For most of us, mourning is something to be endured. We are often
merely passive spectators of our own pain, and we see our grief
period as a grim mountain that we must climb over. But for Maurice
Lamm it can be much more.
Bereavement, he says, can often be an enriching experience, even
as it is a sorrowful and often tragic one. Our faith in a higher
power can move us to not only live through the present but also
to stride into the future with renewed energy and a revitalized
outlook on life.
In this, his sequel to the best-selling The Jewish Way in Death
and Mourning, Rabbi Lamm helps mourners not just get through their
grief, but also grow through it. He gently steers mourners on
the path that allows their sorrow to teach them important lessons
about life. And he shows consolers how to listen and speak with
their hearts so that they can provide real comfort to others.
His marvelous insights on the days of shiva, the year of kaddish,
and the lovingkindness of others reveal the richness and true
purpose of Jewish mourning rituals and customs. They prepare us
to receive consolation and ready us for the journey that will
take us beyond grief.
His "Words for a Loss When at a Loss for Words" is
a treasury of readings for finding and giving comfort by transforming
the spiritual ideas of an ancient faith into contemporary language.
Here there are stories and fables that illuminate our complicated
lives, meditations from the depths of human experience, and a
gallery of unforgettable images that speak to our souls during
times of loss
Rabbi Lamm’s words will help all who walk the path of grief
to find their way to consolation—and then beyond, to an
appreciation of the blessings and opportunities that present themselves
to us when we confront loss. And they can even take us further,
to discover the celebrated Jewish art—of wringing blessing
out of tragedy.
