Coping With the Death of a Child
Comfort for grieving parents
Six years ago, my son Jacob was buried on Purim. This year, I began to reflect on the mitzvot of the day and how they connect to my experience of child loss. Surprisingly, two Purim mitzvot stood out for me: Matanot La’Evyonim—giving charity to those in need—and Mishloach Manot—sharing gifts of food with one another.... Continue Reading →
This year is my son's 6th yahrzeit. I can't believe so many years have gone by. I remember the day he passed; seems like yesterday. It's winter now, and the cemetery grounds are covered under a blanket of pristine, white snow. Winter has a way of muting sharp edges—of trees, of stones, of grief. And... Continue Reading →
It's almost that time of year again - Chanukah. Lighting the menorah, the gift giving, jelly donuts and chocolate gelt. There's a lot to look forward to. Even more, I always look forward to celebrating holidays with the whole family. With a son on the west coast and another on the east coast, it rarely... Continue Reading →
We recite yizkor in memory of loved ones who have passed on, serving as a powerful reminder of the enduring bond between the living and the deceased. Yizkor, a Hebrew word meaning 'remember', is a poignant prayer and usually evokes feelings of sadness because our loved ones are no longer with us. We say yizkor... Continue Reading →
The Jewish calendar mirrors life with ups and downs. A particularly challenging period for the Jewish community is the final two weeks of the month of Tammuz and the initial week of Av. This time period is known as 'the three weeks' during which our people have experienced numerous tragedies, including the devastating loss of... Continue Reading →
First of all, I want to share the wonderful news that my husband and I are grandparents of twin boys born to Jacob’s brother Adam and his wife on the fourth night of Chanukah. In addition to the joy we feel over the birth of these little guys, it’s also bittersweet in that our son... Continue Reading →
The post How I'm Honoring My Child's Memory, discusses how my husband and I are honoring our son's memory. We talked about doing mitzvos (good deeds), learning Torah, and giving tzedakah (charity) as a few of the many ways to remember a child. Another wonderful way to honor a child's memory is by emulating the... Continue Reading →
Shabbat is a beautiful day, an island in time, in which I relax and connect with G-d. I enjoy the special foods, prayers, and having time to learn. I like preparing for Shabbat. I enjoy the smell of a hot crockpot filled with cholent on Friday afternoon. However, Shabbat is also emotionally hard for me.... Continue Reading →
My son’s birthday is today. Jewish tradition places great importance on the day of a person’s death, the yahrzeit, but not so much on the day of birth. Ever since my parents passed away, I observe their yahrzeits each year. I just never think about their birthdays. After I lost my son Jacob, his birthday... Continue Reading →
I’m a member of an exclusive club. It’s called the child loss club. I didn't ask to join it. The dues are extremely high. Sometimes the dues are so high I wonder how I’ll get through another month. I’ve tried reaching out to the membership office (aka Heaven) but no one answers, so I can’t... Continue Reading →
Life Is Like The Broken Matzah of the Afikoman I heard an inspiring teaching by Rabbi Benzion Twerski of Milwaukee about the Passover afikoman. Even though Passover has come and gone for this year, I wanted to share this insight because it says something very powerful about how we view life. What Does the Word... Continue Reading →
Living In An Intense Stage Of Grief It’s been a bit more than two years since my son passed away at age 24. Whereas the intense sadness, anger, and depression have subsided, at times I still find myself agitated and miserable. These moments are usually the result of a physical or emotional trigger like being... Continue Reading →
Coping With the Death of a Child 