Jewish Mourning Rituals: An Overview

From G-dcast.com

The death of a loved one is a very disorienting time, and isn’t something many people think about until it’s actually happening to them. Understanding some of the traditions and the structured periods of mourning that Judaism offers may help provide some support in the grieving process.

Here are a few translations of the words used in the video:

“Aninut” (“אנינות”, meaning “deep sorrow”) - The period from the time of death until the funeral.

“Kriah” (“קְרִיעָה”, meaning “tearing”) - After hearing about a death, immediate family members may tear a piece of their clothing or tear a ribbon provided at the funeral.


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The last of Iowa's small-town synagogues: seven members still praying

Ottumwa’s synagogue was once standing room only on high holidays but now is facing closure in what’s become a common occurence in Iowa and the midwest

Ryan Schuessler for The Guardian

Nobody can remember Ottumwa’s last bar or bat mitzvah.

The consensus between B’nai Jacob Synagogue’s few remaining members is that it would have been 15 years ago, at least. Probably 20. They can, however, remember the last funeral – and the few before.

“Obviously, we’re relatively few people, and we’re not getting any younger,” said Harvey Disenhouse, the de facto rabbi. “I would like to keep the synagogue open as long as possible, but I realize that in 10 years it probably won’t exist here.”

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Communist Jew + Muslim Indian = Affordable Health Care

By Abby Sher for Jewniverse

Q: What do you get when a Muslim Indian and a Communist Jew walk into a bar?

A: An extraordinary leader named Dr. Yusuf K Hamied.

As Drs. Kenneth X Robbins and John Mcleod explain in a fascinating recent article, Hamied is the visionary behind India’s pharmaceutical giant CIPLA – Chemical, Industrial and Pharmaceutical Laboratories – bringing generic life-saving drugs to people all over the world at more affordable prices. (Think antiretroviral cocktails for HIV patients at $1 per day.)

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Shabbat with the Iranian Jews of Tehran

JewishOnline News Exclusive

Annika Hernroth-Rothstein is moved and humbled by her visit to a synagogue in the Iranian capital Tehran, where thousands of Jews still live and pray

    “Hisna’ari me’afar kumi liv’shi big-dei sif-artech ami al yad ben Yishai beis halach’mi korvah el nafshi ge-oloh…”

By the fourth stanza of Lecha Dodi, I can feel the tears streaming down my face, and I quietly surrender to the moment. The woman next to me puts a heavy hand of comfort on my shoulder and we exchange a smile that is equal parts exploration and familiarity.

The century-old Abrishami synagogue is located on the second floor of an unassuming grey building in Palestine Street in north Tehran.

The top floor houses a busy yeshiva and in the basement there is a ballroom-style kosher restaurant often used for the community’s many weddings and barmitzvahs.

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