Jewish Paths toward Healing and Wholeness: A Personal Guide to Dealing with Suffering
"Why me?" Why do we suffer? How can we heal?
"Spiritual suffering must be differentiated from physical pain, although the two are intertwined in such a way that it is nearly impossible to distinguish one from the other. We suffer spiritually when we do not grow from our illness, when we do not learn from the experience of physical and emotional pain."
—from the Introduction
Too many of us faced with bodily illness, whether our own or that of a loved one, feel lost as to what to do or how to handle it.
Grounded in the spiritual traditions of Judaism, this book provides healing rituals, psalms and prayers that help us initiate a dialogue with God, to guide us through the complicated path of healing and wholeness. Olitzky explores:
- What Judaism teaches us about healing
- Finding the meaning of illness in Jewish tradition
- How to draw on prayers, services, psalms, and other spiritual resources for healing
- How to grow by fully embracing the process of recovery
Olitzky brings together his inspiring guidance in using Jewish texts with his own experience dealing with illness in others—including those he loves—to demonstrate how the healing of the soul is an indispensable counterpart to curing the body.
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Book details
- Author
- Kerry Olitzky
- Imprint
- Jewish Lights, an imprint of Turner Publishing Company
- Published
- Formats
- Paperback, Hardcover
- Subjects
- Religion › Judaism
- Topics
- Judaism · Jewish spirituality · Jewish prayers and psalms · illness and faith · dialogue with God
- ISBN-13
- 9781580230681 (Paperback)9781683361473 (Hardcover)
About the author
RABBI KERRY M. OLITZKY is a Reform rabbi, educator, and administrator, and the author of over 100 books.
Named one of the 50 Leading Rabbis in North America by Newsweek, Olitzky served on the faculty and administration of Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion for 15 years and as vice president of the Wexner Heritage Foundation. He holds a B.A. and M.A. from the University of South Florida, an M.H.L. and ordination from Hebrew Union College, and a D.H.L. earned in 1985.
When not writing, Olitzky serves as executive director of Big Tent Judaism, a national organization dedicated to bringing Judaism to interfaith families and the unaffiliated. That work with community and belonging runs throughout his writing.
Kerry lives in North Brunswick, NJ.