Attending a Jewish funeral and sitting shiva for a friend's mother led the author to reevaluate her relationship with religion, ultimately inspiring her decision to convert to Judaism.

James G. Robinson reflects on his family's experience dealing with their son's serious heart defect, which led them to draw on their Jewish faith and tradition for strength and guidance.

"The High Holy Days are a reminder of the preciousness and fragility of life. They begin with Rosh Hashanah and end with Yom Kippur, prompting us to reflect on our mortality. Sometimes, tragic events in our community make us even more aware of life's vulnerability. The death of a child is especially devastating and upends the natural order of things. In times of grief, we can turn to ancient Jewish stories for guidance. One story teaches us to mourn the devastation but not to live in perpetual deprivation. We can find joy in the midst of suffering. Another story reminds us that even in moments of great joy, we should not forget the heartache and suffering that exist in the world. Both stories invite us to hold both grief and joy, acknowledging that every moment is filled with pain and possibility."

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, Sara and Avi Schwartz discuss the life and loss of their daughter, Yakira Leeba Schwartz, who had muscular dystrophy.

The author reflects on the significance of Tisha B'Av, a fast day commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem.

This text is a personal reflection about the experience of the author's father dying while he was a child.

The text reflects on the author's interdisciplinary study of mourning practices in Jewish tradition and loss in clinical social work, highlighting the contrast in emotional responses between the two fields.