Thursday, April 7: Rabbi Samuel Stahl
Death & Dying: Religious Customs & Rituals in the Jewish Faith
ABODE Academy 4 kicks off 6:30-7:30 pm, Thursday, April 7, with Rabbi Samuel Stahl sharing Death & Dying: Religious Customs & Rituals in the Jewish Faith. Join us for this six-week Zoom series highlighting a wide range of faiths including Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant. It's free and open to everyone anywhere as part of ABODE's mission to teach the art of contemplative living and dying.
While most of us are familiar with customs and rituals in our own faith communities, those of our neighbors can seem a bit of a mystery. A better understanding helps us take better care of one another in our final days.
 Session 1: April 7 – The Jewish Faith
Speaker: Rabbi Samuel Stahl, Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Beth‑El
When someone dies in the Jewish faith, their body is never left alone between the time of death and the burial. Most synagogues have a burial committee whose members wash and shroud the dead and sit with them until the burial takes place. For seven days, the family sits shiva (literally seven). Friends visit, bringing food and sharing stories of the person who has died.
About Rabbi Stahl: For 26 years, Rabbi Stahl served as the Temple Beth‑El’s Senior Rabbi. Rabbi Stahl is deeply committed to enhancing interfaith relations. He is the author of Making the Timeless Timely: Thoughts and Reflections of a Contemporary Reform Rabbi and Boundaries, Not Barriers: Some Uniquely Jewish Perspectives on Life. Rabbi Stahl also was appointed Theologian-in-Residence at Chautauqua Institution, where he is on the staff of its Department of Religion and frequently lectures.
A LOOK AHEAD
 Session 2: April 14 – The Hindu Faith
Speaker: Veena Prasad, PhD, University of Texas Long School of Medicine
Hindus believe in reincarnation and that the soul passes through a cycle of successive lives (samsara) until liberation from reincarnation, pain and suffering occurs and enlightenment (moksha) is attained. Hindus also believe that karma influences the form of rebirth a person experiences. Funeral rituals are based on the Vedas, an ancient set of scriptures, the oldest layers of which (the Samhitas) detail the correct performance of ritual.
About Veena Prasad, PhD: As a service to the community, Dr. Prasad performs all the Hindu rituals including cremation ceremonies. She also chants Gita and reads scriptures to those in their last hours. Dr. Prasad works at the UT Health Long School of Medicine as a behavioral health consultant. She’s partnering with a UT palliative care physician to develop a resource and training for culturally competent end-of-life care and conversations.
 Session 3: April 21 – The Muslim Faith
Speaker: Imam O. Adib Shakir
Islam teaches that the body resides in a coffin until the Day of Judgement. This is a period of trial where angels question the person about their beliefs and practices. On the Day of Judgement, a horn will blow and the dead will be resurrected to face final judgement. As death nears, it’s common for immediate family to stay near their loved one’s bedside reciting the Qur'an. Muslims pray toward Mecca, so it’s appropriate to position the dying person toward Mecca, if possible. Since Muslims believe in physical resurrection, cremation is not encouraged.
About Imam Shakir: Imam Shakir was raised in the Baptist tradition until the age of 14 when he was introduced to the religion of Al-Islam (Islam). At the age of 16, he embraced Al-Islam under the leadership of Imam Warith Deen Mohammed. He was elected Resident Imam (Leader) of the local Muslim community in Schenectady, NY, when he was 25.
The Imam is the Resident Imam at Masjid Bilal Ibn Rabah. He is a regular participant in ecumenical services and interfaith dialogue. He lectures at many local colleges, universities and churches, and he has made the pilgrimage (Hajj) to the sacred house in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
AND WAIT! THERE'S MORE!
ABODE Academy continues with sessions on Buddhist, Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant faiths through Thursday, May 12. For our full list of topics and speakers, head over to our ABODE Academy page on our website. And please RSVP here! We'd love to have you!
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Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15
ABODE Art Show and Sale Featuring
E. Gordon West of the Watercolor Gang
Ready to add a signed, original E. Gordon West of the Watercolor Gang to your art collection? Then don’t miss ABODE’s Annual Spring Art Show and Sale.
Join us at Brown Hall, Church of Reconciliation, 8900 Starcrest Dr., for our two events:
• Opening Reception with Silent Auction, 5-8 pm, Saturday, May 14
• Brunch Show, 10 am-1 pm, Sunday, May 15
We'll have a beautiful array of Gordon's pieces and limited edition prints, along with art from Brother Cletus and other local favorite artists including Lyn Belisle, Michelle Belto, Frankie Boone, Toni Cheshire, Jim Collier, Marie Collier, Vikki Fields, Bruce Flohr, Lesta Frank, Becky Hadley, James Wyatt Hendricks, Terry Gay Puckett, Edwin Sasek, Patsy Sasek, Steven Smith and Peter Szarmach.
Catering by Frankie Boone with wines from Scout & Cellar.
We hope you'll join us! We'd love to see you there!
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