Tears of Sorrow, Seeds of Hope: A Jewish Spiritual Companion for Infertility and Pregnancy Loss [Hardcover]

Nina Beth Cardin (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1999

Many people who endure the emotional suffering of infertility, pregnancy loss, or stillbirth bear this sorrow alone. Pregnancies that end too early are hidden; failed attempts at conception are barely mentioned.

Many women and men long to find solace in religious ritual and tradition to ease the emptiness felt from a loss that is without a face, a name, or a grave. At last, there is a source that acknowledges and encourages expressions of their grief, and offers comfort in the moments of their pain.

Providing companionship and strength for healing from others who also have grieved, Tears of Sorrow, Seeds of Hope is a spiritual companion that enables the reader to mourn within the words and ways of Judaism. Drawing deeply on the wellspring of comfort found in traditional Jewish texts and prayer; it also offers readings and rituals created especially for parents struggling with the uncertainty and sorrow of pregnancy loss and infertility, providing a source of compassion, healing, and hope.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A compassionate and action-oriented spiritual resource to share with those who come for help at one of life's most common yet most invisible passages." -- Anne Brener, L.C.S.W, author of Mourning & Mitzvah: A Guided Journal for Walking the Mourner's Path Through Grief to Healing

"Gathers together an array of sources that provide wisdom, comfort, and hope at times of great fear, sorrow, and pain... An exquisite resource for building spiritual strength." -- Rabbi Nancy Flam, Co-founder of the Jewish Healing Center

"It is a moving and uplifting text that considers the loss involved in the inability to conceive as well as failed pregnancies. But Tears of Sorrow is also about healing, reconciliation, and making the months of pregnancy a spiritual journey. In all of these endeavours, this excellent book succeeds, and I only wish I had it available when I was a congregational rabbi. . . . one of the strengths of Rabbi Cardin's work is her acknowledgement that these issues and traumas affect men as well as women, and that true healing can only come when both parties face them together." -- Rabbi Charles H. Middleburgh, Ph.D., Executive Director, Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues

"This book is a deep and provocative collection of rituals, prayers and petitions that modern people have developed to help themselves and others grapple with some of life's curves. It is a blending of ancient texts and traditions with all of the infusion life can offer at the end of the 20th century." -- Jewish Book World, Fall 1999

About the Author

Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin is widely recognized as an inspiring and innovative leader in bringing healing spiritual resources to us from Jewish tradition, and in making those resources relevant to our lives. She is past associate director of the National Center for Jewish Healing and was editor of Sh'ma: A Journal of Jewish Responsibility.

She translated and edited Out of the Depths I Called to You: A Book of Prayers for the Married Jewish Woman, an eighteenth-century book of Hebrew prayers. Rabbi Cardin writes from the perspective of her own experience, and lives in New Jersey with her husband and children.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 172 pages
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Pub (April 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580230172
• ISBN-13: 978-1580230179
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,850,982 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Prayer Book for Infertility, June 7, 2002

By 

Chaya Kaplan-Schoenberg (Aurora, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tears of Sorrow, Seeds of Hope: A Jewish Spiritual Companion for Infertility and Pregnancy Loss (Hardcover)

Being Jewish, I discovered there are few prayers for a woman or man to cite for infertility. This book is wonderful!

It contains many prayers to be cited thoroughout the entire infertility process. My husband and I both use it. We even take it with us to the Fertility Specialist's office. The book contains prayers to cite for waiting in a doctor's office; prior to examinations; for procedures; for conception; and, especially there are prayers to be cited at Shabbat and Holidays.

I also love it because it relates inferility back to the Bible (Sarah and Rebecca)and even reviews rituals that have been utilized. It is truly helping us through this difficult time in our lives.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hope and Support, January 19, 2006

By 

Leslie Lipson (Decatur, GA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tears of Sorrow, Seeds of Hope: A Jewish Spiritual Companion for Infertility and Pregnancy Loss (Hardcover)

I have never written a review before- during our 2 years of infertility treatment this book was wonderful. I am now expecting our first child and there are prayers to support the growing baby. We took this book to appts and procedures- the words are plain-written and beautiful. I am forever grateful that we have had this book throughout our journey.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a book of hope and inspiration, October 13, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Tears of Sorrow, Seeds of Hope: A Jewish Spiritual Companion for Infertility and Pregnancy Loss (Hardcover)

My Husband and I have been to hell and back in our attempts to have a baby. We have had a miscarriage. We have sent a baby to heaven and have had several failed attempts with ivf. This book has helped us deal with these difficult times and has given us the prayers and words to help us move ahead and not feel sorry for ourselves. Thank you Rabbi Cardin.