Samuel C. Heilman holds the Harold M. Proshansky Chair in Jewish Studies and Sociology at the City University of New York. He is also on the faculty of Queens College, CUNY. He is the author of Defenders of the Faith (California, 1999), Synagogue Life (1998), Portrait of American Jews (1996), The People of the Book (1993), Cosmopolitans and Parochials (1989), A Walker in Jerusalem (1986), and The Gate Behind the Wall (1984).

"A work filled with textured descriptions of Jewish practice."-New York Jewish Week "Insightfully examines a traumatic time in all our lives."-Booklist

• Introduction Gosess and Petira: Near Death and the End of Life Onen: Freshly Bereaved Tahara: Purifying the Dead Leveiya: The Funeral and Its Accompaniment Shivah: Seven Days of Mourning Shloshim and Kaddish: The First Month and After The Twelve Months and Yahrzeit: Anniversary Beit Olam and Yizkor: Forever Final Thoughts Notes Glossary Index

Samuel C. Heilman holds the Harold M. Proshansky Chair in Jewish Studies and Sociology at the City University of New York. He is also on the faculty of Queens College, CUNY. He is the author of Defenders of the Faith (California, 1999), Synagogue Life (1998), Portrait of American Jews (1996), The People of the Book (1993), Cosmopolitans and Parochials (1989), A Walker in Jerusalem (1986), and The Gate Behind the Wall (1984).

"A work filled with textured descriptions of Jewish practice."-New York Jewish Week "Insightfully examines a traumatic time in all our lives."-Booklist

• Introduction Gosess and Petira: Near Death and the End of Life Onen: Freshly Bereaved Tahara: Purifying the Dead Leveiya: The Funeral and Its Accompaniment Shivah: Seven Days of Mourning Shloshim and Kaddish: The First Month and After The Twelve Months and Yahrzeit: Anniversary Beit Olam and Yizkor: Forever Final Thoughts Notes Glossary Index

Samuel C. Heilman holds the Harold M. Proshansky Chair in Jewish Studies and Sociology at the City University of New York. He is also on the faculty of Queens College, CUNY. He is the author of Defenders of the Faith (California, 1999), Synagogue Life (1998), Portrait of American Jews (1996), The People of the Book (1993), Cosmopolitans and Parochials (1989), A Walker in Jerusalem (1986), and The Gate Behind the Wall (1984).

"A work filled with textured descriptions of Jewish practice."-New York Jewish Week "Insightfully examines a traumatic time in all our lives."-Booklist

• Introduction Gosess and Petira: Near Death and the End of Life Onen: Freshly Bereaved Tahara: Purifying the Dead Leveiya: The Funeral and Its Accompaniment Shivah: Seven Days of Mourning Shloshim and Kaddish: The First Month and After The Twelve Months and Yahrzeit: Anniversary Beit Olam and Yizkor: Forever Final Thoughts Notes Glossary Index