Artist Karen Benioff Friedman’s conception of part of the taharah. (Series of painting)
SARATOGA SPRINGS– Saratoga Jewish Community Arts (SJCA) has slated a free two- part educational program, “What We Do for One Another: Death and Jewish Ritual— How we care for one another at the end of life, and why it matters?” It begins with a Zoom session on Thursday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m. The program is open top the community.
The session will be led by national nonprofit organization Kavod v’Nichum and will explore the power of Jewish ritual in moments of loss, the meaning behind end-of-life practices, and the role of the Chevra Kadisha, the groups of volunteers who honor and care for both the deceased and the living.
Presenters Sarit Wishnevski, executive director of Kavod v’Nichum and a national leader in educating and supporting Chevra Kadisha groups across North America, and Heidi Katz who directs the Community Chevra Kadisha of South Berkshire County, Mass., will review what Jewish custom teaches about death, mourning, and the responsibility that people carry for one another.
The introduction to Jewish end-of-life practices will include discussion of rituals such as taharah, funeral, burial and shivah.
An in-person hands-on taharah training session is slated for Sunday, Oct. 26, from 2:30-5:30 p.m. at Shaara Tfille Synagogue, 84 Weibel Ave., Saratoga Springs.
The program is sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York, Temple Sinai and The Jewish Burial Society of Saratoga Springs.
Information about Kavod v’Nichum may be found at https://kavodvnichum.org/.
Preregistration for the free program is required at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/Use8fRo/WhatWeDo.
