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Death & Mourning

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

A prayer to comfort the mourners and acknowledge the divine image in all those who suffer 

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Blessing for preparing a body for burial
hand pouring water from a glass lit by blue light

Including eggs in your seder meal to remind us of the circle of life, and that endings often mark beginnings

close up of two eggs on a flat surface

Focusing one’s attention on the wildness of death reflected on the face of the mourner.

man shaving his beard

A fresh translation of the El Maley Rakhamim to remember the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust

two long rows of yahrzeit candles some of them lit
A poem for shiva seeking comfort after a difficult loss
cup of tea with cookies and tulips

Reflection on the death of a child

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A confessional to be recited on behalf of one who is unable to speak at the end of their life

hands on top of hands
A yizkor prayer, or prayer of remembrance, to be recited upon visiting the grave of a loved one
grave with a wreath of flowers

Based on the model of creation, this seven-part ritual focuses our intention and then consecrates the final resting place for our loved ones

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