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

A poem describing the palpable absence of a dead mother
cluttered wood table
A poem about the journey of grief
circular stone staircase

Appropriate for burial, cremation, or marking periods of mourning

tea candles
A prayer to be said on carrying out the request of a dying parent to remove life support
young and old hands
A creative vidui to be recited at the bedside of a person near death
A calm ocean at sunset with gentle waves, a kite surfer in the distance, and clouds in the sky.
Blessing a dying person with a safe departure and a welcoming presence in the world to come
white seagull flying against blue sky
A ritual of gratitude for the life of a person who is dying
white towels soap shampoo

Poem by modern Israeli poet Zelda

A group of people raising their hands in a circle indoors, smiling and looking upwards.

A traditional pre-High Holiday ritual of making candles for one’s beloveds

dozens of lanterns illuminate a dark background

Description by a mother of her six-year-old son’s response to the death of his stillborn brother

teddy bear on a small bench

The Reconstructionist Network

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

Get the latest from Ritualwell

Subscribe for the latest rituals, online learning opportunities, and unique Judaica finds from our store.

The Reconstructionist Network