Whether grieving the loss of a loved one, or confronting our own mortality, we all come face-to-face with the darkness of death at some point during life's complicated journey.
And Rabbi Baruch HaLevi, DMin, is no exception. During a long career in which he has guided countless others through the process of loss and bereavement, he faced two devastating losses of his own when, two decades apart, his grandmother and father tragically took their own lives.
But when the shadows of grief took hold, "Rabbi B" dedicated his life to breaking this cycle, searching within the darkness rather than turning away. By transforming his mourning into meaning, he discovered the sparks that lie within, inspiring thousands of others along the way.
Featuring a mixture of personal stories and enlightening perspectives on love and loss, Spark Seekers serves as a companion for anyone, at any point along the grief journey, seeking to emerge from death's darkness with newfound inspiration, purpose and, life.
From preparing for the end of life to exploring a myriad of meaningful mourning practices, this guide, coauthored by hospice bereavement counselor Ellen Frankel LCSW, combines equal parts inspiration and practical how-tos, paving the way for a new approach for looking at dying, death, and life after loss in the twenty-first century.
About the Author: Baruch HaLevi, aka"Rabbi B," was ordained as a Conservative rabbi through the American Jewish University, Ziegler School of Rabbinic studies, and received his doctoral degree in ministry from the Graduate Theological Foundation. Rabbi B, synagogue rabbi, motivational speaker, grief counselor and spiritual guide has helped re-invigorate American Judaism in the twenty-first century as exemplified in his book, also coauthored with Ellen Frankel, Revolution of Jewish Spirit: How to Revive Ruakh in Your Spiritual Life, Transform Your Synagogue & Inspire Your Jewish Community (Jewish Lights Publishing 2012). Rabbi B recently launched Rabbi B Initiatives and Spark Seeker Ventures offering innovative and inspirational ways to confront dying and death and to mourn with meaning, purpose, and inspiration. You can learn more about Rabbi B through his blog, podcasts and website at www.RabbiB.com.
Ellen Frankel, LCSW, is a grief counselor at Care Dimensions, a non-profit hospice organization in Massachusetts. She is the author of Beyond Measure: A Memoir About Short Stature and Inner Growth (2006)and the novel Syd Arthur (2011).Ellen is also the coauthor of The Diet Survivor's Handbook: 60 Lessons in Eating, Acceptance and Self-Care (2006); Revolution of Jewish Spirit: How to Revive Your Spiritual Life, Transform Your Synagogue & Inspire Your Jewish Community (2012); and The Comprehensive Guide to Treating Binge Eating Disorder, Compulsive Eating, and Emotional Overeating (Routledge 2004, 2014 2nd edition). You can visit Ellen at: authorellenfrankel.com.
