Combining her experience as a therapist, rabbi and artist, Me’irah Iliinsky, MSW will discuss the evolution of her painting and book: Mapping the Journey: The Mourner and the Soul. Through her personal experience and working with grieving people, Rabbi Me’irah was familiar with the process of movement in mourning. Then she learned that there are also traditions in Judaism about the movement of the soul after death. She decided it would be useful to mourners to have both of these trajectories on one “map,” so that the mourner might check in to see “where the soul is.”

Rabbi Me’irah will have a slide show with close ups of her painting, describing the psychological experiences in the grief process, and detailing the whereabouts of the soul. Copies of her book will be also be available for sale. Many mourners have found this visual information to be elucidating and healing.

The event is free and open to all.

CORRECTION ON THE HOURS OF THE EVENT!

Rabbi Me'irah will be staffing a table for the Gamliel Institute at the JCCSF, (Jewish Community Center of San Francisco) at their annual End of Life Fair: Embracing the Journey. She will have on display the original of her four panel painting: "The Journey of the Soul/The Journey of the Mourner" and her slide show "Eight Jewish Values appearing at the End of Life," as well as being on hand from 10:30-2:00 to answer questions about Jewish end of life practice. A limited number of booklets on comforting mourners and the practice of taharah will be for sale. For more information see: Embracing the Journey, Gamliel Institute, Nichum Aveilim, Chesed Shel Emet, Kavod v Nichum.

MEDICAL REALITIES, ETHICAL DILEMMAS, PERSONAL CHOICES Dec 7

A panel of experts

Most people fantasize a calm and poignant scene, family & friends surrounding the deathbed, dying person in full capacity, imparting words of love and wisdom. Tonight we will hear about more likely scenarios and compare the alternative offered by "life saving measures," palliative care, and hospice. We will ask, "What makes for a 'good death?'"

Dr. Dawn Gross, Palliative Care physician, Marshall White, hospice chaplain, and Rabbi Me'irah will serve as the panel. We will share some guidance regarding medical ethics and California's new law, the End of Life Option. Bring your stories and questions to share.

Rabbi Me'irah will be teaching and moderating a series, "Honor & Comfort: Coping with Various Aspects of the End of Life Experience." The series was designed with the help of Norisa Berardi. Free and open to the public: sponsored by Or Shalom Jewish Community in San Francisco. 

Nov. 30, "The Art of Comforting Mourners"

time tested traditions

As we age, we will encounter more and more mourners in our community. While we all know how important it is to comfort mourners, HOW exactly, are we supposed to DO it? Our words feel like platitudes in the faceof enormous loss. Fortunately, a wonderful booklet has been written: Nihum Aveilim: A Guide for the Comforter, by Rabbi Stuart Kelman and Dan Fendel. We will read selections and pause for discussion. Grief counselors Marshall White and Rabbi Me'irah Iliinsky will be on hand to share experiences and take questions.

We will also view a precious short video, filmed by Max Stein in the manner of an Ethical Will, about his 99 year old great aunt: "Sarah Goldstein, Interview."

Booklets will be available courtesy of Sinai Memorial Chapel & Chevra Kadisha.

Rabbi Me'irah will be offering a hands-on collage making, Connecting With Your Inner Wisdom, at the second annual San Francisco JCC's event: Embracing the Journey: End of Life Resource Fair, an all day event highlighting topics and fostering discussion about the end of life. A slide show of her work depicting Jewish Values underlying end of life rituals will also be showing throughout the day. 

As part of the Dying to Know event  at the Peninsula JCC, Rabbi Me'irah will be presenting "Mapping the Journey of the Mourner/Mapping the Journey of the Soul" 3:15-4:40 PM (Note: There has been a time change. This is the correct time.)

 In the Jewish tradition, the mourner's progression through time is ordered and ritualized. But did you know that the journey of the soul also has a progression? We will look at a "map," and see if we can find where the mourner (you, perhaps?) might be, and where the soul might be, and where and how you might meet. To register call 650-378-2703. The event is free. Course code is 47592. The overall "Dying to Know" event is from 12:30-5:30 PM.