What happens to the soul after we die? How do ancient Jewish traditions speak to modern grief, and how can preparing for the end of life actually teach us how to live more fully today?
On Monday, June 8, the Boulder community will have a unique opportunity to explore these profound questions. The Boulder JCC, the Boulder Chevra Kadisha, and JADE (Jewish Association for Death Education) are co-sponsoring a special presentation featuring Rick Light, a renowned author, educator, and leading voice in Jewish end-of-life practices.
Rick’s presentation will delve deeply into Jewish perspectives on the soul and the afterlife, tracing the evolution of these ideas from historical roots to modern interpretations. Far from being a somber academic exercise, the presentation will focus on how these theological views directly inform traditional Jewish practices at the end of life.
Attendees will explore how Jewish death-related rituals do not just teach us about dying, they present a profound roadmap for how to live with intention, dignity, and connection. The session will also address the practical and spiritual dimensions of preparing for death, offering guidance on how to navigate these sensitive topics and communicate your wishes with loved ones.
Rick Light brings more than two decades of dedicated teaching, writing, and hands-on experience to this presentation. His journey into Jewish education began in Colorado; he grew up as the only child in a Jewish family in the small mountain town of Gunnison. After graduating from the University of Colorado, he pursued extensive Jewish studies at a yeshiva in Jerusalem and within the rabbinic program at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles (now the American Jewish University).
Today, Light lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and serves as a course designer, instructor, and webmaster for JADE. He is also the designer behind the innovative Hineni tool, which helps individuals navigate end-of-life planning.
Light has published four books illuminating how respect, beauty, and transformation are woven throughout Jewish end-of-life rituals. His acclaimed titles include:
- Jewish Rites of Death: Stories of Beauty and Transformation (a 2016 Nautilus Book Award winner)
- Jewish End-of-Life Care in a Virtual Age: Our Traditions Reimagined
His books are available for purchase at Bookshop.org. This program is free, but advance registration is requested. You can register for Jewish Ideas About the Soul, Afterlife, and Death Preparation from 6:30 - 8:15 pm on Monday, June 8, on the Boulder JCC website.