| Liberal Judaism holds
dear the traditional principle of kavod ha’met (honour/dignity
in death). It therefore works to insure through its own
Burial Scheme and individual Communities, that provision
at the end of a person’s life is as appropriate
and meaningful as it is during life itself.
The Rabbis of Liberal Judaism provide pastoral care
for those in the last stages of life and their families.
A number of our Communities also offer the support of
trained bereavement counsellors.
‘Once a death has taken place, people vary considerably
in what they require, and in how traditional they want
to be. For that reason, in Liberal Judaism it is very
much left up to the bereaved family to decide how they
wish to hold the funeral and mourn afterwards. Rabbis
and congregational leaders will give guidance where it
is required, and explain practices at the time, but no-one
within Liberal Judaism is compelled to carry out rituals
which they do not want to perform. The preponderant practice
in Liberal Judaism is to let families and individuals
make up their own minds whether they prefer burial or
cremation, without any pressure being applied, and people
choose both in roughly equal numbers.’
Consistent with its Progressive principles, Liberal
Judaism supports families where the deceased has chosen
to donate their body for medical research and is currently
exploring the issues concerning woodland burials and mixed-faith
partners wishing to be buried together.
During all the traditional stages of mourning, a Liberal
Jewish Community supports families in their grief and
to give comfort wherever possible. This applies to the
funeral itself, to the prayers afterwards, and to the
weeks and months after that, for the ritual surrounding
bereavement is only a beginning, providing the basis of
a structure for the expression of grief.
For further published information, see ‘Where
we stand on Death and Mourning‘ by Rabbi John D.
Rayner and ‘Judaism for Today’ by Rabbis John
D. Rayner and Bernard Hooker, both published by Liberal
Judaism.
For information please contact Selina O'Dwyer on 020 7580 1663 or contact your local rabbi |
