Books by Joseph H. Krakoff

---

The Best Day is a story-driven memoir by Joseph H. Krakoff, a hospice chaplain who has devoted his life to visiting, comforting, and counseling people during the most profound moments of their lives. Told as a collection of 18 true stories, the book is equally suited to reading cover to cover, a single chapter at a sitting, or selected stories for book clubs and group discussions. Rabbi Krakoff is President and CEO of the Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network (JHCN) in West Bloomfield, Michigan, and the author of Never Long Enough: Finding Comfort and Hope Amidst Grief and Loss.

If you are looking for a memoir or short story collection about finding joy in difficult times, this book will inspire you with true stories that show how an ordinary person can discover that life's hardest moments can become doorways into wisdom, peace, and unexpected happiness. How could the day you were fired become a best day in retrospect? How could there be anything good about being trapped inside an elevator plunging toward the ground? You'll find such surprising transformations in these pages.

That's why best-selling author Brian D. McLaren said, "I love Rabbi Krakoff's book. He defines happiness as 'a lifelong spiritual journey of reclaiming our resilience when bad things happen, and fully appreciating the wonderment of the good things that happen.' Through memorable stories from his life and ministry, and meaningful reflections on Scripture, Krakoff invites all of us deeper into that kind of spiritual journey in The Best Day."

And, there's so much more in these 18 stories. If you have ever wondered what hospice work and end-of-life care can teach the rest of us about how to live, Krakoff opens the door to this world, too. You will meet Ron, a man who moved home to die and instead lived another 13 months in which he experienced some of the best days of his life. You will learn from people nearing the end of life who have quietly taught him about love, peace, and what truly matters.

If you are searching for a path to hope after grief or hardship, The Best Day draws on the Bible and the world's great spiritual traditions, including Psalm 90's call to "number our days that we may attain a heart of wisdom." The Best Day is a perfect gift for caregivers, grieving readers, hospice and palliative care professionals, book clubs, and anyone who wants to live with more gratitude, presence, and resilience.

In creating Never Long Enough - a unique book about the end of life, Rabbi Joseph H. Krakoff and artist Dr. Michelle Y. Sider brought together their many years of professional expertise with families. Krakoff drew on lessons learned in many years of counseling adults and children wrestling with death, grief and remembrance. Sider's years working as an artist, arts educator and psychologist influenced her approach in creating evocative images that demonstrate how art can help to unlock emotions and heal the heart. Together, they crafted an interactive keepsake book for families and friends, complete with pages to add personal reflections thereby transforming the book into an individualized tribute to a loved one.

Never Long Enough is designed to be read along with someone nearing the end of life -- or, it can be read by mourners after a death. Whenever this book is opened, it becomes an active invitation for conversation, lifting up memories and preserving the legacy of someone's life.

"For many years, I've been working with families to guide them through honest conversations about the legacy and the values that remain even as someone we love dies," Krakoff says. "This text has already comforted so many families through this difficult, emotionally charged time."

"I've seen how art can help people express themselves, bring out their feelings and tell stories. By weaving the words and art together, I hope the reader will move slowly through the pages and reflect deeply on the words. Reading and responding to this book as an individual or with loved ones becomes a very compelling and helpful experience." says Sider.

Krakoff originally developed the thought-provoking text while in Rabbinical School at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. As he shared that text with families, he realized that powerful imagery would heighten the healing process of reflection. Sider, inspired by the text, envisioned pairing phrases in the poem to original art. Using various techniques, she created stirring images that powerfully illuminate the text, are inclusive of different ethnicities, religions and relationships and culminate in a final, powerful blend.

"I love Rabbi Joseph Krakoff's book. He defines happiness as "a lifelong spiritual journey of reclaiming our resilience when bad things happen, and fully appreciating the wonderment of the good things that happen." Through memorable stories from his life and ministry, and meaningful reflections on Scripture, Krakoff invites all of us deeper into that kind of spiritual journey in The Best Day."

"Rabbi Krakoff generously offers his life’s personal and professional experiences as an open book. The Best Day tells stories that are at times surprising, sometimes painful or sad, but always honest. Krakoff’s optimism is rooted in timeless Jewish teachings and wisdom and deepened by his life experience. In celebrating the fullness of life, Jews lift glasses and say La Chaim! To Life! Indeed, Rabbi Krakoff’s middle name is Chaim. The Best Day revels in life’s fullness." 

"As America's only practicing rabbi who’s also a professional standup comic, I know a great story. And I can tell you, Rabbi Joseph Krakoff’s The Best Day is a unique and ultimately uplifting collection of great stories. As you read each chapter, he keeps asking: What if one’s worst day (and as a hospice chaplain he has seen many), can become one’s best day? Krakoff’s newest book is a collection of stories to cherish and read again and again for comfort and inspiration."

"Rabbi Krakoff, who I’ve known as Joey since our kindergarten days together, is a very gifted storyteller. He humorously relates that larger-than-life moment when we compassionately buried a rat on our walk home from Palms Elementary School in Los Angeles. Throughout The Best Day, he seamlessly blends personal experiences like that one we shared with lessons and reflections that are applicable to all human beings, regardless of their religious beliefs. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I know you will too!"

"Life knocks us over in ways small and profound. In The Best Day, Rabbi Joey shows us how we can choose our response while calling on the critical importance of family and friends to carry us when we struggle to stand. Anger, fear, and disappointment can blind us to the opportunities and joys that follow our worst days. Rabbi Joey demonstrates the power we all hold by simply choosing kindness and forgiveness. Being there for a person in pain is something we all can do and our impact can resonate far beyond even the brief moment we invest."

"Rabbi Joey Krakoff has written a unique style of memoir, focusing on 18 "best days" of his life - including his birth, his job interview with the woman who became his wife, the death of his goldfish, his brush with bullies, and much more - days that sometimes seemed to be his worst days, but in the end proved to be joyful and full of hope. The rabbi narrates everyday experiences and interprets them in light of Jewish traditions and scriptures, including the traditions and scriptures of other religious faiths. His training and vocational experience as a congrgational rabbi and hospice chaplain have provided a wealth of knowledge and a source of deep compassion for all of us who yearn to turn our worst days into our best days. This book is balm for the soul."

"The Best Day is not a claim that suffering can be explained away or that every day will feel good. It invites us to immerse ourselves in the present moment, unburdened by past regrets or future anxieties. Joy is not presented as a destination one eventually reaches after enough struggle; it is a mindset one chooses, a way of attending to ordinary beauty and relational connection even when circumstances are hard. This is the book’s most distinctive contribution. It refuses both despair and toxic positivity. It holds the tension."

"The Best Day” is an inspiration for us all. It is beautifully written in such a poignant manner and keeps the reader’s interest throughout the book. I did not want to put this book down! Rabbi Krakoff writes about numerous “bad days” which ultimately turn into “best days” in his life, detailing interesting times and events throughout his life. But the lessons he teaches on how to live our lives to the fullest with a positive attitude and a yearning to help others and make our world a better place are priceless. A must read for everyone!"

"Is today your Best Day? Is tomorrow your Best Day? Or was yesterday your Best Day?
You won’t know until you read The Best Day, a beautifully written and deeply meaningful memoir by Joseph Krakoff, a well-known and admired Rabbi who has touched and changed the lives of so many people around him.
Every chapter is thoughtfully and brilliantly crafted, offering the reader insight into the life, experiences, wisdom, and heart of a remarkable man. As you turn each page, you will find yourself reflecting not only on Rabbi Krakoff’s journey, but perhaps on your own.
When you sit down to read this book, make sure you give yourself the time and space to appreciate every word. Find a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted, because this is a book meant to be savored, not rushed.
The Best Day is the kind of memoir you can read over and over again and discover something new each time—a new thought, a new lesson, or a new perspective.
Perhaps the most important question the book leaves us with is this: What makes a day your Best Day?"

""The Best Day" is a wonderful book to help you explore your growing up years as you read about Rabbi Krakoff's experiences. No one is exempt from mistakes, joy, fears and a million other emotions. "The Best Day" gives you permission to own who and what you are and how there is always a way to find joy, This book is a gift to yourself."

"Rabbi Joseph Krakoff has written a truly beautiful book on his life and experiences growing up. The book captures snapshots from his childhood and adulthood. It makes you smile, cry, and is so relatable to families of all ethnicities. This is a wonderful book that is a must read. Can’t wait for the next one!"

"How can you find meaning when the best day is really the worst day? When we lost our son at 47 years, we were devastated and shocked! WHY? With a great deal of strength and support, we were eventually able to find gratitude through our memories of the years we had enjoyed with our son! Rabbi Joseph Krakoff’s book, "The Best Day,” provides numerous scenarios focusing on that important mind-set: How can you learn and how can you grow from traumatic events? The book focuses on the many special connections and memories: opening your heart to others and trying very hard to think positively! This outstanding book guides the reader into looking at painful days with different meanings, if you look for them!"

"What an outstanding book! This book is more than a memoir, but an inspiration for everyone. Even though in life it is hard to think about everyday being "The Best Day," read this book to enlighten yourself on how to make your worst days in life the best! Rabbi Joey's stories are more than just a narrative, they are revelations about life for all of us to learn and cherish!"

"The Best Day is profoundly inspiring. Since reading Rabbi Krakoff’s book, barely a day goes by without being reminded of the stories and lessons to take home.

It’s a remarkable read."

"If you do not know how to look at some of your darker days as a positive event, read The Best Day: A Memoir of Finding Joy, Inspiration, Resilience, and Hope. This interesting and compelling read made me rethink some of my days and the potential negative impact they had and allowed me to see that each of those days led me to the current day. It is a fascinating mix of stories with a connection to spirituality that any, Jewish or not, can latch on to and realize the potential that we each have each and every day. This book will continue to inspire me and it is a book that I can go back to time and time again to lift me up and allow me to lift up others."

"I really enjoyed The Best Day. What resonated with me most was the idea of finding something positive even when you’re going through a difficult situation.

Life doesn’t always give us the day we hoped for, but it reminded me that even on a really hard day, there can still be a moment of joy.

I found the message both comforting and inspiring. It’s a wonderful reminder to look for the “best” in a day, even when the day itself isn’t what we would have chosen. A meaningful read everyone needs!"

""The Best Day" is a fantastic read! Personal, inspirational, and a much-needed dose of positivity. Thank you, Joseph Krakoff, for sharing your stories and life experiences and reminding us that we can find our “best day,” no matter how the day unfolds."

"As the title says: No matter what, there are always “Best Days”. Whatever “worst day” you have; your best days will always be with you. Forget the worst and focus on the best. You can enjoy them whenever you want. I think this book
gives the reader a beginning on how to do just that."

"The Best Day by Joseph H. Krakoff is an exceptional book. It is a life gift. The stories shared by Rabbi Krakoff enlighten all of us to embrace the life lessons we garner, especially when our days carry challenges. The writing is literally delightful while being deeply insightful. People of all faiths and cultures will relate. You will feel like you are listening to a friend while learning from an exceptional life teacher. Written with care and reflection of the importance of joy and strength in our daily lives. Joseph Krakoff is a remarkable teacher and The Best Day is a read that feels like taking a break and reminding ourselves to embrace our own stories. Looking for hope and a reminder of the good in life? This is the read that delivers the reminder of the shine even when we are looking through a bit of dusk. Each chapter brings joy and reminders that life is a gift. We all have our moments and reading about his own moments,

Joseph H. Krakoff has given us a great view of the bigger picture. Every chapter delivers learning. Delightful book, reading like sitting with a dear friend sharing a cup of tea and having some laughs and ‘I did need to think of that’ moments. Highly recommend and this is a great book to also gift."

"The Best Day" is a fantastic read! Personal, inspirational, and a much-needed dose of positivity. Thank you, Joseph Krakoff, for sharing your stories and life experiences and reminding us that we can find our “best day,” no matter how the day unfolds."

"This book touches all of your emotions. It makes you laugh and makes you cry. It makes you think it makes you appreciate it makes you be grateful. I’m not a huge reader, but I truly enjoyed reading this one. It’s a must buy."

"My 10 year old daughter and I are reading together - and the book has facilitated the most meaningful conversations in addition to giving us some good laughs. The reflections on real life challenges we all face and the power of our ability to choose how we frame them is powerful and a beautiful lesson to learn early in life.

My daughter added that she’s really enjoying the book and she thinks it’s a very nice way to get into deep conversation."