Rabbi Wolpe shares the wisdom of ancient stories, great philosophers, poets and rabbis as he addresses the pain and suffering that loss produces. He focuses on the question of how rather than why. How can people create meaning in difficult times? The book explores the universal losses of life: home, self, dreams, love, faith and life. Wolpe holds the compass of thought in the heading of personal choice and volition; what choices can be made to find meaning in the midst of these unchangeable and uncontrollable losses?

People of faith will find anecdotes and quotes that awaken hope as well as inspire and give insight. The course will help identify self-empowerment techniques in the Jewish tradition that are transcendent in their scope.

According to Wolpe, expanding one's worldview to embrace a spirituality that extends beyond the self, (why is this happening to me) and towards what are my choices in the midst of what is happening, begins the process of finding meaning in the painful places of life. This book is very helpful to understand and engage those who are hurt by the losses of life.

Educational Objectives

• Understand and appreciate the Jewish biblical literature on loss
• Reframe losses into broad categories that embrace wholeness in suffering
• Address the loss of home, dreams, self, love, faith, and life in the context of finding meaning
• Help empower clients to find meaning in their losses and strength in their suffering

Syllabus / Course Instructions

• The Course consists of reading the selected book, successfully completing an online posttest and filling out a course evaluation.
• The book is not included. It must be purchased separately. We have supplied a link to Amazon.com for your convenience.
• Purchasing your course will give you access to both a printable copy of the test and an online version. Print the test to use as a companion as you read the book and answer the questions.
• You cannot exit the online test once you begin, so have your answers available.

Additional Resources On This Site for CE

• What Really Matters: Living a Moral Life Amidst Uncertainty
  by Dr. Arthur Kleinman: 8 CE Credits
• When All You've Ever Wanted Isn't Enough
  by Harold Kushner: 6 CE Credits
• Denial of Death
  by Ernest Becker: 12 CE Credits
• When Bad Things Happen To Good People
  by Harold S. Kushner: 6 CE Credits
• Living a Life That Matters
  by Harold Kushner: 7 CE Credits
• Creating a Life of Meaning and Compassion: The Wisdom of Psychotherapy
  by Robert W. Firestone, PhD, Lisa A. Firestone, PhD, Joyce Catlett, MA: 15 CE Credits

Additional Resources Not On This Site

• Rabbi Wolpe's CNN interview, Coping with fear, anger and uncertainty http://archives.cnn.com/2001/COMMUNITY/10/01/wolpe/
• Rabbi Wolpe’s Rosh Hashanah sermon on Torah from Terror http://www.torahfromterror.com/sermons/DavidWolpe.htm

Bio: Rabbi David Wolpe

Rabbi David Wolpe received his B.A. from University of Pennsylvania. He received his B.H.L. at University of Judaism in Los Angeles, California and his M.A. and Ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, in New York, New York. He has also studied at Hebrew University in Jerusalem and Edinburgh University in Scotland.

Rabbi David Wolpe is the Rabbi at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, California. He has taught and lectured at Universities, Synagogues, and has been a frequent guest commentator on CNN. He is the author of five books including Making Loss Matter: Creating Meaning in Difficult Times.