Temple Emanuel of Tempe

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You are here: Home / Life Cycle Events / Funerals and Unveilings

Funerals and Unveilings

I raise my eyes to the mountains: What is the source of my help? My help will come from the Eternal, Maker of heaven and earth.Psalm 121

Funerals

Funerals are sacred. They provide survivors the opportunity to say goodbye, and begin the grieving process. They pay tribute to a loved one. They acknowledge the end of a life with beauty, dignity, and respect, and in so doing they honor life itself. Funerals are sacred and powerful acts of love.

The Jewish funeral service is relatively simple. It consists of passages from Jewish sources, both ancient and modern, of great beauty and wisdom. These help put words to the complex soup of feelings we experience when someone close to us dies. Jewish funerals include the ancient hymn “El Male Rachamim/God Full of Compassion,” and the sacred Mourner’s Kaddish. Funerals typically include a hesped/eulogy, written by the rabbi in consultation with the family. They conclude with burial, aided by the hands and devotion of those who loved the deceased most. They may be conducted at a chapel or entirely at graveside. Family and friends typically gather at someone’s home following the service to begin shiva. Some families mark all seven days of this period of mourning; others abbreviate the observance.

In addition to conducting funerals, Rabbi Shapiro officiates at memorial services, when the body is not present, or at the interment of cremated remains. He is available to guide a family through the entire process of making pre-need arrangements, working with the mortuary and cemetery, planning the service, and shiva.

There is no charge for the funeral, memorial service, or interment of a member of the Temple Emanuel community. There is a charge for non-members.

Please contact Rabbi Dean with questions.

May the Source of peace send peace to all who mourn, and comfort to all who are bereaved.

Unveilings

About a year following a death, loved ones gather at the grave to dedicate a memorial. This simple ceremony is called an “unveiling.”  It provides the family and close friends an opportunity to reconnect with each other. They acknowledge the passage of time and the new shape their lives have taken. Family members are invited to speak to the deceased and to each other.

Although they can be very public, unveilings are typically private, understated events.

Four things are beautiful beyond belief: The pleasant weakness that comes after pain, The radiant greenness that comes after rain, The deepened faith that follows after grief, And the re-awakening to love again.Author Unknown

About Temple Emanuel

Temple Emanuel of Tempe is a vibrant Jewish community sustained by life-long relationships, excellent educational opportunities, and spirited fellowship. Since our founding in 1976, Temple Emanuel of Tempe has been a Reform congregation that honors tradition. We are an oasis for all who embrace … more

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December 13 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
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December 14 @ 9:30 am - 11:00 am

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(480) 838-1414
5801 S. Rural Road, Tempe, AZ 85283
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