Kaddish
Jews do grief well. Or so I’ve been told.
But what does this mean?
Jewish tradition gives us a detailed set of rituals and practices that guide us through the process of mourning after a family member dies. We recognize death, and grief, as a normal part of the lifecycle, yet also different from our “normal”, everyday lives, requiring us to change our behaviors and daily habits, at least for a while.
Jewish tradition also recognizes that grief and loss are often collective. There are days on our calendar marked for remembering and mourning the many tragedies of our shared history.
In my new Substack, This is My Kaddish, I’ll be exploring the spaces between these traditions and our lives, and all the many ways in which we grieve, Jewishly, in this complicated 21st century world.
Some of the writing will be mine. Some will be from other people, whose lives, identities, and experiences are different than mine, because none of us are exactly the same, and each of our losses – and how we grieve them – are uniquely our own.
This will be a place to share stories, and, through those stories, to offer ideas and inspiration to others who also are looking for ways to move through their grief – traditionally and creatively, in conversation – and sometimes argument – with Jewish traditions and wisdom.
Come join me on Substack for this conversation.
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