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

Reflecting on the recent desecration of Jewish cemeteries

Stones placed on top of a mossy tombstone in a cemetery.

Unveiling ceremony for a grandparent

headstone with hebrew writing and stones on top

Prayer mourning the loss of a mother

A lit candle in a frosted glass holder casts a warm glow in a dark setting.

Creative translation of prayer for the dead

starry sky over desert and mountains

Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief: a ritual for mourning the death of those we do not know during the High Holidays

candles flicker against a dark background

A memorial ritual to honor the first woman rabbi, Regina Jonas

First female rabbi Regina Jonas

A guide to visiting mourners when the death is a suicide

A comforting hug between two women, one with her hand on her face.

A funeral service for a miscarriage

white flowers

A meditation on the value of a single life among so many murdered

many lit tea lights

A prayer and call to action while lighting candles

Close-up of several lit candles in dim lighting, creating a warm and serene atmosphere.

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