What do you think?
Rate this book
The Forever Letter: Writing What We Believe For Those We Love
A forever letter is a gift that will be read over and over again. Inspired by the centuries-old Jewish tradition of the ethical will, a forever letter is a perfect way to share your most precious possessions: your values, wisdom, and love with the people who matter to you most. And you don't have to do it alone. Through empowering stories, sample letters, and writing tips, author Elana Zaiman serves as your companion on this journey of self-discovery and deepening relationships.
Praise:
"The Forever Letter offers tools, guidelines, and examples for grandparents and parents to share their love, respect, and values with the next generation." ― Jack Canfield, Co-author of Chicken Soup for the Sou l
"I love this little book because it's about writing real letters, a lost art in our time. Even more important, it's about writing letters that matter to people who matter to us." ―Parker J. Palmer, author of Let Your Life Speak and A Hidden Wholeness
"Elana Zaiman has a mission: She loves connection, deep and personal, and wants others to experience the sweet joy she has lived of shared truth-telling. Her forever letter embodies the passing on of wisdom, humbling experience, dreams, and love from one person to another. It is a beautiful concept that all of us should embrace." ― Julie Schwartz Gottman, PhD, co-founder of the Gottman Institute and author of Ten Principles for Doing Effective Couples Therapy
Praise:
"The Forever Letter offers tools, guidelines, and examples for grandparents and parents to share their love, respect, and values with the next generation." ― Jack Canfield, Co-author of Chicken Soup for the Sou l
"I love this little book because it's about writing real letters, a lost art in our time. Even more important, it's about writing letters that matter to people who matter to us." ―Parker J. Palmer, author of Let Your Life Speak and A Hidden Wholeness
"Elana Zaiman has a mission: She loves connection, deep and personal, and wants others to experience the sweet joy she has lived of shared truth-telling. Her forever letter embodies the passing on of wisdom, humbling experience, dreams, and love from one person to another. It is a beautiful concept that all of us should embrace." ― Julie Schwartz Gottman, PhD, co-founder of the Gottman Institute and author of Ten Principles for Doing Effective Couples Therapy
- GenresWritingNonfiction
240 pages, Paperback
Published September 8, 2017
34 people are currently reading
453 people want to read
About the author
Elana Zaiman
2 books7 followersElana Zaiman is the first woman rabbi from a family spanning six generations of rabbis. She began her rabbinic career at Manhattan's Park Avenue Synagogue and currently serves as a chaplain in Seattle's elder community.
Elana travels throughout the US and Canada as a scholar-in-residence, speaker, and workshop facilitator. She has received rave reviews for her keynotes and workshops in synagogues, churches, interfaith-gatherings, social service agencies, geriatric residencies, law firms, women's organizations, private salons, and elder-law and financial and estate-planning conferences.
Elana is a writer. Her essays, nonfictions, and fictions have been published in: The Gettysburg Review, The Sun, Post Road, The Beloit Fiction Journal, The Dalhousie Review, Hotel Amerika, Clackamas Literary Review, American Letters & Commentary, and other venues. In addition, she is the Ethics and Spirituality columnist for the magazine Liv Fun.
Elana lives in Seattle, WA with her husband and son.
Elana travels throughout the US and Canada as a scholar-in-residence, speaker, and workshop facilitator. She has received rave reviews for her keynotes and workshops in synagogues, churches, interfaith-gatherings, social service agencies, geriatric residencies, law firms, women's organizations, private salons, and elder-law and financial and estate-planning conferences.
Elana is a writer. Her essays, nonfictions, and fictions have been published in: The Gettysburg Review, The Sun, Post Road, The Beloit Fiction Journal, The Dalhousie Review, Hotel Amerika, Clackamas Literary Review, American Letters & Commentary, and other venues. In addition, she is the Ethics and Spirituality columnist for the magazine Liv Fun.
Elana lives in Seattle, WA with her husband and son.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 19, 2018
Review coming. Yes I read the book twice, yes it's that good. Note: It's non fiction.
** added review**
Some books need to be held in ones hand, to read and feel the book, the stories contained within and one that you can return to over and over again. This is one of those books. Notes in the margins and red pencil underlined, Elana has brought back the lost tradition of leaving the ethical will but I do really like her title for it: The Forever Letter. As it should be. This book moved me deeply and somethings still stick in my head about this one.
She walks you through her work, deeply compassionate and personal and then bringing home the actual writing. There is something that happens within the brain when pen is put to paper that connects us with the paper and our thoughts. Gifting someone you love with something so utterly personal is that final gift of love to them. Always speak love.
If I could give this more than 5 stars I would.
**arc from NetGalley and publisher for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own**
** added review**
Some books need to be held in ones hand, to read and feel the book, the stories contained within and one that you can return to over and over again. This is one of those books. Notes in the margins and red pencil underlined, Elana has brought back the lost tradition of leaving the ethical will but I do really like her title for it: The Forever Letter. As it should be. This book moved me deeply and somethings still stick in my head about this one.
She walks you through her work, deeply compassionate and personal and then bringing home the actual writing. There is something that happens within the brain when pen is put to paper that connects us with the paper and our thoughts. Gifting someone you love with something so utterly personal is that final gift of love to them. Always speak love.
If I could give this more than 5 stars I would.
**arc from NetGalley and publisher for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own**
February 28, 2018
Before she died, my grandma wrote a long digital letter addressed to her children and grandchildren. It was about her life and how it felt to live through WWII. It was about her losing her first husband and her change of religion. It was about how she had lived to see so many descendants. Valuable for knowing our family history and life? Yes. Earnest? Well, no.
Because my grandma didn't write a forever letter. She wrote in purple prose and lied about certain events to embellish herself. Not once did she impart her true values, her beliefs, her wishes for us that we were hoping to learn. It was like she wrote a declaration of herself without including the core of herself. And it was heartbreaking. The whole time I was reading this book, I kept thinking how it was a shame my grandma wouldn't have wanted to meet Zaiman or attended one of Zaiman's classes because of her religious faith (she was that kind of person). If only she did.
The Forever Letter is a guide to write a letter that is from the heart. It asks you to be true to yourself and to write what you feel would be the most imperative for your loved ones to keep in their image of you. Write as how you would speak and feel, not how you think you "ought to" speak. They are opinions and beliefs that are shared with a welcoming hand, and personally crafted to whomever it is addressed to. While they can serve as legacy letters, forever letters hope to inspire and mend the bridges when spoken words may not be enough. Anyone can write one at any age and any time of their lives. There is a slight slant towards Jewish anecdotes throughout the book, but Zaiman is a rabbi; it's to be expected.
Zaiman is encouraging on the do's for getting into the process of writing a heartfelt letter. She gives counterarguments to commonly heard resistance to writing one and a practical rundown on how to write one. These simple tips are helpful for any writer who is beginning to take the plunge. She is also clear on the stating the don'ts for forever letters, one that my grandma was guilty of. These letters should be mindful to changes in relationships and are not meant to be written commandments. Best of all, she includes a copy of the forever letter she wrote to her six-year-old son so you can see her advice being put into practice. She is so comforting throughout the text too. Her words are like a warm cup of soulful tea.
I knew long ago that when I would someday write my legacy letter, I wouldn't do what my grandma did. I forgive her, yes, yet it's not how I would feel right going about it. I didn't know what else I would do besides that. With Zaiman's generous guidance and tips, I feel like I have a better handle on what I want to achieve. I may even write a forever letter of my own sooner than I thought. Thank you very much, Zaiman.
I received the book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
Because my grandma didn't write a forever letter. She wrote in purple prose and lied about certain events to embellish herself. Not once did she impart her true values, her beliefs, her wishes for us that we were hoping to learn. It was like she wrote a declaration of herself without including the core of herself. And it was heartbreaking. The whole time I was reading this book, I kept thinking how it was a shame my grandma wouldn't have wanted to meet Zaiman or attended one of Zaiman's classes because of her religious faith (she was that kind of person). If only she did.
The Forever Letter is a guide to write a letter that is from the heart. It asks you to be true to yourself and to write what you feel would be the most imperative for your loved ones to keep in their image of you. Write as how you would speak and feel, not how you think you "ought to" speak. They are opinions and beliefs that are shared with a welcoming hand, and personally crafted to whomever it is addressed to. While they can serve as legacy letters, forever letters hope to inspire and mend the bridges when spoken words may not be enough. Anyone can write one at any age and any time of their lives. There is a slight slant towards Jewish anecdotes throughout the book, but Zaiman is a rabbi; it's to be expected.
Zaiman is encouraging on the do's for getting into the process of writing a heartfelt letter. She gives counterarguments to commonly heard resistance to writing one and a practical rundown on how to write one. These simple tips are helpful for any writer who is beginning to take the plunge. She is also clear on the stating the don'ts for forever letters, one that my grandma was guilty of. These letters should be mindful to changes in relationships and are not meant to be written commandments. Best of all, she includes a copy of the forever letter she wrote to her six-year-old son so you can see her advice being put into practice. She is so comforting throughout the text too. Her words are like a warm cup of soulful tea.
I knew long ago that when I would someday write my legacy letter, I wouldn't do what my grandma did. I forgive her, yes, yet it's not how I would feel right going about it. I didn't know what else I would do besides that. With Zaiman's generous guidance and tips, I feel like I have a better handle on what I want to achieve. I may even write a forever letter of my own sooner than I thought. Thank you very much, Zaiman.
I received the book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
December 26, 2017
Do you want to leave a legacy for your children, advice for their future? Or set the record straight about something that's been bothering you? Or apologize for something you did or said that you've regretted? Or tell someone close to you how much they mean to you? Write a "forever letter".
Interesting concept, but I think the writer spent a bit too much time illustrating the points for writing a heartfelt letter with too many examples. I wanted to get to the steps to writing the letter, which is actually only the last few pages of the book.
Interesting concept, but I think the writer spent a bit too much time illustrating the points for writing a heartfelt letter with too many examples. I wanted to get to the steps to writing the letter, which is actually only the last few pages of the book.
January 7, 2020
I absolutely loved this book. Ethical wills have been familiar to me for some time, but Elana Zaiman opens up the idea to writing about our values, dreams, challenges and successes for other people in our lives. Because of this book, I wrote a letter to my dad, several years after he passed. It was a letter I wished I could read to him in person and hoped, as I read it aloud, that somewhere he could hear it.
September 27, 2017
I don’t know where to begin. I am simply in awe. Zaiman's "The Forever Letter" is so tenderly and elegantly written. And there is such balance – personal stories, the stories of folks she's known personally, and the wisdom from the many books she's read and absorbed. Her willingness to expose herself in moments we all experience and we all try to forget (yelling at a child), gives us permission to expose ourselves emotionally in the same way - and sets a high bar for our own truthfulness. I love how she begins with her father’s letter, and how self-aware and vulnerable he is. I love how she gives us writing prompts - it’s like she's taking us by the hand, walking with us and helping us. And it’s organized so well. One story brought me to tears. The chapters on writing had me taking notes. But above all is her own deep wisdom. This is a book to cherish. It’s a book that is going to change lives.
February 13, 2019
Good reference book to go to when you are inspired to write letters to the people that are important in your life.
February 15, 2018
A True Gift on So Many Levels
I knew I would love this book the moment I saw it. I was NOT disappointed. This is not a “how to write a letter book” this is a gift that you give yourself and your loved ones because you are guided on the way to write from your heart, to leave a legacy, to allow another to be a witness to your life, to give the greatest gift one can give – the gift of love in a way that your feelings flow from your heart to the written word. I am a huge believer in writing notes and letters. The benefits to YOU, the writer, are vast. The feeling of gratitude and pure joy in writing the letter reduces cortisol levels which cause stress and increases endorphins raising the feel-good factor. The recipient, they get that too. This is a win-win in a challenging world where we need a lot more introspection and sharing of love with those we care about. Highly recommended!
I knew I would love this book the moment I saw it. I was NOT disappointed. This is not a “how to write a letter book” this is a gift that you give yourself and your loved ones because you are guided on the way to write from your heart, to leave a legacy, to allow another to be a witness to your life, to give the greatest gift one can give – the gift of love in a way that your feelings flow from your heart to the written word. I am a huge believer in writing notes and letters. The benefits to YOU, the writer, are vast. The feeling of gratitude and pure joy in writing the letter reduces cortisol levels which cause stress and increases endorphins raising the feel-good factor. The recipient, they get that too. This is a win-win in a challenging world where we need a lot more introspection and sharing of love with those we care about. Highly recommended!
January 1, 2018
I can't narrow down my adjectives about this book: touching, clever, comforting, encouraging, heartfelt, smart - and that's just the beginning.
This is a different kind of writing book. The premise of a Forever Letter was not something I'd ever come across before and I love the idea. I would have been grateful if this had been a blog post but Elana Zaiman continued on and wrote a whole book! Page after page I fell more in love with this idea. I'm now trying to figure out how to incorporate this into our holiday tradition instead of giving gifts no one wants.
I think the only gift I am certain that I will buy for loved ones is this book. Anyone who cares deeply for others should read this and then follow her practical steps to writing your letter.
This is a different kind of writing book. The premise of a Forever Letter was not something I'd ever come across before and I love the idea. I would have been grateful if this had been a blog post but Elana Zaiman continued on and wrote a whole book! Page after page I fell more in love with this idea. I'm now trying to figure out how to incorporate this into our holiday tradition instead of giving gifts no one wants.
I think the only gift I am certain that I will buy for loved ones is this book. Anyone who cares deeply for others should read this and then follow her practical steps to writing your letter.
July 19, 2018
This is a history of, examples for and instructions on writing a forever letter to your loved ones. The writing prompts and questions are clear and thoughtful. Zaiman includes her forever letter to her son, written when he was six years old. It would be interesting to take one of her workshops, although she outlines how you can make, and keep, appointments with yourself to write your letter(s).
January 2, 2021
Much more approachable to the concept of a modern day ethical will. Written with a lot of examples and perspectives as well as some suggestions on what to write and how to write, if you interested this is a good resource.
October 2, 2017
If you have a family, this might be of interest. My book club's choice for our October meeting.
October 26, 2017
What a powerful message - delivered well.
October 31, 2017
This was a quick touching read. It inspired me to take out notes from an ethical will workshop I attended years ago and write a letter to my children.
September 4, 2021
Interesting guide to writing to those who are dear to you.
September 6, 2017
The Forever Letter
Writing What We Believe For Those We Love
by Elana Zaiman
Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd.
Llewellyn Publications
Nonfiction (Adult) , Religion & Spirituality
Pub Date 08 Sep 2017
I am reviewing a copy of The Forever Letter through Llewelyn Publications and Netgalley:
This book encourages us to connect with our loved ones through letters. Elaina Zaiman transforms a little known Jewish tradition of writing an ethical will to a tool anyone can use.
This book is both simple and engaging. We are encouraged to pen letters full of emotions and to work with a writing partner if We so desire.
I give The Forever Letter five out of five stars.
Happy Reading!
September 4, 2017
The Forever Letter helped me to get clear about my relationship with my stepson and walked me through the process to write him a two page forever letter that totally opened new possibilities in our previously waning relationship. Thanks Elana. You've written a heartfelt and very powerful book.
November 9, 2017
The Forever Letter by Elana Zaiman is a handbook on how to share our dearest values with those who are most dear to each of us. But it is much more than that. It’s a life philosophy, rich in love, forgiveness, understanding, and above all listening. Listening to the past. Listening to others. Listening to one’s own heart. The Forever Letter is a gift. A gift to each reader. A gift to the world. You will thank yourself for reading this book.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews