Winner 2016 Nautilus Award
Silver, Death & Dying/Grief & Loss

Jewish Rites of Death:
Stories of Beauty and Transformation

Picture
RIchard A. Light

Paperback:
Perfect bound, 164 p., 8-1/2" x 8-1/2"
ISBN 978-1-938288-55-5
We encourage you to buy this title from your local bookstore. Use this link to find bookstores in your area.
Amazon $23.95
Barnes & Noble $23.95

Ebook:
Amazon $9.99
ISBN 978-1-938288-57-9
Barnes & Noble $9.99
ISBN 978-1-938288-58-6
iTunes Bookstore $9.99
ISBN 978-1-938288-59-3

About the Book

This book is an introduction to an inter-world space, the boundary where death and life meet, the “space between worlds” that we encounter when we deal with the dead. We enter into it through a series of extraordinary processes in which the physical actions, the prayers, and the kavanah involved in Jewish death rituals open a window for us to glimpse this unique boundary. We can feel the experience of helping souls move from this world to the next as the book explores the practices and rituals of the Jewish tradition in preparing the dead for burial. It is an invitation to touch the fine line separating realms of existence.

Why should we put ourselves in the decidedly uncomfortable position of coming face to face with mortality? For those who engage in Jewish death rituals, the question is analogous to asking why we should see the Grand Canyon or a magnificent sunset first-hand. Helping a soul move between realms of existence inspires us, cultivates wonder, and expands our spiritual awareness. This book is dedicated to that liminal arena that allows us to peek through the doorway to heaven.

Preview

Have you ever done something holy, or felt that what you did was very close to what we know is holy? For most of us, this doesn’t happen often. Yet when it does, it is a life-changing event. In writing this book, my hope is that you become open to more such experiences.

I’m not talking about joining a spiritual group or going to religious services. Instead, I invite you to explore the boundary between death and life. In the pages ahead, we will witness an amazing set of rituals that honor both the dead and the living, while uplifting both; it is a process that gives those who participate the rare opportunity to experience what I can only call “the holiness of being.” It is the presence we feel when we enter into the “liminal space” that is the boundary between life and death. Feeling this, knowing this, is the passion behind this book….

After doing this work, we walk away blessed with renewed wonder, gratitude, and enthusiasm for life. Participating in it can be a truly transformative experience that enhances what it means to be human, and infuses our lives with greater appreciation for the amazing people with whom we share this world. It is for me the highest honor to be allowed to do this mitzvah, to share its blessings, and to promote it.
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Nobody wants to talk about it. The topic is taboo at social gatherings and public events. Finding people to discuss it with is extremely hard. In fact, for most of us, the internet is the only place available to learn about it. It is not supposed to exist in Western society today.

But in case you might wonder about it, death does, in fact, exist. And you can learn a lot about a people by understanding how they deal with it. Jews have always included death in the cycle of events that we consider life. For us, it is not taboo or hidden. Although we are not completely free of death denial, we include death-related aspects in all our services, and our rituals are rich for both life-cycle celebrations and caring for the dead. This book is about those rituals. It is not a textbook. Rather, it is a collection of feelings, along with some wisdom and inspiration shared by those who deal with the fine line that separates death from life.

This is an introduction to that liminal bridge reality. We enter into it through sharing a series of extraordinary processes in which the physical actions, the prayers, and the kavanah involved in Jewish death rituals open a window that gives us a glimpse of this unique boundary. We can feel the experience of helping a soul move from this world to the next as we explore the practices and rituals of the Jewish tradition in preparing the dead for burial.

About the Author

Richard A. Light has been teaching spiritual development in various ways for more than thirty years, and has been studying and practicing meditation for more than forty years. He also teaches backpacking, rock climbing, and other outdoor skills. He is a leader in the community of those who prepare Jewish bodies for burial, has published two books on the subject, and for eighteen years was president of a local Chevrah Kadisha he started in 1996. He is a vice president of the North American Kavod v’Nichum (Honor and Comfort), and continues to teach and raise awareness about Jewish death and burial practices at the local, state, and national levels.

Praise for Jewish  Rites of Death: Stories of Beauty and Transformation

Profoundly insightful, inspired and inspiring, impressively well written, organized and presented, "Jewish Rites Of Death" is a unique and very highly recommended addition to personal, synagogue, community, and academic library Judaic Studies instructional reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists.
—Michael J. Carson, Midwest Book Review

Sogyal Rinpoche calls Death, “a mirror in which the entire meaning of Life is reflected.” Rites of Death is a beautiful and inspiring reflection, offering Jewish wisdom that illuminates the greatest mystery that we all must face. With unflinching courage and open-hearted tenderness, Rick Light faces Death, revealing its power to open us to the preciousness of Life. Rites of Death achieves the rare integration of practicality and poetry.
—Rabbi Shefa Gold, author of The Magic of Hebrew Chant: Healing the Spirit, Transforming the Mind, Deepening Love


In Rites of Death, Rick Light has captured the essence of Jewish respect for the body that once housed the soul. Accompanied by sensitive photographs, this moving compilation of personal experiences, poems, and practical guidance walks the reader through taharah, the Jewish ritual preparation of the body before burial. Rick Light is a highly qualified and eloquent spokesperson for the incorporation of these Jewish practices associated with death and dying.

—Rabbi Jack Shlachter, Rabbi Emeritus, Los Alamos Jewish Center; and Rabbi, HaMakom: The Place for Passionate and Progressive Judaism, in Santa Fe, New Mexico