As a life cycle ritual facilitator, I perform funerals, memorials services and unveilings.
Whenever possible, I encourage family members and friends to participate in such rituals, with favorite readings and liturgy; music; poetry; and involvement in writing and delivering the eulogy.
Below are two examples of personally written funeral/unveiling liturgies:
A WOMAN OF VALOR – IN HONOR OF JENNY
A modern lady of the early 20th century
Such a special wife, mother, sister, bubby
and great-grandmother who can find?
Dedicated to her family
Cooking gefilte fish and cheese bagels
Her price can only be told by those
who have known and loved her
She feeds all who enter her home
And her husband unconditionally accepts her and knows peace and quiet
when the loving nagging subsides
Her husband is known in the land
He sits among the elders of the Wilderton Shopping Center
Her children and grandchildren and great grandchildren get to hear her wisdom
Spoken without even a trace of her Yiddish mother tongue.
A modern woman of the early 20th century
Well read in The Jewish Press
and an authority on Johnny Carson and Tommy Shumaker*
She loves the Jewish people with all her heart.
And her life, with a special simplicity, is worthy of praise.
Let her life be remembered with blessing.
This is our Jenny – truly, in her own way
A woman of valor…
*(a local Montreal media personality)
Simcha Raphael, 1982
AN UNVEILING PRAYER
Holy One of Being
Be with us now
In this time of transition
When we mourn for the passing of the mourning
Into another phase of Life.
Bless us with the ability
To see ourselves
Let go of our holding of
Mitchell
Zayde Mitch
MLR
Mr. Modern Supply
Let go of our Father, and Father-in-law
Let go of our ever-beloved Husband
Let go of our Grandfather
Let go of our Brother
Let go of our Uncle
Let go of Mitch, benevolent friend of many,
Businessman and leader
Who cared deeply
For family, friends, community, the Jewish people
This energetic and powerful man
This well-dressed man with the generous spirit
Who lived the drama of Life with passion, flare and style.
Held by so many with respect and love
Let go of him
Let go of him.
Ah…. [Take a deep breathe and imagine sending him off on his journey]
We do let go of him
His soul is free to evolve to the highest being of humanity.
To serve on yet another committee, this one in the higher realms
Where his presence lives on
Continuing to care for those whom he loves
We bless him for our memories
We keep them in our hearts
We bless him for all we have shared
And send him on his journey with love.
Holy One of Being
Join as One those of us who are left on earth
Let us feel courage along with our lingering pain
Let us love one another in peace and with respect
As he would wish it
Let us celebrate life to honor the life he lived.
Let us celebrate yet another party in his honor, as he would want us to do.
Mitchell Robinson
Mitch
Zayde Mitch
Mr. Robinson
Michael Eliezer ben HaRav Avraham Yehuda v’Slovah
Beloved you remain in our hearts
Even in our times of yearning and mourning
Beloved you are to each one of us here gathered in your honor
Beloved you remain in our hearts
Blessed Be the Name of the Holy One of Being
Blessed Be the Name of the Holy One of Being
Baruch Shem Kevod Malchuto L’Olam Vaed.
Tehei Nishmato Tzrura B’zror HaChayyim
May his soul be welcomed into the Source of Life itself.
Tehei Nishmato Tzrura B’zror HaChayyim
Simcha Raphael, 2003