The Way: Using the Wisdom of Kabbalah for Spiritual Transformation and Fulfillment »

RABBI MICHAEL BERG is one of the key figures at The Kabbalah Centre, which has branches in many countries and a Web site, kabbalah.com. As part of his life's work dedicated to bringing kabbalistic wisdom to the forefront, he has just completed the monumental task of editing and producing the first-ever English translation and commentary of the Zohar, the comprehensive text of Kabbalah. He regularly presents lectures and seminars all around the world.

In this profound and joyful book, Michael Berg of The Kabbalah Centre, the world’s leading educational organization teaching the wisdom of Kabbalah, shows you how to use Kabbalah to bring happiness and fulfillment into your own life and into the lives of everyone around you.

The spiritual way of Kabbalah has grown from a hidden treasure–an ancient knowledge reserved for the few–into a widespread mainstream movement that has helped people from every walk of life, all around the world. Thousands of ordinary men and women of all faiths and beliefs are applying its principles to transform themselves and their lives. Both groundbreaking and so clearly written that it is accessible to everyone, The Way is a practical roadmap that will be useful to anyone following any spiritual path.

Writing with warmth, wonder, kindness, and a deep insight into both human and divine nature, Rabbi Berg guides you step-by-step along the way to enlightenment. In The Way, you will come to understand the key spiritual laws that guide our lives and our universe and gain a vision of the greater purpose that lies behind everything you do and everything that happens to you. You will learn meditation and prayer techniques. And you will acquire the spiritual, emotional, and psychological power tools that will enable you to reduce emotional chaos, increase personal harmony, and benefit all aspects of your life.

Fired by the spark of the divine yet grounded in the here and now, The Way helps you find the path to the Light–the true fulfillment and lasting happiness your deepest self has always sought.

Publishers Weekly

Berg, the editor-in-chief of Kabbalah magazine, offers a readable introduction into what he claims is the universal mystical tradition. The Kabbalah is replete with modern analogies (even Vince Lombardi!) and is written in an intelligent style expressly designed to appeal to the broadest possible audience. However, Berg overreaches with the claim that "Kabbalah is the birthright of all humanity. It does not belong to any religion or ethnic group." Unless God desires everyone to be Jewish (which Judaism has always rejected), it is disingenuous to say that "The Way" is "for literally everyone in the world" and then proceed to refer exclusively to Jewish texts, prayers, heroes and holidays and the mysterious power of Hebrew and Hebrew alone. Berg's "way" has much in common with other mystical traditions, particularly reincarnation and meditation. "Love thy neighbor" may be "the secret of living in accordance with Kabbalah," but it is hardly a monopoly. Ironically, the path outlined here is reminiscent of St. Paul's ancient Christian missions to the pagans. St. Paul eliminated Jewish ritual observance and made the religion palatable to the uninitiated winning countless converts to a new tradition, but alienating observant Jews. Characterizing the Sabbath as "one day just to sit back and cruise, if that's what we really want to do" may win the hearts of Santana and Madonna, but it will likely leave serious Jewish mystics cringing. (Sept. 7) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.