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Sponsored by the Nancy and James Grosfeld
Cancer Genetics Center

4th Annual

Hereditary Breast Cancer Symposium

Honoring The Life
Of The Deceased

Join experts from Beaumont for Michigan's only daylong
conference for women and men with hereditary cancer.

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Parshat Cheyei Sarah: Genesis 23:1-25:18;
I Kings 1:1-1:31.

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Friday, Nov. 20, 2015
8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Beaumont Hospital - Royal Oak

Administration Building, Auditorium
3601 W. 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak, Ml 48073

The conference is free; registration is required and limited.

his week's Torah portion
begins with the words,

sharing can be not only cathartic for
them, but also really helpful for all the
"Vayihiyu chayei Sarah" —
mourners.
"And the life of Sarah was ..."
Hearing from the people who knew
What we learn from that first sen-
the deceased best can be important
tence is that her life spanned 127 years.
while walking the mourner's path.
In other words, this week's parshah
Shivah, too, can be instrumental in
announces the death of Sarah, even
keeping alive the memories of our
though the Hebrew text refers to the
loved ones. Going through pictures,
"life of Sarah:" This is the way for us
sharing stories, is healing in many
Jews. We celebrate life, not death.
ways.
Even at funerals, we speak of
If we think about it, what
the deceased in terms of how
we want our loved ones to
they lived their life. We recount
remember about us is not how
their gifts, their accomplish-
we died, but how we lived.
ments, their relationships,
What was important to us,
what was important to them.
what we stood for, how we
The hesped, eulogy, is ancient.
spent our time, who we loved,
It has always been our path, as
how we loved, what we did,
Jews, to cherish a person's life
the differences we made, the
Rabbi Arnie
rather than dwelling on their
legacy we leave behind. This
Sleute !berg
death.
is what is important to talk
So often, however, family
about.
members feel the need to share with
May each eulogy begin, "The life of
each person in their circle of loved ones ..." And may we so live that the recount-
the details of the deceased's last days.
ing of our life will bring us honor while
Sometimes, with a lot of detail, they
leaving behind a rich legacy of love. *
recount every event leading to their
Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg is the spiritual leader of
loved one's death.
Congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy.
When I ask for them to share details
of their loved one's life, usually the
energy shifts, and a flood of memories
Conversations
emerges. I simply say, "tell me about
• How can we celebrate life while
your dad:' and off they go with poi-
bowed in grief?
gnant stories.
•What are the memory-triggers that
Just like Abraham after Sarah's death,
can help us remember the life of our
initially we need to make sure we have
loved ones?
a burial place and funeral arrange-
•Without a specific belief in afterlife,
ments, but then attention can be turned
Jews concentrate on this life. How
to memories. Commonly, today, loved
could we devote ourselves more fully
ones speak at the funeral. I encour-
to living each day more fully?
age mourners to speak if they are
able because I find that their heartfelt

Visit classes.beaumont.edu (search for "BRCA")
or call 800-633-7377.

With support from the Sylvia & Edward Hagenlocker Cancer Genetics
Research & Program Support Fund.

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111 11M

ur relationships make a profound

impact on student learning.

Roeper teachers develop a meaningful relationship with each student.
When students feel known and valued, they feel comfortable taking
learning risks
they discover their voices, think outside the box,
and become passionate learners.

Middle/Upper School (Grades 6— 12) Open House: November 12 at 9am
Lower School (Preschool — Grade 5) Open House: November 17 at 9:30am

THE ROEPER SCHOOL

WHERE GIFTED STUDENTS LOVE TO LEARN

WWW.ROEPER.ORG p. 0, 248.203.7317

THE ROEPER SCHOOL IS AN EQUAL-OPPORTUNITY INSTITUTION

November 5 •201

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