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 ... Read more

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 IntroductionToo 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 healingFinding the meaning of illness in Jewish traditionHow to draw on prayers, services, psalms, and other spiritual resources for healingHow to grow by fully embracing the process of recoveryOlitzky 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. Less