Preserve the memory of your loved one with a plaque on our Yahrzeit Wall. Learn More ->

Topic Tags: loss

Latest Rituals

Eikha-Ayekha

“Wavering candlelight / illuminates our lament…”
  • by Rabbi Janet Madden
ancestors, generations, lamentations, loss, tisha b'av
A single lit candle burning in the dark with a bright flame and black background.

Returning to the Circle: Guided Reflection on the Return of a Congregant after Loss

This lovely ritual can be adapted for the loss of any animal companion
  • by Rabbi Jo Beilby
Animal companions, community, grief, loss, pets, rainbow bridge
Silhouette of a woman and a dog touching noses at sunset, sitting on grass.

An Imperfect Healing

“May we have the time /  to navigate our grief / with grace / at a pace  all our own. “
  • by Dani Rader
grief, loss
Black and white photo of an orchid stem with several delicate, drooping flowers against a blurred background.

Grief sneaks up on you

“Grief sneaks up on you / It taps you on your shoulder…”
  • by Janice Leslie Hochstat Greenberg
grief, loss, soul
Dried, twisted tree branches on sandy desert ground under a blue sky with distant mountains.

Fire

“We will come together, as we always do, to make fire holy in our lives again.”
  • by Rabbi Marina Yergin
candles, loss, Shabbat, wildfires
Close-up of a lit candle with a melting wax drip and soft flame in the background.

A Prayer for Losing a Friend Too Soon

“May his/her dreams / be fulfilled / in every one of our breaths…”
  • by Rabbi David G. Winship
friendship, grief, loss, mourning
two people sit on a dock looking out over a lake

Remembering a Sibling for Mourner’s Kaddish or Yizkor

“The death of a sibling too is unique. It ignites our own vivid / sense of mortality.”
  • by Jeffrey Schein
family, grief, kaddish, loss, mortality, sibling
two brothers, one a child and one a toddler, hold hands and walk by a pond

Where I Live While in the Midst of a Move

“Sometimes I want to weep for the loss of so many…”
  • by Tiferet Welch
community, home, loss, moving
Woman in a gray sweater sits at desk, participating in a video call with several people on her computer screen.

The Breaking of the Vessels

“In the ruins of the towers / we walked through daily / you would have found letters…” and added them up to find meaning
  • by Martin Golan
9/11, friendship, grief, kabbalah, loss
Hebrew letters in a book, covered by a menorah with a star of david shining down

As Our People Grieve: The Silver Platter

Rabbi David Mark offers a teaching following the deaths of six hostages killed in Gaza.
  • by Rabbi David Mark (with a poem by Natan Alterman a'h)
grief, Israel, loss, war
A white rosebud covered in water droplets against a dark green blurred background.

The Reconstructionist Network

A plain white square with no visible content or design elements.

Serving as central organization of the Reconstructionist movement

A blank white image with no visible elements or details.

Training the next generation of groundbreaking rabbis

A plain white background.

Modeling respectful conversations on pressing Jewish issues

A blank white square image with no discernible features or elements.

Curating original, Jewish rituals, and convening Jewish creatives

Read & Rite

One-stop shop for progressive Jewish books and ritual objects

Havaya Summer Programs

Overnight summer camp and teen Israel experience

Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association

Professional association of Reconstructionist rabbis

Placement Office

Placement resources for rabbis and congregations

Reconstructionist Educators of North America

Professional group for people leading schools in Reconstructionist congregations

Get the latest from Ritualwell

Subscribe for the latest rituals, online learning opportunities, and unique Judaica finds from our store.

The Reconstructionist Network

Reconstructing Judaism logo
A plain white background.
A blank white image with no visible elements or details.

Read & Rite

One-stop shop for progressive Jewish books and ritual objects

Placement Office

Placement resources for rabbis and congregations

Havaya Summer Programs

Overnight summer camp and teen Israel experience

Reconstructionist Educators of North America

Professional group for people leading schools in Reconstructionist congregations

Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association

Professional association of Reconstructionist rabbis