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

“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
“Blessed burning of yahrzeit candle’
lit candle, thick and white, next to white petal on wood table against black background
“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

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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The Reconstructionist Network