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Bible quotes for terminally ill4/10/2024 When Sarah finds out that her son was being prepared for slaughter, “her soul went out from her and she died” (Rashi on Genesis 23:2) although Isaac would not, ultimately, be harmed or killed. One day God commands Sarah’s husband, Abraham, to sacrifice this cherished child as a test of faith. SarahĬan a person die of a broken heart? In the Torah, Sarah does.Īfter struggling to bear children, Sarah finally gives birth to her beloved son, Isaac. The lesson being: When we leave behind instructions, a legacy, and blessings, we never truly die. There is even a famous teaching ( Rashi on Genesis 49:33) that says Jacob did not really die. There is wisdom for us all in Jacob’s death. These conversations are uncomfortable, but they are also the ultimate expression of love. Telling a loved one whom we want at our beside or what medical measures we want to be taken or how we want to be remembered can be done at any age. And because we don’t know what our own death will be like, it is important to prepare for it as early as possible, even before we are ill. Sometimes a person who is dying is no longer conscious or cognitively capable of imparting their wishes. Some deaths happen in the hospital because that is the only place a person is able to get the care they need. Some deaths are unexpected and unplanned. Of course, the type of death Jacob has is not always possible. He does this all in the comfort of his home. He ties up his loose ends and makes sure everyone he needs to speak with hears him. Jacob does not get the life he wanted - as he says to Pharaoh: “ Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life.” (Genesis 47:9) But he does get the death he wanted. In contemporary terms, he models a life review and legacy work, and provides an ethical will - all things that healthcare professionals, therapists and clergy so often encourage. Jacob even tells his children exactly where to bury him - alongside his ancestors. (Genesis 47:28) He rebukes those who need it and tells his own life story. Not only does he know that his death is imminent, he has the mental clarity to call each of his children to his bedside to bless them and give them advice for life after he is gone. In the Torah, Jacob has a famously good death. Hospice organizations, palliative care teams and family members of those who are dying are finding that these components can ease anxiety and pain and create peace at the end of life. Death with closure in all relationships.Death surrounded by loved ones or whomever one desires.Death at home or in one’s place of choice.Is there such a thing as a good death? Today much of the research around this question says yes, and it looks like this: Below are some key examples from the Torah and what they teach us about dying. And so when we face death, our biblical ancestors can serve as models for how we approach the end of life. But how we die is also part of how we live. The Torah is called Etz Chayim, a tree of life, because it provides values, ethics and laws by which Jews are commanded to live. This post is part of a series sponsored by and developed in partnership with MJHS Health System and UJA-Federation of New York to raise awareness and facilitate conversations about end of life care in a Jewish context. MJHS Health System & UJA-Federation of New York
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