Have you ever done something holy, or felt that what you did was very close to what we know is holy? For most of us, this doesn't happen often. Yet when it does, it is a life-changing event. In writing this book, my hope is that you become open to more such experiences. I'm not talking about joining a spiritual group or going to religious services. Instead, I invite you to explore the boundary between death and life. In the pages ahead, we will witness an amazing set of rituals that honor both the dead and the living, while uplifting both; it is a process that gives those who participate the rare opportunity to experience what I can only call "the holiness of being." It is the presence we feel when we enter into the "liminal space" that is the boundary between life and death. Feeling this, knowing this, is the passion behind this book.

It is an extraordinary experience that is worth sharing with everyone, even if some may not wish to participate. Jewish communities take care of their dead through an organization known as the Chevrah Kadisha. Though this book fully explains the work and scope of these chevrot in preparing the dead for burial, and introduces you to the ways in which we help, it does not get into any gory details. Rather, it provides an opening to the profound beauty and power of Jewish death-related traditions. Being human also includes striving to live the full potential of our being. We seek to know who we are. And we want to live lives that matter. For many people, volunteering to do work that aids others, or to do jobs that contribute to the welfare of the community, adds more value to life.

Those who volunteer for the Chevrah Kadisha have the special honor of helping those who cannot thank them, and, more than that, have the privilege of entering into the "liminal space." It is a space that includes both the momentary awareness of the infinite connectedness of all that is, and the "breath-on-your-cheek" closeness of death, a reminder that souls with bodies and souls without bodies are not separated by much, if at all. We walk away blessed with renewed wonder, gratitude, and enthusiasm for life. Participating in chevrah work can be a truly transformative experience that enhances what it means to be human, and infuses our lives with greater appreciation for the amazing people with whom we share this world. It is for me the highest honor to do this mitzvah, to share its blessings, and to promote it. I invite you to join me on this pat.