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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.

Kaddish Yatom

This traditional prayer for the dead, with its mournful, rhythmic incantation, actually makes no mention of death but rather affirms God's presence in life. It is recited daily by mourners throughout the period of mourning. [more]

Found In: Funeral & Burial

Tags: kaddish, unveiling

Mikveh and Mourning

A creative ritual to mark the end of shloshim [more]

Found In: Mourning & Bereavement

Tags: mikveh, shloshim

A Woman's Kaddish

Offering an alternative to Orthodox women who cannot or prefer not to say kaddish [more]

Found In: Mourning & Bereavement

Tags: kaddish

Psalm 138: An Alternative to Kaddish

The spirit of this Psalm parallels the Mourner's Kaddish and, in translation, can be recited in non-gendered God-Language. [more]

Found In: Mourning & Bereavement

Tags: kaddish

A Ritual For Letting Go

A ritual for taking off a wedding ring [more]

Found In: Mourning & Bereavement

Tags: tzedakah, widow

Mourners' Kaddish for Everyday

A modern poetic interpretation [more]

Found In: Mourning & Bereavement

Tags: kaddish

Leaving Shloshim

A ceremony following or in lieu of Mincha (afternoon service) [more]

Found In: Mourning & Bereavement

Tags: candle lighting, handwashing, shloshim, tree planting

Four Things

Sounding a note of optimism [more]

Found In: Mourning & Bereavement

Tags: meditation

Acceptance

A poem of release and acceptance [more]

Found In: Mourning & Bereavement, Rosh Hashanah, Endings & Beginnings

Tags: tashlikh

Yesh Kochavim: There Are Stars

From the Jewish-Hungarian poet most widely known for "Eli, Eli" [more]

Found In: Funeral & Burial