The Seven Questions You're Asked in Heaven: Reviewing and Renewing Your Life on Earth [Paperback]

Ron Wolfson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2009

How do you get to the heart of a life well lived? It's all about the questions.

"If you can hear the questions and apply them to the way you live your life on earth today, then when the time comes, your soul will be ready to take that stairway to heaven, prepared to answer the Seven Questions with a resounding `Yes!,' and take your rightful place among the angels."
--from the Prologue
In this charming, inspiring and wise guide to a well-lived life, beloved teacher Ron Wolfson provides an advance copy of the Seven Questions you'll be asked in heaven--whether you're a believer or a non-believer. The answers to these questions will help you shape a life of purpose and meaning on earth today. Supported by wisdom from the Jewish tradition, life's experiences, and personal anecdotes, Wolfson tells you about these transformative questions and explores the values that are at the heart of a life that matters. He offers funny, insightful and poignant stories of how people--ancient and contemporary--have answered the Seven Questions through their everyday actions. He encourages you to reflect on your own life goals and provides ideas both big and small for achieving them.

"Offers us timeless wisdom for living a full and meaningful life.... Wolfson has blessed us with a map for finding heaven on earth. Dr. Wolfson is a masterful guide and the journey he offers us is nothing short of transformational."
--Rabbi Naomi Levy, author, To Begin Again and Talking to God

"Poses questions that will provoke you to develop your `after-life skills.' This book will lead you into a deeper reflection on your life now from the vantage point of heaven."
--Fr. Steven E. Boes, national executive director, Boys Town

"[Helps us] to reflect in a compelling way about the quality and nature of our own life journeys. It is moving, inspiring, and thought-provoking--especially at this time of uncertainty and fear in our world. [It] challenges us to live lives of meaning and grants us comfort and hope."
--Rabbi David Ellenson, president, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Despite the title of this guide, it is essentially a handbook as to how Jews and others ought to act during their lifetimes. Although Judaism has little to say about what happens after we die, educator Wolfson (God's To-Do List) asserts that on arrival in the next world, we are judged by a Heavenly Court, which reviews our behavior on Earth by our answers to seven questions. Three rabbis from the fourth, 18th and 19th centuries are the source of these questions: were you honest? did you leave a legacy? did you devote time to study? did you have hope in your heart? did you get your priorities straight? did you enjoy your life on earth? were you the best you could be? Using anecdotes and citing contemporary authorities, the author asserts that positive answers to these questions will prepare us for getting to heaven. This ingenious approach to proper conduct will appeal to those who believe in an afterlife, and possibly even a few who don't. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From the Inside Flap

Believe in life before death.

"Embedded within the Seven Questions you're asked in heaven are the answers. Each of us will answer the questions differently. The important thing is to ask them of yourself now. Heaven can wait."
--from the Epilogue What will happen in the next life? Who knows! In this challenging and provocative "life review," Ron Wolfson presents you with the Seven Questions you'll be asked in heaven that are designed to focus you on this life and how to make it matter.

He offers penetrating questions, inspiring stories, and practical advice to help you review your life--your goals, relationships, values, and priorities--and shape the answers to the Seven Questions that are your life's journey. Don't wait for heaven--ask yourself the Seven Questions now and make a difference in this world with a life of purpose and meaning.

"Draws wisdom from secular and religious sources, from erudite scholars to light-hearted comedians. Not out of text alone, but out of the context of living, our author coaxes questions not fully asked and answers gently proposed. With keen eye and sensitive ear, he captures the poignant moments of human relationship."
--Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis, Valley Beth Shalom, Encino, California; author, Conscience: The Duty to Obey and the Duty to Disobey

"A masterful translation of Jewish tradition as a prescription for everyday living. Follow the pages of this beautiful book and you will be grounded in values while discerning the priorities of a meaningful life."
--Rabbi Karyn D. Kedar, author, The Bridge to Forgiveness: Stories and Prayers for Finding God and Restoring Wholeness

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Publishing (July 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580234070
• ISBN-13: 978-1580234078
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #377,161 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A native of Omaha, Nebraska, I earned my Ph.D. in Education from Washington University in St. Louis and the MA in Jewish Studies from the University of Judaism. I am the Fingerhut Professor of Education at American Jewish University in Los Angeles, the Co-President of Synagogue 3000, and a member of the Consortium for the Future of the Jewish Family.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good advise written very well, December 8, 2009

By 

Israel Drazin (Boca Raton, Florida) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Seven Questions You're Asked in Heaven: Reviewing and Renewing Your Life on Earth (Paperback)

People do not need to learn and memorize seven answers to seven questions and recite the answers as a password when they die to assure entry into heaven and eternal bliss. No, the problem, as Dr. Wolfson stresses, is how people live here on earth. It is important to answer the seven questions he raises now to live a more productive and enjoyable life.

All too many individuals have a passive life, although they do not realize it, a life in which they seem to wait for the moment of death when they can truly live. This passive life must be avoided.

Wolfson drew his teaching from Jewish sources and fills his book with many inspiring examples and many interesting and illustrative stories - perhaps close to a hundred. The surprising lessons that he offers are significant for people of all faiths. A person does not have to be Jewish or observe Jewish practices to enter heaven. The doors are open to everyone who God created.

The seven ideas that he offers are generally not what people would expect to hear, but when people read them they will realize that the seven can change and improve their lives. The following are two of them, told very briefly.

People need to enjoy all the earthly pleasures that should be enjoyed. Imagine appearing before God and telling the Almighty that you decided that it was far better to avoid all the things that he placed on earth for you to enjoy! You would be saying to God that he is a fool, that you know better. This is the misguided approach of many people who fatuously think that they are "pious." They dress in dark ugly clothes, cover up their women, avoid wine, keep away from movies and do not "waste time" looking at TV or art. They do not enjoy living and will not enjoy their death. A highly respected Jewish sage surprised his disciples when he insisted on traveling to Switzerland. He explained, "When I stand before the Almighty...I'm sure to be asked: `Why didn't you see my Alps?"

People also need to work to become the best that they can be? It is a waste to live an unfulfilled life. Imagine the dismay that parents would have if they see an unfulfilled person at the end of life; they had so much love for their child; they wanted so much for their child. Zusya once wisely said, when I die, God will not ask me was I as good as Moses. He will ask, have you been what Zusya could have been?

Imagine having the opportunity to acquire ten million dollars and imagine being so foolish that you do not take advantage of the opportunity to have enough money to live a better life. This is what occurs when a person shunts aside the opportunity to enjoy life and the opportunity to be all that he or she can be.

This is a book that can be enjoyed because of how it is written and how it can transform people to live the proper enjoyable life.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heavenly Workbook, September 14, 2009

By 

Michele Roth (Los Angeles, Ca.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Seven Questions You're Asked in Heaven: Reviewing and Renewing Your Life on Earth (Paperback)

I loved reading "The Seven Questions You're Asked in Heaven." This wonderful self-discovery workbook lets me see where my actions are missing the mark, as well as where I have hit the bullseye. I relished Dr. Wolfson's personal anecdotes, his sense of humor and his compassion. He writes like a friend who will ask questions that only I can answer. This engaging book helps bring heaven to earth.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Perspective, October 30, 2009

By 

Little Mom "Suzie" - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Seven Questions You're Asked in Heaven: Reviewing and Renewing Your Life on Earth (Paperback)

Interesting perspective. My Rabbi spoke of the work during High Holy Days and he peaked my interest so I ordered the book. The book itself was disappointing. It was quite simplistic but did have a good point or two. Would have liked more adult development of ideas.