Beside Still Waters: A Journey of Comfort and Renewal
is a book for mourners, for those who will someday become mourners, and for those anticipating their own journey out of this life. It offers liturgy both classical and contemporary for different stages along the mourner's path, from prayers for healing (even when "cure" may be out of reach) and prayers to recite before dying, to prayers for every stage of mourning: from
aninut
(the time between death and burial), to
shiva
(the first week of mourning), to
shloshim
(the first month), the culmination of the first year,
yahrzeit
(death-anniversary) and
yizkor
(times of remembrance).
This volume features traditional words alongside renewed and renewing interpretations and variations. It contains complete liturgies for shiva accompanied by resonant new translations, evocative readings, and complete transliteration. It also contains prayers for a variety of spiritually difficult circumstances (miscarriage, stillbirth, suicide, when there is no grave to visit, mourning an abusive relationship, and more).
In the trans-denominational spirit of Jewish renewal,
Beside Still Waters
is for individuals and communities across the Jewish spiritual spectrum.