North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation

Rabbi Beth Beyer says, "Death is the time of transition to the next world. "The day of death is better than the day of birth." Ecclesiastes 7:1. Our Sages teach that the day of death is the pinnacle of a person's spiritual achievement in this world. At the closing moments of life, just before the soul is about to leave the body, one would say a prayer of repentance (to ensure their slate was clean) and their final words would be "Hear, O Israel, Adonai is our G-d, Adonai is One." Following death, the deceased is not left alone. Someone stays with the deceased from the time of death until the funeral and burial. Often a candle is lit. It is thought that the soul may take time to become accustomed to departing the body and moving on to Olam Haba (the world to come). Death is part of life and within G-d's plan." ...