Kavod v’Nichum Israel-American Conference
Dignity, Simplicity, Comfort, and Spirituality At Life’s End
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
8:00-8:45 – Registration
9:00-9:30 – Greetings and Introduction
9:30-10:15 – Chevra Kadisha, public awareness education, and community outreach – Rabbi Benjamin Lau, Rambam Synagogue
10:15-10:30 – Break
10:30-11:30 – Behind Closed Doors – An Exploration of the Tahara Liturgy – Rabbi Stuart Kelman, Gamliel Institute Dean and Mr. Dan Fendel, Gamliel Institute Dean of Students and authors of Chesed Shel Emet.
11:30-12:15 – Spirituality in the Final Mitzvah – Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, scholar and author
12:15-13:15 – Lunch
13:15-14:00 – Laying Out the Problems – from Serious Illness through Mourning in Israel – Rabbi Yaakov Ruza, Chief Rabbinate Council (Forum) and Rav of the Tel Aviv Burial Society. Responses by a panel.
14:00-14:45 – Laying Out the Problems – Legal Dimensions Facing the Israeli Community Around Death and Mourning – Rabbi Seth Farber
14:50-16:00 – Exploring practice – in small groups facilitated by representatives of the Gamliel institute and from Israel.
1. Shmira – family involvement; psalms; practices; volunteers vs paid; community response
2. Tahara and Tachrichim – Understanding the work of the Chevra Kadisha – washing, prayer, purification; dressing; volunteers
3. Funeral and Burial Planning – Counseling families; understanding options, cost, creating new institutions
4. Shiva and Bereavement support – Mincha-Maariv at home; leaders; children, food; Kaddish; counseling; holidays
16:00-16:10– Break
16:10-17:00– Working together in the future – next steps – Ms. Yardena Kope-Yossef, Mr. David Zinner, Ms. Nomi Roth Elbert
17:00-17:15– Closing
17:15-17:45– Tahara demonstration
17:45-18:00– Mincha