Seven Heavens: Inspirational Stories to Elevate Your Soul

by Levi Meier

What is the point of doing anything, creating anything, accomplishing anything, caring about anything or anyone if our stay in this world is of such short duration? Based on the author's true,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1930143478
• ISBN13: 9781930143470
• Release Date: August 2002
• Publisher: Simcha Media Group (NJ)
• Length: 221 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.2" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Inspiration for Living and Dying

In his new book Seven Heavens, Rabbi Levi Meier eloquently addresses the universal issue of death. With his years of valuable first-hand experience as a hospital chaplain, he uses anecdotal stories, speaking with wisdom and authority about the human process of living and dying. His insights are both perceptive and profound. If we can read only one book this year, none is more important than this!

One of My Favorite Books

One of My FavoritesI am an avid reader, as you know. Over a lifetime, I have read thousands of books, not including the legal books I have read as a lawyer. Reading represents a form of relaxation and a way to gain insights into life. My favorite books include Uncle Tom's Cabin, War Day, Tuesdays with Morrie, The Jungle, Fear No Evil, Helter Skelter and Survival in Auschwitz. Now, after reading your latest book, Seven Heavens, I can add it to the list. It is a profoundly moving book which teaches us as much about living life as accepting death. It both haunts and elevates the soul and causes us to reflect on God's role in this whole process.

A HEARTFUL VIEW OF MORTALITY

Seven Heavens, by Rabbi Levi Meier, has left me in a puddle of tears. If being moved is a testament to a book's power, this one had me in the introduction. In a gentle and brave conversation with Jonathan, a dying man, the Rabbi helps define a path toward acceptance of what is probably life's greatest challenge - coming to terms with one's own existence. What unfolds between them is a profound intimacy shared by the reader. The Rabbi never shrinks from admitting his own fears, pointing to those things that have been his guide: That time stretches both before and after us, giving us a sense of placement in an ongoing process in which death is an important and integral part of life. That life can be lived beyond the loss of one's physical body. And that one can be dead while still alive. In fact, this book is as much about how to live than how to approach life's end. I know the chapters will be working on me, and in me, for some time to come. It ends beautifully and leaves me uplifted... looking at trees and mountains -- God's handiwork -- thinking, what a beautiful day to be a human being.

One of My Favorite Books of All Time

I am an avid reader, as you know. Over a lifetime, I have read thousands of books, not including the legal books I have read as a lawyer. Reading represents a form of relaxation and a way to gain insights into life. My favorite books include Uncle Tom's Cabin, War Day, Tuesdays with Morrie, The Jungle, Fear No Evil, Helter Skelter and Survival in Auschwitz. Now, after reading your latest book, Seven Heavens, I can add it to the list. It is a profoundly moving book which teaches us as much about living life as accepting death. It both haunts and elevates the soul and causes us to reflect on God's role in this whole process.

Human Soul Project

Seven Heavens Inspirational Stories to Elevate Your Soul by Levi MeierA prominent scientist named Jonathan, who has just mapped out every cell of the human body, discovers the importance of integrating the human genome project with the human soul project. This discovery, however, takes place only when Jonathan experiences a medical crisis that seemingly has no "scientific" cure. Jonathan has sailed through life with a lovely family and many professional colleagues. Yet his crisis, which challenges everything he has ever understood, makes him aware of how invisible he has been all along to those closest to him and even to himself.As Jonathan begins to explore some of his questions and fears, he bares his soul in a way he has never dared to before. He also recalls the comforting voice of his beloved grandfather that echoes blessings, wisdom and stories from ancient traditions. One of these memories is the story of how each of us ascends through seven heavens and at each level learns a deeper dimension of the many truths of life which enable us to achieve peace of soul. In an insightful Freudian slip, instead of saying "cancer of the cell," what emerges from Jonathan's mouth--and his heart--is "cancer of the soul." In trying to discover what that means, Jonathan utilizes the healing power of art, music, literature and poetry. The image that essentially guides him is that of a ship on the high seas, reminding him that even in turbulent waters, one can be "captain of my ship and captain of my soul." You will cry and smile as you accompany Jonathan along his journey, which also represents our own journey--what it means to be human, to be married, to have children, to falter and ultimately to be with God.Through a unique series of conversations, dialogues and stories, you will pass through the gates of the seven heavens and elevate your soul.