Unveiling Death: Eternity in About 24 Minutes

Jack Lauwasser, a lifelong Chicagoan, began volunteering for JourneyCare Hospice after the death of his son-in-law, Josh, who spent his final days there. Jack is recently retired from the paint business. He  serves as chair of the Religious Services Committee of Ezra-Habonim, the Niles Township Jewish Congregation, the synagogue where he and his wife Jackie married in 2019.

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Steven Stoehr has served as cantor of Congregation Beth Shalom in Northbrook, Illinois, since 1988. He is past president of the Cantors Assembly. Cantor Stoehr is primary author of A Minyan of Comfort, a guidebook for conducting services at shiva houses. He has also established a chevra kaddisha, which prepares bodies for Jewish burial. Cantor Stoehr has established a choir for adults with special needs called Selah, and he volunte...

Eric Fusfield has served as Deputy Director of the B’nai B’rith International Center for Human Rights and Public Policy since 2007 and as Director of Legislative Affairs since 2003.  Eric, an attorney and rabbi, has represented the agency before Congress, the Executive branch, and foreign governments. He also serves on the Virginia Commission to Combat Anti-Semitism. 

Eric a...

I offered the following sermon during services for Shavuot, the holiday that celebrates the giving of Torah at Mt Sinai. Shavuot is one of four times during the year that Jews recite Yizkor, prayers of remembrance for loved ones who have died. This sermon considers the complicated lives of ancient Israel's second and third kings, David and Solomon. Both sinned, both struggled, both were close to God. 

Emily B. Miller is a licensed funeral director, embalmer and founder of Colorado’s first environmental cemetery, the Colorado Burial Preserve. Emily was working as a funeral home manager when she perceived a need for a different type of cemetery, one with a native habitat mission. Emily also advocates for a greener funeral industry through education and outreach. As a board member of the Green Burial Co...

Elline Eliasoff is a gerontologist and clinical exercise physiologist with decades of experience in aging care. Elline began her career in the Veterans Administration and then launched Elite Rehabilitation and Care Management, her own sub-acute care practice. She has a masters in gerontology and a certificate in patient advocacy. Elline is a certified care manager. Check out her website: ellineeliasoff....

Elissa Felder’s book, “From One Life to the Next Life: The Sacred Passage After Death,” published by Mosaica Press, draws upon her experience in Chevra Kaddisha, sacred Jewish burial societies, and upon her experience as a mother whose baby son, Sam, of blessed memory, died at four and a half months. Elissa is a board member of JADE, the Jewish Association for Death Education. She is also Founder and Di...

Jennifer Rose Goldman is a motivational speaker on wellness and self-care. She created and taught the six-week course, “Lead Your Life.” Jenn was CEO of the aromatherapy beauty brand Essential Rose, which she founded in her college dorm room. Jenn is passionate about all things spiritual. She suffered a major stroke in 2021, days before her thirty-first birthday.

Caryn Meg H...

David Zinner is co-founder of JADE, the Jewish Association for Death Education. He also founded and was director of the advocacy and education organization, Kavod v’Nichum, Honor and Comfort. One of David’s recent projects is PRINCE: the Preservation and Restoration Initiative for Neglected Cemetery Entities, which matches neglected cemeteries with prisoners eligible for work release. David is a consumer representative on Maryland’...

Marguerite O'Connor, M.Ed., is co-author of Griefstruck: When a Death Changes Your Life. She is currently “Goodwill Ambassador” for Chicago Jewish Funerals. She previously served as a funeral director, funeral celebrant, and mortuary college instructor. Marguerite is a member of American Association of University Women, League of Women Voters & Toastmasters International. Marguerite is passionate ab...

One important Jewish ritual of remembrance is the Yizkor service, which occurs four times annually within certain holiday services. Yizkor is Hebrew for “He will remember” or “May He remember,” meaning may God remember and protect the souls of our deceased loved ones. But Yizkor really provides us the opportunity to recite prayers for our loved ones who have died -- to recite prayers for them and to rem...