Thank You

First, I want to thank you for your kindness and understanding while my mother was ill, and in the days following her death. Temple Shaaray Tefila is a very special place.

People often assume that clergy are better prepared for dealing with death in the family, given all that we see and experience through our congregational lives. Yet, the reality is otherwise, as we go through the same range of emotions as anyone else, even when it comes to the challenging times of life. Yet there is one lesson I take and want to share with you, from what I see happen when individuals and families experience loss and from what we just went through.

Years ago, my mother prearranged her funeral and burial services, which took a tremendous responsibility off of the family during this most recent time of distress. We knew the plan beforehand, and had most everything in place when the moment arrived. I would add that planning beforehand made it much simpler to arrange to have the funeral the very next day, and spare ourselves delay. With a funeral director, chapel, grave, and casket already in place, we turned to meeting the family needs instead of getting caught up in details and decisions that could have been set beforehand.

Please consider this possibility for yourself and loved ones. Write me at RabbiRoss@TempleST.org and I can put you in touch with a director we work with and rely upon.

With wishes for good health and long life,
Rabbi Dennis Ross