At 82, Rabbi Albert Lewis asks Mitch Albom, a well-known sportswriter from Detroit, to deliver his eulogy when he passes away. Albom travels back to his childhood town in New Jersey, where Rabbi Lewis has led a congregation for nearly half a century. Albom feels unqualified for the task, particularly because he no longer practices Judaism and is married to a Christian, who also isn’t religiously active. Despite this, Rabbi Lewis insists that Albom is the right person for the role. Over the following eight years, Albom returns home multiple times and even participates in some Sabbath services, witnessing the rabbi’s unwavering dedication to his community, even as his health deteriorates.