On this special episode of Talking Away The Taboo, I Was Supposed To Have A Baby and Rabbi David Balto host Program 3 of the Perinatal Loss Summit.

Jewish Ritual Struggles with Perinatal Loss

Although we have a rich and supportive set of rituals for the death of an adult, those that deal with the loss of a pregnancy or an infant are lacking. How do we honor the memory of such a short life? Do we need new rituals to grapple with this type of grief and suffering? What can we do to build ritual tools such as taharah, shmirah, burial, and periods of mourning?

Rabbi Janet Madden, Ph.D, has served as a hospice, hospital, and congregational rabbi. She is a widely-published poet, ritualist, liturgist, and essayist, and finds joy in teaching Torah and creating and officiating soulful lifecycle events. She is the author of a forthcoming book on creative Jewish ritual.

Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin is the founder of the National Council of Jewish Women, Pregnancy Loss Support Program and the author of Tears of Sorrow, Seeds of Hope: A Jewish Spiritual Companion for Infertility and Pregnancy Loss.

Reva Judas created NechamaComfort to help families dealing with perinatal loss after the tragic loss of Reva's firstborn baby, Pesach. Reva's mission is that no one should ever feel alone when experiencing pregnancy and infant loss.