A Place for Grief and for Comfort
By Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman
When I think about Jewish practice and its impact on our lives, rituals around death and burial are some of the most important and powerful we have. Doing these rituals can be extremely painful, but they help us confront our loss, difficult as it may be.
Rituals such as tahara (washing the deceased before burial), shmirah (sitting with the deceased until the funeral), and levayah (the funeral itself, literally accompanying the deceased to the grave) help us to begin the journey of mourning. When we shovel dirt onto the grave, it gives us a visceral sense that our loved one is no longer with us. We watch as the coffin is lowered into the grave. We lovingly assist with the physical work of shoveling. We hear the hollow sounds of the dirt hitting the coffin. These actions are our way of upholding the value of kavod ha-met, respect for the dead.
I am grateful that Madison has a Jewish cemetery where we can enact these rituals. Beit Olamim is a place that supports Jews and their loved ones who are grieving. It offers comfort at the most challenging times of life. Please join with me in supporting this important institution in our community.
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