Death Rituals Series: Chevra Kadisha with Gail Rubin

About this episode

Gail Rubin joins the podcast to discuss the Jewish tradition of Chevra Kadisha and the importance of open conversations about death and grief.

Chevra Kadisha is On the Table Today. For the final episode of our Death Rituals series, we’re joined by death educator Gail Rubin. Gail Rubin is an American author, speaker, and Certified Thanatologist known for helping people have more open, less intimidating conversations about death and end-of-life planning. Often called “The Doyenne of Death,” she uses humor, films, and practical tools to make a traditionally taboo topic more approachable. She is the author of A Good Goodbye and Kicking the Bucket List , guiding people through funeral planning and getting their affairs in order. Based in Albuquerque, she is also a leading voice behind the Death Café movement in the U.S., encouraging honest discussions about mortality. Gail joins On the Table with Ashley to explore the longstanding Jewish tradition of Hevra Kadisha - its origins, meaning, and purpose - to share how this practice has shaped her own grief journey. She opens up about navigating loss, from grief counseling to psychedelic-assisted therapy, and the ways she has leaned on community to heal and move forward. The conversation closes with a powerful reminder about the importance of preparing for and talking about…

People in this episode

Host: Âme Atendre

Guest: Gail Rubin

Topics covered

• death rituals
• grief
• Jewish traditions
• end-of-life planning
• community support
• conversations about death

Keywords

• death education
• funeral planning
• Hevra Kadisha
• grief counseling
• psychedelic-assisted therapy
• mortality discussions

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Chevra Kadisha, Death Café

Books & works: A Good Goodbye, Kicking the Bucket List

Places: Albuquerque

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