Category Archives: Death/Funeral/Unveiling/Yahrzeit

It is from Genensis The First Death: Death as a Mystery “Cain said to his brother Abel…and when they were in the field, Cain set upon his brother Abel and killed him” [Gen.4:8]. How did Cain slay Abel? He took … Continue reading →

Each year on the on the anniversary of the death (based on the Hebrew calendar), a candle should be lit and burn all day in the house of the mourner. Underlying this is the verse from Proverbs 20:27, “The spirit … Continue reading →

TraditionsRenewed offers stones with a prayer inscribed on them, accompanied by a pen with permanent ink to personalize the stone. It is just another way to establish a connection with an ancestor. RemembranceStonestm . For children visiting a grave it is suggested … Continue reading →

In the Babylonian tradition, family and friends sprinkle rosewater into the grave after the coffin is lowered.

When planning my father’s funeral, my mother had great difficulty with being the first to put dirt into the grave. We decided to all put flowers into the grave, after the coffin was lowered. This was not against Jewish custom, … Continue reading →

After about 11 months a stone is placed on a grave. Often there is a short ceremony at the graveside for this occasion. It is not necessary to have a Rabbi for this, but it is nice. Prayers and sharing … Continue reading →

In the Jewish tradition, mourning for the passing of a loved one is gradually scaled down with specific milestones, making it easier to reach closure and move on with life, yet still remember. The milestones : The first week of … Continue reading →

A confession/prayer said by or for someone who is near death holds many meaningful thoughts about life. While it has different meanings to different people, it is an acknowledgement of both our mortality and the importance of reflection on life: … Continue reading →