Recordings of this class archived HERE
In these times of great loss, many of our norms have been challenged and redefined. So too concerning our Jewish end of life rituals. Join Nicky Silver in an exploration of the depth and wisdom of our ancient traditions and how they have been challenged to be updated into present day practices. Issues that were not relevant during ancient times are now essential to discuss (e.g.-cremation, transgender, virtual mourning practices on zoom, green burial procedures etc.) and have forced us to expand the parameters of and consider new Halakah and Minhagim (customs).
Additionally, in Judaism, death is the private passing of a neshama (soul) and a communal process (saying Kaddish, our Shiva Minyas, our Yizkor services etc). In this class we will explore the creation of a community “Bereavement Team” which will allow us to expand the role of the Chevra Kadisha (The Jewish Burial Society) and support not only the holy work of honoring the met (the deceased) but also the holy work of supporting our living who are touched by illness and death.
For many, the only time we talk about death is when we are faced with mourning a loved one or dealing with illness while we are in an emotional state. (More honest confrontations have begun in North America, including public forums such as “Death Cafes”).
In this 4-session series, we will have the opportunity to discuss these issues from a less emotional perspective. As the “Silver Tsunami” is upon us and millions of baby boomers are in the later part of their lives, it is wise to consider issues concerning our own passing. For many, there is a richness and freedom in these challenging conversations that have long been avoided and are essential to our well-being.
Class Sessions
1. Exploring the roots of the original Jewish Burial Society and its many historical functions
2. Exploring Jewish Rituals that honor the Deceased Body (the Met), the mourners, and the community
3. Presenting the role of the Bereavement Team—how to serve ourselves and serve the community
4. Eco Burials for our Times; Ethical Burials/pre-planning our death
Nicky Silver has been a member of a Chevrah Kadisha since 1990. Yet way before that, in 1977 she attended a 7-day residential retreat with Dr. Elisabeth Kubler Ross. Working with end-of-life issues has been a lifelong passion and calling. For a period of 13 years she was the head of the Chevrah Kadisha as well as the Cemetery Chair in Amherst, Massachusetts. During that time she also participated in hospice care. Moving to California, Nicky was instrumental in creating a Chevrah Kadisha at Chochmat HaLev in Berkeley, California. She now resides in Oakland, California and is a member of the Chevrah Kadisha at Kehilla Community Synagogue. She has been involved with this work for well over 40 years.
Additionally, Nicky Silver has been a chiropractor and health care practitioner for well over 40 years, comforting people in pain. Her most satisfying work has been caring for those in distress—working with women who have been sexually abused, working in a cancer center for almost 10 years and of course, comforting the bereaved in her work with death, dying and grief. Presently she has a successful online practice, coaching people to Turn their Relationship with their Body from Adversary to Ally. Additionally, she also coaches people in chronic pain of any kind (physical, emotional, spiritual) using both alternative physical healing methods as well as spiritual aspects of healing.