Resources

Berner, Leila Gal. "Hearing Hannah’s Voice: The Jewish Feminist Challenge and Ritual Innovation,” in Daughters of Abraham: Feminist Thought in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Ed. Yvonne Yazbek Haddad and John L. Esposito. University Press of Florida, 2001.
Describes rituals for healing from abuse which traditional biblical and rabbinic texts in creative ways and take the biblical character of Hannah as a model for healing.

Campell, Talia. "From Darkness to Light,” in Litapayach Tikvah—To Nourish Hope: A Resource Manual. Union of Reform Judaism.
Discusses rituals related to healing from eating disorders. The manual containers an entire section on “The Soul of Eating Disorders,” and contains many other articles on Jews and eating disorders. Available online at http://urj.org/Documents/index.cfm?id=1855.

Friedman, Dayle A., ed. Jewish Pastoral Care: A Practical Handbook from Traditional and Contemporary Sources. Jewish Lights, 2nd edition, 2005.
A comprehensive compendium drawing upon both Jewish tradition and the classical foundations of pastoral care to provide invaluable guidance to rabbis, cantors, chaplains, and lay persons called to accompany others through sorrow, illness, transition and challenge. Offering insight on pastoral care technique, theory, and theological implications, the contributors to Jewish Pastoral Care are innovators in their fields, who represent all four contemporary Jewish movements.

Hammerschlag, Carl A., and Howard D. Silverman. Healing Ceremonies: Creating Personal Rituals for Spiritual, Emotional, Physical, and Mental Heath. Perigee Books, New York, 1997.
Tells the stories of people who have confronted health problems and life events with powerful ceremonies. Reveals how myths and legends reflect our experience and can help up create healing rituals. Offers step-by-step guidelines for building personal healing ceremonies.

Klem, Yonah. "No Ordinary Bath: The Use of the Mikvah in Healing from Incest,” in  Jewish Women Speak Out: Expanding the Boundaries of Psychology, Ed. Kayla Weiner and Arinna Moon. Canopy Press, 1995.
Healing rituals for sexual abuse using the mikveh, or ritual bath.

Lev, Rachel. Shine the Light: Sexual Abuse and Healing in the Jewish Community. Northeastern University Press, 2002.
Includes the extraordinary stories of twenty-two Jewish survivors of sexual abuse, and explores Jewish law, tradition, and rituals related to healing from abuse.

Levy, Naomi. To Begin Again: The Journey Toward Comfort, Strength, and Faith in Difficult Times. Ballantine Books, 1999. The author, a rabbi, explores how we begin to go on after pain and tragedy, telling stories of endurance in difficult times. She writes, "Each of us possesses the power to overcome the unthinkable and be reborn."

Olitzky, Kerry M. and Debbie Friedman. Jewish Paths Toward Healing and Wholeness: A Personal Guide to Dealing with Suffering. Jewish Lights Publishing, 2000.
This book discusses illness and suffering, explores Jewish approaches to healing, and suggests how to draw on prayers, psalms, and other spiritual resources in order to heal.

Olitzky, Kerry M. From Your Father’s House: Reflections for Modern Jewish Men. Jewish Publication Society, 1999
This small book of essays suggests some healing practices for Jewish men, reinterpreting traditional practices with a focus on healing.

Olitzky, Kerry M. and Maty Grunberg. Renewed Each Day: Daily Twelve-Step Recovery Meditations Based on the Bible. Jewish Lights, 1992.
A reflection on each weekly Torah portion for people healing from addiction.

Perlman, Debbie. Flames to Heaven: New Psalms for Healing and Praise. Rad Publishers, 1998.
As Psalmist-in-Residence at Beth Emet The Free Synagogue in Illinois the author has brought psalms into the consciousness of the community. The new psalms she writes are read and recited just as King David's have been: to express joy and sorrow, gratitude and reflection, set the mood for worship and provide moments for personal meditation.

Stein, Rabbi David E.S. "Initiatives to Address Physical Violence by Jewish Husbands, 218 B.C.E.–1400 C.E.," in Journal of Religion & Abuse 2/3 (2001).
Two dozen vignettes from Jewish history in which individuals (mostly battered wives themselves) stood up to physical violence by Jewish husbands. These accounts focus on human strengths, rather than weaknesses, thus providing material suitable for healing rituals.

Weintraub, Simkha Y. Healing of Soul, Healing of Body: Spiritual Leaders Unfold the Strength and Solace in Psalms. Jewish Lights Publishing, 1994.
Contemporary commentaries on the Psalms, emphasizing the spiritual path of those suffering from pain and illness.