At the Jewish Collaborative of Orange County, our values are rooted in empathy and compassion. We offer programs and resources to support those who have suffered the loss of a loved one on their journey through grief to meet them where they are, and help them move toward renewed hope, healing and peace.
Rabbi Tilchin is available for pastoral visits, emotional support, and end-of-life needs. Please mail her at RabbiMarcia@JewishCollaborativeOC.org or call (949) 402-8004.
We also offer OC Egal, a nightly egalitarian minyan, for those observing Yahrzeit or wishing to recite Kaddish.
Programs
Online Bereavement Support Groups
The Jewish Collaborative and House of Ruach invite those who are navigating a path of grief to join us for online bereavement support. This twice-a-month gathering is an opportunity to share our respective journeys through grief toward healing.
Monthly Schedule:
- FIRST Thursday of the month is for those who have lost spouses and longtime companions.
- SECOND Thursday of the month is for those who have lost teen and adult children.
- THIRD Thursday of the month is for those who have lost parents, guardians, siblings and close friends.
- FOURTH Thursday of the month - Circle of Hope & Healing - will feature special presentations by national experts and will be open to all
Thursdays meetings will convene from 5:00 - 6:30pm Pacific Time
Facilitator: Chaplain Fran Chalin M.S.W. / M.J.C.S.
To learn more and express interest in participating, please click here.
Community Kever Avot Services
Honor the tradition of visiting our buried loved ones between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
To learn more about the Kever Avot here.
Partners & Resources
Recommendations
Books:
- Making Loss Matter by Rabbi David Wolpe
- When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold Kushner
- A Short Course in Happiness after Loss (and other dark difficult times) by Maria Sirois, Psy. D.
- A to Z Healing Toolbox: A Practical Guide for Navigating Grief and Trauma with Intention by Susan Hannifin-MacNab
- When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön
- A Grief Observed by C. S. Lewis
- The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
- The Healing Hand: 5 discussions to have with the dying who are living by Sue Knight Deutsch
Websites:
- Soaring Spirits International (Widowed)
- The Compassionate Friends (Grieving Parents)
- The Dougy Center (Grieving Children)
- Esalen Institute (has some grief workshops)
- Kripalu (has some grief workshops)
Videos:
- TED Talk "We don't move on from grief, we move forward with it" by Nora McInerny
- TED Talk "When Someone You Love Dies, There is no such thing as moving on" by Kelly Lynn
- "Happiness in Dark Times" by Maria Sirois
- "Colors of Grief and Healing" by Sue Knight Deutsch
- Speaking Grief, a YouTube video exploring the transformative experience of losing a family member in a grief-avoidant society. It validates grief as a normal, healthy part of the human experience rather than a problem that needs to be “fixed.”
