges psychological analysis with a keen awareness of kabbalistic relationships as illustrated by the 10 sefirot (or spiritual roots) of the Tree of Life. In sharing his findings, he gracefully tempers his academic approach with dozens of examples (taken from patients and congregants, as well as the Bible) that illustrate the links between common and rare psychological disorders and imbalances within the development of what he has termed the "spiritual genomes" within all of us. Not for the red-string, pop culture set, this serious examination of psychology and spirituality includes references to and discussions of the ancient and contemporary Jewish sages—including Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Elijah, the Vilna Gaon, Maimonides, Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan and Rabbi Schneur Zalman—and a wide array of luminaries in philosophy and psychology, such as Hegel and Jung. Those looking for a more intellectually rigorous approach to spiritual self-help and those in the fields of philosophy and psychology will find this a valuable read. (Sept.)
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Review

In Praise ofConnecting to God

“An elegant and compelling introduction not only to what Kabbalah is, but how it can transform and elevate your life. The stories drawn from Rabbi Weiss’s rabbinical and life experience are simply extraordinary.” —Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, author of Jewish Literacy and The Book of Jewish Values

“When I began to read this book, I was deeply skeptical of Kabbalah. By the time I finished it, I had gained profound respect for its insights into the human soul. It is the first book to make sense of the Sefirot, which I had always dismissed as arbitrary and irrational. Rabbi Weiss has done a superb job of making difficult concepts accessible.” —Rabbi Harold S. Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People

“A hallmark of genuine, authentic wisdom is that it can be spoken of in plain terms and translated into practical applications to everyday life. This is precisely what Rabbi Abner Weiss has achieved. Connecting to God is both informative and transformative. Blending instruction and the uplifting stories of changed lives, this book is a treasure that will enrich everyone who reads it.” —Larry Dossey, M.D., author of Healing Words

“A major contribution to a field of growing importance; a book whose quality, integrity, and wisdom shine forth.” —Mark Cohen, Ph.D., cotranslator of In the Shadow of the Ladder:Introductions to Kabbalah by Rabbi Yehudah Lev Ashlag

“A beautifully woven synthesis of Kabbalah and psychology, written in a lively style and format that is sure to attract a wide audience, not only among the devotees of mysticism but also those pining for life’s meaning.” —Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Harmony (September 13, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400083346
• ISBN-13: 978-1400083343
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 1.1 x 8.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #477,382 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read, September 16, 2005

By 

Kenneth N. Klee (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Connecting to God: Ancient Kabbalah and Modern Psychology (Hardcover)

Connecting to God : Ancient Kabbalah and Modern Psychology

by Abner Weiss is a must read. Whether you are a psychologist, a healer, somebody who needs healing, or somebody who wants to understand how divine energy supports life, this book is for you. It is an easy read with many stories that make the theoretical points concrete and easy to follow. The meditation CD available on the web site is also a must for any serious meditator. I have read many books on Kabbalah and this book breaks new ground by telling me how to feel and use the energy in my everyday life. I highly recommend it.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Connecting to God by Abner Weiss, November 9, 2005

By 

Joyce F. Winton "Joyce" (England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Connecting to God: Ancient Kabbalah and Modern Psychology (Hardcover)

A friend told me that I just had to read this book. I told her that I knew nothing about Kabballah. She told me that it didn't matter, that I would gain tremendous knowledge of the subject through this book. She was right.

The author has written in such a way as to make Kabballah comprehensible and accessible to everyone. It is informative and extremely educational. To me it was an eye opener. I was able to not only understand the complexities of this interesting subject but I was also able to relate to the many stories in the book describing case histories of some of Rabbi Weiss's patients. I believe that "Connecting to God" may help a lot of people to understand and then overcome their mental pain.

What a wonderful book this is. It deserves to be a best seller.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Connecting to God by Abner Weiss, November 4, 2005

By 

B. N. Miller "Beverly" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Connecting to God: Ancient Kabbalah and Modern Psychology (Hardcover)

I loved loved loved this book. I have always wanted to understand what Kabballah was all about but have always found that books on this subject were either "happy clappy" or too complicated.... till now. This book is special. It deals with the subject seriously but in a way that is easilly understood. It also proves that there is a strong connection between our psychological and our spiritual make-up. I found the case histories contained within the pages of this extraordinary book extremely thought provoking, I thank Rabbi Weiss for opening me up to my spirituality, for helping me to know myself more fully and for giving me the tools to better understand my fellow man.