This is the next event in the Tefilah Lab series, an experiential, experimental discussion and meditation group sponsored by Monmouth Reform Temple.

Jewish liturgy makes frequent reference to death and resurrection, from Ezekial’s vision of the valley of dry bones to the vanquishing of death in the Passover song Chad Gadya, to the reference to reviving the dead in the second prayer of the Amidah, Gevurot. What’s with this fixation on death? It’s a bit morbid, isn’t it? Yet modern psychological theory would suggest that addressing this inevitable part of our existence, especially if done repeatedly and within a context that provides us with hope, is a healthy way to deal with this potential source of dread. In this session, we will explore some aspects of the Jewish response to our natural fear of dying and compare it to modern psychological theories related to this. We will review some recent research that suggests that there is a biological basis for our ability to transcend our fear of death. We will finish with a Kabbalah based meditation and visualization that has been described as a powerful way to change the way we think about death, from a source of dread to a gateway to the deeper meaning of our existence.

This session of Tefilah Lab like all sessions is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Elliott Familant at efamilant@gmail.com.