Sacred Journeys reaches out to congregants who are dealing with the death of loved ones or are in a period of mourning.
If you are in need of our services, please email Nathalie Austin, at naustin@tdhs-nw.org.
Sacred Journeys welcomes new volunteers. If you are interested, please contact Jennifer Phillips: jphillips@tdhs-nw.org
Additional Resources:
A Time to Mourn
Mourner’s Kaddish Companion
Mourner’s Kaddish History
Unveiling Service
Jewish tradition permits the dedication of a headstone or grave marker any time after the end of Sheloshim, the thirty-day period of mourning. It has become customary, however, to wait until approximately a year after the death to hold the “unveiling” ceremony, so named because a white cotton or linen cover is removed from the marker at that time. The ceremony, which is often brief and without a formal eulogy, may take place on any day except Shabbat or a Jewish holiday.
Sacred Journeys partners with Senior Rabbi Daniel Weiner for Kever Avot, a special service held at the Hills of Eternity Cemetery each year on the Sunday between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Yizkor
During Yom Kippur afternoon services and on each of the pilgrimage festivals – Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot – a special series of prayers are recited in the synagogue to honor those who have died. Yizkor is from the root meaning “to remember.” Reciting these prayers is an important part of a mourner’s emotional journey. Saying Yizkor during these holidays keeps the memory of our loved ones front-and-center as we continue to live our lives and remember theirs.