A Project of The Daf Map & The Rabbinic Institute

Lezecher Nishmas

Honor the memory of your loved one with the timeless merit of Torah and tefillah. We arrange the study of Mishnayos and the recitation of Kaddish on their behalf, bringing comfort to the living and eternal aliyah (elevation) to the neshama (soul).

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Selected Halachos

  • At the Funeral and Cemetery
  • The family room is for family and not comforters.
  • The funeral home and the cemetery are for showing respect and honor to the deceased, not for comforting the mourners.
  • It is not the time or place for joking around or levity.
  • People who come to the funeral home or cemetery have not fulfilled their obligations for comforting the mourners.
  • If you are not the officiating rabbi, keep quiet. It is not your place to say anything pertaining to Jewish Law or custom.
  • Visitors to the Home (Nichum Aveilim)
  • Humorous anecdotes of the deceased spoken respectfully are in place.
  • You will probably feel uncomfortable doing this important mitzva, but that is normal.
  • This is not about you; it is about the mourners.
  • Do not offer gratuitous psychological advice.
  • Do what you can to be there for prayer times. It is a tremendous help for the family knowing that they will have a minyan.
  • If the family has a sign indicating times for visitors, follow the instructions. Do not enter outside of visiting times.
  • When you arrive, take a seat, and wait for one of the mourners to start the conversation. Just sitting there, even without saying anything, can be a comfort.
  • Encourage the mourners to talk about the person they lost.
  • Do not overstay your welcome.
  • Make sure the family has meals – someone should be responsible for coordinating the arrangements.
  • You are not there to socialize with the other guests.
  • Listen considerately. It is better to be silent than overly talkative.
  • Show concern for the mourner’s well-being. Your face should wear a mien of seriousness.
  • Ideally, your conversation should be therapeutic, not distracting.
  • The Mourner
  • Speak of the departed. It may be painful, but it will be a catharsis.
  • Recall the major events in their life and the quality of your relationships.
  • Do not feel obliged to talk with anyone, though speaking of the departed helps unburden the heart.