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Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful book that will help you connect with others
Review: Heard the taped version of SOUL PRINTS, written and read by Marc
Gafni . . . 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.
Gafni 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 Gafni'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, Gafni 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.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful book that will help you connect with others
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: this book touched my heart
Review: I seldom write reviews although I am an avid reader of a wide variety of books. This book, however is one which has inspired me and motivated me to make necessary changes in my life. Rabbi Gafni has the gift of making the stories of the Bible come to life. I have read or heard many of these stories before, but have never been able to relate to them in a way that actually touched me emotionally. I enjoyed the Soul Print Practice sections of the book particularly because they helped clarify areas of my life that needed healing and a perhaps a new perspective. This book is about living your truth, no matter what your religious background or beliefs.
Rating:
Summary: This book changed my life!
Review: I was lucky enough to get an early copy of this book and it has truly changed my life. Marc Gafni's philosophy of SOUL PRINTS has helped me make a fundemental shift in the way I live my life. I've read many 'self help' books before and this is the one that has had the most profound impact on my personal life and philosophy. I'm very grateful to Marc Gafni.
Rating:
Summary: soul prints - an invitation into yourself !
Review: Marc gafni is a rabbi, a kabbalists, and a wise teacher of the spiritual tradition- But must importantly before all of this things he is a warm, joyful, hopeful, brilliant, passionate and striving human being. "Soul prints" is not a book. It is a journey. A journey to the most exciting, beautiful, funny, some times sad and lonely, wondrous, deep place- Our soul.!!! Here gafni is sharing with the world the truth about human specialness. The uniqueness of each and every one of us- our soul prints. "Just as in the physical world you have a fingerprint that is unique to you, so in the realm of the spirit You have soul print that belongs to you alone. That print, like the print of your finger, is an identification marker of the deepest kind, with curves and swirls of its own - all your own." In this journey you are not alone. Marc is there sharing intimately with you your story as well as his own story - his soul print. He shares with you the little moments in life, the big ones, the sad and happy. The most beautiful thing about it is that in every word you somehow find yourself there- you'll discover a beautiful and unique story, your own story. Gafni is inviting you into yourself- hold on tied because this journey will change your life!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Pop Psychology
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: A work to inspire your interest in traditional Jewish texts
Review: Rabbi Gafni is a brilliant if problematic teacher of traditional Jewish texts. In this work he wants to help his readers escape their loneliness and difficulties in life through finding their own ' soul-print' their own spiritual I.D. In self- help book fashion he preaches that the way to one's true self is the way to a meaningful life. Unfortunately Rabbi Gafni does this while ignoring the more traditional Jewish view that the deepest way to find oneself is through giving to others in one's own family and community, to worshipping not oneself but God. Yet Rabbi Gafni reads Midrashim with startling insight , and it seems to me that there is great benefit in reading this book if only in that it shows the readers(who probably have small knowledge of traditional Jewish texts including Midrashim) how deep and powerful the Jewish tradition is.
Rating:
Summary: Kid passes through the Archetype on the way to Eternity .
Review: Rabbi Marc Gafni in Soul Prints picks at the lock on the door to the mind that words have & invites you to see who is there. I might add & he might agree that the image encountered is the prototype to tell your eternal story with. As one makes their mark with it, it becomes the fittest & one with the Archetype. He uses quite different words than these but is both Biblical & hips the kid. Go see who is knocking.
Rating:
Summary: To read again and again
Review: 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!
Rating: 
Summary: beautiful book
Review: what a gift this book is. gafni takes us on a journey with him. using biblical language and mysticism, gafni encourages us to live authentically by getting in touch with our soul prints. i love the focus on how everyone matters and how important it is stay with feelings such a loneliness so we can learn how to be ourselves and then be in true community with others.
for those, like me, who may be put off by the biblical references, please know that this book is really for everybody. i am neither jewish nor christian but i could still relate to how gafni presents the old testament/torah in this book. it is the underlying message to live life fully that is at the heart of this book. as such, it really is accessible for all. a true joy to read and a wonderful gift to savor!
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