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Author
Rabbi Carl Astor
Rabbi Carl Astor
My Posts
What Does Jewish Law Say About Autopsies and Organ Donation?
The halakhah does not generally permit autopsies, due to honoring the dead. However, there are two important exceptions to that rule.
Rabbi Carl Astor
,
The Observant Life (Book)
February 28, 2023
Confronting Death
Death and Dying
Kohanim and Funerals
Kohanim were forbidden to come into contact or share indoor space with the bodies of the dead, apart from their closest of relatives.
Rabbi Carl Astor
,
The Observant Life (Book)
February 28, 2023
Death and Dying
Funerals
Aninut: What Should Mourners Do Until Burial
The period from the time of death until burial is known as aninut - the customs of the mourners during the initial stages of bereavement. ...
Rabbi Carl Astor
,
The Observant Life (Book)
February 26, 2023
Death and Dying
Lifecycles
How to Comfort Mourners During Shivah
What do I do when I go to a shivah? Remember that conversation should be about the deceased, not the mourners or the visitors.
Rabbi Carl Astor
,
The Observant Life (Book)
February 26, 2023
Death and Dying
Lifecycles
Jewish Laws and Rituals for Funerals
What are the Jewish laws and rituals regarding funerals? Generally, a ritual washing, burial, and a funeral, each with their own customs.
Rabbi Carl Astor
,
The Observant Life (Book)
February 26, 2023
Death and Dying
Funerals
What is Sheloshim?
Shloshim are the thirty days that follows the week of shivah and is considered a period of reduced mourning.
Rabbi Carl Astor
,
The Observant Life (Book)
February 26, 2023
Death and Dying
Lifecycles
What is Shivah?
The word shivah refers to the seven days of mourning that follow the burial of a parent, child, sibling, or spouse.
Rabbi Carl Astor
,
The Observant Life (Book)
February 26, 2023
Death and Dying
Lifecycles
How do Jews Celebrate the Birth of a Daughter?
There are several ceremonies that families use to welcome and name a newborn girl in the synagogue or in the home.
Rabbi Carl Astor
,
The Observant Life (Book)
June 21, 2022
Baby Naming
Lifecycles
What is a Brit Milah: Jewish Ritual Circumcision?
Brit Milah refers to the covenant of circumcision, both the ritual act and the festive occasion surrounding a baby boy’s circumcision.
The Observant Life (Book)
,
Rabbi Carl Astor
June 20, 2022
Baby Naming
Brit Milah