Recipes for a Sacred Life
True Stories and a Few Miracles
By Rivvy Neshama
Genre: Body, Mind & Spirit | Inspiration & Personal Growth
About Recipes for a Sacred Life
Winner of 5 national awards, a collection of true stories to warm the heart and soul. Now available in a new, expanded edition.
On a dark winter night with little to do, Rivvy Neshama took a “Find Your Highest Purpose” quiz. And the funny thing was, she found it: to live a sacred life. Problem was, she didn’t know how.
But she set out to learn. And in the weeks and months that followed, she began to remember and encounter all the people and experiences featured in this book—from her father’s jokes to her mother’s prayers, from Billie in Harlem to a stranger in Salzburg, and from warm tortillas to the humble oatmeal. Each became a story, like a recipe passed down, beginning with her mother and her simple toast to life.
Neshama’s true tales, a memoir of sorts, are filled with love, warmth, and timeless wisdom. They ground us, and they lift us up. They make us laugh, and they make us cry. And most of all, they connect us more deeply with the grace and meaning of our lives.
Praise
“Exquisite storytelling. . . . Written in the spirit of Elizabeth Gilbert or Anne Lamott, Neshama’s stories (and a few miracles) are uplifting, witty, and wise.”—Publishers Weekly
“Inspiring, enlightening, and entertaining. Sit back and enjoy!”—Dharma Singh Khalsa, MD, author of Meditation as Medicine
“Recipes for a Sacred Life left us moved—and changed. . . . Wise, poignant, funny, and inspiring.”—Redbook
“You might think by its title that this is another self-help book offering advice and spiritual directives. If you did, you’d be wrong. Rivvy Neshama’s delightful stories are moving, playful, and enlightening. She offers timeless wisdom that will enrich the lives of readers of all ages and backgrounds. I highly recommend it!”—Charlie Bloom, coauthor of 101 Things I Wish I Knew When I Got Married
“Rivvy’s bite-sized stories will make you nod with deepest knowing. It’s a magical companion.”—HuffPost
“A bright promise of awakening. . . . The tales carry a resonance similar to healing stories from Rachel Naomi Remen’s Kitchen Table Wisdom.”—Foreword Reviews
“Blessings upon Rivvy and her beloved mother for their combined wisdom that leads to living a fully present life and loving it.”—Michael Bernard Beckwith, author of Life Visioning
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was a guide to happiness? Recipes for a Sacred Life is the closest thing I’ve found . . . adding love and joy to the everyday.”—First for Women magazine
“A reflective, joyful journey that will likely change the way you see the world.”—Matthew Barber, Tony-nominated playwright of Enchanted April
“Joy-filled, laugh-out-loud. . . . This beautiful book can open your heart.”—Science of Mind magazine
“With a flowing style of writing and a beautiful way of looking at the world, Neshama has written the essential handbook to living a sacred and meaningful life.”—Women’s Adventure Media
“Rivvy’s delightful stories open the heart. Read them, one at a time, and then daydream on them . . . and you will take on a glow of joy and feel more secure in God’s world.”—Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, author of Davening: A Guide to Meaningful Jewish Prayer
“It charms and inspires. What more could one ask?”—Hal Zina Bennett, author of Write from the Heart: Unleashing the Power of Your Creativity
AWARDS
IPPY Gold Award, Spiritual/Inspirational
Nautilus Silver Award, Religion/Spirituality
COVR Award, Best Book in Contemporary Spirituality
Mom’s Choice Gold Award, Adult Books
Foreword Reviews Indies Finalist, Body, Mind & Spirit
About the Author
Rivvy Neshama is a writer, editor, and community organizer who holds degrees in philosophy, comparative literature, social work, and education. Her diverse work experiences have included being a teacher and social worker in Harlem, a campaign manager in Boulder, a college instructor in Queens, and a Tarot card reader at Macy’s on Halloween. READ MORE
