Jack Lauwasser, a lifelong Chicagoan, began volunteering for JourneyCare Hospice after the death of his son-in-law, Josh, who spent his final days there. Jack is recently retired from the paint business. He  serves as chair of the Religious Services Committee of Ezra-Habonim, the Niles Township Jewish Congregation, the synagogue where he and his wife Jackie married in 2019.

Special Note: Sammy Weill, the editor and creative director of Unveiling Death, is heading to college! We've produced more than 30 episodes together, and I couldn't possibly have launched this podcast without him. I am so proud of you, Sammy.

Another Note: For the time being, Unveiling Death will now be released monthly.

Steven Stoehr has served as cantor of Congregation Beth Shalom in Northbrook, Illinois, since 1988. He is past president of the Cantors Assembly. Cantor Stoehr is primary author of A Minyan of Comfort, a guidebook for conducting services at shiva houses. He has also established a chevra kaddisha, which prepares bodies for Jewish burial. Cantor Stoehr has established a choir for adults with special needs called Selah, and he volunteers to lead Friday Shabbat services at a memory care facility. 

Eric Fusfield has served as Deputy Director of the B’nai B’rith International Center for Human Rights and Public Policy since 2007 and as Director of Legislative Affairs since 2003.  Eric, an attorney and rabbi, has represented the agency before Congress, the Executive branch, and foreign governments. He also serves on the Virginia Commission to Combat Anti-Semitism. 

Eric and I were students together at the Washington College of Law at American University.

Please reach out to me at [email protected]. And please follow Unveiling Death. 

I offered the following sermon during services for Shavuot, the holiday that celebrates the giving of Torah at Mt Sinai. Shavuot is one of four times during the year that Jews recite Yizkor, prayers of remembrance for loved ones who have died. This sermon considers the complicated lives of ancient Israel's second and third kings, David and Solomon. Both sinned, both struggled, both were close to God. 

Thank you to the talented Sammy Weill, Unveiling Death's editor and creative director (and my son). 

Follow and share this podcast, please. Contact me at [email protected].   

Emily B. Miller is a licensed funeral director, embalmer and founder of Colorado’s first environmental cemetery, the Colorado Burial Preserve. Emily was working as a funeral home manager when she perceived a need for a different type of cemetery, one with a native habitat mission. Emily also advocates for a greener funeral industry through education and outreach. As a board member of the Green Burial Council, she assists funeral homes through the green burial certification process. Check out these links: 

www.coloradoburialpreserve.com

www.greenburialcouncil.org

Elline Eliasoff is a gerontologist and clinical exercise physiologist with decades of experience in aging care. Elline began her career in the Veterans Administration and then launched Elite Rehabilitation and Care Management, her own sub-acute care practice. She has a masters in gerontology and a certificate in patient advocacy. Elline is a certified care manager. Check out her website: ellineeliasoff.com.

Elissa Felder’s book, “From One Life to the Next Life: The Sacred Passage After Death,” published by Mosaica Press, draws upon her experience in Chevra Kaddisha, sacred Jewish burial societies, and upon her experience as a mother whose baby son, Sam, of blessed memory, died at four and a half months. Elissa is a board member of JADE, the Jewish Association for Death Education. She is also Founder and Director of Core Connects Rhode Island, which deepens women’s connections to Jewish wisdom and values. Check out Elissa’s wonderful Torah insights on YouTube. And buy her book.

Her Memory for Blessing? Peace Be Upon Him? Blessed is the True Judge? In this joint episode of Unveiling Death and Weird Being Jewish, Rabbi Matt Reimer, Rabbi Josh Rose and I explore what these phrases mean and whether we should use them at all. 

Lauren Herrmann is a multifaceted creative and certified death midwife. Jeremy Pane is a Brick Specialist at Lego and editor at Baha’i Publishing.

Both Lauren and Jeremy were born and raised in the Baha’I faith and live in and around Chicago.

Contact me at [email protected] and please follow and share Unveiling Death.