These additional resources that we have culled from around the web are meant to enhance the NLE Morasha Syllabus class entitled, Jewish Perspectives on Death, Burial, and Mourning. We are certain that these resources can help you further impact your audience! If you know of any additional resources that we should add on to this page, please let us know by contacting us here.

Please note: The views expressed in the articles, links, videos, etc. reflect the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the thinking of NLE Resources.

Articles

  • Life, Death and Mourning from Judaism101.com
    In Judaism, death is not a tragedy, even when it occurs early in life or through unfortunate circumstances. Death is a natural process. Our deaths, like our lives, have meaning and are all part of G-d’s plan. In addition, we have a firm belief in an afterlife, a world to come, where those who have lived a worthy life will be rewarded.
  • Jewish Mourning from Ahavat Israel.com
    Jewish people do not have a wake (where the body is displayed), because Judaism beliefs is that the body should be brought to its resting place as soon as possible. It is not customary to bring flowers because the funeral is to be as simple as possible. Only wood coffins are used in Jewish funerals because Judaism belief is that we do not preserve the body because as the body decays, the soul ascends to Heaven.
  • ABCs of Death and Mourning by Lori Palatnik
    Judaism provides a beautiful, structured approach to mourning that involves three stages. When followed carefully, these stages guide mourners through the tragic loss and pain and gradually ease them back into the world.
  • Comfort and Consolation by Rabbi Berel Wein
    Judaism has a formula for dealing with tragedy when it strikes. That formula is contained in the halacha of aveilut, mourning itself.
  • Jewish View of Cremation by Doron Kornbluth
    Mirroring the developments in Western society, at least 30 percent of Jewish deaths today in North America and Europe are followed by cremations. This is a major change: since the very beginning of the Jewish people thousands of years ago, although many options were available, Jews have always insisted on burial.
  • Soul Survivor by Rabbi Yirmiyahu Ullman
    Answewrs the question, “What does Judaism say about what happens to the soul after death?”
  • Traditional Jewish Mourning Practices from Kavod V’Nichum 
    Jewish tradition defines several stages in the process of mourning, which correspond quite well to modern understanding of the emotional process.
  • My Quest to Abate the Cremation Crisis by Robin Meyerson
    It’s now nearly three years since my son was born and since then my life has changed to a quest to abate the cremation crisis.

Books

Links

  • A Deeper Look: the Words of Kaddish and Its Meaning from MyKaddish.com
    Kaddish is a concise text that states and affirms some of Judaism’s core concepts. The following is a line-by-line translation of the mourners kaddish along with brief explanations of the concepts contained in each line.
  • Three Main Ways to Elevate the Soul from JewishDeathandMourning.orgOur world is a world of action. Heaven is a world of connection. The soul is connected to spirituality and G-d. It also remains connected to us down here. For thousands of years, Jews have prayed, studied, and done good deeds on behalf of their deceased loved ones – demonstrating the positive influence the deceased continues to have on our lives, deepening the soul’s connections to G-d and to those of us who remain on Earth.
  • An Introduction to Jewish Burial Customs from the National Association of Chevra Kadisha
    What happens to the Soul after death should make all the difference in your burial decisions
  • Chronicle of a Death we Can’t Accept by Thomas G. LongBut there is another, more accurate way to understand current funeral fashions. They illustrate the sad truth that, as a society, Americans are no longer sure what to do with our dead.
  • An Ancient Vigil: In Orthodox Judaism, a Shomer Keeps Watch Over Souls of the Dead by Roy RivenburgBy ordinary standards, Richard Shefter makes a lousy bodyguard: He doesn’t carry a weapon, he sometimes dozes on the job and his clients are never seen or heard from again. But Shefter is no ordinary watchman. He’s a shomer –one who guards the dead according to a little-known Jewish tradition that dates back at least 2,000 years.
  • Cremation or Burial a book by Doron Kornbluth
    One generation ago, cremation was unknown in the Jewish community. Today, over one third of Jews across America are choosing it. This decision is almost always caused by lack of information. Written with understanding, respect and a wealth of research, this book points out the common misconceptions about cremation and explains why burial is so important.
  • Cremation vs. Burial from Peaceful Return
    A downloadable presentation to educate people on the importance of burial for Jews
  • Building a Bridge to Eternity from Peaceful Return
    Download a customizable poster to promote your class on Jewish burial
  • Death & Mourning a series of articles about Death & Mourning from Aish.com
  • The Afterlife a series of articles about the Afterlife from Aish.com

Video

Mourner’s Kadish – the Deeper Meaning By Shimon Apisdorf

Jewish Death and Mourning: Preparing the Deceased for Burial by Rabbi Hanan Balk

JOG: Sitting Shiva — Mourning at Home by the United Synagogue

Ramchal’s Derech Hashem Part 7: What Happens After Death by Rabbi Noach Isaac Oelbaum

Alei Shur: Death by Rabbi Eytan Feiner