Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Universal Kabbalah: Dawn of a New Consciousness, March 23, 2009
If read with an open heart and mind, this book is not about a "Dawn of a New Consciousness" but is a getaway to higher realms of awareness and understanding. The Stoffs with clear, unadorned ideas provide readers access to ideals of wonder and beauty. Their guidance in contemplating these formative ideals not only provides us with an opportunity to understand the creative love at work in the world but the creative love at work within us.
--Jeffery Kane, Ph.D. Vice President for Academic Affairs, Long Island University
This book is a wonderful resource for all those who can open their minds and learn to accept the truth. I have found the wisdom of Kabbalah to be a resource for me in helping to understand the nature of creation and life. I believe it helps us to live with the unexplainable, as astronomers and quantum physicists must do, and yet remain scientific as we explore the nature of creation and the intelligence of matter, energy, and consciousness.
--Bernie S. Siegel, M.D., author of Love, Medicine, & Miracles
UNIVERSAL KABBALAH is both a beautiful love story and a healing manual for the Soul, the Mind and the Body. It expresses in a profound way, the eternal religion that is the basis for Judaism, Christianity and Islam. And more, it gives clear instruction for the just and loving god of their childhood: the return to which is our only hope for the future.
--Reverend Bette McFerson Benner, Editor of Spiritual Venturer
It is very reassuring to me to find Jesse Stoff, M.D., leading the way toward a new healing system.
--Patrick Quillin, PhD, RD, CNS. Vice President of Nutrition, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Author of Beating Cancer with Nutrition.
Not only is he (Dr. Sheldon Stoff) great, but a true gift to all who meet him.
--Rabbi Eric Bram, Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation
Dr. Stoff has written a book of truth--the truth about an ancient yet revolutionary way to heal. UNIVERSAL KABBALAH speaks to our soul while challenging the mind and comforting our heart. This unique book is a MUST read for all those who want to know.
--Yulius Poplyansky, M.D., Director of The International Foundation of Innovative Medicine
In all, a heartfelt and highly original contribution and a fascinating read for those seeking a universal approach to an ancient wisdom.
--Marianne Martin, Assistant Editor of Light of Consciousness: A Journal of Spiritual Awakening
A well written book with great depth designed to bring people together. I enjoyed it very much and recommend it to all seekers who want to start or continue their journey toward a practical spirituality right here on the Earth. It does what it says it will do.
--Rabbi Michael Shapiro, Center for Spiritual Growth, Scottsdale Torah Institute
I cannot thank you enough for your wonderful book: UNIVERSAL KABBALAH. It is a book that goes straight to the heart and moved me deeply. You have great wisdom and the ability to convey it even to the untrained mind. Your book will be of enormous help to people who knew some of the concepts you discuss intellectually but never realized their true meaning.
--Dr. Dorrit Winkler, Vienna, Austria
Personally, the book has given me new strength. I am 92 years old, very handicapped, and often wondering why such an apparently meaningless life has to be continued for such a long time. I will do so no more. The book has renewed my will to accept what I chose for myself.
--Anonymous
Your book on the Kabbalah...is most inspiring. It opens the mind to the purity and exaltedness of life.
--Rabbi Sandor Stern, Dean, College of Higher Rabbinical Studies, London, England. Chief Rabbi of England
I have never had a strong affinity for the Kabbalah. I have found it difficult at times to read, stiff, dogmatic, and I was never sure how the whole thing fit together. Then, I was introduced to the book UNIVERSAL KABBALAH: DAWN OF A NEW CONSCIOUSNESS by Sheldon, Jesse and Lorraine Stoff. If you recall, Sheldon and Jesse's article, "Education for Spiritual growth" was featured in the March-April 2004 issue of QUEST and as the article had received very positive reviews, I decided to give UNIVERSAL KABBALAH a try. I was far from being disappointed.
UNIVERSAL KABBALAH is a wonderful springboard for anyone interested in getting a practical introduction to the esoteric meaning of the Kabbalah. It is incredibly honest, inviting, easy to understand, and made the reviewer feel as if the authors were speaking specifically to her.
The book was originally conceived by Sheldon Stoff, professor emeritus of Adelphi University, based on his experience with Judaism and an invitation, much later in life, from a master rabbi to study the Kabbalah with him. Equally supporting the book are sons, Joshua (not an author of the book) and Jesse, a medical doctor, and Sheldon's wife Lorraine. Later in the book something very special about Lorraine is revealed. (I won't divulge this information, as I would like readers to listen to Lorraine with an open mind.)
The joy of reading this book lies in the author's step by step method of going deeper and deeper, chapter by chapter, into the study of the self. This is not a book to just read. The Universal Kabbalah is divided into two parts. The first part, written by Sheldon and Lorraine, deals with the esoteric meaning of the Kabbalah using the Tree of Life as a roadmap and requires the reader to meditate upon what is read to truly grasp the significance. (In fact, the authors suggest reading the book once and then again for meditation, study, and practice.) It is packed with thought-provoking extracts from various rabbis and thinkers.
The second part is written by Jesse Stoff and provides "An Introduction into Kabbalistic Medicine," which I viewed as another roadmap explaining how the physical world is truly connected to the immaterial world and how the physical affects the unseen and vice-versa. In order to create a healed world, we only need to open our eyes, change our perception, and become more aware of how we treat each other and the world around us. The second part of the book continues with information from the first part so there is o feeling of disconnection. But each section is dynamic in its own way.
The book's first chapter on "Knowledge" sets the tone with a subtitle that states, "Without Balance There is Only Distortion," explaining that intellectual knowledge (Hokhmah, the masculine energy) must be balanced with true knowing that consists of love, intuition, and understanding (Binah, the feminine energy) because everything is comprised of this. If equally combined, these two energy centers (Sefirot--Sefirah being singular) create perfect knowledge and relationship (Da'at). With each chapter, the authors explain the remaining qualities in the Tree of Life, giving the Kabbalistic view, the universal view, and examples from the authors' own lives. As each quality is revealed, one begins to understand the interconnectedness of everything, seen and unseen, heard and unheard.
One of my favorite chapters was on "Reincarnation," a process I personally feel to be true. Sheldon shares his encounter with a seer who reveals to him why he (Sheldon) feels such a connection to Native Americans and Jewish mysticism. The chapter also quotes some very well-known (especially to Theosophists) scientists in the field of reincarnation, namely Sylvia Cranston and our latest Kern lecturer, Ian Stevenson.
For anyone interested in taking a beginner's inner journey into the Kabbalah, I recommend this book. It would also make a wonderful book for study groups, as there are lots of footnotes to pursue further reading and study. Should one decide to take a journey with the Stoffs, I advise following their suggestions given at the beginning of the book, not only to experience the full potential of the book, but also to aid in the realization of oneself.
--Ananya S. Rajan, Assistant Editor of Quest Magazine.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A WAY OUT OF THE CAVE, January 16, 2004
This book is about opening to the spiritual, expanding our consciousness, and going beyond the self-centered ego. As Dr. Sheldon Stoff, the primary author of the book, states, most of us live in a cave seeing little but shadows. Stoff, professor emeritus from Delphi University, offers good advice on how to get out of the cave. The four pillars of Stoff's work with Kabbalah are studying; praying; meditating and chanting; and doing or fulfilling Mitzvot (good deeds). He explains how best to approach these four pillars. "By pursuing these four pillars with love and responsibility our self-centered egos shrink and our spiritual consciousness expands," Stoff offers. He likens expansion of consciousness to coming out of a dark theater into broad daylight. Other subjects include the Tree of Life, reincarnation, male-female relationships, the soul, Jesus, the Sefirot, and forgiveness and compassion, to name just a few. Much of Dr. Stoff's wisdom has been obtained through deep meditation. It seems to be consistent with that of other seemingly enlightened teachers. The second section of the book has to do with Kabbalistic medicine and is by Jesse Stoff, a medical doctor as well as a naturopathic and homeopathic physician. His discussion of the part played by mind on physical health is informative and interesting. This book has much to offer the seeker as well as those well along the spiritual path.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Authentic self-inquiry & the joy of caring, January 15, 2004
The collaborative work of Kabbalah experts Sheldon Stoff, Jesse A. Stoff, and Lorraine M. Stoff, Universal Kabbalah: Dawn Of A New Consciousness is a compassionate and informative work that deftly explores the power of love, the importance of authentic self-inquiry, the joy of caring, the value of committed relationships, and the holy Spark of God. An uplifting and inspirational account dedicated to physical, moral, and spiritual self-improvement through living with passion, understanding, and connection. Universal Kabbalah is an impressive and very welcome addition to Judaic Studies reference collections in general, and Kabbalah Studies reading lists in particular.
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