JEWISH END-OF-LIFE PRACTICES & RITUALS:
Among Jewish Communities of Color
A Project of Kavod v’Nichum
Commissioned by the Jews of Color Initiative
Lead Researcher: erica riddick, Director, Jews of Color Sanctuary
Analysis and reporting support: Dr. Gage Gorsky
JEWISH END-OF-LIFE PRACTICES & RITUALS:
Among Jewish Communities of Color
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Kavod v’Nichum has been a leader in providing end-of-life education, support, and training in the Jewish tradition since its founding in 2000 through its mission to serve any individual or organization seeking to learn and engage around Jewish end-of-life rituals and practices. This project is a response to the 2021 Beyond the Count report call to Jewish communal leaders and organizations to reflect the full diversity within our communities. The research recommended supporting JoC-led initiatives serving Jewish people of color, reflecting the multiracial reality of the Jewish people, prioritizing creating spaces for discourse and dialog among JoC, and promoting further research by and about Jewish people of color.
This project began one and a half years ago. In October 2022, a group of Jewish people of color advisors with clergy, ritual, and nonprofit experience convened to reflect on their experiences navigating Jewish end-of-life practices and rituals, and explore the idea of creating resources to support Jewish people of color during life’s most challenging moments.
National Survey Demographics
The 18-question survey was designed to reveal a range of Jewish end-of-life experiences around Planning, Rituals & Practices, Grief & Mourning, and Resources & Education.
A total of 45 individuals responded to the survey over a nine-week period. Survey respondents-
● ranged in age from 23 to 69
● were US-based, representing 16 states.
● were mostly women (62%), with 19% men, and 19% nonbinary or another gender.
● were nearly half mixed race (43%) and nearly a third identifying as only Black.
● were more than half (55%) Ashkenazi only
● were well-educated, with most (76%) holding a college degree or higher
A Project of Kavod v’Nichum Commissioned by the Jews of Color Initiative
This report is a treasure of the wisdom, spirit, tenacity, and endurance of the Jewish people through the eyes of one part of the community which has experienced marginalization. The benefit of starting with Jewish people of color as the focus population is centering the voices and experiences of Jews demonstrated to be deeply knowledgeable and actively engaged within their Jewish communities. This focus will foster inclusive resources that will overwhelmingly support the entire Jewish community during every stage of the end-of-life process.
Death may be one of only a few universal truths. However, the world has grown into different cultural communities with a range of thought around death philosophies and rituals. Jewish tradition holds powerful intentional traditions of caring for both the dead and the living. Judaism has also grown into a composite of communities. This research project explores the nuance of custom and liturgy among Jews living today, after long periods of survival, transition, and transformation across the diaspora.
Qualitative Interview Demographics
Follow-up interviews were conducted with 11 people who completed the survey and opted in. Interviews focused on ways in which individuals navigate or want to navigate end-of-life moments with practices that honor their whole selves and serve ritual needs.
Interview respondents-
● represented states from the East and West Coast, the Midwest, and the South.
● were between the ages of 31 and 69.
● were mostly women, as well as 3 nonbinary people, and 1 man.
● held many racial identities, incl.: AsianAmerican; Black/African-American, Multiracial; Puerto-Rican Cuban with Taino & African Ancestors; Mixed-race, Chinese or Toisanese Ashkenazi Jew, Jew of Color, Xicana/Latina, Indigenous Ashkenazi White
Jewish people of color are finding ways to be fulfilled through their ritual engagement. There is a lot to consider when planning for or supporting end-of-life for oneself or those cared for.
Key Survey Findings
Nearly half (49%) of survey respondents feel less able to accommodate Jewish end-of-life ritual needs compared to other Jewish life cycle moments
Respondents were split when talking about death. Just over a majority (52%) find it easy or very easy; a close minority (42%) find it difficult or very difficult.
Additional takeaways:
● The majority of survey respondents (71%) have not taken concrete steps to make end-of-life arrangements, and the majority of them (94%) would like to or intend to.
● When it comes to chevra kadisha, 16% of survey respondents are currently involved, compared to 36% who are interested and 38% who are unsure how to connect with local societies. 24% didn’t know what chevra kadisha is.
Key Interview Findings
Concern for supporting mourners of diverse faith backgrounds was a recurring theme in most of the interviews.
“What does it feel like to die Jewishly when my most direct mourners aren't Jewish?”
A desire for communal support when planning for end-of-life was expressed by both survey and interview participants.
“The tradition is rich and it's deep and it's been talked about forever, we don't have to come and create something completely new, but we can help people access it.”
“There's a lot of resources for Jews to learn about Tahara… but if I want to learn the Yoruba based practice around death and dying, I don't know where to find that answer, it's so much harder to find… ”
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Summary (Page 2)
Summary (Page 3)
Recommendations:
● Foster spaces and experiences where Jewish people of color self-determine their path of Judaism that holds the pieces they want/need to hold in ways that honor them as wholly Jewish within the historical legacy of Jewish diversity.
● Create resources and support that helps Jewish people of color feel as connected to Jewish end-of-life practices and rituals as other Jewish ritual moments by creating more access, interaction, and learning around the diversity of Jewish end-of-life practices and rituals.
● Create engaging structured opportunities where Jewish people of color can work through the steps of Jewish end-of-life planning through a supportive process where they can bring their whole self into the process.
● Develop opportunities to listen, talk about, and ask questions about Jewish end-of-life and learn what other Jewish people of color are doing, experiencing, and grappling with as well as other Jews within the diversity of the Jewish community.
● Provide creative interactive opportunities where Jewish people of color can elect to share insight from ritual innovator experiences that support Jewish people of color learning from and with Jewish peers.
Conclusions:
Jewish people of color want and are finding ways to be fulfilled through their ritual engagement. There is a lot to consider when planning for or supporting end-of-life for ourselves or those we care for. The research suggests there is a lot of room to support those engaged with this process. One interview conversation made reference to “a big ole binder,” but how can we organize the tasks and options in clear and organized ways and make engaging with that binder more, well, engaging?
Survey results reinforce interview conversations reflecting a community of Jewish people striving for self-determination in how they relate to their Judaism. It’s important to note that for the ritual innovators exploring ways to hold both, it wasn’t only incorporating ritual into Judaism, but also bringing Judaism into other cultural experiences.
Having end-of-life conversations is as important as expanding who we are able to have those conversations with. A need to distinguish between talking and planning came through, along with an awareness of when to start, and a need for an increased sense that Jewish practice and ritual can hold Jewish mourners of color and their loved-ones with honor and comfort.
We can reframe what we leave behind as generational connections no matter their monetary value stories as much as rare books, traditions or recipes as much as real estate, legacies of volunteering as much as vintage cars. We can plan for one as much as another in ways that honor Jewish diversity.
Executive