In this episode of "Death And," mortician and funeral director Victor M. Sweeney sits down with writer and producer Jessica Alpert to delve into the deep and spiritual tradition of ritual washing in Jewish death customs. The theme centers on Tahara, the ancient practice performed by volunteers in a Hevra Kadisha, where the deceased are lovingly washed, purified, and dressed in shrouds before burial. Jessica shares how this collective act is more than just practical—it’s an act of forgiveness, love, and community, emphasizing its importance for both the deceased and for those participating. Victor reflects on the differences and unexpected similarities between his own, more clinical style of preparing the dead, and the spiritual meaning behind Tahara, exploring how the physical act of preparing a body can become a true act of loving kindness. Links and Resources http://deathandpodcast.com http://youtube.com/@victormsweeney http://instagram.com/victor.m.sweeney http://tiktok.com/@victormsweeney http://x.com/victormsweeney http://simonandschuster.com/books/Now-Departing/Victor-M-Sweeney/9781668062111   https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/17/well/mind/surviving-heart-surgery.html https://www.hevrakadisha.org/ https://kavodvnichum.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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