Upcoming book
The WELL of COMPASSION:
Reflections on the Art of Spiritual Care
The entire world has been experiencing the turbulence of political earthquakes and medical tsunamis. While there are neither answers nor solutions nor explanations that resolve the resulting uncertainty, we can use the spirituality of our tradition, and other accessible spiritual traditions, to weather this time.
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In my upcoming book, The WELL of COMPASSION: Reflections of the Art of Spiritual Care, I wonder at the mystery and meanings of life by sharing Jewish teachings, texts, and practices with readers. Wondering at mysteries is far removed from offering pre-packaged answers that cannot, ultimately, satisfy our curiosity. Life is about the journey and the sacred relationships along the way.
Spirituality? My hope is that this book will open each reader’s awareness of our myriad of senses and feelings of the heart. It demonstrates how to see with the heart rather than with judgment.
The Well of Compassion explores the transitions in life and death, health and illness, aging, and mental health from the perspective of Jewish Spiritual Care, with contributions from other spiritual traditions. It recounts many stories based on the experiences of actual patients and people in Israel. The multi-cultural experience of Arabs and Jews, and their common need for wellbeing is evident in the human situations depicted.
The human condition equalizes people everywhere. Listening to the other is balanced with listening to our inner voice and listening deeply to the cry of the human soul.​On this page, I will share glimpses of the book.
Additional information about upcoming book talks is here. Please join us!
Advance Praise for The WELL of COMPASSION
The Well of Compassion is an invaluable resource for spiritual care professionals, as well as for mental health, medical, clergy, or social service professionals seeking to address the spirits of those they help. Rabbi Judith Edelman-Green shares wisdom drawn from her experience as a chaplain, and frames it with rich array of Jewish sources – traditional texts as well as contemporary poetry – to offer essential guidance for professional practice and gentle prompts form the inner work essential to all of us engaged in soul tending.
-- Rabbi Dayle A. Friedman
Rabbi Dayle A. Friedman offers counseling, training and spiritual direction through Growing Older, her private practice. Her publications include Jewish Wisdom for Growing Older: Finding Your Grit and Grace Beyond Midlife and Jewish Pastoral Care: A Practical Handbook from Traditional and Contemporary Sources.
Wells of Compassion is what this book exudes. Hagar’s well which she found when she looked up during her darkest moment— is what this book offers. Isaac’s wells that he dug after his father, learning and growing from his sometimes painful past—is what this book offers. Edelman-Green's work is ultimately a compassionate gift to ourselves and to others.
– Rabbi Dr. Elyse Goldstein
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Rabbi Dr. Elyse Goldstein is Rabbi Emerita of City Shul, scholar in residence, coach/mentor, pastoral guidance, travel culinary and cultural tours. https://www.rabbielysegoldstein.com/
This gem of a book takes us into the inner sanctum of spiritual caregiving--a space in which the divine presence can be felt by those in need of healing as well as those providing care. Edelman-Green invites us into this holy space sharing her extensive knowledge and experience from a lifetime of working with people of all faith traditions and ethnic backgrounds. Her courage and generosity as a spiritual caregiver are extraordinary and inspiring and her ability to communicate about her work in a heartfelt fashion is stunning.
– Estelle Frankel, MS MFT
Estelle Frankel is a teacher of Jewish mysticism and meditation who offers workshops on the intersection of psychology and spirituality, Kabbalah and healing, and Musar, Mindfulness and Positive Psychology. Estelle is the author of two books: Sacred Therapy: Jewish Spiritual Teachings on Emotional Healing & Inner Wholeness, a groundbreaking book on the intersection of Kabbalah and depth psychology, and The Wisdom of Not Knowing: Discovering a Life of Wonder by Embracing Uncertainty. Edwin Goldberg Prominent -Lecturer, Writer, Editor, Speaker, Teacher , author of Because My Soul Longs for You: Integrating Theology into Our Lives (with Elaine Zecher, CCAR 2021), and co-editor of the Reform Movement's high holidays Mahzor, Mishkan HaNefesh. https://www.cbsw.org/rabbi-goldberg
In the Valley of the Shadow of life’s challenges (illness, anxiety, depression), we could all use a wise and compassionate guide to walk us through. Rabbi Judith Edelman-Green is who I would want leading the way and now we all can benefit from her distillation of experience, wisdom and care. There is no better teacher or companion, and this book is her gift to us all.
– Rabbi Dr. Bradley Shavit Artson
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Rabbi Dr. Bradley Shavit Artson is the Mordecai Kaplan Distinguished Scholar at the American Jewish University (AJU) in Los Angeles. After 25 years as dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, he transitioned into this new university-wide research and teaching role. He is the author of 12 books as prominent theologian and mensch.
In The Well of Compassion: Reflections on the Art of Spiritual Care, visionary educator and rabbi Judith Edelman-Green shares a rich cornucopia of wisdom, inspiration, and guidance for professionals and laypersons. This extraordinary resource, drawn from decades of groundbreaking work in multifaith and multicultural Israeli-Arab settings, is destined to be a landmark guide to compassionate care for a world that is in crisis right now and in need of teachers and tools that can help us to heal and to cope.
– Rabbi Beth Lieberman
Rabbi Beth Lieberman is the new Editor of CCAR Journal, on staff of HUC LA. Rabbi Beth Lieberman loves to build multi-generational faith communities and to mentor rising Jewish communal leaders. She has served both the Reform and Conservative Movements, and worked extensively in the literary world around Jewish scholarship, culture, and practice. Her most recent book is Moments That Matter: Marking Transitions in Midlife and Beyond (CCAR Press) and she served as literary editor and a revising translator of the JPS TANAKH.​
This gem of a book takes us into the inner sanctum of spiritual caregiving--a space in which the divine presence can be felt by those in need of healing as well as those providing care. Edelman-Green invites us into this holy space sharing her extensive knowledge and experience from a lifetime of working with people of all faith traditions and ethnic backgrounds. Her courage and generosity as a spiritual caregiver are extraordinary and inspiring and her ability to communicate about her work in a heartfelt fashion is stunning.
– Rabbi Edwin Goldberg
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Rabbi Edwin Goldberg is a prominent lecturer, writer, editor, speaker, and teacher. He is the author of Because My Soul Longs for You: Integrating Theology into Our Lives (with Elaine Zecher, CCAR 2021), and co-editor of the Reform Movement's high holidays Mahzor, Mishkan HaNefesh. https://www.cbsw.org/rabbi-goldberg