Magical World: Stories, Reflections, Poems - Hardcover

Brandes, Rabbi Sara

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0996460926 ISBN 13: 9780996460927

Publisher: Neshama Press, 2015

Synopsis

Magical World is a collection of inspirational poems and reflections, interwoven with the personal story of a mystic. Join Rabbi Sara Brandes as she draws from the ancient wisdom of Jewish tradition to craft a life of meaning in this magical world of ours.

About this title

From the Author:

Hello Friend,

It is with great humility that I offer you my personal reflections, seeking and finding in this magical world of ours. Though the insights contained here are the result of years of study, this book is not intended to be a scholarly work. Rather, it is an account of my searching, and if my searching can accompany you along your way, then I walk with you in joy. With gratitude to my Creator and my teachers, I share my voice with you.

I am a mystic and a rabbi. Though I am certain that all paths lead to the One, my path is Judaism, and therefore this book draws on Jewish imagery, concepts, and texts. I have worked hard to make these concepts accessible to any reader because students of Torah and Judaism are not necessarily the intended audience for this work. Hebrew and Jewish terms are explained in footnotes on each page and defined in a glossary and the end of the book. If your heart, too, yearns for union with all of creation and the Creator who shaped us, then you are my sister and my friend. I hope that drinking from the wellspring of Jewish tradition can nourish you as it nourishes me.

The penultimate section of this work is a suggested spiritual practice based on the kabbalistic imaging of the Divine, brought to life in the Jewish calendar by the springtime ritual known as sefirat ha'omer. This section can be read as theology or enjoyed alone as a roadmap for contemplative spiritual practice.

In addition to poems and meditations, I share with you here the journey of my becoming, a work still in progress. I do so inspired by the most fundamental Jewish insight that guides our works of law and lore: all things have their story. Only by knowing the story of the thing can we hope to understand it. Law does not stand alone. Prayer does not stand alone. Truth does not stand alone. These things are embedded in story, and so I share mine with you. I hope one day, I can hear yours. 
 
Blessings of Peace,
Rabbi Sara Brandes

From the Back Cover:

Praise for Magical World 

"Poetry, transcendental experiences, practical exercises and Jewish wisdom; Sara Brandes's book is a gateway to a Magical World--a remembering and an awakening. As I read it, I felt swept away into a rich, visceral world, teeming with life, spirit, mystery and God. When I finished I felt as though I awoke, refreshed, renewed and enlivened. This book brought value to my roots." 
-Wayne Lehrer, author of The Prodigy Within: the Quest to Discover Your Life's Purpose 


"Each generation has its weavers of inspiration and insight, of love and courage, of tradition and spirituality. Sara Brandes' book is an example of a new weaver at work. 
-Rabbi David R. Blumenthal, Jay and Leslie Cohen Professor of Judaic Studies, Emory University 

About this edition

• Publisher: Neshama Press
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 0996460926
• ISBN 13: 9780996460927
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 128