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.
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A poetic struggle to draw close to an unknowable divine presence
A prayer to comfort the mourners and acknowledge the divine image in all those who sufferÂ
Including eggs in your seder meal to remind us of the circle of life, and that endings often mark beginnings
Focusing one’s attention on the wildness of death reflected on the face of the mourner.
A fresh translation of the El Maley Rakhamim to remember the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust
Reflection on the death of a child
A confessional to be recited on behalf of one who is unable to speak at the end of their life
Serving as central organization of the Reconstructionist movement
Training the next generation of groundbreaking rabbis
Modeling respectful conversations on pressing Jewish issues
Curating original, Jewish rituals, and convening Jewish creatives
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