Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The psychology of grief and mourning in Judaism

  • Published:
Journal of Religion and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Lindemann, E., “Symptomatology and Management of Acute Grief,”Am. J. Psychiatry, 1944,101, p. 141–148.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Spiro, J. D.,A Time to Mourn: Judaism and the Psychology of Bereavement. New York, Bloch, 1967, xx.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Jackson, E. N., “Grief and Religion.” In Feifel, H., ed.,The Meaning of Death New York, McGraw-Hill, 1959, p. 218–233.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Lindemann,, p. 142.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Switzer, D. K.,The Dynamics of Grief. Nashville, Tenn., Abingdon, 1970, pp. 52–53.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Lindemann,, p. 142.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Switzer,, pp. 20–22.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Jackson,Understanding Grief Nashville, Abingdon, 1957, pp. 47, 66.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Switzer,, pp. 47–48.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Lindemann,, pp.141–142.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Midrash Esther Rabbah 8:1-2.

  12. Moed Katan, 21b.

  13. Wise, C. A.,Pastoral Counseling: Its Theory and Practice. New York, Harper, 1951, p. 61.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Moed Katan, 26b; Semachot, 5:2; Moed Katan, 23a.

  15. Sanhedrin, 46b–47a.

  16. Rabinowicz, H.,A Guide to Life. New York, Ktav, 1967, pp. 58–59.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Jackson, “Grief and Religion,”, pp. 224–225.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Spiro,, pp. 121–123; Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, 199:8.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Spiro,, p. 121.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Midrash Genesis Rabbah, 100:7.

  21. Midrash Leviticus Rabbah, 18.

  22. Midrash Genesis Rabbah, 9:5.

  23. Mishnah Avot, 4:22.

  24. Lamm, M.,The Jewish Way in Death and Mourning. New York, Jonathan David, 1969, p. 240.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Rakoff, V. M., “Psychiatric Aspects of Death in America.” In Mack, A., ed.,Death in American Experience. New York, Schocken, 1974, p. 26.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, 194:4.

  27. Ibid., Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, 194:6.

  28. Ibid., Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, 194:10; Lamm,op. cit.,The Jewish Way in Death and Mourning. New York, Jonathan David, 1969, p. 5.

  29. Eliot, T. D., “Of the Shadow of Death,”Annals of Amer. Acad. Political and Social Science, 1943,229, 87–99.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Rabinowicz,, pp. 30–31.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Jackson,Understanding Grief,, p. 222.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Rakoff,, p. 160.

    Google Scholar 

  33. , p. 161.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Lamm,, pp. 26–34; Moed Katan, 27a.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, 196:1.

  36. Rabinowicz,, p. 41.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Gordon, A., “The Psychological Wisdom of the Law.” In Riemer, J., ed.,Jewish Reflections on Death. New York, Schocken, 1974, pp. 95–104.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, 198:14.

  39. Megillah, 28b; Moed Katan, 25b; Semachot, 8:20; Midrash Genesis Rabbah, 91:9; Midrash Ecclesiastes Rabbah, 5:3-5, 12.

  40. Spiro,, p. 113; Lamm,op. cit., Lamm, M.,The Jewish Way in Death and Mourning. New York, Jonathan David, 1969, p. 64.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Lamm,, p. 65; Rabinowicz,op. cit. A Guide to Life. New York, Ktav, 1967, p. 50.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Spiro,, p. 42.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Soloveitchik, J. B., “The Halakhah of the First Day.” In Riemer, J., ed.,Jewish Reflections on Death,, pp. 76–77.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Lamm,, p. 136.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Moed Katan, 15a, 15b, 21a.

  46. Yoreh Deah, 341:5.

  47. Rabinowicz,, p. 34.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Moed Katan, 15b; Yoreh Deah, 341:5.

  49. Semachot, 10:1.

  50. Mishnah Avot, 4:23.

  51. Moed Katan, 27b.

  52. Ibid., Moed Katan, 15a; Yoreh Deah, 385:1.

  53. Midrash Leviticus Rabbah, 18.

  54. Mishnah Peah, 1:1; Hilkhot Avelut, 14:1, 14:7.

  55. Avot de Rabbi Nathan, 30.

  56. Sotah, 14a.

  57. Moed Katan, 26b; Hilkhot Avelut, 5:20; Yoreh Deah, 391:1.

  58. Job 2:3.

  59. Lamm,, p. 138.

    Google Scholar 

  60. Lindemann,, p. 143.

    Google Scholar 

  61. Lamm,, p. 144.

    Google Scholar 

  62. Moed Katan, 22b; Hilkhot Avelut, 6:6, 7; Yoreh Deah, 391:2,3.

  63. Semachot, 10:2.

  64. Moed Katan, 15b.

  65. Kohler, K., “Duty to the Dead,” Jewish Encyclopedia,4, p. 477.

  66. Yoreh Deah, 376:4.

  67. Soloveitchik,, p. 80.

    Google Scholar 

  68. Moed Katan, 15b, 12a; Yoreh Deah, 381:1, 382:1, 382:2; Hilkhot Avelut, 5:1, 5:4; Kesef Mishneh Torah Hilkhot Avelut, 5:6.

  69. Yoreh Deah, 378:3.

  70. Hilkhot Avelut, 13:12.

  71. Alcalay, R.,The Complete Hebrew-English Dictionary. Jerusalem, Massadah, 1965, cols. 10-11.

    Google Scholar 

  72. Lindemann,, p. 143.

    Google Scholar 

  73. Shabbat, 105b; Moed Katan, 25a.

  74. Ibid. Shabbat, 105b; Moed Katan, 25a.

  75. Hilkhot Avelut, 13:12.

  76. Moed Katan, 24a.

  77. Ecclesiasticus, 38:16-17.

  78. Ibid. Ecclesiasticus, 38:18-19.

  79. Moed Katan, 27b.

  80. Ibid. Moed Katan, 27b.

  81. Jeremiah 22:10.

  82. Moed Katan, 27b.

  83. Ibid. Moed Katan, 26b, 14b; Semachot, 9:6.

  84. Moed Katan, 26b.

  85. Shifte Kohen; noted by Chaim N. Denburg, “Commentary,” J. Caro, Code of Hebrew Law: Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 335–403, Montreal, Jurisprudence, 1954, p. 22.

    Google Scholar 

  86. Yoreh Deah, 384:4.

  87. Semachot 8:2; Dov Zlotnick, “Introduction,”The Tractate “Mourning” New Haven, Yale University Press, 1966, p. 14.

    Google Scholar 

  88. Alcalay,, col. 1801; Berakhot, 6b, 62a; Shabbat, 153a; Moed Katan, 8a; Yoreh Deah, 344:1.

    Google Scholar 

  89. Mishnah Moed Katan, 111:8.

  90. Kübler-Ross, E.,On Death and Dying. New York, Macmillan, 1969, p. 138.

    Google Scholar 

  91. , p. 84.

    Google Scholar 

  92. , p. 112.

    Google Scholar 

  93. Feldman, E., “Death as Estrangement: The Halakhah of Mourning,”Judaism, 1972, Winter, 62.

  94. Van Gennep, A.,The Rites of Passage, Vizedom, M. B., and Caffee, G. L., trans. Kimball, S. T., “Introduction.” Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1960, p. 147.

    Google Scholar 

  95. Eliade, M.,Rites and Symbols of Initiation. New York, Harper & Row, 1958, xii.

    Google Scholar 

  96. , p. xiii.

    Google Scholar 

  97. Yoreh Deah, 394:6.

  98. Van Gennep,, p. 147–148.

    Google Scholar 

  99. Rabinowicz,, p. 92.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Gary S. Gerson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Rabbi Gary S. Gerson, a graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia, holds an M.A. in community psychology and another in religion, both from Temple University. He is rabbi of Temple Brith Achim, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, and at present serves as a child and family therapist at the Benjamin Rush Center for Mental Health and Mental Retardation in Philadelphia.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gerson, G.S. The psychology of grief and mourning in Judaism. J Relig Health 16, 260–274 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01533300

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01533300

Search

Navigation