The Jewish Way in Death and Mourning (Revised and Expanded Edition) (Paperback)

by Maurice Lamm (Author) "LIFE IS A DAY that lies between two nights-the night of "not yet," before birth, and the night of "no more," after death..." (more)
Key Phrases: chevrah kaddisha, shivah observance, mourning observances, Rosh Chodesh, Bar Mitzvah, Yom Kippur (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"...a recognized classic that is as relevant today as it was when it was first published thirty years ago..." -- Malcolm Hoenlein,

"...will be read with wide interest and provide a gateway to an important rubric of Jewish thought and philosophy." -- Lord Immanuel

Product Description
For over thirty years Jews have turned to Rabbi Maurice Lamm's classic work for direction and consolation. Selected by The New York Times as one of the ten best religious books of the year when it was first published in 1969, The Jewish Way in Death and Mourning leads the family and friends of the deceased through the most difficult chapter of life-from the moment of death through the funeral service, the burial, and the various periods of mourning.

Now, in this thoroughly revised and expanded edition, Rabbi Lamm explores a wide range of new issues and questions that Jews of the twenty-first century must address. Special consideration is given to the subjects of organ donation, autopsy, the question of a woman's right to say Kaddish, mourning practices as they relate to the stillborn, the permissibility of converts to Judaism to mourn their Gentile parents, and the bereavement rights of individuals who by Jewish law are not required to mourn but who nonetheless wish to express their grief in accordance with Jewish tradition.

In addition to exploring the sensitive issues that the contemporary mourner must confront, The Jewish Way in Death and Mourning is remarkable in that it gently leads the mourner through the corridors of Jewish law and teaches the aching heart how to express its pain in love and respect so that it might begin on the road to eventual healing.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Jonathan David Publishers; Revised edition (October 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0824604229
• ISBN-13: 978-0824604226
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #47,156 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative, fascinating and profound, very easy to read, June 25, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Jewish Way in Death and Mourning (Paperback)

I checked this book out from the library to use it as a resource for a religion class. I couldn't stop reading it. Having just lost my grandmother and participated at her funeral sevice, I was very interested in learning about Jewish funeral customs. This book was just the ticket. It is very well written, easy to read (it is broken down into many subsections) and understand (even for the non-Jew), fascinating (if you are not familiar with the Jewish customs), and the section entitled "What is Death?" is extremey profound. I loved his style and his use of words. I plan to purchase it to keep in my library. (It helped me get an A on the report and in the class!)

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, comprehensive on the part of subject dealt with., March 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Jewish Way in Death and Mourning (Paperback)

The book is very comprehensive on the specific part of the subject discussed: American, Ashkenazi laws and customs. However, it doesn't deal with the laws and customs elsewhere (e.g., Israel) and ignores Sephardi Jewish customs. Highly recommended if you only want to know about the Ashkenazi Jewish laws and customs in North America.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable (unfortunately), July 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Jewish Way in Death and Mourning (Paperback)

I turned to this book when my father died. I found it to be a comprehensive and indispensable guide. I still take it with me whenever I visit the cemetary so that I can use its text for graveside prayers.