Karen Berg (October 12, 1942 – July 30, 2020) was an author and the founder of the Kabbalah Centre International. She is the author of five books; God Wears Lipstick: Kabbalah for Women;[2] Simple Light, Wisdom from a Woman's Heart;[3] To Be Continued, Reincarnation and the Purpose of our Lives;[4] Finding the Light through the Darkness, Inspirational lessons rooted in the Bible and the Zohar.;[5] and Two Unlikely People to Change the World, A Memoir.[6]
Karen Berg | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Karen Mulnick[1] October 12, 1942 |
| Died | July 30, 2020 (aged 77) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Author, Founder of Kabbalah Centre International |
Career
editBorn Karen Mulnick on October 12, 1942, Berg grew up in a Jewish family. She first encountered orthodox Judaism while working at a New York insurance office, where she met Philip Berg.[1] She and Philip Berg later married in 1971. The couple moved to Jerusalem with Suri Shamouelian and Leah Arnon, Karen Berg's two daughters from a previous marriage and had two sons, Yehuda and Michael, born in 1972 and 1973. Philip began teaching Kabbalah with Berg supporting him. They set up The Research Centre of Kabbalah in Tel Aviv. After living there for 12 years, they moved to Richmond Hill in Queens, New York, where their home became the Kabbalah Centre's first U.S. location.[7][8][9] The Bergs later moved to Beverly Hills.[8]
In 2005, Berg wrote God Wears Lipstick: Kabbalah for Women.[7][10] The book discusses ancient Kabalistic wisdom.[11] She also wrote Simple Light, Wisdom from a Woman's Heart in 2008.[12]
Berg founded The Kabbalah Centre Charitable Foundation, Spirituality for Kids, an online program that works to help at-risk kids and teens. In 2005, she founded Kids Creating Peace, an organization that works with children in war-torn areas of the Middle East.[12][13][14]
Philip Berg died in 2013. After his death, Berg and the couple's son Michael directed the daily activities of the centre. Karen Berg became spiritual leader of the Kabbalah Centre.[12] In 2016, Berg wrote Finding the Light Through the Darkness: Inspirational Lessons Rooted in the Bible and the Zohar.[5]
Berg died on July 30, 2020, at the age of 77. She was interred next to Rav Berg in Tzfat Israel on August 2, 2020.[15]
Bibliography
edit- Karen Berg (2005). God Wears Lipstick: Kabbalah for Women. Kabbalah Centre. ISBN 9781571892430.
- Karen Berg (2008). Simple Light, Wisdom from a Woman's Heart. Kabbalah Publishing.
- Karen Berg (2012). To Be Continued, Reincarnation and the Purpose of Our Lives. Kabbalah Publishing.
- Karen Berg (2016). Finding the Light Through the Darkness. Kabbalah Publishing.
References
edit- ^ a b Harriet Ryan (September 22, 2013). "Philip Berg dies; controversial kabbalah rabbi with celebrity followers". Faith Street. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- ^ Karen Berg (2005). God Wears Lipstick: Kabbalah for Women. Kabbalah Centre. ISBN 9781571892430.
- ^ Karen Berg (2008). Simple Light, Wisdom from a Woman's Heart. Kabbalah Publishing.
- ^ Karen Berg. "To Be Continued: Reincarnation and the Purpose of Our Lives". GoodReads. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
- ^ a b "Finding the Light Through the Darkness". The Kabbalah Centre. Archived from the original on May 11, 2016. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
- ^ "Two Unlikely People to Change the World, A Memoir". The Kabbalah Centre. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ a b Harriet Ryan, Kim Christiansen (October 16, 2011). "Couple's success spreading kabbalah yields to discord, tax probe". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- ^ a b David Brinn (September 9, 2009). "Madonna's Kabbalah guide Karen Berg has built a spiritual empire". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- ^ Veronique Altglas (May 1, 2014). From Yoga to Kabbalah: Religious Exoticism and the Logics of Bricolage. Oxford University Press.
- ^ David Brinn (September 4, 2009). "Madonna's Kabbalah guide: Mysticism has made her better, humbler person". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- ^ Robin Palmer. "God Wears Lipstick". Yogi Times. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- ^ a b c "Karen Berg". Huffington Post. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- ^ "Karen Berg". Inspire Me Today. Archived from the original on July 9, 2014. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
- ^ "Israeli, Palestinian children go to 'Peace Camp'". The Acorn. November 24, 2005. Archived from the original on September 14, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
- ^ Dear Friends and Colleagues