I'm happy to announce that after long delays my little book on LC's Book of Mercy has finally been published. It all started two decades ago - has it really been so long? - when I initiated a discussion of the book on the Forum, in which dozens of members took part over a period of three and a half years. In my introduction to the book, I fondly remember some of the outstanding participants. Then came my Hebrew annotated translation of the book, then the preparation of the English language version of my notes. It took several years to find a willing publisher, followed by excruciating two years of waiting for the permission to use copyright material. Because of a misunderstanding with the publisher, I regret that I was not involved in the design of the cover, but I'll live with what I got. I only regret that LC is no longer with us and can only wonder what he would have thought of it.
Here is the text of my Preface and Acknowledgments from the book:
Preface and Acknowledgments
I became familiar with Leonard Cohen’s work during my early teens, and over the past decades have considered him an intimate companion mentally even though distant in every other sense. It took me a long while to feel ready to share this private intimacy with others, but in 2006 this changed as I joined the Leonard Cohen Forum on which I soon initiated an open discussion of Book of Mercy. The discussion lasted for three and a half years, sometimes going at breakneck pace, other times it seemed as if it were dying out, but we persevered in discussing the book from beginning to end. Dozens of participants from around the world took part, regularly or occasionally, and I benefited greatly from many of their contributions. This experience made it possible for me to fulfill an old dream by translating the book into Hebrew and adding a detailed commentary (the book was published in Jerusalem by Carmel, 2015, as Sefer Rachamim). Eventually I decided to rewrite and expand my commentary, this time in English, and offer it to those interested in Cohen’s work and particularly in his book of prayers. I wish to use this occasion to thank a few of the participants in the Forum discussion whose contributions were of particular meaning for me, some of whom also assisted me in various ways as I was compiling my notes later on. Special thanks then are due to: Tomislav Sakic from Croatia, Sylvain Belisle from Canada, the poet Mathew Robert James from Australia, Joseph Way of the United States, and Judy Remy from France. I also wish to remember Greg Wells from the US, who passed away during the Forum discussion but not before making some unforgettable contributions to it including an index for the book, and the Canadian poet Judith Fitzgerald, who had a unique insight into the work of Leonard Cohen.
My deepest gratitude to Professor Louis Schwartz of the University of Richmond for his generosity in reading my manuscript and making a long list of corrections and suggestions, most of which I adopted. Thanks to his contribution, this work has been greatly improved and enhanced. I thanked him several times along my text for suggesting specific quotes, but he also helped me in myriad other ways for which I am most grateful.
When my Hebrew book was published, Leonard Cohen was still alive and I was able to thank him for everything, including his assistance in obtaining the rights for the translation. Now that he has passed away this current work is dedicated to his memory.
Kyoto
Concluded May 2018
Revised July 2023
Prepared for printing August 2025
Greetings friends,
Doron, I have been on the Amazon/Uk website a few times in the past three days, hoping to get myself a copy but - at present - only a kindle version seems to be available. Is this me just being inept, or has it sold out already? Will more become available through Amazon?
Best of luck with the book; I followed keenly the many entries about "Mercy" all those years ago, and will enjoy re-engaging once more.
Last edited by hineni1 on Sun Feb 01, 2026 10:10 am, edited 1 time in total.
I see now that Amazon US also offers only Kindle version of the book. I'll ask the publisher if they can distribute more printed copies. I'll also ask if they may offer a review copy to the Jewish Chronicle etc.
Thanks, everyone.
Doron
Doron, nudging your publishers for more print copies would be fantastic - I've now checked a range of Amazon sites in several non UK countries and it's kindle only.
I'm sure I won't be the only one out there keen to read a paper copy....
It would be so kind of you if you used the forum to let regulars know if your mission is successful - it would save going to Amazon too regularly.
I asked the publisher, and they said that they expect Amazon to offer more printed copies soon. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but please keep checking in your respective countries and hopefully you'll be able to order the book soon.
Thanks also for the congratulations, which are much appreciated.
Doron
It seems that the book is now available in the printed edition (as well as Kindle) in the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and elsewhere, so you may order it if you wish.
