Death and Tahara

Jewish tradition provides a rich variety of rituals and practices that honor the dead and allow mourners to adjust to the loss of a loved one. An important role of the Adat Shalom community is to assist members during these difficult life transitions, providing spiritual and emotional support.

Adat Shalom has purchased a section at the Garden of Remembrance Memorial Park, Gan Zikaron, a nonprofit Jewish cemetery in Northern Montgomery County. Please call the Executive Director of Adat Shalom to learn more and to discuss your needs.

Should a death occur in your immediate circle, please contact the synagogue office at 301-767-3333 or email info@adatshalom.net.

Tahara is the ritual pouring of water before dressing the met for burial. Also refers to the entire service. Participation in tahara is a mitzvah of the highest order performed by Jews to honor a deceased person who is Jewish. Adat Shalom’s life cycle support can assist you regarding  tahara.

Yahrzeits

A Yahrzeit is the anniversary of the death of a loved one. It is traditionally observed on the Hebrew date of death (which can vary from the Gregorian date by up to a few weeks in any given year) by lighting a 25-hour candle the night before, and by coming to synagogue to say Kaddish. At Adat Shalom, we read the names aloud on the Shabbat before the individual’s Yahrzeit – and when the Yahrzeit happens to fall on Shabbat, names are read twice, both on the previous Shabbat and on the day the Yarzheit is observed.

When we remember them for a blessing, the departed live on among us, as a blessing. We encourage you to allow us to honor your loved one’s memory, now and in the future. Zichronam livracha.