CONSOLATION: The Spiritual Journey Beyond Grief

Rife with allusions to Talmudic commentators, philosophers, psychologists and literary giants, Rabbi Lamm's opus on mourning speaks to an educated audience. Those who are already familiar with Lamm's teachings and style may find it easier reading than those seeking instant consolation. The depth and demeanor of these pages require a level of concentration that renders them almost inappropriate for the recent mourner. Instead, just as many people purchase travel guides before visiting a new place, this book should be considered a guide to the inevitable journey through bereavement. Like a Living Will or Power of Attorney document, readers will want to have familiarized themselves with the book before they actually need the information it contains. Lamm addresses the Jewish laws and traditions of death as well as the very human feelings, frustrations and concerns associated with ultimate loss. His theme ultimately remains optimistic: despair "teaches us about our inner strength"; encourages us to ask "le'mah" (for what) rather than "lamah" (why) and culminates reassuringly in the words of the Psalmist, "They that sow in tears shall reap with songs of joy." Unfortunately, readers may miss many of Lamm's fine, lustrous pearls of parable, story and anecdote, since they are deeply embedded in a loquacious and sometimes repetitive work. (Mar.)