FUNERAL AND INITIAL STAGES OF MOURNING

At Temple Isaiah we uphold the importance of belonging to the Jewish community by supporting you when you have lost a loved one. Your Rabbis, Cantor, and community all wish to help you find your way back to wholeness.

After losing a loved one, it is important to call the funeral home where the burial will take place. They will help you arrange many of the details. It is also important to contact the temple so that you may consult with the clergy about setting a time for the funeral and burial.

UNVEILING

An unveiling is the placement of a marker or gravestone at the place of burial. This takes place close to eleven months after burial; however, arrangements can be made to observe this occasion at other times. If you wish, the Clergy may be present with you at this ceremony. Some members choose to have an intimate gathering and lead this service themselves. Your Clergy are happy to assist you and guide you in this process.

YIZKOR – WE REMEMBER

The Yizkor service is observed four times during the year, during Yom Kippur, at the conclusion of Sukkot, at the conclusion of Passover and on Shavuot. During this service, those who have lost a loved one at any point in their lives may come to recite the Yizkor prayer. A guide to honoring a loved one – click here.

When to Light A 7-Day Memorial Candle

WHEN TO LIGHT A YAHRZEIT (25-HOUR MEMORIAL) CANDLE

• Every year at sundown on the eve of the Yahrzeit (anniversary of the death).
• Every year at sundown preceding the start of Yom Kippur and at sundown preceding the last day of the holidays of Sukkot (Shemini Atzeret), Passover, and Shavuot. These times are when the Yizkor (Memorial Prayer Service) usually occurs in synagogues.

Temple Isaiah will provide you with a Yahrzeit candle if you need one. If you will be leaving the candle unattended be sure to place it on a safe surface.

WE KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF REMEMBERING A LOVED ONE.

We want to share the stories of how you make your loved ones’ memories a blessing.

On Saturday, July 21, 2018 we filmed short interviews with members of our community. We crafted a short video exploring our community’s practice of mourning and memory. You can listen to our Podcast to find out more.

MEMORIAL TRIBUTES

If you’d like to make a tribute in someone’s name please click Memorial Tributes and Yarzheit Donations

UPDATE TO YAHRZEIT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

One of the ways we remember and honor our loved ones is by joining the community to recite the Mourner’s Kaddish on the Shabbat preceding the anniversary of their date of the death. This ritual allows us to carry on their memory from generation to generation.

Each Shabbat, our clergy will recite the names for all yahrzeits we have on file for our members. You will no longer need to reach out to have your loved ones’ name read. For any yahrzeits you have added to your Isaiah member account, we will send you an email reminder 2 weeks prior to the service, along with additional ways to acknowledge and honor your loved one.

Please note, the email notification will go to the main member attached to that yahrzeit listing. If a member does not have an email account on file, we will send a mail notification through the postal service.

To add/update yahrzeits on your account, please email David Sabel.

Another way to honor our loved ones is through the purchase of a plaque/leaf on our tree of life. This then becomes a permanent remembrance. To learn more about purchasing a plaque in our sanctuary, please reach out to our Executive Director, Deborah Moses. Names remembered with a plaque will always be recited aloud during their anniversary shabbat service, regardless of Temple membership.

For more information about mourning, please click here.