Customer Reviews

Small Miracles: Extraordinary Coincidences from Everyday Life (v. 1)

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What I liked best about this book -- and what, for me, sets it apart from so many similar inspirational works -- is that it includes some stories with openly Jewish content. Not that miracle stories really have "denominations" per se, but for some reason, the stories about Jews having these types of experiences never seem to make it into collections for the general public without being "universalized" into generic pablum. The result is that the public -- Jews and gentiles alike -- get the mistaken impression that miracles never happen to modern-day Jews.

Not so with "Small Miracles." The authors have unabashedly included several anecdotes about Jews experiencing miraculous "coincidences," the same as their Christian neighbors. My favorite is the one about the rabbi and nine followers whose plane "just happened" to need refueling in a small village where the lone resident Jew needed a minyan (prayer quorum) to say kaddish (prayer for the dead) for his father. The father's spirit, it turns out, had appeared to his son in a dream the previous night and promised that, if the non-religious son would say kaddish, then he, the father, would provide the minyan!

The Yiddish word for these types of miraculous coincidences is "bashert," which, roughly translated, means "it was meant to be" or "it was guided by Heaven." For everyone who reads this book, these "bashert" stories will surely warm the heart and soul. Highly recommended!

Yes, I believe in miracles. I have always felt that these extraordinary coincidences that occur were more than just coincidences. How encouraging and enlightening to read of the many "everyday" miracles which have occurred in other peoples' lives. Yes, God definitely is with us and speaks with us...the experiences related in this book show this to be true. They are wonderfully written and obviously carefully selected by the editors, because every single story is a blessing in itself. I can't wait to read "Small Miracles II" and intend to order it today.

The authors are very observant Jewish women who believe that the extraordinary events recounted in this book are not random but rather divine acts of intervention. There was a particularly moving tale of a young man who had a terrible falling out with his father. Two amazing coincidences .. or more accurately, small miracles brought him close to his father after his father died. I won't go into the details because I don't want to spoil it for you if you read this book but, suffice it to say, if this story is accurate, it is indeed miraculous. It just could not be a coincidence. This book is charming and uplifting. I have suffered a recent disappointment in my personal life and prayerfully, I am seeking to discover the reason. I am convinced, that in the spirit of this book, I will discover a miracle in that the real reason for this disappointment will lead me to enormous personal fulfillment. I recommend this book to all who believe in miracles or who wish they could so believe.

Many of us have known in our hearts for years that special things happen in our lives that we do not always appreciate for what they are. This book illustrates the truth in this heartfelt philosophy. We are indeed so very lucky to have the lives we do, if only we would stop & recognize all the coincidences as the miracles they truly are. Into each of our lives come events & people; each with a special message or opportunity. As this book helps us remember: stop, admire, & appreciate these coincidences - no matter how simple, they were meant for us to experience.

As a person who shakes her head daily at the state of thissorry world we live in---I was definitely moved and struck by thisbook. Anyone who doesnt believe that many strange unexplainable things go on, will be convinced by this book. Whether the things in this book happenned because of the fact that (some say) we are in one world with a universal spirit where we are all attached---or whatever---these things do happen. Reading this book and also "Only Love is Real" by Brian Weiss blew me away. You just sit there speechless and with great emotion.

Take it from one who is cynical---and from one who thinks our world is and has been badly broken for eons and probably will never work, they are both definitely worth the read and will give the reader a warm feeling. Much luck and health to everyone.

The stories in this book are inspiring.

Some might think them trite, or too sentimental (I had a couple of friends who felt this way)but I found them to be a valuable learning tool.

Things happen for a reason. And although you may not know why at the time, at some point you'll understand. Syncronicity abounds.

I hate sappy books. Trust me, this was NOT one of them. The beautiful, simple true stories amused, amazed, and brought a tear to these jaundiced eyes.
What a lovely surprise!

I've never read anything that gave me chill bumps like this book. It told of so many people who's lives were touched by fate or what they called coinceindenses. I can't wait until Small MiraclesII gets here!

This book made a believer out of me that there is indeed divine intervention. Like another reviewer, I was particularly moved by the story of the young man who had a terrible falling out with his father, yet he discovered a miraculous message from his father after his father's death. Several hours after reading this account I too discovered a miraculous message from my father who had passed away ten months earlier. This was no coincidence.

This book makes you stop and think that there are no coincidences. Everything happens for a reason. One of the stories tells how we can ask a favor from God and I have tried it and it works everytime. This book is a MUST!