The Rabbi of Resurrection Bay

The well-planned life of forty-three-year-old Marc Cohn, MD, a wealthy, egocentric, and talented South Florida plastic surgeon, is upended when his wife tragically dies and he is suddenly left responsible for Max, his angry and depressed fourteen-year-old son. A ten-day trip to Alaska for the bat-mitzvah of his twin nieces becomes the setting for life-changing experiences for Max, who emerges from his problems by working with Iditarod sled dogs; and for Marc who, in this dramatic setting, begins reengaging with his Judaism and examining aspects of his life that have been dormant for decades.

The human catalyst for much of what happens is Rabbi Chani Kahn, a young, beautiful, and talented widow (and pilot) who is building a vibrant Jewish community in Resurrection Bay. The mutual attraction between Chani and Marc is powerful, but must transcend many of her strongly held beliefs and family skeletons. In the course of this book Marc makes significant personal and professional decisions that have a profound impact on people in Florida, Alaska, Israel, and Africa.

This novel, showcasing the importance of healing and love, is an intriguing blend of history, theology, and romance and its relationship to loss, redemption, reconciliation, and spirituality.

Seth B. Goldsmith is professor emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He has also served on the faculties of Columbia University and Tulane University. A former practicing attorney, consultant, naval officer, and health care executive Dr. Goldsmith is the author and editor of fifty articles and nineteen books, three of which have won national awards.