The Jewish Pregnancy Book: A Resource for the Soul, Body & Mind during Pregnancy, Birth & the First Three Months - Softcover

Falk M.D., Sandy; Judson, Rabbi Daniel

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1580231780 ISBN 13: 9781580231787

Publisher: Jewish Lights, 2003

Synopsis

A first-of-its-kind guide to nourishing your pregnancy with wisdom from Jewish tradition.

B'shah Tovah! You’re pregnant! With all the changes happening to your body right now, it would be easy to focus only on the physical aspects of this life-changing event. But pregnancy is also a spiritually meaningful period in life, a time to reflect and comfort the soul.

The Jewish Pregnancy Book is the first resource to nurture the body, mind and soul of the pregnant woman by combining up-to-date medical information with spiritual nourishment from Jewish tradition.

• For the soul―Ancient and modern prayers and rituals for each stage of pregnancy, as well as traditional Jewish wisdom on pregnancy.
• For the body―Pre-natal Aleph-Bet yoga, a unique blend of yoga and spirituality inspired by the letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
• For the mind―Medical information on topics such as fetal development, pre-natal testing and potential pregnancy problems, as well as discussions from a contemporary Jewish perspective on ethical issues such as selective reduction and home birth.

In clear, easy-to-follow, accessible language, this groundbreaking handbook guides you through the miraculous and challenging process of creation, engaging your whole being in a uniquely Jewish way.

About this title

About the Authors

Sandy Falk, MD, is a clinical instructor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Harvard Medical School and practices at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Rabbi Daniel Judson, spiritual leader of Temple Beth David of the South Shore in Canton, Massachusetts, is coeditor of The Rituals and Practices of a Jewish Life: A Handbook for Personal Spiritual Renewal and coauthor of The Jewish Pregnancy Book: A Resource for the Soul, Body and Mind during Pregnancy, Birth and the First Three Months (both Jewish Lights). He is a frequent guest speaker at both Jewish and Christian congregations.

Steven A. Rapp has been a yoga practitioner for over ten years and is a yoga teacher in Boston. He is author of Aleph-Bet Yoga: Embodying the Hebrew Letters for Physical and Spiritual Well-Being and coauthor of The Jewish Pregnancy Book: A Resource for the Soul, Body and Mind During Pregnancy, Birth and the First Three Months. He also teaches religious school at Temple Beth David in Canton, Massachusetts, and offers personal instruction to those seeking to link traditional yoga practice and Judaism. He lives with his wife and three children in Randolph, Massachusetts.

Steven A. Rapp is available to speak on the following topics:

• Jewish Approach to Yoga

Reviews

Anyone who's experienced childbirth understands that it may indeed seem a "world... about to be remade... heralded by a great flood." Now imagine embarking on the journey around a holiday table replete with family, friends, piles of food and stories long into the night. Warm and inviting, this Jewish guide to pregnancy and the first three months of life is a beautiful balance not only of soul, mind and body, but of ancient texts and contemporary prayer, folklore and modern medicine. Balanced also are the wide-ranging positions held by the Orthodox, Conservative and Reform movements on topics such as ensoulment, prenatal testing, selective reduction and mourning rituals in the event of miscarriage or fetal death. (While the authors celebrate this time in a couple's life, they are compassionately mindful and honest about the possibility of a less joyful outcome.) For each stage of pregnancy and beyond, they offer meditations, prayers and resources for any number of things that could transpire. Despite an abrupt transition, the book's yoga portion is enticing. Rapp makes yoga seem accessible to anyone, from seasoned marathoners to couch potatoes. Clear instructions, accompanied by photos for both early- and late-stage pregnancy, come with equally clear warnings about who should attempt which positions when. Though nurturing throughout, the book lacks any sort of conclusion, leaving the reader suddenly feeling like a favorite uncle has sneaked out the back door without saying goodbye. Although disappointing, ultimately this omission detracts very little from a delightful and spiritual celebration of life's beginnings.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Edition details

• Publisher: Jewish Lights
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1580231780
• ISBN 13: 9781580231787
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208