{"product_id":"seven-blessings-paperback","title":"Seven Blessings - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eRuchama King\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe closed, secret world of matchmaking in contemporary Israel provides the titillating pivot for a story of uncommon proportions. In Ruchama King's skillful hands, \u003ci\u003eSeven Blessings \u003c\/i\u003emaps out the complicated lives of five expatriate women and men whose search for a soul mate, in many ways, mirrors their search for God. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAt the center of this fascinating novel is Beth, who at age thirty-nine longs to be married but despairs she ever will be. When she finally meets the man of her dreams, he has what she believes to be an insurmountable flaw. Can she overcome her repugnance in order to forge a new life? Binyamin, a talented painter and student, lacks the humility to identify a worthy wife. He strains the matchmakers' patience until his search for perfect love finally becomes ridiculous, even to himself. Tsippi and Judith, the matchmakers, are stumbling themselves, with marriages that need propping up. In this land of miracles, seeking the right match, whether between singles, husband and wife, student and teacher, or man and God, becomes a quest that opens the Bible to us in a new way. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eRich characters, an intriguing setting, writing that offers unique nuances, and ultimately a story that keeps you turning the pages all combine to introduce a remarkable newcomer. \u003ci\u003eSeven Blessings\u003c\/i\u003e redefines the Jewish experience, with a story that will ring with truth for anyone who's ever considered getting married.\u003ch3\u003eFront Jacket\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAdvance Praise for \u003ci\u003eSeven Blessings\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Arranged marriages will never look the same. Ruchama King transforms the life of Orthodox Jerusalem into the universal terms of love and courtship---and yes, real intimacy and self-fulfillment. A perceptive and charming book.\"--- Risa Miller, author of \u003ci\u003eWelcome to Heavenly Heights\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Ruchama King is herself a great matchmaker---between the sensual and the ethereal, between subtle storytelling and startling revelation. Her novel moves with a grace I have not encountered. What a loss it would have been to have never read it, or for her to have never written it.\" --- Stephen J. Dubner, author of\u003ci\u003e Confessions of a Hero Worshiper\u003c\/i\u003e and\u003ci\u003e Turbulent Souls: A Catholic Son's Return to His Jewish Family\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\" I really enjoyed this book. Ruchama King knows Jerusalem, its matchmakers, and the Americans who wind up there looking for love and connection to each other and to God. It made me laugh and it touched my heart. It's a truly wonderful read.\" --- Naomi Ragen, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Ghost of Hannah Mendes\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eSeven Blessings\u003c\/i\u003e is a wonderful literary alchemy that combines Malamud's \"The Magic Barrel\" with Potok's \u003ci\u003eThe Chosen\u003c\/i\u003e. Set in Israel and shadowed by the teachings of the Bible, this is a novel that wears its heart on every page and reveals the secrets and mysteries of how souls on earth manage to find the match that they are fated to marry.\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e--\u003c\/i\u003e- Thane Rosenbaum, author of\u003ci\u003e The Golems of Gotham \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eSecond Hand Smoke\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"It is a rare event for a way of life to be portrayed with a fresh, intelligent artist's eye. Seven Blessings is such an event---an absolute knockout of a first novel.... It's hard to write a page-turning story about religious people, but King has done it, and with tremendous charm. This is a funny, revealing, wonderful book!\" ---Alice Elliott Dark, author of \u003ci\u003eThink of England\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eIn the Gloaming\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eBack Jacket\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAdvance Praise for \u003ci\u003eSeven Blessings\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eArranged marriages will never look the same. Ruchama King transforms the life of Orthodox Jerusalem into the universal terms of love and courtship---and yes, real intimacy and self-fulfillment. A perceptive and charming book.--- Risa Miller, author of \u003ci\u003eWelcome to Heavenly Heights\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eRuchama King is herself a great matchmaker---between the sensual and the ethereal, between subtle storytelling and startling revelation. Her novel moves with a grace I have not encountered. What a loss it would have been to have never read it, or for her to have never written it. --- Stephen J. Dubner, author of\u003ci\u003e Confessions of a Hero Worshiper\u003c\/i\u003e and\u003ci\u003e Turbulent Souls: A Catholic Son's Return to His Jewish Family\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e I really enjoyed this book. Ruchama King knows Jerusalem, its matchmakers, and the Americans who wind up there looking for love and connection to each other and to God. It made me laugh and it touched my heart. It's a truly wonderful read. --- Naomi Ragen, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Ghost of Hannah Mendes\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eSeven Blessings\u003c\/i\u003e is a wonderful literary alchemy that combines Malamud's The Magic Barrel with Potok's \u003ci\u003eThe Chosen\u003c\/i\u003e. Set in Israel and shadowed by the teachings of the Bible, this is a novel that wears its heart on every page and reveals the secrets and mysteries of how souls on earth manage to find the match that they are fated to marry. \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e--\u003c\/i\u003e- Thane Rosenbaum, author of\u003ci\u003e The Golems of Gotham \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eSecond Hand Smoke\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIt is a rare event for a way of life to be portrayed with a fresh, intelligent artist's eye. Seven Blessings is such an event---an absolute knockout of a first novel.... It's hard to write a page-turning story about religious people, but King has done it, and with tremendous charm. This is a funny, revealing, wonderful book! ---Alice Elliott Dark, author of \u003ci\u003eThink of England\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eIn the Gloaming\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRuchama King\u003c\/b\u003e lived, studied, and taught in Jerusalem for ten years. Her short stories have appeared in various magazines and journals. She now lives in New Jersey with her husband and children. \u003ci\u003eSeven Blessings\u003c\/i\u003e is her first novel.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 272\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.7 x 8.4 x 5.5 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e November 01, 2004\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47454154981554,"sku":"9780312309169","price":20.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0770\/3891\/1666\/files\/a638e735c75c778b6b6932d0cdee79a2.webp?v=1778844093","url":"https:\/\/box.dadyminds.org\/products\/seven-blessings-paperback","provider":"DADYMINDS BOX","version":"1.0","type":"link"}