Newswise — Rabbi Levi Meier, Ph.D, who serves as the Jewish Chaplain for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, has been named a 2005 National Jewish Book Award winner for his nonfiction book, Second Chances.
The book received an award as a runner-up in the category of Contemporary Jewish Life and Practice. The National Jewish Book Awards are presented annually by the Jewish Book Council, the literary arm of the American Jewish organizational community.
Subtitled Transforming Bitterness to Hope and the Story of Ruth, the book is based on the Biblical story of Ruth, which includes references to issues such as personal loss, bitterness, loneliness and sexuality. Drawing upon his experiences as a clinical psychologist and hospital chaplain at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Rabbi Meier intersperses references to the Book of Ruth with modern anecdotes and stories about how personal acts of generosity and kindness can help individuals transform their feelings of pain and bitterness into personal growth and hope.
"I am deeply honored by this recognition, particularly since I have such high regard for enabling people to start over again," said Rabbi Meier, who is also a licensed clinical psychologist and marriage, family and child therapist. "I hope this book will allow readers to better understand that second chances are a gift they can offer themselves, as well as others, even in the face of loss and loneliness."
Second Chances is Rabbi Meier's second award-winning book. His previous book, Ancient Secrets, was selected as a finalist in the Spiritual Category in the Books for a Better Life Awards.
Rabbi Meier's Second Chances is printed by Urim Publications and is currently available in hardcover.
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