Bereavement

Funeral

Our tradition offers several powerful end of life rituals – from kriah (tearing of a garment), to shiva (mourning). Our clergy will instruct you on these and other rituals.  We can also perform the funeral ceremony for our congregants and their close family members, and help you understand and implement other meaningful Jewish mourning practices.

Unveiling

The unveiling of a traditional headstone or ground plaque may take place after the first month following the burial but traditionally happens after eleven months. Though the presence of clergy is not required, we are honored to join you, or user-friendly hard copies of the liturgy can be made available from the MLRT office.
Please contact Cynthia Marshall for more information.

Plots Available in the Main Line Reform Temple Section at West Laurel Hill Cemetery

Cemetery plots are still available for resale to MLRT congregants in the MLRT section of West Laurel Hill Cemetery. The cost of a single grave is $4,500, which is the same as the cemetery charges the public if bought directly, and includes perpetual care. If you purchase through MLRT, $500 of your $5,500 purchase will go to MLRT as a charitable, tax-deductible donation. If you or your family members are interested in purchasing plots, either within the next year or at the time of actual need, please contact MLRT interim Executive Director, Roy Feinberg, for more information or to arrange for selection and purchase.

Mourner’s Kaddish

Yitgadal v’yitkadash sh’mei raba b’alma divra chir’utei, v’yamlich malchutei b’chayeichon uvyomeichon uvchayei dchol beit Yisrael, ba’agala uvizman kariv, v’imru: Amen.

Y’hei shmei raba m’varach l’alam ul’almei almaya

Yitbarach v’yishtabach, v’yitpa’ar v’yitromam v’yitnasei, v’yithadar v’yit’aleh v’yithalal shmei d’kudsha, b’rich hu,

l’eila min kol birchata v’shirata, tushb’chata v’nechemata da’amiran b’alma, v’imru: Amen.

Y’hei sh’lama raba min sh’maya v’chayim, aleinu v’al kol Yisrael, v’imru: Amen.

Oseh shalom bimromav, hu ya’aseh shalom aleinu v’al kol Yisrael, v’imru: Amen.

May the source of peace send peace to all who mourn and comfort to all who are bereaved.  Amen.

Click to the left to download the Mourner’s Kaddish prayer.

Yahrzeit & Yizkor Prayers For The Home

Kindling the Yahrzeit Candle

At this moment, I pause for thought in memory of my beloved………………………I give thanks for the blessing of life, of companionship and of memory.  I am grateful for the strength and faith that sustained me in the hour of my bereavement.  Though sorrow lingers, I have learned that love is stronger than death.  Though my loved one is beyond my sight, I do not despair for I sense my beloved in my heart as a living presence.

Sustained by words of faith, comforted by precious memories, I kindle the Yahrzeit light in remembrance.  As this light burns purely and clearly, so may the blessed memory of the goodness of my dear………………….. illumine my soul.

I now remember dear…………………..who has gone to his/her eternal resting place.  May his/her soul be given life everlasting, and may his/her memory be a source of blessing to those who knew and loved him/her.  Amen.

O God, I remember tonight the life of my dear………………..  As I light this candle to his/her memory, I put my trust in You and pray that his/her memory will serve as a blessing and source of inspiration to all people who knew and loved him/her.

May God remember the soul of my dear …………… who has passed to eternal rest.  I pledge charity and deeds of lovingkindness on his/her behalf and pray that his/her soul will be kept among the immortal souls of our righteous ancestors.
O God, I pray that you will keep the soul of my dear…………… united with us in the bond of life.  In his/her memory, guide me so that I will live righteously, fulfilling Your will and serving our people.  May his/her soul rest in peace and be remembered as a blessing.

O God, as I remember …………………, I pray that I may emulate all that was good and righteous in his/her life.  May his/her soul be given eternal life and his/her memory always remain a comfort and source of inspiration.

At  this moment, which bears the memory of our beloved…………………., let us join hands in love and remembrance.  A link has been broken in the chain that has bound us together, yet strong bonds of home and love hold us each to the other.

We give thanks for the blessing of life, of companionship, and of memory.  We are grateful for the strength and faith that sustained us in the hour of our bereavement.  Though sorrow lingers, we have learned that love is stronger than death.  Though our loved one is beyond our sight, we do not despair for we sense our beloved in our hearts as a living presence.

Sustained by words of faith, comforted by precious memories, we kindle the light in remembrance.  “The human spirit is the light of Adonai” (Proverbs 20:27).  As this light is pure and clear, so may the blessed memory of the goodness and nobility of character of our dear………..illumine our souls.

The light is kindled.

Zich-ro-no (Zich-ro-na) li-ve-ra-cha.
His (her) memory is a blessing.