The Broken and the Whole - 9781451656169

A powerful, inspiring memoir in the vein of When Bad Things Happen to Good People about the wisdom a rabbi gained after his young son suffered a catastrophic brain stem stroke that left him quadriplegic and dependent on a ventilator for each breath.

As a young, ambitious rabbi at one of New York’s largest synagogues, Charles Sherman had high hopes for what his future would hold—a happy and healthy family, professional success, and recognition. Then, early one morning in 1986, everything changed. His son Eyal spiked a fever and was soon in serious respiratory distress. Doctors discovered a lesion on the four-year-old’s brain stem. Following high-risk surgery, Eyal suffered a catastrophic stroke. Sherman and his wife later learned that their son would never walk, talk, feed himself, or breathe on his own again—yet his mind was entirely intact. He was still the curious, intelligent boy they had always loved. Rabbi Sherman found himself confronting life’s biggest questions: To what lengths should parents go to protect their children? How can we maintain faith in God when tragedies like this occur? Is it possible to experience joy after heartbreak?

Now, with deep insight, refreshing honesty, humor, and intelligence, Rabbi Charles Sherman reflects back on his life and describes his struggle to address and ultimately answer these questions. The Broken and the Whole is a moving and affecting meditation on rebuilding your life when everything you’ve known has been shattered to pieces.