death
Why Do Jews Put Stones on Graves?
Learn the reasons for this distinctive mourning practice.
Ask the Expert: Burying the Genizah
What should be done with old Torah scrolls and sacred texts?
Modern Jewish Messianism
Jewish messianism has been repeatedly reinterpreted in the modern era.
Who is the Messiah?
Jewish sources have not, as a general rule, focused attention on the specific personal qualities of the Messiah.
Kaddish is a Mystery
The essence of Kaddish may be less in the meaning of the words than in the experience of reciting it with other Jews.
Kaddish Initiates Aveilut
After burial Jewish law requires the mourner to turn from despair in the face of death to the affirmation of life.
The Burial and the Image of God
Prompt burial of the deceased helps to preserve the dignity of the human being, who is made in the image of God, even in death.
Kriah: A Tangible and Obligatory Expression of Grief
Kriah, or tearing of a piece of clothing, helps mourners confront the reality of death.