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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

“The kaddish’s peace is a growing, ever-expanding gift”

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“I come to you, broken in heart and soul.”

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A poem inspired by attending an online shiva

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“We offer our praise for the life that you give us’

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“May the memory of this year spark a revolution within us to build a stronger, more just and loving world.”

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“Maybe it was a niggun / That taught God how to speak”

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“May we open our eyes to possibility, our ears to dialogue, our hearts to compassion”

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Poem honoring the memory of Yitzchak Rabin, z”l

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“Shekhinah – Divine Presence, may You comfort us”

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“You still renew my strength, day after day”

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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 author Evonne Marzouk to find ways to strengthen your experience as a spiritual being, expand your consciousness and deepen your ability to be present. Through study and creative writing, you’ll take away new strategies to use in daily life. 

Hope you’ll join us!

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