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Mourning & Bereavement

people embrace in tears

Traditional Jewish mourning and bereavement practices are designed to help us bear our grief. But sometimes we need something more: a poem that captures our imagination, a creative ritual that addresses the particularity of our grief, a song that speaks to our heart. May you find a measure of comfort in your time of need.

Latest Rituals

Watch the video to learn more about specific Jewish mourning practices and how to be there for your friends and family.

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A poem for a yizkor or memorial service. When we remember our loved ones, we inscribe them upon the pages of our memory and they live on in us.

 
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A poetic struggle to draw close to an unknowable divine presence

person shining light onto starry sky

Focusing one’s attention on the wildness of death reflected on the face of the mourner.

man shaving his beard

A fresh translation of the El Maley Rakhamim to remember the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust

two long rows of yahrzeit candles some of them lit
A poem for shiva seeking comfort after a difficult loss
cup of tea with cookies and tulips

Reflection on the death of a child

An elderly man wearing glasses and a suit, standing in front of a bookshelf filled with books.
A yizkor prayer, or prayer of remembrance, to be recited upon visiting the grave of a loved one
grave with a wreath of flowers

Based on the model of creation, this seven-part ritual focuses our intention and then consecrates the final resting place for our loved ones

Weathered tombstone with small stones placed on top, surrounded by greenery.

We remember those whose lives were lost, and pray for a more tolerant and just future

A hand holds an open book with Hebrew text, with a blurred background.

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

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