Testimonials

Red Heifer

“For many years, I have been working with people at the end of their lives. Hospice has been a profession for me. I am a caregiver with 25 years of experience. It has only been in the last five of those years that I have begun working with people after they had passed away.

I started learning about the Chevrah Kadisha and the rituals that surround the end of life continuum. It opened a passion within me to teach and take care of people within our communities with after death care.  

Upon going to the conferences, I learned many new things that have been incorporated into the information that I pass onto others. There is one thing that has always been a question in the back of my mind. I had read the laws of purification in the book of Numbers 19:2. It specifically mentions about a protocol of what to do when someone touches a dead body. I started seeking understanding about this scripture. Does it relate to me? Is this something that I can do? I finally received an answer.

I had learned about The Red Heifer Kit. It is a kit that has supplies in it to walk through steps for cleansing and purifying ourselves on the third and seventh day after touching a dead body. It intrigued me so I bought a kit, and then ordered a few spares.

This is my experience of using the kit after taking care of someone who had recently died.

On the third day after performing a Taharah (the ritual washing of the deceased), I used the kit for the first time. I sat down and followed the instructions. I said a prayer, lit the candle, and then placed the tamei envelope in the water. I then put some of the water on my arms as I continued to pray. I then put water onto my heart and prayed for cleansing. That is when I unexpectedly broke down in tears. It was an emotional release that took me by surprise.  

When I used the kit again, it was the same reaction. The grief I felt in my heart for the person who died as well as for their family came out in my tears. It was a welcome reaction. I felt as if the burden that I had carried for the deceased was lifted off of me and I was filled with peace. I am not sure if this will happen every time I use the kit, or if there are different reactions according to the different circumstances surrounding the death. But I am sure I will be learning more as I utilize this resource again.

It also struck me that this cleansing process is the same number of days that one does for Shiva. If the people who perform a Taharah, for whatever reason, cannot go to the shiva house, it is a way of being connected with them as well. Both of these events correspond with each other in the number of days to perform these rituals. I find the beginning of this learning process fascinating……”

—Theresa Bates


“I used the red heifer kit for a sheloshim ritual--it was very successful and the woman for whom I did the ritual was so moved. She said that stirring the packet into the boiling water was deeply moving, literally--she felt the lump of her anger and grief dissolving and softening as she stirred. She took the melted candle and cedar-hyssop solution home with her...”

—Rabbi Janet Madden

Caskets

Coming soon!