Heal Us O Lord: A Chaplain's Interface with Pain is the story of Rabbi Sidney Goldstein's experiences told thorugh the voice of a fictional Chaplain who encounters the traumas of life as he visits with those who are in the throes of experiencing them. The book expresses the challenges faced by chaplains in providing support during some of the most crucial and painful times of life without being enveloped by them personally. Rabbi Goldstein offers a source of encouragement and counsel for those whose lives might crave spirituality, but do not know where to turn.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Rabbi Goldstein, PhD was the Director of Chaplaincy at the Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA where he was instrumental in founding the National Association of Jewish Chaplains, of which he is a former President. He later moved to Florida, served as the community Chaplain of the Jewish Family Service of Palm Beach County, and as visitng Professor of Philosophy at Palm Beach State College. Rabbi Goldstein is the author of Suicide in Rabbinical Literature and has written articles for Hadorom, published by the Rabbinical Council of America.
PRAISE FOR HEAL US O LORD:
"Portraying a fictional pulpit rabbi who, in retirement from the Pulpiut, becomes a Jewish chaplain in a nursing home, hospital, and prison, Rabbi Golstein provides his own keen psychological Torah insights into the difficult lives of residents, patients, inmates, and even professional staff. He creates poignant dialogues and dilemmas that obviously capture his personal experiences as a chaplain, and ocmpel the reader to confront and ponder life's most challenging questions."
- Nathan Lewin, Adjunct Lecturer Columbia Law School; Partner Lewin & Lewin LLP, Washington, DC
"I am so grateful to Rabbi Sidney for giving me the privilege to review his latest outstanding book, Heal Us O Lord. Having been in the field of chaplaincy for almost forty years, it was like reading my own professional life as well. Rabbi Sidney makes this work feel so alive. It is a very interesting and thought-provoking read for clergy and laymen alike. I, too, benefitted greatly from RAbbi Sidney's sensitivity and warmth. My sister Ahuva Mandelbaum passed away at the young age of 39 at Einstein Medical Center. How fortunate we were to have Rabbi Sidney there for us. May the Almighty continue to bless him with good health and beautiful nachas as a reward for a devoted life glorifying Hashem's name through his years of caring for those in need."
- Rabbi Dr. Tsvi G. Schur, Board Certified Chaplain, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore MD
"King David spoke of walking "in the valley of the shadow of death." Rabbi Dr. Goldstein has written a work of fiction entitled Heal Us O Lord: A Chaplain's Interface with Paindealing with life under the shadow of death. DUring my teaching career I often had students entering the field of medicine and nursing. I would tell them to always remember that they are doing God's work. Rabbi Goldstein is such a person, who did God's work for close to forty years.
Rabbi Dr. Goldstein's book deals with existential issues; issues that many of us will be faced with and many of us prefer not to think about. Rabbis, social workers, physicians, nurses and children with aging parents will want to read this book."
- Rabbi Dr. H. Norman Strickman, Rabbi Emeritus Marine Park Jewish Center, Brooklyn, NY and Professor Emeritus of Jewish Studies, Touro College, NYC