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September 7, 2016

Did I up and go from that visit with Frank too hastily? Did I linger too long with Sarah? As I visit with a sick or bereaved person, I try not to wear out my welcome by taxing their attention, nor run the risk of cutting them off with a premature goodbye. If in the person’s mind I provide the reader’s digest version of a visit, they may think one of these: “She doesn’t care about me.” “She’s uncomfortable with what I am telling her or she disapproves of it.” “She is more concerned with tallying the number of clients she has seen today than anything else; it’s just a job to her.” If I overstay, they may think, “Doesn’t she realize how worn out I am?” “I need some privacy to sort out my thoughts.” Or of course, “I don’t really feel like seeing you for more than a moment; I was just being polite.” Ouch.

When members of a chevra kadisha (Jewish burial society) and other caregivers find themselves comforting the bereaved, we should keep in mind that it is a supercharged time: every sentence can bear extra weight, like those in the closing paragraphs of a novel. Thus we may more easily err on the side of offering “too much of a good thing” especially because we are so eager (overly eager?) to help. But we serve people better by getting at the heart of the matter as quickly as possible. Don’t squander the few moments allotted to us with niceties; people in crisis have a short attention span and short fuses and they are letting us in on their lives at a critical juncture. If a bereaved spouse looks like they are on the verge of tears, let those two cups runneth over by affirming what a sad and poignant moment they are in and then quietly be a partner to their grief. If a bereaved parent is angry, echo their distress by exclaiming what a rotten and unfair deal they got. If a brother or sister or cousin wants a hug and silent reflection while holding hands, don’t waste time with preliminary words. Match intensity with intensity. Enter the center.

[For a related article about length of visits, please see my post on offbeatcompassion, “I was stumped” at Rabbi and board certified Chaplain Karen B. Kaplan is author of Encountering the Edge: What People Told Me Before They Died (Pen-L Publishing, 2014) a series of true anecdotes capped with the deeper reasons she chose her vocation. For more details including reviews, you can go to the publisher’s page or to amazon.com. There is also an audio version of “>Offbeat Compassion.

 

  

 

GAMLIEL INSTITUTE COURSES

Please Tell Anyone Who May Be Interested!

          Fall 2016:

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN:

Gamliel Institute Course 5, Chevrah Kadisha Ritual, Practices, & Liturgy (RPL) will be offered over twelve weeks from September 6th, 2016 to November 22nd 2016 online.

There will be an orientation session on Monday September 5th for those unfamiliar with the online course platform used, all who have not taken a Gamliel Institute course recently, and those who have not used an online webinar/class presentation tool in past.

Class times will be all be 5-6:30 pm PDST/6-7:30 pm MDST/7-8:30 CDST/8-9:30 pm EDST. If you are in any other time zone, please determine the appropriate time, given local time and any Daylight Savings Time adjustments necessary.

Please note: the class meetings will be online, and will take place on Tuesdays of September 6, 13, 20, 27, November 15, and 22. The remainder of the twelve class meetings will be on Thursdays (due to the Jewish Holidays) of October 6, 13, 20, 27, November 3, and 10. 

The focus of this course is on Jewish practices and all ritual and liturgy (excluding Taharah & Shmirah, which are covered in Course 2). This deals specifically with liturgy, ritual, and practice towards and at the end of life, at the moment of death, in preparation for the funeral, during the funeral, the rituals of mourning, and rituals and practices of remembrance. 

SIGN UP NOW TO TAKE THIS COURSE!

There is no prerequisite for this course; you are welcome to take it with no prior knowledge or experience, though interest in the topic is important. Please register, note it on your calendar, and plan to attend the online sessions.

Note that there are registration discounts available for three or more persons from the same organization, and for clergy and students. There are also some scholarship funds available on a ‘need’ basis. Contact us (information below) with any questions.

You can “>jewish-funerals.org/gamreg. A full description of all of the courses is there as well. For more information, visit the “>Kavod v’Nichum website or on the

Please contact us for information or assistance. info@jewish-funerals.org or j.blair@jewish-funerals.org, or call 410-733-3700, or 925-272-8563.

 

          LOOKING FORWARD:

Gamliel Institute will be offering Course 1 in the Winter semester (starting December 5th, 2016), and course 4 in the Spring (starting March 6th, 2017). Look for information on each to be forthcoming, or visit the “>Kavod v'Nichum Gamliel Institute Registration site.  

  

DONATIONS:

Donations are always needed and most welcome. Donations support the work of Kavod v’Nichum and the Gamliel Institute, helping us provide scholarships to students, refurbish and update course materials, support programs such as Taste of Gamliel, provide and add to online resources, encourage and support communities in establishing, training, and improving their Chevrah Kadisha, and assist with many other programs and activities.

You can donate online at You can also become a member (Individual or Group) of Kavod v’Nichum to help support our work. Click  

MORE INFORMATION

If you would like to receive the Kavod v’Nichum newsletter by email, or be added to the Kavod v’Nichum Chevrah Kadisha & Jewish Cemetery email discussion list, please be in touch and let us know at info@jewish-funerals.org.

You can also be sent an email link to the Expired And Inspired blog each week by sending a message requesting to be added to the distribution list to j.blair@jewish-funerals.org.

Be sure to check out the Kavod V’Nichum website at “>Gamliel.Institute website.

 

RECEIVE NOTICES WHEN THIS BLOG IS UPDATED!

Sign up on our Facebook Group page: just search for and LIKE “>@chevra_kadisha.

To find a list of other blogs and resources we think you, our reader, may find to be of interest, click on “About” on the right side of the page.There is a link at the end of that section to read more about us.

Past blog entries can be searched online at the L.A. Jewish Journal. Point your browser to  

SUBMISSIONS WELCOME

If you have an idea for an entry you would like to submit to this blog, please be in touch. Email J.blair@jewish-funerals.org. We are always interested in original materials that would be of interest to our readers, relating to the broad topics surrounding the continuum of Jewish preparation, planning, rituals, rites, customs, practices, activities, and celebrations approaching the end of life, at the time of death, during the funeral, in the grief and mourning process, and in comforting those dying and those mourning, as well as the actions and work of those who address those needs, including those serving as Bikkur Cholim, Caring Committees, the Chevrah Kadisha, Shomrim, funeral providers, funeral homes and mortuaries, and operators and maintainers of cemeteries.

 

 

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