Death and Mourning

The Yartzeit should not call forth any feeling of sadness, but rather a feeling of earnest reflection, introspection and self-examination. With a view to attuning one’s life on this earth to the life-path of the soul Above, which is constantly on the ascent

At this time the soul "departs from the body," in the sense that it abandons the bodily needs, inclinations and lusts. This is a fitting time to reflect upon the opportunities which have been given to the soul to "return" to its Source

Whatever the direct cause of the separation of the soul from the body, whether a fatal accident or a fatal illness, it could affect only any of the vital organs of the physical body, but could in no way affect the spiritual soul.

I was deeply grieved to read in the newspaper about the tragic loss of your tender young son, may he rest in peace... During a time of war and peril you were saved - indeed, you were among those who secured the victory for our nation, the Children of Israel, against our enemies.

Letter to a teenage girl who lost her mother. Reconciles contradiction in our sages’ mourning laws; discusses the departed soul’s ascent and how to keep close to it.

This person had invited members of his community to a festive meal in his home on Shavuot, to celebrate the completion of a Torah scroll which was scheduled to be presented to the synagogue in the days following the festival. In the course of the celebration, a young woman suddenly fell ill and died. The distraught host wrote the Rebbe, seeking answers to his questions

Should one mourn a death for eternity? And when one stops mourning, does he lose his connection with the departed soul? Would the soul be happy if we refrain from mourning?

is more bearable--and its recovery more certain

Is there really a way to escape G-d, and what does suicides actually do?

Are we to mourn, or to refrain from it? And should one mourn for eternity? How does continued mourning affect the departed soul?

The traditional expression of “Hamakom yenachem” implies that both the bereavement and sympathy of the individual is shared by the entire Jewish people…

If death brings the soul back to its source in heaven, what then is purpose of mourning?

If the soul is reincarnated in various bodies, in which body will it finally be resurrected with the Moshiach comes?

What makes the real person is not his flesh and bones, but his character and spiritual qualities . . .