How Jewish Burials are Actually Green Burials, Too
I feel that it is time that we, as rabbis and as a Jewish community, begin to speak more about the environmental advantages of a traditional Jewish burial.
Grieving, Remembering, and Moving Forward
Without her, there are so many empty places, empty sights, so much emptiness. Yet I never thought of retreating into the emptiness; I know my dear Phyllis wanted me to embrace life.
A Letter to My Mother on Her First Yahrzeit
Psalm 23 is traditionally recited during funerals, shiva visitations, and Yizkor ceremonies. Although this psalm talks about God, I think about it this morning and see it under a completely new light. Today, I think it talks about you.
Honoring Your Parents as You Empty Their House
Jews have blessings for almost every occasion. I recommend we recite one before emptying the contents of our parents’ home after they die.
Confronting Death is an Important Part of Life
If on Yom Kippur we rehearse our own death, then on Tishah B’Av (observed last month), we begin the annual process of preparing for death. The seven-week period from Tishah B’Av to Rosh HaShanah provides an opportunity to cultivate our souls, to reestablish our relationship with God, and to reconcile with ourselves and others. We transform the potentially passive experience of judgment into an active process of self-awareness, acceptance, engagement, and transformation.
When Jewish Cemeteries Rock: My Moroccan Lag BaOmer Adventure
I had always thought of Jewish cemeteries as solemn places – but that was before going to a hilloula (festivity) 30 years ago in the Moroccan town of Ouazzane on Lag BaOmer, the Jewish holiday that falls on the 33rd day between Pesach and Shavuot.
I've Got the Purple Blues about Prince's Death
You may think it strange for a rabbi to mourn a celebrity's death, but no one said emotions are rational - yet I indulge myself a moment of sadness at the news that Prince Rodgers Nelson has died.
Kaddish Yatom, a Poem for the Mourner's Kaddish
I wanted this poem to reflect that sometimes-jarring feeling of love and remembrance, past and present, what could have been and what is.
Why I Sat Shiva for My Brother, Who Wasn't Jewish
When my brother Jerry died, the questions were not just where to sit shiva or for how long. They were more fundamental: Should I sit shiva for my non-Jewish brother at all?
A Prayer for My Father
Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. I wrote this prayer in memory of my father, Lowell Jay Herman, who took his life on April 20, 2015, at the age of 72. It reflects the pain my family and I have grappled with since that day.
I am dedicated to honoring his