“For love is strong as death ...” — Song of Songs 8:6

In the words Our Leadership of our families ... Sacred Waters is the culmination of a life’s work for our president, Rabbi Avivah W. Erlick, BCC. A hospice and health- care rabbi in many (Mayim Kedoshim) “Your tahara service brought us settings, she studied tahara with much solace and support the Gamliel Institute of Kavod at a time of need, and helped us V’Nichum, and co-founded the Customs Jewish Burial Society of So. Calif. reaffirm our faith tradition.” of Farewell Rabbi Avivah was ordained by the Academy for Jewish Religion, Calif., from the Jewish “It was very gentle. is a board certified interfaith chap- There was nothing lain, and writes a regular column for Tradition off-putting about it.” the L.A. Jewish Journal.

“I was glad you could provide a ceremony that made sense for our family.”

(Mayim Kedoshim) “It was as good as it could be, and I did it with a sincere heart.” www.Sacred-Waters.com (424) 88 - VISIT (424-888-4748)

“Before we covered her face, we kissed her on the cheek.”

Credits Sunset: Miroslav Vajdic/OpenPhoto.net. Waterfall: Nicholas A. Tonelli/www.flickr.com. Angel: Alice Popkorn, color modified, www/flikr.com. www.Sacred-Waters.com Logo: Craig Erlick Graphic Artist/www.CraigErlick.com. (424) 88 - VISIT (424-888-4748)

Meeting the unique needs of each family we serve.

acred Waters Pouring Out Love (Mayim Kedoshim) S Jewish communities worldwide are reclaiming the funeral practices of the past. Sacred Waters’ Jewish clergy guides families to share acts of honor and kind- specialists make these customs available as part of their end-of-life pastoral care. We seek to bring peace and ness with a loved one who grace to the dying, honor to the dead, and empowerment and comfort to the bereaved. has just died. Traditional Tahara Contemporary Touches For centuries, Jewish A traditional tahara is performed under strict Sacred Waters offers both traditional and customized families gathered at home protocols, using a fixed Hebrew liturgy to imbue forms of the ceremony, to meet any family’s needs. to accompany their loved each step with blessing. The ritual consists of:  Location: We can lead washing rituals in facilities ones through the last  Washing: The decedent is gently cleansed; and homes — even under a canopy in your garden . stages of life and beyond.  Purifying: Cold water is poured over their body  Participation: Family and caregivers may join in. They provided gentle care, to simulate a rushing  Customization: The ritual and soon after death they mountain stream or a can be enhanced with performed the customary ritual bath (mikvah); Why Tahara? poetry, music, flowers, washing ceremony called  Dressing: They are Tahara honors the miracle of the favorite clothing, pictures, tahara, or purification, shrouded in simple white human body, and the soul that is mementos and more. led by their community’s garments tied with symbolic believed to linger until the funeral. sacred guild (chevra  Outside the Box: Planning knots, their own prayer kaddisha). Through the ritual’s metaphor-rich a green, casketless shawl and yarmulke burial? A cremation? (optional) and a sheet; liturgy, both body and soul are Sacred Waters is bringing Want to honor a non- prepared to meet the Holy One of back this natural,  Enclosing: Placed in a plain Jewish relative? We are Blessing in the Temple on High. powerful, and healing wooden casket, they are happy to accommodate. continuum of care for ready for funeral and burial. today’s bereaved families. We make an after-death ritual available when, where and how your Ways to Immerse family needs it to be. We are rabbis, cantors and Jewish chaplains  Funeral, home prayer group (shiva minyan) with additional training in funeral customs and memorial service officiating. and end-of-life pastoral care. We can be  Sitting vigil with the dying and guarding the engaged directly or through hospices and dead (shmira) with music and Psalms. funeral homes. Call for details and referrals.  Talks and trainings on wise and venerable In addition to washing ceremonies, we offer: approaches to illness, death and  Mobile pastoral and grief counseling. bereavement.