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New and Interesting!
Learn about the evolving field of Jewish Spiritual Direction in the new anthology Jewish Spiritual Direction: An Innovative Guide from Traditional & Contemporary Sources. Edited by Rabbi Howard A. Addison and Barbara Eve Breitman, MSW. Includes articles by Rabbi Amy Eilberg, Anne Brener, Linda Thal, Rabbis Myriam Klotz, Sheila Weinberg, Jacob Staub and others. Available from Jewish Lights Publications: www.jewishlights.com

Selected Bibliographies:

We welcome your input! Please send bibliographic recommendations to

 

Some Jewish Resources, in English, related to Illness, Suffering, Bikur Cholim ("Visiting the Sick") and Spiritual Healing

Blanchard, Rabbi Tsvi. Joining Heaven and Earth: Maimonides and the Laws of Bikkur Cholim. NY: National Center for Jewish Healing, 1994.

Buxbaum, Yitzhak. Jewish Spiritual Practices. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, 1990.

Cardin, Rabbi Nina Beth. Tears of Sorrow, Tears of Hope: A Jewish Spiritual Companion for Infertility and Pregnancy Loss. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights, 1999.

Davis, Avram. Meditation from the Heart of Judaism. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights Publishing, 1998.

Davis, Avram. The Way of Flame: A Guide to the Forgotten Mystical Tradition of Jewish Meditation. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights Publishing, 1998.

Flam, Rabbi Nancy, ed. When the Body Hurts, the Soul Still Longs to Sing. NY: National Center for Jewish Healing, 1994.

Frankiel, Tamar and Greenfield, Judy. Minding the Temple of the Soul Balancing Body, Mind & Spirit through Traditional Jewish Prayer, Movement & Meditation. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights Publishing, 1997.

Freeman, David L. and Abrams, Judith Z. Illness and Health in the Jewish Tradition: Writings from the Bible to Today. Philadelphia: Jew. Pub. Soc., 1999

Green, Arthur. These Are the Words: A Vocabulary of Jewish Spiritual Life. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights Publishing, 1998.

Greenbaum, Avraham. The Wings of the Sun: Traditional Jewish Healing in Theory and Practice. Jerusalem and Monsey, NY: Breslov Research Inst., 1995.

Greenbaum, Avraham, ed. and trans. Garden of the Soul: Rebbe Nachman on Suffering. Jerusalem and Monsey, NY: Breslov Research Institute, 1990.

Handler, Jane, and Hetherington, Kim, with Kelman, Rabbi Stuart L. Give Me Your Hand: Traditional and Practical Guidance on Visiting the Sick, Second Edition, Berkeley, CA: Congregation Netivot Shalom, 1997.

Kaplan, Aryeh. Jewish Meditation. NY: Schocken, 1985.

New Listing: Kohn, Rabbi Douglas J. Life, Faith and Cancer: Jewish Journeys Through Diagnosis, Treatment and Recovery. New York: URJ Press, 2008.

Kraemer, David. Responses to Suffering in Classical Rabbinic Literature. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995.

Kushner, Lawrence. God was in this Place & I, I Did Not Know. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights Publishing, 1991.

Kushner, Lawrence. The Book of Words: Talking Spiritual Life, Living Spiritual Talk. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights Publishing, 1993.

Lamm, Rabbi Maurice. The Power of Hope. NY: Simon and Schuster, 1995.

Levy, Naomi. Talking to God: Personal Prayers for Tims of Joy, Sadness, Struggle and Celebration. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2002.

Mykoff, Moshe and the Breslov Research Institute, adaptors. The Empty Chair: Finding Hope and Joy/Timeless Wisdom from a Hasidic Master, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights Publishing, 1994.

Olitzky, Rabbi Kerry M. 100 Blessings Every Day: Daily Twelve Step Recovery Affirmations, Exercises for Personal Growth and Renewal, Reflecting Seasons of the Jewish Year. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights Publishing, 1993.

Olitzky, Rabbi Kerry M. Jewish Paths toward Healing and Wholeness:A Personal Guide to Dealing with Suffering . Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights, 2000.

Orenstein, Rabbi Debra. Lifecycles: Jewish Women on Life Passages and Personal Milestones. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights Publishing, 1994.

Orenstein, Rabbi Debra, and Litman, Rabbi Jane Rachel. Lifecycles: Jewish Women on Biblical Themes in Contemporary Life. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights Publishing, 1997.

Ozarowski, Rabbi Joseph S. To Walk In God’s Ways: Jewish Pastoral Perspectives on Illness and Bereavement. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, 1995.

Person E. Hara, ed. The Mitzvah of Healing: An Anthology of Essays, Jewish Texts, Personal Stories, Meditations, and Rituals. New York: Women of Reform Judaism/UAHC Press, 2003.

Riemer, Jack and Stampfer, Nathaniel. So That Your Values Live On: Ethical Wills and How to Prepare Them. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights Pub., 1991.

Schur, Rabbi Tzvi G. Illness and Crisis: Coping the Jewish Way. NY: National Conference of Synagogue Youth, 1987.

Twerski, Rabbi Abraham, MD Living Each Week NY: Mesorah/Artscroll, 1995.

Weintraub, Simkha Y., ed. Healing of Soul, Healing of Body: Spiritual Leaders Unfold the Strength and Solace in Psalms. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights, 1994.

Weintraub, Simkha Y. and Lever, Aaron. Guide Me Along the Way: A Jewish Spiritual Companion for Surgery, National Center for Jewish Healing, 2001.

Wolpe, David J. The Healer of Shattered Hearts: A Jewish View of God. NY: Penguin Books, 1990.

 

Some Resources in English about Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism

Afterman, Allen. Kabbalah and Consciousness. New York: Sheep Meadow Press, 1992.

Cooper, David. God is a Verb: Kabbalah and the Practice of Mystical Judaism*. New York: Riverhead Books/Penguin Putnam, 1997.

Idel, Moshe. Kabbalah: New Perspectives. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1988.

Idel, Moshe. Studies in Ecstatic Kabbalah. New York: State University of New York Press, 1988.

Jacobs, Louis. Jewish Mystical Testimonies. New York: Schocken Books, 1977.

Kaplan, Aryeh. Meditation and Kabbalah. York Beach, ME: Samuel Weiser, 1982.

Matt, Daniel C. The Essential Kabbalah: The Heart of Jewish Mysticism*. San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1996.

Matt, Daniel C. Zohar: Annotated and Explained. Woodstock, VT: Skylight Paths Publishing, 2002.

Scholem, Gershom. Kabbalah. New York: Meridian/Penguin, 1978.

Scholem, Gershom. On the Kabbalah and Its Symbolism. New York: Schocken Books, 1969.

Scholem, Gershom. Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism. New York: Schocken Books, 1972.

Scholem, Gershom. On the Mystical Shape of the Godhead. New York: Schocken Books, 1991.

Wineman, Aryeh. Ethical Tales from the Kabbalah*. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1999.

* Good introductory texts

 

Some Jewish Books about the PSALMS, in English
A Brief and Not-Yet-Annotated Bibliography
Developed by Rabbi Simkha Y. Weintraub, LCSW © 2001, National Center for Jewish Healing

Cohen, Martin Samuel. Our Haven and Our Strength: The Book of Psalms. New York: Aviv Press, 2004.

Chiel, Rabbi Samuel and Henry Dreher. For Thou Art With Me: The Healing Power of Psalms. Daybreak/Rodale Books, 2000.

Feuer, Rabbi Avrohom Chaim. Tehillim Treasury: Inspirational Messages and Uplifting Interpretations of the Psalms of David. Brooklyn: Artscroll Mesorah paperback, 1993.

Hakham, Amos. The Bible: Psalms, with the Jerusalem Commentary. Jerusalem: Mosad Harav Kook, 2003, 3 volumes.

Hirsch, Rabbi Samson Raphael. The Hirsch Psalms: Translation and Commentary. New York: Feldheim Publishers, 5737/1978.

Levine, Herbert J. Sing Unto God A New Song: A Contemporary Reading of the Psalms. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1995.

Polish, PhD, Rabbi Daniel F. Bringing the Psalms to Life: How to Understand and Use the Book of Psalms. Jewish Lights Publishing, 2000.

Polish, PhD, Rabbi Daniel F. Keeping the Faith with the Psalms: Deepen Your Relationship with God Using the Book of Psalms. Jewish Lights Publishing, 2003.

Rosenberg, Rabbi A. J. Psalms: A New English Translation Translation of Text, Rashi and Commentary. New York: The Judaica Press, 1991, 3 volumes.

Sarna, Nahum M. On the Book of Psalms: Exploring the Prayers of Ancient Israel. New York: Schocken Books paperback, 1993.

Weintraub, Rabbi Simkha Y. (Ed.) Healing of Soul, Healing of Body: Spiritual Leaders Unfold the Strength and Solace of Psalms. Woodstock, Vermont: Jewish Lights Publishing, 1994.

*******

In terms of psalms that are part of our liturgy, many are discussed in:
Entering Jewish Prayer: A Guide to Personal Devotion and the Worship Service, Rabbi Dr. Reuven Hammer (New York: Schocken Books paperback, 1994)

*******

In Hebrew, I highly recommend this commentary:
Sefer Tehillim, m’forash b’yidei Amos Hakham (Yerushalayim: Hotza’at Mossad Harav Kook, 6th printing, 5748)

 

Some Jewish Resources on Grief, Loss, and Bereavement
Compiled by Nahama Shudofsky and Simkha Weintraub

Angel, Rabbi Marc The Orphaned Adult: Confronting the Death of a Parent. NY: Human Sciences Press, 1977.

Brener, Anne. Mourning and Mitzvah: A Guided Journal for Walking the Mourner’s Path Through Grief to Healing. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights, 1993.

Cardin, Rabbi Nina Beth Tears of Sorrow, Seeds of Hope: A Jewish Spiritual Companion for Infertility and Pregnancy Loss. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights, 1999.

Diament, Anita. Saying Kaddish: How to Comfort the Dying, Bury the Dead, and Mourn as a Jew. New York: Schocken Books, 1998.

Harlow, Jules. The Bond of Life. NY: The Rabbinical Assembly, 1983.

Heilman, Samuel C. When A Jew Dies: The Ethnography of a Bereaved Son. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2001.

Isaacs, Ron H. and Olitzky, Kerry M., editors. A Jewish Mourner’s Handbook. Hoboken, NJ: Ktav, 1991.

Jaffe, Hirshel, Rudin, James, Rudin, Marcia. Why Me? Why Anyone?. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, 1986.

Kay, Alan. A Jewish Book of Comfort. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, 1994.

Kraemer, David. Responses to Suffering in Classical Rabbinic Literature. NY: Oxford University Press, 1995.

Kraus, Pesach and Goldfischer, Morrie Why Me? Coping with Grief, Loss, and Change. Bantam, 1988.

Kushner, Harold. When Bad Things Happen to Good People. NY: Schocken Books, 1981.

Lamm, Maurice. The Jewish Way in Death and Mourning. NY: Jonathan David Publishers, 1969.

Levy, Naomi To Begin Again: The Journey Toward Comfort, Strength, and Faith in Difficult Times. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1998.

Levy, Rabbi Yamin Confronting the Loss of A Baby: A Personal and Jewish Perspective. Hoboken, NJ: Ktav Publishing, 1997.

Liss-Levinson, Nechama. When a Grandparent Dies: A Kid’s Own Remembering Workbook for Dealing with Shiva and the Year Beyond. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights, 1995.

Ozarowski, Joseph S. To Walk in God’s Ways: Jewish Pastoral Perspectives on Illness and Bereavement. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, 1995.

Raphael, Simcha Paull. Jewish Views of the Afterlife. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, 1995.

Rapoport, Nessa. A Woman’s Book of Grieving. NY: William Morrow and Co. 1994.

Riemer, Jack and Stampfer, Nathaniel, eds. So That Your Values Live On: Ethical Wills and How to Prepare Them. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights, 1991.

Riemer, Jack, ed. Jewish Reflections on Death. NY: Shocken Books, 1976.

Riemer, Jack. Jewish Insights on Death and Mourning. NY: Schocken Books, 1996.

Rozwaski, Chaim Z. Jewish Meditations on the Meaning of Death. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, 1994.

Shapiro, Rami M. Open Hands: A Jewish Guide on Dying, Death, and Bereavement. Miami: Temple Beth Or, 1986.

Silverman, Rabbi William B. and Dr. Kenneth M Cinnamon. When Mourning Comes: A Book of Comfort for the Grieving. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, 1991.

Syme, Daniel and Sonsino, Rifat. What Happens After I Die? Jewish Views of Life After Death. NY: UAHC Press, 1990.

Visotzky, Rabbi Burton L. and Rabbi Carolyn Braun. Confronting Death: Four Stories of Consolation. NY: The Rabbinical Assembly, 1995.

Weiss, Abner. Death and Bereavement -- A Halakhic Guide. NY: Ktav, 1991.

Wieseltier, Leon. Kaddish. New York: Alfred Knopf, 1998.

Wittenberg, Rabbi Jonathan. The Laws of Life: A Guide to Traditional Jewish Practice at Times of Bereavement. London, England: Assembly of Masorti Synagogues/New North London Synagogue, 1997; available through the National Center for Jewish Healing.

Yoskowitz, Rabbi Herbert A. The Kaddish Minyan: The Impact on Ten Lives, Austin, TX: Eakin Press, 2001

 

My Twenty-Some Favorite Collections of Jewish Stories*
Rabbi Simkha Y. Weintraub, LCSW
July 2001/Menahem Av 5761

Agnon, S.Y. Twenty-One Stories. NY: Schocken Books, 1970, pbk.

Alter, Robert. Modern Hebrew Literature. NY: Behrman House, 1975, pbk.

Ausubel, Nathan. (Ed.) A Treasury of Jewish Folklore. NY: Crown Publishers, 1948.

Barash, Asher and Murray Roston. A Golden Treasury of Jewish Tales. Tel Aviv: Massadah/P.E.C. Press Ltd., 1965.

Bleefeld, Rabbi Bradley R. and Robert L. Shook. Saving the World Entire and 100 Other Beloved Parables from the Talmud. NY: Plume/Penguin, 1998, pbk.

Carlebach, Shlomo and Susan Yael Mesinai. Shlomo’s Stories. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, Inc., 1994.

Glazer, Miriyam. Dancing on the Edge of the World: Jewish Stories of Faith, Inspiration, and Love. Lincolnwood, IL: Lowell House, 2000, pbk.

Gold, Sharyla and Mishael Maswari Caspi, The Answered Prayer and Other Yemenite Folktales. Phila.: Jewish Publication Society, 1990.

Heinemann, Benno. The Maggid of Dubno and His Parables. NY: Feldheim Publishers, 1978.

Howe, Irving and Eliezer Greenberg. (Eds.) A Treasury of Yiddish Stories. NY: Schocken Books, 1973.

Ish-Kishor, Judith. Tales from the Wise Men of Israel. Phila.: J. P. Lippincott Co., 1962.

Kaplan, Rabbi Aryeh. (Ed.) Rabbi Nachman’s Stories. Monsey, NY: Breslov Research Institute, 1983.

Levin, Meyer. The Golden Mountain. New York: Behrman House Publishers, 1951.

Nahmad, H. M. (Ed.) A Portion in Paradise and Other Jewish Folktales. NY: Schocken Books, 1970.

Pavlat, Leo. Jewish Folk Tales. NY: Greenwich House/Crown Publishers, 1986.

Peretz, I.L. Selected Stories. NY: Schocken Books, 1974, pbk.

Rush, Barbara and Eliezer Marcus. Seventy and One Tales for the Jewish Year: Folk Tales for the Festivals. NY: AZYF, 1980.

Schwartz, Howard (Ed.) Elijah’s Violin and Other Jewish Fairy Tales. NY: Harper and Row, 1983.

Schwartz, Howard (Ed.) Miriam’s Tambourine: Jewish Folktales from Around the World. NY: Oxford U. Press, 1988, pbk.

Weinreich, Beatrice Silverman. (Ed.) Yiddish Folktales. NY: Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library, 1988.

Bashevis Singer, Isaac. The Collected Stories. NY: Farrar Straus Giroux, 1982.

Wineman, Aryeh. The Hasidic Parable: An Anthology and Commentary. Phila.: Jewish Publication Society, 2001.

 

Some Jewish "Nugget Books"
(with Bite-Sized, Digestible, User-friendly Jewish Inspirational Material)

Olitzky, Rabbi Kerry M. and Rabbi Lori Forman. Sacred Intentions: Daily Inspiration to Strengthen the Spirit, Based on Jewish Wisdom. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights Publishing, 1999.

Perlman, Debbie. Flames to Heaven: New Psalms for Healing & Praise. Wilmette, IL: Rad Publishers, 1998.

Twerski, Rabbi Abraham J. Living Each Week. Brooklyn, NY: Mesorah Publications, 1995.

 

Some Useful By-Topic Anthologies of Jewish Quotations/Sources

Baron, Joseph L. (Ed.) A Treasury of Jewish Quotations. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson/B’nai B’rith, 1985.

Greenberg, Rabbi Sidney. A Treasury of Stories and Wisdom for Living at Our Best. Princeton, NJ: Growth Associates, 2002.

Gribetz, Jessica. (Ed.) Wise Words: Jewish Thoughts and Stories Through the Ages. New York: William Morrow and Co., 1997.

Montefiore, C. G. and H. Loewe, A Rabbinic Anthology. Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society of America, 5720/1960.

Neusner, Jacob and Noam M. M. Neusner, eds. The Book of Jewish Wisdom: The Talmud of the Well-Considered Life. New York: Continuum, 1996.

Siegel, Danny. Where Heaven and Earth Touch: The Combined Anthology of Midrash and Halachah. Pittsboro, NC: The Town House Press, 1985.

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