The power of The 72 Names of God operates strictly on a soul level, not a physical one. It's about spirituality, not religiosity. Instead of being limited by the differences that divide people, the wisdom of the Names transcends humanity's age-old quarrels and belief systems to deal with one common bond that unifies all people and nations as one — the human soul.

This self-help book from Rabbi Berg (The Power of Kabbalah) draws upon the "72 names" of God mentioned in the Kabbalah to empower individuals to embrace life more fully. Berg says that when Moses experienced his do-or-die moment on the shores of the Red Sea, God spoke to the Israelites in three verses as recorded in the Book of Exodus-each verse consisting of 72 Hebrew letters. Encoded in those letters was the "technology" the Israelites needed to escape the situation on their own, without further divine assistance. Berg writes that contemporary seekers can also tap into this power and energy by learning about, and calling upon, the 72 names of God. The book can be shallow, particularly in its proof-texting of both Kabbalah and the findings of modern scientists to demonstrate "uncanny congruencies between astrophysics and Kabbalah concerning Creation," or its rapid-fire determination to whiz through each name in a single page. Although the device of using the 72 names is a refreshing addition to self-help literature, the end result is the same: the book offers individuals a relatively quick and painless way to achieve joy, financial prosperity, sexual fulfillment and spiritual enlightenment. The real star here is not the writing but the layout; rarely has a Kabbalah book been so easy on the eyes. Trendy designs, chic photographs and illustrations, and even a little comic-book-style graphic art enhance the book and maintain reader interest. (May) Forecast: Berg's name recognition as a teacher at the Kabbalah Centre, spiritual adviser to celebrities such as Madonna and Rob Lowe and son of the legendary Rav Berg, will help move this title, which has an initial print run of 50,000 copies. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

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