Mourning Rituals

Finding Balance Between Mourning and Living

There is deep wisdom in the way the biblical figure Aaron mourns the loss of his sons.

Yizkor: The Jewish Memorial Service

Yizkor is recited four times a year during holiday synagogue services.

How To Create Your Own At-Home Kaddish Minyan

Every Tuesday for a year, we came together — for a memorial service, yes, but also to experience Jewish community in a new way.

Jewish Funeral Planning Checklist

A breakdown of the key tasks in arranging a Jewish funeral.

Death and Mourning Quiz

What are the history and practical aspects of Jewish bereavement?

How to Plan a Jewish Funeral

A practical guide to preparations for Jewish burial and mourning.

Chevra Kadisha, or Jewish Burial Society

The chevra kadisha is a group of committed Jews who prepare the body for burial.

Yahrzeit: Remembering on the Anniversary of a Death

Lighting candles and saying Kaddish each year in memory of a loved one.

How to Make a Shiva Call

Because a shiva call requires total sensitivity to the needs of the mourner, the tradition mandates appropriate behaviors for the visitor.

Death vs. Brain Death in Judaism

When someone can be officially determined dead depends on one's interpretation of a key passage in the Talmud.

How to Say the Mourner’s Kaddish

This prayer praises God's greatness and God's ability to bring peace to the world.

The Graveside Service

Mourners, friends, and relatives accompany the deceased to the grave and help with the burial.