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God Wears Lipstick: Kabbalah for Women
This groundbreaking and bestselling book reveals the power that is innate in every woman. Karen Berg outlines life’s deeper meaning from a kabbalistic perspective, and gives tangibles solutions to issues women face every day. She delves into the spiritual purpose of relationships—to reach our highest potential—and the way to enrich our connection to our self, our mate, our children, and God.
190 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 9, 2005
149 people are currently reading
774 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 72 reviews
August 21, 2012
Was a fast read. Wouldn't recommend it to someone if s/he is going to scrutinize the author as many have here (on Goodreads). However, if you are willing to understand that Berg wanted many people to grasp the basics of ancient teachings, you'll do just fine with the book. My relatives are religious, Orthodox Jewish people and have studied Kabbalah. I like Berg's perspective because it makes sense to me that in today's global economy to market knowledge, not hide it away. People want knowledge and she did a great job at explaining it for the masses.
May 2, 2011
This book actually turned me off to Kabbalah. This reminds you that Kabbala is an ancient practice and retains its misogyny.
April 10, 2008
Fantastic book. Thought provoking and powerful for women!
January 18, 2012
Every woman should read this. I've never felt more at peace with my femininity and role as a woman- in my current family, future family, or career family.
Read
January 4, 2015Spirituality is about accepting that our whole reason for being is to share. It is about being able to see what's wrong with ourselves, accepting the idea that we can change, and then showing a willingness to actually transform ourselves.
We die for one of two reasons -- either we've achieved what we were supposed to accomplish spiritually in this lifetime, and we're clear, clean, and corrected. Or, we die because there's no way we're going to achieve the correction in this lifetime.
If you keep finding yourself in the same drama -- you have not yet learned a certain lesson that life is presenting you.
Learn to make choices in your life that have the effect of clearing rather than clouding your vision.
Learn to become proactive instead of reactive.
Learn to be a sharer rather than a receiver-for-the-self-alone.
Learn to practice restriction.
The desire to receive for the self alone is the root of all evil. Spending too much time concentrating on yourself -- the gravitational pull of "me, me, me" -- is the seed of all problems. When you worry about yourself, the Creator can't come in. There is no room, because someone is already there looking after you. (you)
It is your greatest challenges that bring the greatest gifts. If you approach your difficulties from the perspective of a victim, then you will experience little if any growth.
Allow others to be themselves in all your relationships. Focus on yourself and take responsibility for what's happening with you.
Recognize why your partner behaves as he/she does in your relationship. Identify what this brings up FOR YOU and start working on it IN YOU.
People are sent into the world with different tasks that are as specific to them as their fingerprints. He gives us specific challenges to work with so that we can transform our nature.
If you find it difficult to tolerate someone -- remember that you are no different than they are. You also have much to correct. This is the path your soul has chosen.
You need someone who is on your wavelength, so that you can love him for who and what he is, not for who you hope he'll become.
Tikune -- the part of ourselves that we need to correct in this lifetime. Your tikune is everything you do when you follow the past of least resistance, as this path is usually made up of self-centered bad habits. One sure sign that you are coming up against your tikune is the feeling of emotional discomfort. All the people and situations in your life that truly bother you are merely participants in your process of correction. Everything you consider a problem is really an opportunity the Light has sent you.
You keep attracting the same type of problem in your life because there is something in YOU that needs to change.
People have every kind of excuse for the bad state of their lives, but the truth of the matter is that a soul is put into a situation that provides the ideal conditions for it to do it's job, whatever that may be. When we take full responsibility for ourselves, we become aligned with cosmic forces that are intent on helping us grow.
We die for one of two reasons -- either we've achieved what we were supposed to accomplish spiritually in this lifetime, and we're clear, clean, and corrected. Or, we die because there's no way we're going to achieve the correction in this lifetime.
If you keep finding yourself in the same drama -- you have not yet learned a certain lesson that life is presenting you.
Learn to make choices in your life that have the effect of clearing rather than clouding your vision.
Learn to become proactive instead of reactive.
Learn to be a sharer rather than a receiver-for-the-self-alone.
Learn to practice restriction.
The desire to receive for the self alone is the root of all evil. Spending too much time concentrating on yourself -- the gravitational pull of "me, me, me" -- is the seed of all problems. When you worry about yourself, the Creator can't come in. There is no room, because someone is already there looking after you. (you)
It is your greatest challenges that bring the greatest gifts. If you approach your difficulties from the perspective of a victim, then you will experience little if any growth.
Allow others to be themselves in all your relationships. Focus on yourself and take responsibility for what's happening with you.
Recognize why your partner behaves as he/she does in your relationship. Identify what this brings up FOR YOU and start working on it IN YOU.
People are sent into the world with different tasks that are as specific to them as their fingerprints. He gives us specific challenges to work with so that we can transform our nature.
If you find it difficult to tolerate someone -- remember that you are no different than they are. You also have much to correct. This is the path your soul has chosen.
You need someone who is on your wavelength, so that you can love him for who and what he is, not for who you hope he'll become.
Tikune -- the part of ourselves that we need to correct in this lifetime. Your tikune is everything you do when you follow the past of least resistance, as this path is usually made up of self-centered bad habits. One sure sign that you are coming up against your tikune is the feeling of emotional discomfort. All the people and situations in your life that truly bother you are merely participants in your process of correction. Everything you consider a problem is really an opportunity the Light has sent you.
You keep attracting the same type of problem in your life because there is something in YOU that needs to change.
People have every kind of excuse for the bad state of their lives, but the truth of the matter is that a soul is put into a situation that provides the ideal conditions for it to do it's job, whatever that may be. When we take full responsibility for ourselves, we become aligned with cosmic forces that are intent on helping us grow.
November 19, 2014
What is the author trying to say? What important issues is the author bringing up?(Considering themes,ideas that come up over and over throughout the book)
- The author kept bringing up the understandings of relationships, how people who enter into our lives have differences and how we need to learn how to accept them. I think this was a tool I definitely needed to learn because now I am becoming more mature in my nature life.
What techniques did the author use to make their point?(Humor,sympathy toward the characters or situations, dramatic events)
- The author had many different tones in the novel, I believe she carried the caring sympathy of when it came to the hard situation for information that people needed to know. All through the book the author was very detailed and inspirational.
Did the author reach their intended audience?
- Yes the novel recommended all women of many ages to give inspiring knowledge to carry on throughout our daily lives.
Is writing effective in getting across the author's ideas?
- Of course, I find writing very effective and recommending of our personal ideas to give everyone an understanding.
What was the authors purpose?
- To give those who are struggling in situations that need general ideas on having a positive outcome.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the book?
- I think the authors weakness was when she was explaining about grief and loss, the chapter was only a page long, and did not have a big detailed idea.
What is your overall reaction to the book? Did you find it interesting, moving, dull?
- I definitely loved this book, I found this book very useful to me and while I needed advice on how to move forward from my weak situations I was dealing with. This book saved my social life and saved my personality from becoming a negative thinker, this book really gave me the ambition to reevaluate my thoughts. I highly recommend this book to the young and old audience readers I find this book uplifting.
- The author kept bringing up the understandings of relationships, how people who enter into our lives have differences and how we need to learn how to accept them. I think this was a tool I definitely needed to learn because now I am becoming more mature in my nature life.
What techniques did the author use to make their point?(Humor,sympathy toward the characters or situations, dramatic events)
- The author had many different tones in the novel, I believe she carried the caring sympathy of when it came to the hard situation for information that people needed to know. All through the book the author was very detailed and inspirational.
Did the author reach their intended audience?
- Yes the novel recommended all women of many ages to give inspiring knowledge to carry on throughout our daily lives.
Is writing effective in getting across the author's ideas?
- Of course, I find writing very effective and recommending of our personal ideas to give everyone an understanding.
What was the authors purpose?
- To give those who are struggling in situations that need general ideas on having a positive outcome.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the book?
- I think the authors weakness was when she was explaining about grief and loss, the chapter was only a page long, and did not have a big detailed idea.
What is your overall reaction to the book? Did you find it interesting, moving, dull?
- I definitely loved this book, I found this book very useful to me and while I needed advice on how to move forward from my weak situations I was dealing with. This book saved my social life and saved my personality from becoming a negative thinker, this book really gave me the ambition to reevaluate my thoughts. I highly recommend this book to the young and old audience readers I find this book uplifting.
August 9, 2011
I read the first 20 pages and feel as if I was being preached to. I put the book down.
November 12, 2017
La Espiritualidad consiste en aceptar que toda la razón de ser de nuestra existencia está en Compartir.
"Estás en este mundo para aprender. Por l tanto comienza por aprender a disfrutar del proceso".
"Estás en este mundo para aprender. Por l tanto comienza por aprender a disfrutar del proceso".
April 11, 2020
Alimento para el alma, no hay una mejor forma de sintetizar la esencia de Dios usa lápiz labial.
No acostumbro a leer este tipo de libros, inclusive, antes de tenerlo en mis manos no tenía ni idea de su existencia, sin embargo, muchas partes del libro me lograron atrapar e inclusive reconfortar🤗
Creo fielmente en la importancia de DAR y entregar a los demás con el mismo ímpetu con el que deseamos recibir, y en general este libro resalta cómo nuestra luz se puede encender o ir apagando según nuestras acciones, relaciones con los otros y por supuesto, con nosotros mismos. Sé que el tema de la autoreflexión puede llegar a ser lo más harto del planeta pero el libro te pone a reflexionar sobre todo el tiempo que perdemos apegándonos al ego, a las relaciones tóxicas, el resentimiento y el miedo.
No ha sido el mejor libro que me leído pero seguro, al igual que todos, en ocasiones eres egoísta, egocéntrico, tóxico y por esas simples razones es un buen libro para cualquiera. Además habla de un tema totalmente desconocido para nosotros, la sabiduría Kabbalística. Si lo leen, me cuentan qué les parece 🙊
No acostumbro a leer este tipo de libros, inclusive, antes de tenerlo en mis manos no tenía ni idea de su existencia, sin embargo, muchas partes del libro me lograron atrapar e inclusive reconfortar🤗
Creo fielmente en la importancia de DAR y entregar a los demás con el mismo ímpetu con el que deseamos recibir, y en general este libro resalta cómo nuestra luz se puede encender o ir apagando según nuestras acciones, relaciones con los otros y por supuesto, con nosotros mismos. Sé que el tema de la autoreflexión puede llegar a ser lo más harto del planeta pero el libro te pone a reflexionar sobre todo el tiempo que perdemos apegándonos al ego, a las relaciones tóxicas, el resentimiento y el miedo.
No ha sido el mejor libro que me leído pero seguro, al igual que todos, en ocasiones eres egoísta, egocéntrico, tóxico y por esas simples razones es un buen libro para cualquiera. Además habla de un tema totalmente desconocido para nosotros, la sabiduría Kabbalística. Si lo leen, me cuentan qué les parece 🙊
August 9, 2022
I read one of Rav Bergs books before, and actually I got disappointed...but since i'm eager to know more about kabbalah and the subject intrests me, I decided to give a chance to his wife Karen and I must say that, even though the reviewa werent promising I liked the book, and thank you to Karen for that.
I guess it was easier to relate to a women talkong about this, i guess it had a more soft touch to it.
At some points i disagreed, but immediatlly in the nexr paragraph Karen explained what she meant and to some things I could relate, some things made me think through and look at it from another perspective. And her words touched my heart and made me feel better about certain things. Im very greatful.
I think its an easy read and a good start to enter the knowledge of kabbalah world.
Thank you Karen.
יהיה זכרך ברוך🙏
I guess it was easier to relate to a women talkong about this, i guess it had a more soft touch to it.
At some points i disagreed, but immediatlly in the nexr paragraph Karen explained what she meant and to some things I could relate, some things made me think through and look at it from another perspective. And her words touched my heart and made me feel better about certain things. Im very greatful.
I think its an easy read and a good start to enter the knowledge of kabbalah world.
Thank you Karen.
יהיה זכרך ברוך🙏
February 10, 2019
Básicamente la autora dice que venimos al mundo a ayudar a los hombres a trascender (porque de alguna forma nuestro ADN ya trae esa trascendencia desde la época del borrego de oro (???)).
No sólo es simplista y machista, sino que refuerza los roles de género asegurando que los hombres proveen y dan y las mujeres cuidan, reciben y comparten. Sin mencionar el título del libro (o sea, para ser mujer hay que usar lápiz labial forzosamente).
Estoy segura que la Kabbalah no va por ahí.
Desde un inicio me desagradó pero le di el beneficio de la duda hasta el final. Me equivoqué.
No sólo es simplista y machista, sino que refuerza los roles de género asegurando que los hombres proveen y dan y las mujeres cuidan, reciben y comparten. Sin mencionar el título del libro (o sea, para ser mujer hay que usar lápiz labial forzosamente).
Estoy segura que la Kabbalah no va por ahí.
Desde un inicio me desagradó pero le di el beneficio de la duda hasta el final. Me equivoqué.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2012
It was ok, but to simplistic. Maybe If I had read it at the beginning of the year, before the other books Ive read on spirituality-religion-philosophy, etc I would have liked it more. Its a good first book if you are starting to delve into those subjects. Also, Im not totally convinced about her submissive attitude towards men.
February 7, 2018
I love all this book! It help me to love more to be a woman and discover all the skills and purpose on this life. Invite me to read more about Kabbalah and practice it. It has a lot of information to open more the own concience. Is easy to read and understand and helps to works on the spiritual life.
March 3, 2018
Like Yehuda Berg's book, this work is well-organized and precise as it presents important basics of kabbalah (i.e., the mystical part of Judaism) for female Millennials.
This book, along with other means (e.g., music bands like "Kabbalah Cowboy" https://soundcloud.com/user-472120778...) is hopefully moving Kabbalah more into the mainstream. Recommended.
This book, along with other means (e.g., music bands like "Kabbalah Cowboy" https://soundcloud.com/user-472120778...) is hopefully moving Kabbalah more into the mainstream. Recommended.
August 31, 2017
Me gustó mucho las herramientas kabbalisticas, sigo sintiéndolo un poco machista para mi gusto.
Fácil y rápido de leer.
Deja más cosas positivas que negativas
Fácil y rápido de leer.
Deja más cosas positivas que negativas
April 5, 2021
Entiendo el mensaje principal, pero la manera de llevarlo la verdad es que me pareció machista y que daba demasiadas vueltas.
April 7, 2019
I thought the emphasis on spirituality and female empowerment was a bit much, but the book itself was very insightful!
It's given me many lessons I hope to incorporate in my life. I try to view every challenge as a lesson, but I never considered it with so much emphasis on relationships and maybe I should.
It's refreshing to view all relationships as a chance to learn more about your faults and work to be a better person. Nobody is under your control and, if something makes you feel negatively, you should look to yourself to learn why that is and how to fix it. Easy in theory! Difficult in practice.
This was definitely an eye-opening read and one I would recommend to people going through a tough time. I definitely feel the book came to me a little too late, after the rifts in my relationship grew too big, but also at the right time because it's given me a direction to walk in.
It's given me many lessons I hope to incorporate in my life. I try to view every challenge as a lesson, but I never considered it with so much emphasis on relationships and maybe I should.
It's refreshing to view all relationships as a chance to learn more about your faults and work to be a better person. Nobody is under your control and, if something makes you feel negatively, you should look to yourself to learn why that is and how to fix it. Easy in theory! Difficult in practice.
This was definitely an eye-opening read and one I would recommend to people going through a tough time. I definitely feel the book came to me a little too late, after the rifts in my relationship grew too big, but also at the right time because it's given me a direction to walk in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2025
Terrible.
Book contains large amounts of misogyny and anti-feminist tropes, its presents the idea that women have a specific biological and spiritual role, and that role is essentially a wife to a husband. Here we see the overtones of homophobia and transphobia, although the transphobia is much more overt.
Part 1: is the argument as to why the role of women is to be a wife, which in my opinion are is at all convincing but I may have found it more convincing had I been Jewish.
Part 2: is literally just relationship advice, over half the book is literally relationship advice. The title of this book is ‘God wears Lipstick’ and half the book is about how to be a good tradwife, how to live like a woman in the 1800s.
Awful book, terribly written, with a terrible message.
Book contains large amounts of misogyny and anti-feminist tropes, its presents the idea that women have a specific biological and spiritual role, and that role is essentially a wife to a husband. Here we see the overtones of homophobia and transphobia, although the transphobia is much more overt.
Part 1: is the argument as to why the role of women is to be a wife, which in my opinion are is at all convincing but I may have found it more convincing had I been Jewish.
Part 2: is literally just relationship advice, over half the book is literally relationship advice. The title of this book is ‘God wears Lipstick’ and half the book is about how to be a good tradwife, how to live like a woman in the 1800s.
Awful book, terribly written, with a terrible message.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2021
Light reading. Started off as an amateur's guide into the spiritual world. I thought it was a good, simple introduction and not too heavy on religious matters. May lead some people to dabble in this topic a little more.
As the book progressed, it was less about a women's spiritual strength and more about relationship advice with a man. I lost interest quickly and found it harder to retain what I was reading. I didn't find the advice to be strong practically.
Just like other spiritual books and relationship books, they tend to be of the 'self help' genre. You take what you want and discard the rest.
As the book progressed, it was less about a women's spiritual strength and more about relationship advice with a man. I lost interest quickly and found it harder to retain what I was reading. I didn't find the advice to be strong practically.
Just like other spiritual books and relationship books, they tend to be of the 'self help' genre. You take what you want and discard the rest.
May 1, 2025
Es un libro que puso a prueba mi humildad. Tuve que negociar varias veces con mi ego para hacerlo a un lado y poder leer sin juicio y abrirme al conocimiento que estaba compartiendo Karen.
Esto no significa que sea malo, sólo tenemos algunos puntos de vista diferentes desde la postura de mujeres, lo cuál hizo de esta lectura muy rica también porque me permitió ver las cosas desde otro punto de vista y así poder aprender un poco más.
Ella tiene una visión muy fuerte de la energía femenina y sin duda recomendaría su libro para todas las que quieran aprender sobre el propósito esencial de la contribución femenina en el mundo.
Esto no significa que sea malo, sólo tenemos algunos puntos de vista diferentes desde la postura de mujeres, lo cuál hizo de esta lectura muy rica también porque me permitió ver las cosas desde otro punto de vista y así poder aprender un poco más.
Ella tiene una visión muy fuerte de la energía femenina y sin duda recomendaría su libro para todas las que quieran aprender sobre el propósito esencial de la contribución femenina en el mundo.
February 14, 2021
This book was mediocre and had alot of basic advice in here, sprinkled with a bit of misogyny and homophobia. Just as I was getting to the last bit of this book- happy to finish, I came across this gem about karma:
“But if we see that the soul inside the abused child perpetrated just such an act in a previous lifetime, it is possible to understand his painful situation today.”
I’m not trying to disrespect people who practice Kabbalah, but I had to draw the line at blaming children’s “souls” for their abuse. I honestly never wanted a throw a book away so bad.
I also wanted to say The Book Titled is not explained in this book and doesn’t relate to any of the subjects discussed in it. It was literal bait to get ppl to read such conservative heteronorm rhetoric
“But if we see that the soul inside the abused child perpetrated just such an act in a previous lifetime, it is possible to understand his painful situation today.”
I’m not trying to disrespect people who practice Kabbalah, but I had to draw the line at blaming children’s “souls” for their abuse. I honestly never wanted a throw a book away so bad.
I also wanted to say The Book Titled is not explained in this book and doesn’t relate to any of the subjects discussed in it. It was literal bait to get ppl to read such conservative heteronorm rhetoric
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2023
No soy particularmente una persona religiosa, pero sí espiritual y me gusta aprender sobre el punto de vista de otras religiones. Este ha sido el primer libro que he leído que habla sobre Dios y la religión desde el punto de vista de la mujer y me gustó muchísimo. Considero que me brindó herramientas para aplicar en mi día a día y en mi relación con mi esposo. Fue interesante ver a la mujer, Dios y las relaciones desde otro punto de vista. Sin duda lo leería de nuevo en varias ocasiones.
November 29, 2022
Al final de lo que se trata es de convertirnos en seres más conscientes, más espirituales. Encontrar el sentido de nuestra vida y dejar algo bueno en este mundo. Nada material nos llevaremos al momento de nuestra muerte, así que aprendamos a disfrutar realmente de la vida, respetando a los demás y dar siempre lo mejor de nosotros.
May 21, 2021
Llegué a este libro porque me lo recomendó mi psicóloga. Normalmente esta categoría de libros no son de mi agrado pero este estuvo interesante, comparto algunos puntos aquí planteados y discrepo en otros pero eso no le quita lo entretenido.
November 11, 2021
Timeless message!
I'm new to Kabbalah and I have read another books but I really liked this one.
It is a timeless message... I felt identified so many times during the book. It is written in a very friendly way without losing the essence of the spiritual meaning of our lives.
I'm new to Kabbalah and I have read another books but I really liked this one.
It is a timeless message... I felt identified so many times during the book. It is written in a very friendly way without losing the essence of the spiritual meaning of our lives.
September 21, 2025
Libro de espiritualidad muy básica.
Escritura de introducción a la Kabbalah, asumo que por la época en que fue escrito, si abrió conocimiento a más personas que veían la espiritualidad como algo ni aplicable; en lo personal lo sentí muy simple y de conceptos mínimos.
Escritura de introducción a la Kabbalah, asumo que por la época en que fue escrito, si abrió conocimiento a más personas que veían la espiritualidad como algo ni aplicable; en lo personal lo sentí muy simple y de conceptos mínimos.
January 16, 2018
Una opción sencilla para entender la Kabblah desde la misión y visión de la mujer.
April 8, 2019
I loved thiw book, easy to read and understand, very practical and relevant to everyday life.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 72 reviews