judaism

Heard the taped version of SOUL PRINTS, written and read by Marc
Gafini . . . he is a rabbi and dean of the Merlitz Public Culture Center in
Israel, but don't be put off by either that title or his religion . . . this
is a beautiful book that begins with the premise that everyone is
lonely and many people look for cures in places where they will
never find them.

Gafini further contends that our soul prints can help us--and others--deal
with this loneliness . . . just as fingerprints are unique, so too
are soul prints--the individual marks left behind by each human soul
on everyone it touches.

One key to finding happiness in life is to share these soul prints
with others . . . and that point is movingly brought home by Gafini's tale
of a rabbi who told his family he was too sick to go to temple
on Yom Kippur (the holiest day of the year for Jews) . . . when they
all leave, the rabbi then sneaks off to play golf . . . on the very first
hole, he hits a tremendous drive and it goes right into the cup
for a hole-in-one . . . yet because he can't share his story with
anybody because he has told a lie, it is meaningless.

In addition, Gafini says there's an easy way to see if another
person of the opposite sex is right for you . . . you have to be
able to share your childhood with him or her; if you can't do this,
then you can't share your soul print and you won't have a
meaningful relationship.

Lastly, I liked how the author gave practical suggestions
on ways to connect with others . . . for instance, in a
restaurant, never let yourself be served without knowing the
name of your waiter or waitress . . . when you do this, you'll
see the other person for the first time.

I've lately adapted this last idea and have noticed quite
a difference, in my approach as well as my server's.

Soul Prints is a wonderful book. I've read it twice already, and every time, I find something new in it. Each story or bit of advice leads you step by step towards a clearer view of your own soul print -- the real self that unfortunately so often gets hidden by daily life.

The stories and bits of philosophy are told in exactly the right tone: neither the over-simplistic and gratingly cheerful attitude of pop psychology, nor the rather elitist, obscuring sort of Kabbalistic references that you have to be a Kabbalistic scholar already to have any hope of understanding.

I first read this book over half a year ago, and I can myself say that it has changed me -- sent me down different, better paths. Definitely, read it!

Marc Gafni's Soul Prints is a postitive book, however its basically just pop psychology mixed with Kabalistic overtones to give the pop psych a different flavor. There are alot of people out there that mix pop psychology with cultural overtones selling books and making a living lecturing, i dont think ther is anything wrong with it. However its kind of like going to the super market and seeing 30 different brands of detergent; they all basically do the same thing. Basically what i'm saying is if you already read a self help book then dont waste your time with this one.