San Bernardino, CA – When Rabbi Douglas Kohn was treated for cancer several years ago, he found few resources in the Jewish domain for living with the disease.
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“I imagined a book written by rabbis who had had cancer or were dealing with cancer,” said Kohn.
His imagination led to the December publication of “Life, Faith and Cancer: Jewish Journeys through Diagnosis, Treatment and Recovery.”
Kohn was the book’s editor and wrote one of its chapters. Other Jewish religious leaders who have been through experiences like his own also contributed chapters.
Kohn’s 2004 diagnosis was metastatic papillary thyroid cancer, which was treated with a radical neck dissection at Loma Linda University Medical Center, followed by radioactive iodine treatments, a second surgery a year later and check-ups every six months.
“All of us who have had this experience undergo a life-affecting transition and must adapt to and live with the changes that follow,” Kohn said.
I do agree with the original point of there not being enough resources out there for Jewish cancer patients.
I’m working on my own book now and waiting to hear back from the publisher… Here’s to hoping that this time next year there will be another book out there to help frum teens who unfortunately have to go through what I did.
Keeping The Record Straight (said) 8:31AM. Thank you for straightening me out. I had Rabbi Harold Kushner in mind. From reading his original Biography I got the [mistaken] impression that he was a Rabbi in the Reform movement. Thanx again. (we strive for accuracy)
p.s.: There was another [Reform] Rabbi who went through a lot of tragedies in his life. He authored a Book by the name; “When bad things happen to Good People”. Wonder if he added a chapter in Rabbi Kohn’s book.
January 23, 2008 11:54 AM
Harold Kushner, the former spiritual leader of Temple Isreal of natick, NY, wrote When Bad Things Happen to Good People. He is Conservative, not Reform.
You might be confusing him with Lawrence Kushner of Cong. Emanu-El in San Francisco.
Anon. 10:46AM Thank YOU for enlightening us… about the affiliation of the Rabbi’s Congregation. [from your description] It appears that they are a very FRUM Reform Congregation. But still not our cup of tea. From [looking at] the picture it appears that the Rabbi is a leading an Orthodox Congregation. Whithout your caveat (it’s not Hungarian Gefilte Fish sauce), I was gonna rush to the bookstore to buy a copy. In any case, we wish the Rabbi a REFUAH SHLEIMAH, a full and speedy recovery and many years of continued Good Health.
p.s.: There was another [Reform] Rabbi who went through a lot of tragedies in his life. He authored a Book by the name; “When bad things happen to Good People”. Wonder if he added a chapter in Rabbi Kohn’s book.
The author is a Reform Rabbi…
While we empathize with his personal suffering, many VIN readers would probably not find his perspective on suffering so enlightening….
“The worship services of the congregation are a unique blend of the traditional and contemporary. Though the congregation has been affiliated with the Reform movement since 1947, its services are more traditional and prayer books of a more traditional orientation (Likrat Shabbat, Siddur Hadash, Mahzor Hadash) are used. The congregation has pioneered in the reintroduction of many traditions with a contemporary expression. The synagogue is committed to the full equality of women and men in synagogue life and to patrilineal descent. As a Reform congregation, options are provided in such areas as wearing a yarmulke.”