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

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
Two women sit together on a sofa; one is comforting the other by holding her hand and resting a hand on her shoulder.
A lit memorial candle in a ceramic holder with Hebrew letters on a table.

The Reconstructionist Network

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The Reconstructionist Network