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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

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

Silhouette of a person facing the sun with closed eyes, in a serene outdoor setting with a warm, glowing sky.

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

Brown leather dress shoes on a wooden floor.

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

Yellow flowers scattered on a sloped sidewalk beside a stone wall, with more flowers in the background.

Earth-based mourning ritual with poem and chant

Hands holding a pile of soil, with a blurred background.

“Forever I am bound with you, my child”

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

“I hear echoes of my beloveds”

Person in a hoodie looking out at a calm, overcast seascape from a sandy beach.

“May you know that you are always remembered for the good you have done”

Sunset over a misty landscape with trees and a grassy hill, under a partly cloudy sky.

“Source of All Life: Welcome home those we’ve lost”

A lone tree stands in a vibrant green field under a dramatic sky with rays of sunlight and dark clouds.

“Help me love you in faith, not grief”

Silhouetted woman covers her face with hands against a dramatic, cloudy sky in black and white.

“The yarzeit light shines with the light of their souls”

Hands cupping a lit candle in a glass jar, with more candles softly glowing in the background by a window.

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