Service Description

"On Rosh Hashanah it is written, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed... who will live and who will die." - Unetanneh Tokef Our High Holy Day traditions offer us profound opportunities to confront and reflect on the fragility of life. Through rituals such as reciting the Viddui (confessional prayer) and wearing a kittel (the white burial shroud), we engage in practices that echo the experience of dying. We abstain from physical pleasures and food, aligning ourselves with the angels as we were told as children, yet also with those not alive any more. Additionally, visiting the graves of our ancestors before Rosh Hashanah and holding special memorial services on Yom Kippur help us honor those who have passed. These practices serve as a reminder of life's delicate nature and prompt us to make the most of every moment. By reflecting on our actions, mending relationships, and striving to improve the world around us, we might just pave the way for a more fulfilling and lasting future. In recognition of the profound task of confronting our mortality, this course offers a space for learning, discussion, and processing. We are bringing together experts from around the world to help us prepare for this inevitable aspect of life. 4 Sessions: 3 September - round table - conversations and text study 10 September: The History and Mystery of Yizkor - Rabbi Simcha Raphael 17 September TBA - Rabbi Nadya Gross 24 September: Dying as a Sacred Transition, interactive workshop - with Rabbi Daniel Goldblatt and Zoe Francesca Golblatt, End Of Life Doula