If God is loving, how could this happen? A personal quest for answers to these timeless questions led the author to a deeper exploration of Judaism’s teachings about how to cope with and transcend tragedy.
After four of her eight babies died as infants, from a rare mitochondrial disorder, Devorie was sure that nothing terrible could happen to her family ever again. Then, Yossi, their oldest child and only son, drowned six weeks before his wedding day. After Yossi died, Devorie grappled with long-held beliefs: Hashem is close; everything that happens has a purpose; and our neshamos continue to exist after we leave This World. At first, she couldn’t find her way forward and felt like Hashem was saying, I’m asking you to do something impossible. Do it anyway.
Even If I’m Not is the story of doing the impossible.
Pain Is a Reality, Suffering Is a Choice provides a deeply personal and profoundly human Torah perspective on some of life’s most basic and essential questions. Drawing on his own personal experience and a wealth of classical Jewish sources, the author sheds light on the Torah view of many fundamental topics:
Where Is the Daughter I Raised? is the poignant, exquisitely-written, true account of one woman’s experiences through illness and tragedy, and ultimately, by her digging deep within the reserves of her faith, to triumphant self-discovery and a renewed and genuine commitment to her Creator. It is not a book for the faint of heart, but for those authentic enough to look at life and emunah straight in the eye.
An engaging book about grief, bereavement, and the journey of the soul. It is a helpful guide to the afterlife and how to reconnect in a meaningful way with a deceased loved one.
These essays were conceived from pain, anguish and loss, and plumb the depths of Chazal for comfort and understanding. Geared to the sensitive, mature and thoughtful individual, they offer insight, beauty and uplift. This is a book by and for a deeply grieving man, one that connects on many levels to the modern Torah Jew.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe’s response to loss and tragedy. Current today as when originally provided, this volume is a collection of the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s counsel to the bereaved, providing support and solace to individuals and communities experiencing loss and tragedy, guiding them toward the hope for a brighter future.
How do you grow from grief? How do the Jewish people continue on with strength despite all of the hardships they have faced? Sherri Mandell explores the seven spiritual steps of resilience that teach us how to not only survive grief, but how to thrive in the face of loss and trauma.
Resilience is often misunderstood. In Jewish thought, resilience is not bouncing back, but is a process of becoming greater. This book will prepare you to enter the darkness of loss and experience growth, even when it seems most unlikely.
To Mourn a Child: Jewish Responses to Neonatal and Childhood Death
Jeffrey Saks and Joel Wolowelsky
Written by ordinary people from all walks of life, these selections are eloquent testimony to the strength of the human spirit and the redemptive power of Judaism.
Koby Mandell was 13 years old when he and his friend Yosef were brutally stoned to death in a cave in the heart of the Judean desert. This is an absorbing painful yet beautiful account of life with Koby written by his mother which also shares her thoughts and emotions during the initial stages of mourning.
After experiencing several personal losses, Rabbi Vorst put his thoughts, feelings, and conclusions based on Chassidus into writing. The booklet, originally written in Dutch, has since been translated into Hebrew, English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. It has brought great comfort and solace to many in the days when they were mourning the loss of a loved one.
In this practical and sensitive book, Rabbi Levy offers both the grieving and those attempting to provide support, some basic halachic information and helpful pointers regarding the emotional journey of loss, grief and its integration into the individual and collective experience.
Children's Books
Its Never Over When We Say Goodbye
Rebecca Shapiro
Although our loved ones might be physically gone, their spirit is eternal. The love, the legacy and all the precious memories can live on for as long as you choose to nurture and enrich the world in their honor.
Goldy has so many questions. Where did Zaidy go? Why are people coming over to their house a whole day? It takes a wise and loving Bubby to explain to Goldy exactly what happened and where Zaidy has gone. In this warm and reassuring book, the concept of death, a levayah, and shivah are brought down to a child’s level of understanding.
I Lost Someone Special puts the loss of a loved one in the proper perspective by explaining that we can still connect to one who has passed on by learning Torah and doing mitzvos for the benefit of the neshamah. Its gentle language conveys the valuable lesson that every child, even when very young, can have an impact on the neshamos of those who have passed on.
