Deathbed Wisdom of the Hasidic Masters: The Book of Departure and Caring for People at the End of Life

by Joel H Baron (Translator), Sara Paasche-Orlow (Translator), Arthur Green (Foreword by)

Overview

The first-ever English translation of and commentary on The Book of Departure, which compiles the end-of-life stories of 42 holy men, sheds light on Jewish traditions about death, the afterlife and how to care for people in their final days. Modern insights drawn from these stories help caregivers make greater meaning out of end-of-life care.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781580238649
Publisher:	Turner Publishing Company
Publication date:	05/18/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Rabbi Joel H Baron is a hospice chaplain at Hebrew SeniorLife (HSL) Hospice Care in Boston.

Rabbi Sara Paasche-Orlow is the director of Spiritual Care at Hebrew SeniorLife.

Arthur Green, PhD, is recognized as one of the world's preeminent authorities on Jewish thought and spirituality. He is the Irving Brudnick professor of philosophy and religion at Hebrew College and rector of the Rabbinical School, which he founded in 2004. Professor emeritus at Brandeis University, he also taught at the University of Pennsylvania and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, where he served as dean and president.

Dr. Green is author of several books including Judaism's Ten Best Ideas: A Brief Guide for Seekers; Ehyeh: A Kabbalah for Tomorrow; Seek My Face: A Jewish Mystical Theology; Your Word Is Fire: The Hasidic Masters on Contemplative Prayer and Tormented Master: The Life and Spiritual Quest of Rabbi Nahman of Bratslav (all Jewish Lights). He is also author of Radical Judaism (Yale University Press) and coauthor of Speaking Torah: Spiritual Teachings from around the Maggid's Table. He is long associated with the Havurah movement and a neo-Hasidic approach to Judaism.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Introduction
What Is Hasidism?
What Is a Tzaddik?
The Afterlife
The Roles of Men and Women in Hasidism
The Structure of This Book
The Stories
Navigating This Book
Jewish End-of-Life Practices
In Conclusion

The Book of Departure

Conclusion
Acknowledgments
Appendix: The Characteristics of Active Dying
Notes
Glossary
Suggestions for Further Reading
Index of Rabbis in The Book of Departure
Insight Sparks

Editorial Reviews

"A compassionate and comforting guide to the end of life…. We learn about what dying individuals fear, hope for and care about, and about how family and professionals can sensitively accompany them to their ends. The blend of scholarship and practical sensibility make this volume an invaluable resource."
—Rabbi Dayle Friedman, author, Jewish Wisdom for Growing Older: Finding Your Grit and Grace Beyond Midlife; spiritual director, Growing Older (www.growingolder.co)

"Filled with striking stories and wise interpretations. It will be a comfort and a guide to both those facing death and those who love them."
—Rabbi David Wolpe, author, Making Loss Matter: Creating Meaning in Difficult Times

"A rich goldmine of wisdom…. Recognizes death not as a physical endpoint but as a graceful transition to other realms of knowing and being…. This is a book to be read, studied and savored for all who are wrestling with mysteries of life and death."
—Simcha Raphael, PhD, founding director, DA'AT Institute for Death Awareness, Advocacy and Training, Department of Psychology, Bryn Athyn College

“Unique and impressive…. Their focus on the stories of the passing of Hasidic masters provides spiritual, ethical and personal insights that can easily be adapted to our current society…. A worthy addition to the growing discussion on meaning and purpose as life ebbs.”
—Rabbi Richard F Address, DMin, director, Jewish Sacred Aging, LLC (www.jewishsacredaging.com)

“Deeply in dialogue [with God] about the meaning, purpose and timing of death…. You will be stimulated to talk with your loved ones to transmit the ethical and practical details needed for your own end-of-life planning.”
—Angelo Volandes, MD, MPH, cofounder and president, ACP Decisions; author, The Conversation; faculty, Harvard Medical School

From the Publisher