It’s September, the time for the Jewish High Holidays of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. These holidays call up mortality issues as congregants ponder the meaning of life and the fleeting nature of our time on earth as the days grow shorter. On Yom Kippur, Jews participate in a special memorial service called Yizkor, held specifically to remember deceased loved ones. Yizkor is the Hebrew word for remembrance. Many non-observant Jews don’t know the … [Read more...] about Knowing Jewish Funeral Traditions Can Help Your Practice
Tradition
Luminarias on Christmas Eve
In the American Southwest, there’s a Christmas Eve tradition of decorating and visiting the graves of loved ones. Hispanic families will line graves with luminarias, simple paper bags weighted with sand and glowing with the light from a single votive candle. Catholic cemeteries in New Mexico are very busy places on Christmas Eve. Acres of graves illuminated by luminarias glow throughout the night. The number of visitors rivals cemetery traffic on Memorial Day weekend. You don’t have to be … [Read more...] about Luminarias on Christmas Eve
