Kavod v'Nichum Israel-American Conference

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