Lost Souls: Finding Hope in the Heart of Darkness - Hardcover

Niles Goldstein

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0609610376 ISBN 13: 9780609610374

Publisher: Harmony/Bell Tower, 2002

Synopsis

These days it is no longer just adolescents who feel that the universe is falling apart. In Lost Souls, Niles Goldstein writes of the chaos and fear so many of us experience in our public and private lives and makes it clear that we are not—nor have we ever been—alone in our angst. To illustrate the different stages we often encounter when we feel lost—whether the trigger for our disorientation and despair is the loss of a loved one or a job, or the result of an injury or depression—Goldstein interweaves contemporary stories of men and women he has met through his work as a rabbi and a law enforcement chaplain with those of biblical figures such as Cain, David and Bathsheba, Samson, Tamar, and several of the prophets. As in his last book, God at the Edge, Goldstein explores the “shadow” side of the human condition. His accounts are often disturbing, but his insights are always inspiring. What he brings us is a message of particular relevance today, namely, that a journey through the wilderness—be it emotional, existential, or geographical—is a transformative and strengthening process, even though it may not seem so at the time. In chronicling the stories of survivors who have traveled through perilous and at times unexplored territory, Goldstein not only shows us how to face the challenges of being human, he also delivers a promise of meaning, direction, and hope in our lives.

About this title

From the Back Cover

“This is the book for this moment. Have we ever felt such a mixture of fear, anger, and bewilderment as we look ahead in this unpromising century? Niles Goldstein’s eloquent voice opens a way to negotiate these shoals with confidence, even with style.” Harvey Cox, Thomas Professor of Divinity, Harvard University

“A learned and deeply spiritual book, rigorous and sensitive, it should appeal to free thinkers and believers alike.” Martin Peretz, editor in chief, The New Republic

“Niles Goldstein has an extraordinary ability to take the Bible’s most poignant and emotionally wrenching episodes and show how, thousands of years later, they still offer wise guidance to us all.” Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, author of The Book of Jewish Values

“Niles Goldstein writes like a gentle guide, a sage teacher, and a trusted friend. Lost Souls reminds us that loss and misfortune need not unmoor us from ourselves but can challenge us to enrich and elevate our souls. This book will bring solace and comfort to many.” Bruce Feiler, author of Walking the Bible

About the Author

Niles Elliot Goldstein is the founding rabbi of The New Shul in Greenwich Village, New York. He lectures widely on Jewish mysticism and spirituality and has taught at New York University and the Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion. Goldstein is the national Jewish chaplain for the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association and was the voice behind “Ask the Rabbi” on the Microsoft Network. His essays and poetry have appeared in Newsweek, the Los Angeles Times, and many other publications, and he is the author or editor of five previous books, including God at the Edge: Searching for the Divine in Uncomfortable and Unexpected Places. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

About this edition

• Publisher: Harmony/Bell Tower
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0609610376
• ISBN 13: 9780609610374
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208