What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to explore the bereavement experiences of Orthodox Jews and the influence of cultural beliefs and community support.

June 11, 2026

One person’s loss is a community’s loss: the psychological experience of Orthodox Jews in bereavement

Key Points

This research aims to explore the bereavement experiences of Orthodox Jews and the influence of cultural beliefs and community support.
Qualitative content analysis of interviews with 21 Orthodox Jewish individuals
Participants had experienced the loss of a close relative in the past five years
Semi-structured interviews focused on death experiences, funerals, and mourning rituals
Identified distinct categories of continuing bonds and their emotional significance
Rituals and Torah provided comfort and meaning to participants
Family and community dynamics played significant roles in the bereavement process

Abstract

Orthodox Judaism has highly structured beliefs and rituals regarding death, bereavement, and the afterlife and as such, with implications for the impact on the bereavement experience. A qualitative content analysis study was conducted to investigate the experience of 21 Orthodox Jewish participants who had suffered a loss of a close relative within the last five years. Participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview that inquired about their experiences of death, the funeral, and the year of mourning. Analysis revealed several distinct categories that included rational and mystical continuing bonds, how Torah and rituals may give comfort and meaning, and how family and community helped or hurt the process of bereavement.

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