Divorce Is a Mitzvah: A Practical Guide to Finding Wholeness and Holiness When Your Marriage Dies

If your marriage must come to an end, do it the right way―with wisdom, practicality and understanding.

What does Judaism tell you about divorce? What guidance, strength and insight can Judaism provide?

In this first-of-its-kind handbook, Perry Netter―divorcé, father, congregational rabbi and pastoral counselor―shows how wholeness can be found in the midst of separation and divorce. With a title drawn from the words of the eleventh-century biblical commentator known as Rashi, Divorce Is a Mitzvah provides practical wisdom, information and strength from a Jewish perspective for those experiencing the challenging life-transition of divorce.

Drawing on wisdom from centuries of biblical and rabbinic teachings, as well as modern psychological research, Netter offers suggestions for transitioning through the stages of separation and building a new life.

This indispensable guide for people in crisis―and the family members, friends and counselors who interact with them―shows us how to transform a traumatic time of life into one of growth, right behavior and greater spiritual understanding.

Rabbi Perry Netter is the spiritual leader of Temple Beth Am, a large Conservative congregation in metropolitan Los Angeles. He is a frequent guest on TV and radio programs on the subject of divorce. An adjunct lecturer in Rabbinics at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the University of Judaism, Rabbi Netter's work has been published in many magazines, including Moment and Sh'ma, as well as in the Los Angeles Times.

Rabbi Laura Geller is senior rabbi of Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills. She was twice named one of Newsweek's 50 Most Influential Rabbis in America and was featured in the PBS documentary Jewish Americans. She has contributed to many books and journals, and was on the editorial board of The Torah: A Women's Commentary.