To Begin Again - by Naomi Levy (Paperback)

About the Book

Levy was 15 years old when her father was murdered in a senseless holdup that destroyed not only his life but her trust in a loving God. Yet from her struggle to heal she gained the wisdom that has made her a beloved rabbi. "To Begin Again" tells her honest and compelling story.

Book Synopsis

"Words that come from the heart enter the heart, an ancient rabbinic proverb instructs us. The words in this book come from the heart--mine and the hearts of others. I pray that you will find within them a spark that will ignite the flame of hope and the passion for healing that lies within us all."

Naomi Levy was a spirited fifteen-year-old when her father was murdered in a senseless holdup that destroyed not only his life but her trust in a loving God. Healing took a long time, yet from her struggles with grief, anger, and depression, she forged the wisdom that made her, at twenty-six, a beloved rabbi--and now makes her book a miracle of honesty, recovery, and compassion.

Where do we find the strength to meet tragedy? Can we rekindle hope? Innocence? Faith? The answers, illustrated with many moving, true stories drawn from Rabbi Levy's experience and the lives of her congregants, provide sanity, peace, and a safe harbor where we can heal and grow. Remember: "Death is a great tragedy. But to die while we are still living, that is the greatest tragedy of all."

Review Quotes

"A source of great comfort when dealing with the truly big stuff."
--RICHARD CARLSON
Author of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff . . . and It's All Small Stuff

"[A] VOICE OF CLARITY, COMFORT AND COMPASSION."
--RABBI HAROLD KUSHNER
Author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People

"FOR ANYONE WHO HAS EVER LOST OR SUFFERED, RABBI LEVY'S WORDS WILL SHINE IN THE DARK LIKE A NIGHT-LIGHT."
--RACHEL NAOMI REMEN, M.D.
Author of Kitchen Table Wisdom

About the Author

Naomi Levy was in the first class to admit women to study for the rabbinate at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, and the first female Conservative rabbi to lead a congregation on the West Coast. She lives in Venice, California, with her husband, Robert Eshman, and their children, Adin and Noa.