Living Well

Shomer Collective
Featuring: Rabbi Melanie Levav,  Executive Director
Inspiring End-of-Life Conversations and Experiences, Guided by Jewish Values

Who am I? What’s the meaning of life? What’s my legacy? What do I have left in the next portion in my life? These are all age old questions. Quite possible you have contemplated some of these in during your lifetime. These are questions that our sages have questioning for years. There is deep Jewish wisdom that we can find from the sages that will help us decipher some of these questions for ourselves. This helps us realize that we are not alone. 

Shomer Collective’s mission is to improve end-of-life experiences for individuals and their families— inspired by Jewish wisdom, values, and practices—by curating content and resources and building a diverse network of organizational partners.

Shomer Collective envisions a world where end-of-life matters are spoken about openly, thoughtfully and frequently creating more opportunities for folks to engage with Jewish wisdom values and practices. Having these conversations and experiences can be transformational not only for the individual but also the whole family. 

In the Jewish tradition we say to mourners “May you be comforted among the other mourners.” This reminds us that you are not sitting shiva alone, you’re part of the interconnected community that goes beyond the shiva house.

They do this through 4 roles: concierge, curator, convenor and change agent. Through the roles they hope to: 

• Empower individuals as they plan for and/or confront death for themselves and loved ones.
•  Make Jewish wisdom and expertise in end-of-life matters more accessible through referrals, teaching, counseling, and curation of learning experiences.
• Spark innovation and culture change inside and beyond Jewish institutions, so that organizations will recognize that end of life is a lifecycle moment that can meaningfully engage people Jewishly.

The word Shomer means guardian; in Jewish tradition, a shomer guards over the body of the deceased from the time of death until the time of burial, accompanying the soul on the beginning of its journey in separating from the body. Shomer Collective seeks to accompany individuals and families as they confront and plan for end of life by curating partners and resources that lift up Jewish wisdom, values, and practices. 

Shomer Collective offers concierge services to help you navigate all things end of life, Jewishly. We curate the most accessible resources to help you find what you need when you need it, whether it’s a Jewish how-to video about end-of-life rituals or a link to a Jewish funeral home in your area.

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