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

Patient lying in hospital bed with an IV drip, doctors hand resting on their shoulder.

“May the lingering glow of our loved one’s soul guide us…”

A lit white candle on a wooden table, with a blurred background.

“To remember these words / not only / when we lie down in slumber”

folded white fabric in shadows

A modern vidui (confession) for serious illness or death

Black and white image of two elderly hands clasped together, symbolizing connection and support.

“Whatever it takes / to feel each other’s life”

Two people hugging warmly near a window, with soft lighting enhancing the peaceful atmosphere.

“Your hands were marked like lines on a map”

wrinkled hands with wedding ring on one finger

The Reconstructionist Network

Serving as central organization of the Reconstructionist movement

Training the next generation of groundbreaking rabbis

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The Reconstructionist Network