The Path of Blessing: Experiencing the Energy and Abundance of the Divine - Softcover

Prager, Marcia

Softcover

ISBN 10: 060980393X ISBN 13: 9780609803936

Publisher: Harmony/Bell Tower, 1999

Synopsis

A simple Hebrew blessing is a powerful thing--a one-minute, deeply meditative exercise exploring the nature of the Creative Force we call God and the dynamic relationship between God, human consciousness, and the unfolding universe.
        
In The Path of Blessing Rabbi Marcia Prager guides us through the opening words of a Hebrew blessing--six words which embody the depth of Jewish spirituality--revealing how the letters and words combine to promote joy and appreciation, wonder and thankfulness, amazement and praise. Each word becomes a stepping-stone inviting us to discover the infinitely abundant Presence of God flowing through even the smallest actions of our lives.
        
In the ancient language of Jewish tradition and the modern language of feminist consciousness, creation theology, and psychology, Marcia Prager brings the words of the Hebrew invocation dramatically alive.

About this title

From the Publisher:

I've always been fascinated by the individual sounds of languages and how the shape of each letter reveals its intrinsic meaning. So when I met Rabbi Marcia Prager and heard of the work she had done meditating on each letter of the alephbet and exploring its relationship to the adjoining letters in a word, I was hooked. Rabbi Marcia is a charismatic speaker who brings light and clarity into the room when she teaches. To reproduce this dynamic quality in a book was a real challenge but together I think we did it. As Reb Zalman Schachter, the father of the Jewish Renewal movement says in his praise of The Path of Blessing, "In times past, rabbis were traditionally called upon to give their imprimatur to new works of sacred teaching. While this is no longer the custom, I would like to set such an imprimatur on Rabbi Marcia's work. This is to emphasize that you are not merely reading a book but studying Torah."

-- Toinette Lippe, Editorial Director, Bell Tower

From the Back Cover:

In Praise of the Path of Blessing

"Marcia Prager gives voice to the the urgings of the Shekhinah, the feminine aspect of God. You will draw inspiration and guidance from her teachings, which will lead you from level to level up the ladder of consciousness. Watch out! You are dealing with highly transformative material."
--Rabbi Zalman M. Schachter-Shalomi, Aleph Alliance for Jewish Renewal, and World Wisdom Chair, Naropa Institut

"A rich, wise, and joyous book! Marcia Prager offers us an exhilarating adventure of the spirit. Six seemingly ordinary Hebrew words become luminous gateways into the inner riches of ancient and modern Jewish wisdom."
--Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, Congregation Beth El, Sudbury, MA, author of Invisible Lines of Connection (Jewish Lights Publishing, Woodstock, VT)

"This is a wonderful presentation of how the practice of blessing is a continuous connection to wonder. In a literate and engaging way, it combines deep and inspiring scholarship with complete accessibility for all readers."
--Sylvia Boorstein, author of That's Funny, You Don't Look Buddhist: On Being a Faithful Jew and a Passionate Buddhist.

"Rabbi Marcia Prager brings profound meaning and vitality to the Jewish mindfulness practice of offering blessings throughout the day. She draws from a deep well of talmudic and hasidic teachings to illuminate a vast array of mystical treasures that can be gleaned from a few essential Hebrew words. This gem of a book is essential for anyone interested in spiritual Judaism."
--Rabbi David Cooper, author of God Is a Verb

"For many years the beauty of Rabbi Marcia Prager's teaching and prayer has been a blessing in my life. Now, many more will learn the power of her Jewish wisdom and how to use it in their lives. She teaches us about blessing, and her teaching is itself a blessing, for which I can only say, Amen."
--Rodger Kamenetz, author of Stalking Elijah and The Jew in the Lotus

About this edition

• Publisher: Harmony/Bell Tower
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 060980393X
• ISBN 13: 9780609803936
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240