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

“12 months of mourning, / Travelling, conjoined, / On our continuing / Separate ways.”
dark water with bubbles of light
“Any ‘I love you’ / Like water, uncontained / Can have no form.”
woman standing in a canyon stream facing a waterfall
“what I really need to work on is letting in”
white hand holding lit candle in small glass jar
“For the first time / I will miss / The Hanukkah lights”
nine candles lit against black background
“Teach us to spin apart the light in this dark.”
person holding lit tea light candle near rows of other lit tea lights
“because you breathed / because you dreamed”
coral colored stone with the word remember on it with line of stones in the background in various shades of coral and beige
“i am the rock that burst open”
headstone with hebrew writing and stones on top
“We are here / To find the cracks / At the edges of possibilities”
mountains sunrise fog clouds
“We can envision this world and beyond as havens of peace”
landscape of pink-tinted mountains with person standing and sky above with one cloud on the right side
“Whatever is being born / In the darkened seed / Of Mar Heshvan / Is welcomed”
autumn forest with path between trees and waning light

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

Count On Telling Your Story: A Ritualwell In-Person Immersion

Join us for Count On Telling Your Story: A Ritualwell In-Person Immersion on Sunday, June 9th. Mix and mingle with old and new friends, enjoy delicious kosher-vegetarian food and engage in a variety of creative, thought-provoking sessions exploring rituals, writing, and art.

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The Reconstructionist Network