Death and Dying
Talking about death can be daunting, especially in facing the inevitability of our own. We can make these conversations and rituals easier and more enriching by incorporating Jewish values, traditions, and practices.
Why should we talk about death with our grandchildren?
Children are deeply perceptive, and silence around death often creates more fear than clarity. When we share our beliefs, memories, and wishes with our grandchildren, we offer them a framework to understand grief, love, and legacy. We teach them from a young age that death is part of life — and that Jewish tradition has wisdom to offer in these moments and can be called upon as they grow up.
These conversations don’t have to be perfect. They simply have to begin.
Whether you start with a story, a ritual, or a memory, opening the door to honest dialogue about death helps build resilience and connection across generations. You might be surprised by what your grandchildren already wonder about, and your conversations could form a memory they come back to at times of loss throughout their lives.
Death is never easy to talk about. But in the context of love, family, and tradition, it can become an act of care.
The Jewish Grandparents Network is deeply grateful to:
Shomer Collective, a Jewish organization dedicated to talking about death, Jewishly, for writing and curating many of the resources below, and to the Sephardic Foundation on Aging for their generous support of this project.
Books, podcasts, and videos can be a safe way for children to explore complex emotions, help them understand the concept of mortality, and launch important conversations with trusted adults.
The following resources, sites, and services can be helpful if you are seeking guidance about dying, death, and mourning.
This twelve-page guide helps grandparents normalize conversations about death with grandchildren ages five to ten.
Keeping the memory of a grandparent alive after their death and practical ways to shape their legacy, including Jewish traditions
While talking about death can be difficult, approaching the topic early and often helps reduce fear and shift focus toward making the most of life.
In this webinar recording, Rabbi Melanie Levav guides us in how grief for the death of a loved one is often most acute at holiday times and how grandchildren can make their memory for a blessing.
In this webinar recording, Rabbi Melanie Levav shares how to have developmentally appropriate conversations with children of all ages about preparing for a loved one’s long-term illness or the dying and death of any living being we care about.
We use technologies like cookies to remember your preferences. Consenting to these technologies will provide you with a better browsing experience. JGN never shares information about your use of our website.