1455 concluded its 2022 programming with another live event, and another installment of our Wine and Words Series collaboration with Kalero Vineyard.
As I read Sarah’s moving and inspiring book, it occurred to me that there were (at least) two major decisions she made: the first was to honor her father’s wishes and perform the Jewish ceremonial Kaddish twice a day for eleven months. The second was to write about this experience and tell her story via memoir. More, I couldn’t help but think about the ways her process of mourning was, in many ways, like the process of writing a book: intention is the impetus, but it’s the day-to-day effort, persistence, faith, and patience that produces the intended results.
Having grown-up Catholic, I am always grateful for an early exposure to ritual, and whether it’s a coincidence or not, the ways the sensibility shaped my sense of narrative, which includes mystery, wonder, and the intersection of history and humanity — which includes all the rituals of birth, death, and everything in between. Suffice it to say, A DAUGHTER’S KADDISH is a deeply personal story, but a universal one as it relates to the most profound issues we all must confront, namely the complexity of family relationships, loss, death, grief, and healing. This book will provide immense comfort for anyone who has lost a loved one, and is a recommended resource for everyone who will one day grapple with the inevitable. As always, 1455 recorded the conversation and you can enjoy it, below (please share with your networks, particularly anyone who might appreciate this touching meditation on life, death, and love).
As always, it’s our pleasure to partner with D.C.’s historic Potter’s House and we encourage you to purchase your copies of A DAUGHTER’S KADDISH from them and help support independent booksellers!
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A Daughter’s Kaddish (Wonderwell; September 2022) recounts Sarah Birnbach’s year-long odyssey to persevere through an unfamiliar world of Jewish prayer. To honor her beloved father, Sarah commits to reciting the Mourner’s Kaddish twice a day in synagogue for eleven months—a Jewish mourning ritual that was historically reserved for sons—despite her father’s initial request that she hire someone male to do so. A novice worshipper and single working mother, Sarah’s obstacles were many—including objections to her prayer practice because of her gender, her own daughter’s near-fatal car accident, an incident that tore her synagogue apart, and her mother’s dismissiveness.
Sarah incorporates these religious and spiritual practices into her already hectic 21st-century life while struggling with the heavy emotional distress of grief. As she travels the country for work, Sarah must find a synagogue where she can pray in each city and town she visits, a challenge that brings many surprises—and upsets. Throughout her year of devotion, Sarah takes comfort in the loving memories of her childhood while at the same time grappling with some very painful ones—ultimately discovering how the path of faith and grief can lead to true healing. A Daughter’s Kaddish addresses the universal experience of grief, will resonate with the Jewish community, and will appeal to feminists.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sarah Birnbach embarked on her encore career as a writer in 2015 after successful careers as a human resource management consultant and a licensed clinical social worker. She is a five-time award winner from the Soul-Making Keats Literary Competition, a program of the National League of American Pen Women, and a two-time award winner in Bethesda Magazine’s essay contest. Her stories have been published in numerous magazines and professional journals. An active member of the Women’s National Book Association, she lives in Rockville, Maryland. Visit her online at sarahbirnbach.com.
