Dates & Time:
Thursday, February 15th, 2024 8:00-9:15 p.m. Eastern / 5:00-6:15 p.m. Pacific
Location:
Zoom
Cost:
Free
About the Workshop:
According to tradition, Zayin Adar (the 7th of the month of Adar) is the Yahrzeit, anniversary, of Moses’ death. In medieval Chevra Kadisha communities, this date became a special day to honor the sacred work of Chevra members. Since God was the one who buried Moses, it was said that on the 7th of Adar, the Chevra Kadisha “had the day off”. It became a day of study, visiting the cemetery requesting forgiveness from those who had been buried that year, and honoring Chevra Kadisha members with a sacred meal. Today, many Chevrei Kadisha continue this tradition, and this year, Kavod v'Nichum is inviting our community to come together to learn and honor our sacred work. In honor of Zayin Adar, Reb Simcha Raphael will lead us in studying texts depicting the complex tale of Moses’ death. In looking at Moses’ response to his imminent death in Torah and Midrash we see that Moses did not “go gentle into the night” but did “rage, rage against the dying of the light”. Moses did not passively accept his death — he argued and bargained with God, going through the stages of dying, depicted by Dr. Kübler-Ross. From our study, we shall discover guidelines for helping others go through the process of wrestling with dying honestly and with qualities of spiritual equanimity and how it resonates with our involvement in Chevra Kadisha.
No background in text study is necessary and everything will be offered in translation.
Taught by Reb Simcha Raphael:
Reb Simcha Raphael Ph.D. is Founding Director of the DA’AT Institute for Death Awareness, Advocacy and Training. He works as a psychotherapist and spiritual director in the Philadelphia area, and is on Faculty of the Art of Dying Institute of One Spirit Learning Alliance. He has published seven books on death and Judaism including the groundbreaking book Jewish Views of the Afterlife and a forthcoming collection of poetry, Musings with the Angel of Death: Poems of Life, Love, Life and Longing (Albion-Andalus, 2024)
As part of our Zayin Adar program, we would like to acknowledge our community of Chevra Kadisha. Please share more information below if you'd like your Chevra Kadisha to be represented.
This workshop is being offered at no cost to the community. If you are able, please consider supporting Kavod v'Nichum with a gift so we can continue to provide inspiring and helpful programming. Thank you!
