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

~ Yitta Halberstam (Author), Judith Leventhal (Editor), Bernie S. Siegel (Author) "I don't know if it's the hard-nosed reporter in me or the incurable romantic, but for some strange reason that I cannot fully explain, I..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, Herr Mueller, Long Island (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The story of a woman who is aided by a benefactress, only to find that it is really a "repayment" of a good deed performed more than thirty years ago, along with other coincidences and everyday miracles, is included in collection of true stories. 100,000 first printing. $100,000 ad/promo. IP.

About the Author

Yitta Halberstam and Judith Leventhal are the bestselling authors of the Small Miracles series. Both have experienced an inordinate number of coincidences firsthand. Ms. Halberstam is a writer and lecturer on spirituality whose work has appeared in many magazines, including Parade, New York, Money, and Working Woman. Ms. Leventhal is a Gestalt therapist. They both live in Brooklyn, NY. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 226 pages
• Publisher: Adams Media Corporation; 1 edition (March 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558506462
• ISBN-13: 978-1558506466
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #111,283 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chicken Soup with some Jewish content!, December 21, 1999

By	Rabbi Yonassan Gershom (Minnesota, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Small Miracles, January 9, 2000

By	Books of Ruth "Educator" (Nebraska) - See all my reviews

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.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There are no coincidences or random events, December 4, 2000

By	David E. Levine (Peekskill , NY USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.