Category Archives: Ceremony

Lessons of Holiness

Posted on April 25, 2014 by edcol52

Here is an article appearing on the Jewish Press website sent to me today. It speaks of the challenge of bereavement, finding our way forward and keeping our loved ones alive in our hearts. The Lessons of Holiness Even in … Continue reading →

Posted in Ceremony, Coping, Grief, Healing, Jake Colman, Jake's Spirit, Memory, Other Media, Print Article | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Passover

Posted on April 16, 2014 by edcol52

The observance of Passover is one of the very first commandments given in the Torah to what will become the Jewish nation. It is a precursor to the creation of The Children of Israel, the bringing together of a subjugated and enslaved minority and making … Continue reading →

Posted in Ceremony, Daily Ramblings, Food, Friends and Family, Grief, Honoring Jake, Jake Colman, Jake's Spirit, Memory, Sadness | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Fifteen

Posted on April 11, 2014 by edcol52

It has been a confused week since my last post. So many things to write about and yet so little change overall. I have been missing Jake hugely for the past several days; the intensity seems to be building. My … Continue reading →

Posted in Ceremony, Daily Ramblings, Food, Golf, Grief, Honoring Jake, Jake Colman, Memory, Sadness | 7 Comments

So Many Words

Posted on March 28, 2014 by edcol52

Today is the 3-month anniversary of Jake’s death. It is still difficult to believe he is gone. In these past three months, I have written many words, this post will take me past the 30,000 mark, posted hundreds of pictures, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ceremony, Coping, Daily Ramblings, Friends and Family, Golf, Honoring Jake, Jake Colman, Memory | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Going Through the Motions

Posted on March 23, 2014 by edcol52

There are several physical actions that take place during the Orthodox prayer service. One stands, sits, and bows at various places, to name a few. The actual words have lost much of their meaning for me, some of the phrases … Continue reading →

Posted in Ceremony, Coping, Jake Colman, Sadness | 8 Comments

Fixing Shiva

Posted on March 22, 2014 by edcol52

Shiva is the seven days immediately following a Jewish burial. It is the very beginning of the mourning process, a process that can take a lifetime. Typically, the mourners stay at home, and members of the community come to call. … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, Ceremony, Friends and Family, Grief, Kindness, Other Media, Support | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Making the Minyan

Posted on February 28, 2014 by edcol52

There is a concept in Judaism of ‘minyan’ or a quorum of ten men necessary for public religious observances. The sources of this requirement are several Biblical verses regarding congregations and the number of people who constitute a ‘congregation’, as … Continue reading →

Posted in Ceremony, Coping, Grief, Honoring Jake, Jake Colman, Sadness, Support | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Forever Young

Posted on February 8, 2014 by edcol52

In reading some of the “grief literature”, and in comments and discussions I have seen, I have learned some new terms. “Grief Spasms”, those paroxysms of anguish that grip, periodically often without warning. “Chronic Sorrow” describes exactly what condition a … Continue reading →

Posted in Ceremony, Coping, Daily Ramblings, Friends and Family, Grief, Healing, Jake's Spirit, Memory, Progress, Sadness | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Progress?

Posted on January 31, 2014 by edcol52

Today was a tiny slice of normal. The clouds lifted somewhat, and shreds of blue emerged from behind the corrugated grey clouds as the day wore on. Bustling around doing innocuous errands for most of the day, including trips to two … Continue reading →

Posted in Ceremony, Coping, Daily Ramblings, Grief, Healing, Jake's Spirit, Memory, Progress, Sadness, Tragedy | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Shloshim

Posted on January 29, 2014 by edcol52

Today we marked the end of the shloshim, the 30 days of mourning following Jake’s funeral. The day dawned cold and grey. A shroud of fog enveloped everything, damp and misty. We drove to the cemetery in silence. Even the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ceremony, Coping, Daily Ramblings, Friends and Family, Grief, Healing, Honoring Jake, Jake's Spirit, Memory, Support, Tragedy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments