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

“My mother was at peace, so I could be at peace.”
closeup of elderly woman's hands being held by younger person's hands, both light-skinned
“Blessed are those who couldn’t take the pain of living anymore”
person in silhouette looking out at foggy blue pink sky with tree in background
“It was on an island of death / That my mother / Visited me.”
person with backpack on standing outdoors looking out onto a misty sky with blurry landscape in the distance
“Why is it that I couldn’t know them more fully?”
black and white photo of drooping white flowers
“It is a cosmic principle … the Eternal Mystery”
Close-up of splashing water droplets with a blurred background, capturing dynamic motion and fluidity.
“It’s a wonder / How comfort arrives: / From what source?”
Woman in a white dress walking along a sandy beach with gentle waves in the background.
“We will return to you, / you will return to us.”
Close-up of green grass blades with a warm, blurred sunlight background.
“I want to know this: did God see you / trying as hard as you could / to live?”
A person wrapped in a blanket stands overlooking a mountainous landscape with a lake and a cloudy sky.
“You can’t bring them back, but you can learn their Torah”
a black and white photo
“Help us feel the companionship of families, friends, ancestors and the Divine Presence”
A diverse group of people embracing in a church setting.

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