Bereavement Support Guide

Offering Support to a Grieving Person:

Suggestions for Reaching Out to Someone Who Has Lost a Loved One

Someone you know has lost a loved one.  You feel helpless yet you want to find a way to say or do something that will comfort them in their grief.  If you haven't experienced the same loss (e.g. a parent, spouse, sibling, child) you may feel uncomfortable reaching out to the grieving person.  You don't want to make them feel worse so you might just avoid them.  Or, you might be worried that you will say or do something that is not helpful.

The following is an overview of useful practical suggestions when dealing with someone who has suffered a loss.  Keep in mind that each individual grieves in his or her own way.  There is also no time frame for grieving; the type of loss and circumstances may dictate the way an individual faces their grief.

Reaching out to the grieving person/family is always appreciated when approached in a considerate and thoughtful manner.  The following are possible suggestions that address expressions of sympathy, understanding the grieving process, understanding individual grieving styles, ways to honor the memory of the loved one, and more.

A comprehensive list of bereavement books and websites that follow are useful resources for the bereaved as well as for those who wish to gain greater insight into the bereavement process.
Temple Emanuel continually strives to be a caring community and by supporting our fellow members during their darkest hours we each have the opportunity to fulfill this mitzvah.  It is not only a command that has been handed down from generation to generation but it is the highest act of human kindness.

“Hamakom Yenachem etchem btoch sh'ar aveilei Tzion V'Yerushalayim”

“May God comfort you among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem”