Death & Mourning

Stone wall with Hebrew letters engraved on a rectangular plaque.

While Judaism places great emphasis on our lives in this world, death is an inevitable end for all of us. Often Jews who have been distant from traditional Jewish practice for their whole lives seek the comfort of traditional Judaism in the face of death. For mourners, whose lives are often turned upside down by death, the traditional practices of mourning can provide structure and comfort. Here you will find resources that address each aspect of the process of navigating death and mourning—from the moment of death, to the burial of the body, the tearing of clothes, the weeklong practice of shiva, and the recitation of kaddish.

 

Latest Rituals

“They had names”

Stone engraved with Remember on weathered wood, surrounded by smaller stones.

“We understand that Black lives are sacred”

A hand lighting small candles with a match in a dimly lit setting.

Booklet featuring a variety of texts on the concept of a “good death”

Glowing lanterns arranged outdoors at night, creating a warm and peaceful ambiance.

“A date, a time, a gunshot wound, a medical record number.”

Close-up of a stethoscope and blood pressure cuff on a white surface.

Ritual for bereaved partner taking off wedding ring 

wedding band on a piece of blue fabric

Ritual for acknowledging grief responses to coronavirus

Silhouette of a person sitting with their head resting on their hand against a softly lit, blurred background.
Ritual for removing wedding ring after partner’s death (could be modified for divorce)
Close-up of a person twisting a gold ring on their finger, with hands resting on a wooden surface.

“We do not disappear into nothingness”

Sunbeams shining through fluffy clouds against a blue sky.
a person sits alone looking at the sunset

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