Death & Mourning
These details are being presented in an order that is being used to teach a course about Jewish Death and Mourning.
It will be re-organized soon to make details easier to find, and represent more what B'nai Zion congregation represents.
MOURNER'S KADDISH
Mourners (immediate relatives) say Kaddish: Yizkor (Yom Kippur, end of Sukkot, end of Pesach, end of Shavuot), and Yahrzeit (annual anniversary of the death - either on the Hebrew or Secular calendar).
Note: Many people have a tradition of lighting a memorial candle on the eve of those days as well.)
Interlinear (Rabbi's) Kaddish (Kaddish d'Rabbanan - not Mourner's Kaddish, but includes Mourner's Kaddish)
JEWISH BELIEF IN AFTERLIFE
Reform Judaism: Do Jews Believe in an Afterlife?
My Jewish Learning: Is There a Jewish Afterlife?
Aish.com: Do Jews Believe in the Afterlife? (pdf)
BEFORE DEATH
It is helpful if - while everyone is still healthy - to consider what your desires are for a funeral and burial, and related needs. These choices can include:
Writing a Will
Ethical Will; Sharing a Message of Love; Writing and Ethical Will (Tzava'ot)
Prayers to Say Before Death
- As Death Approaches
- Last Days
Preparing a Funeral - Discuss with the Rabbi
B'nai Zion Funeral and Mourning Guidelines
Funeral Preparation Checklist from the URJ
Donating Body Parts
Beginning to Write Obituary and Preparing Details for Death Certificate
Choosing Jewish Traditions to follow
STAGES OF MOURNING
-"Traditional Jewish Ritual and Mourning Practices" from JCFS Chicago
Shiva
- "Everything You Need to Know About the Jewish Custom of Shiva" from Reform Judaism
- Orthodox guidelines concerning saying Kaddish for Mourners
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
B'NAI ZION
B'nai Zion Funeral and Mourning Guidelines
Kaddish Resources from Rabbi Jana
Yizkor Page at B'nai Zion (Yom Kippur; End of Sukkot; End of Passover; Shavuot)
Memorial Book at B'nai Zion (used for every Yizkor at B'nai Zion starting with Yom Kippur)
Cemetery Plot Purchase Request Form
OTHER JEWISH RESOURCES
Bim Bam Mourning Rituals: Short helpful videos explaining Jewish concepts about Death and Mourning .
Reform Judaism: Preparing for a Jewish Funeral: A Guide A Checklist
Shiva.com: Jewish Funerals and Burial
SHREVEPORT FUNERAL HOMES
Forest Park Funeral Home home page
Kilpatrick's Rose-Neath Funeral Home home page
RoseNeath Preparation Guidelines
Form for Death Certificate and Writing Obituary
SHREVEPORT JEWISH CEMETERIES
B'nai Zion Cemeteries (and other Historical Information)
BODY DONATION IN SHREVEPORT
Donating a Body in Shreveport: LSU Health Center will take donated bodies. Details are at this site.
BOOKS ABOUT JEWISH DEATH AND AFTER-LIFE
Some helpful books as resources:
The Jewish Way in Death and Mourning by Maurice Lamm
The Jewish Mourner's Book of Why by Alfred J. Kolatch
Mourning & Mitzvah: A Guided Journal for Walking the Mourner's Path Through Grief to Healing by Anne Brener
Jewish Views of the Afterlife by Simcah Paull Raphael
Saying Kaddish: How to Comfort the Dying, Bury the Dead & Mourn as a Jew by Anita Diamant
The Death of Death: Resurrection and Immortality in Jewish Thought by Neil Gillman
Does the Soul Survive by Rabbi Elie Kaplan Spitz
The Seven Questions You're Asked in Heaven by Dr. Ron Wolfson
Kaddish for Grandpa in Jesus' Name Amen by James Howe (author) and Catherine Stock (illustrator)