There is no way of getting around it: the death of a loved one is one of life’s most crippling experiences. This is especially true of a parent’s death – regardless of his or her age. Respect for parents and the deceased has long been one of the hallmarks of Judaism. When a parent passes on to the World of Truth, the surviving family reacts with grief, followed by public displays of reverence. The family observes shivah, the seven-day mourning period. Sons recite Kaddish for eleven months following a parent’s death. It is a time when one is able to attend to his/her emotional needs, as well as to acknowledge an intellectual appreciation of the deceased both in general and, in particular, his/her own personal relationship. The Kaddish prayer is a form of sanctifying and affirming that the Torah ideals which had been so much a part of the life of the deceased continue unabated in his/her offspring.
The Torah decries over-excessive mourning and displays of grief. This was a practice employed by the pagans, who either venerated death or considered it the very end to everything. Judaism is life-oriented and encourages mourning practices that are restricted and life-affirming – including such mitzvos as Shabbos observance, Torah study and praying in a shul. This explains the juxtaposition of the above pesukim.
The Bostoner Rebbe, zl, relates that in America, circa 1930 through 1950, the only Jewish observance which Jews kept religiously – the only contact they had with their local shul – was to recite Kaddish for the passing of a parent. Although they kept very little or nothing else, Kaddish for a parent was different. In those days, Jews had respect for parents. They represented an old world from which the children had divorced themselves. In some instances, their parents represented their last ties to Judaism.
The Rebbe relates that once on a long, hot summer Shabbos, he was giving a shiur in Pirkei Avos in the Bostoner Shul. In the middle of the shiur, a young man dressed in work clothes entered and asked the Rebbe, “Can I ask the Rabbi a question?” The Rebbe promptly responded in the affirmative. Obviously, the young man did not understand that one does not interrupt a shiur.
Apparently, he had just lost a parent a few days earlier, and he was still in the middle of shivah. Just before Shabbos, someone had mentioned to him that shivah is not observed on Shabbos, since it is inconsistent with the joy inherent in Shabbos Kodesh. The Rebbe confirmed this. The fellow looked at the Rebbe, and in all seriousness born of naiveté he asked, “Can I go to my Saturday job as usual, or must I sit at home?”
The question bespoke an innocence, the consequence of ignorance of his own religion, and was heartbreaking. He had heard of shivah, even Yizkor, but Shabbos – one of Judaism’s mainstays – was foreign to him. He had not the vaguest idea what Shabbos was all about. He typified one who tragically was part of an entire generation of Jews lost to their heritage. At least they were aware of – and understood – the significance of sitting shivah. Regrettably, the generation which followed was clueless about shivah as well.
That was “then.” What about “now”? Decades ago Jews, regardless of their affiliation and preferred mode of Jewish observance, made a point to remember parents. Shivah and Kaddish were Jewish fundamentals to which they adhered. After all, it was for their parents. It is for this reason that I wonder how we have strayed so far, so quickly, from these basic rituals. Yes, the family aspect which was so prevalent, the togetherness of family which was the symbol of reverence for the deceased parent, is something of the past.
We are living in a time when death creates a vacuum – a leadership void – which creates the opportunity for sibling rivalry. The greater position, the more lucrative the material bounty, the more covetous and grudgingly the various family members become of one another. Sides are taken, positions are carved out and the love and harmony which reigned for a lifetime are suddenly torn asunder. All for a couple of dollars and a little kavod, glory. The neshamah, soul of the deceased, cries out, “What about respect? Where is your Kibud Av v’Eim, respect for parents?” Is this what a parent deserves to witness while he/she is in the Olam HaEmes, World of Truth? This is what I mean: Life was much simpler then. They did not know Shabbos, but they understood the significance of shivah. Today, we are aware of Shabbos, but have lost the true meaning of shivah. Remember, it is all part of the same Torah. One does not go without the other.
