House of Mourning
“Benjamin Shalva’s House of Mourning is a loving book…we, his readers, have been given a gift.”
— Shane McCrae, author of New and Collected Hell
House of Mourning is the debut poetry collection from poet, rabbi, and hospice chaplain Benjamin Shalva. By turns mournful, meditative, irreverent, and wry, House of Mourning is not only an elegy but a rising. Whether read in solitude, shared in a grief circle, or woven into ritual, these poems meet readers where they are: stunned, searching, laughing, longing, healing.
Praise for House of Mourning
“Benjamin Shalva’s gentle, intelligent voice, from the very beginning of this marvelous collection, invokes an unmitigated light within the darkness of mourning and sadness.”
— David Keplinger, author of Ice
“These ‘tiny psalms of shameless sound’ are miniature masterpieces of disciplined language and original imagery.”
— Raymond P. Scheindlin, author of Vulture in a Cage: Poems by Solomon Ibn Gabirol
“Benjamin Shalva’s House of Mourning is a loving book. Which is to say it is a book of bewilderment, and grief, and wonder. Shalva has looked long at hard at things most of us only glance at, if we look at all, but—in these poems, at least—he has not allowed himself to be overwhelmed by what he has seen.”
— Shane McCrae, author of New and Collected Hell
• Published by Kelsay Books, 2025 •
Ambition Addiction: How to Go Slow, Give Thanks, and Discover Joy Within
“Honest, funny, insightful, and full of integrity, Benjamin Shalva is a much-needed voice in today's world.”
— Chris Grosso, author of Indie Spiritualist and Everything Mind
In a culture obsessed with fame and celebrity, the burning desire for acclaim, conquest, and domination can be overwhelming—to the detriment of one’s personal life. This is ambition addiction: the all-encompassing yearning for success at any cost. Self-described ambition addict Benjamin Shalva has written an insightful and illuminating book for anyone who wants to control that destructive strain of ambition and live with integrity.
Praise for Ambition Addiction
“Shalva's book is bracing medicine for those of us caught up in the stress and hunger and busyness of this fast, fast world.” — Waylon Lewis, founder of Elephant Journal
“Benjamin Shalva has written a simple, practical, and often profound guide…It's honest, humorous, sincere, and, most of all a wonderful tool for self-reflection.” — Benjamin Lorr, author of Hell-Bent: Obsession, Pain, and the Search for Something Like Transcendence in Competitive Yoga
“This is a well-written, hard hitting book that will be invaluable for many people. Prescribed reading for those in the fast lane.” — Rick Jarow, author of Creating the Work You Love and Alchemy of Abundance
• Published by Grand Harbor Press, 2016 •
Spiritual Cross-Training: Searching through Silence, Stretch, and Song
“Seeker, rabbi, clown, yogi―Ben Shalva has been them all. A warmly told and deeply honest tale of one man’s spiritual journey…this is a guy worth getting to know.”
―Arthur Green, author of Ehyeh: A Kabbalah for Tomorrow
On a quest for enlightenment, Benjamin Shalva journeyed through the wilds of Tibet and took a pilgrimage to a white-walled monastery in Rhode Island. He wrestled with demons, danced with temptresses, and sang with hundreds of voices under the stars. Now, using the lessons and techniques gained through years of religious exploration and inward reflection, Shalva offers simple and powerful ways to connect with your spiritual self, whether it be in a place of worship or the yoga studio, or even while sitting in traffic, working late at the office, or kneeling in your garden. Inspiring and refreshingly candid, Spiritual Cross-Training encourages you to trust your own path, grow with an open mind and a light heart, and uncover the truth as you search for your place in the universe.
Praise for Spiritual Cross-Training
“Shalva’s search, which he relays with poetry and passion is a model for seekers of all faiths.” ― The Times of Israel
“Benjamin Shalva’s Spiritual Cross-Training is a come-as-you-are guidebook for truth seekers of all generations. Honest, entertaining, and illuminating, this is a cool friend to have on the path.” ― Chris Grosso, author of Indie Spiritualist and Everything Mind
“Ben Shalva takes us on a powerful journey soaked through and through with authenticity, bare bones honesty, insight, clarity, and humor. This work demystifies some very long-standing and intricately complex practices, making them accessible without sacrificing their core principles and cultural nuances. If you want a glimpse of one of the best possible spiritual futures in Western culture, here it is.” ― Rick Jarow, author of Creating the Work You Love and Alchemy of Abundance
• Published by Grand Harbor Press, 2016 •