Preserve the memory of your loved one with a plaque on our Yahrzeit Wall. Learn More ->

Search
Close this search box.

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

“We will return to you, / you will return to us.”
andrey-konstantinov-v_0uyy00sBA-unsplash
“I want to know this: did God see you / trying as hard as you could / to live?”
ruthie-martin-wVgL7MZrxCk-unsplash
“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”
the-good-funeral-guide-AQN0rO3OpSc-unsplash

“Help us to find holiness in this time”

doctor-gfcbca8ace_1280

“I remember my beloveds daily”

debby-hudson-1tCQcTjLoRQ-unsplash

“Souls have a way of living on / Inside of us”

jackson-david-RQ3dOM-oZw4-unsplash_0

“I found a pair of dress shoes I had long forgotten / caked with mud / hidden away in the back of my closet”

radek-skrzypczak-WlB8TsI_th0-unsplash

“Our roads and streets remain far too dangerous for walkers, bikers and drivers alike.”

forsythia-4513272_1280-pixabay

Earth-based mourning ritual with poem and chant

Hands-holding-soil-gabriel-jimenez-jin4W1HqgL4-unsplash-2

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

Join the Ritualwell community to explore rituals that will bring a sense of sacred awareness to your Thanksgiving table and into your everyday life!

Jewish practices provide us with valuable frameworks to foster awareness and joy through gratitude.

Get the latest from Ritualwell

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

The Reconstructionist Network