Prayers and Readings for the Unveiling Ceremony and Family Visits

Prayers and Readings

For the Unveiling Ceremony
and Family Visits

A Jewish Family Tradition

THE UNVEILING CEREMONY

Our pain is the measure of our blessing. What
we have lost is a reflection of how we have
loved. They return to us, our beloved, in flashes
of memory, in moments of sweet, anguished
recollection. We remember the smile and grieve
that it is gone. We will never again touch the hand
that guided us or sought us out. Still, would we
wish never to have known that hand, never to have
seen that smile? God has given. God has taken
away. Our pain is the measure of our blessing.

— Rabbi David Wolpe
Max Webb Senior Rabbi of Sinai Temple

The unveiling ceremony gathers us together at the
gravesite to recall what is immortal and lasting in
this life. We can talk about our loved one with a
different spirit than the painful words of eulogy.
We may talk of what we miss most in our loved
one’s life. We may celebrate what was triumphant
and unique in this life. We may laugh at their
humor, feel the warmth of their love, bring close
their wisdom, recall the moments we most cherish,
and cry at the loss.

— Rabbi Edward Feinstein
Senior Rabbi, Valley Beth Shalom

INTRODUCTION

To be read by the leader of the service.

We join as family and friends at the final resting place of
our dear relative and friend, __________ (insert name of
the deceased).
Though time has passed since (he/she) was taken from
our midst, we still remember the important role that
(he/she) played in our lives. In gratitude for the many
blessings that (his/her) life brought and recognizing that
(his/her) memory and spirit still resonate within us, we
dedicate this tablet marking (his/her) eternal resting
place.

Because there are no formal religious requirements for
an unveiling service, we encourage you to incorporate
the prayers and passages in this book which provide
consolation and comfort to you and your family.

Psalm 23 (Hebrew and English).................................. Pages 2-3
Psalm 121 (Hebrew and English)..................................Pages 4-5
We Remember Them............................................................. Page 6
Unveiling the Memorial Tablet............................................ Page 7
El Malei Rachamim (Hebrew and English)..............Pages 8-9
Mourner’s Kaddish (Hebrew and English).............Pages 10-11
There are Stars Above..........................................................Page 12

MOUNT SINAI MEMORIAL PARKS AND MORTUARIES

1

PSALM 23 – A PSALM OF DAVID

.‫ ֹלא ֶא ְח ָסר‬,‫ יי ֹר ִעי‬,‫ִמ ְזמ ֹור ְל ָד ִוד‬
.‫ ַעל ֵמי ְמ ֻנח ֹות ְי ַנ ֲה ֵל ִני‬,‫ִּב ְנא ֹות ֶּדֶׁשא ַי ְרִּבי ֵצ ִני‬
.‫ ַי ְנ ֵח ִני ְב ַמ ְעְּג ֵלי ֶצ ֶדק ְל ַמ ַען ְׁשמ ֹו‬,‫ַנ ְפ ִ ׁשי ְיׁש ֹו ֵבב‬
,‫ ֹלא ִאי ָרא ָרע ִּכי ַאָּתה ִעָּמ ִדי‬,‫ּ ַגם ִּכי ֵא ֵלְך ְּב ֵגיא ַצ ְל מ ֶות‬

.‫ִׁש ְב ְטָך ּו ִמְׁש ַע ְנֶּתָך ֵהָּמה ְי ַנ ח ֻמ ִני‬
,‫ַּת ֲע ֹרְך ְל ָפ ַני ׁ ֻש ְל ָחן ֶנ ֶגד ֹצ ְר ָרי‬

.‫ ּכ ֹו ִסי ְר ָו ָיה‬,‫ִּדׁ ַּש ְנָּת ַבׁ ֶּש ֶמן ֹראִׁשי‬
,‫ַאְך ט ֹוב ָו ֶח ֶסד ִי ְר ְּדפּו ִני ּ ָכל ְי ֵמי ַחָּיי‬

.‫ְוַׁש ְבִּתי ְּב ֵבית יי ְל ֹא ֶרְך ָי ִמים‬

Mizmor le’Dovid, Adonai ro’i lo echsar.
Binot desheh yarbitzeini, al mei menuchot yenahaleini.
Nafshi yeshovev, yancheini bemag’lei tzedek lema’an

shemo.
Gam ki elech be’gei tzalmavet, lo ira ra ki atah imadi,
shivtechah u’mishantechah hemah yenachamuni.
Ta’aroch lefanai shulchan neged tzorerai
dishanta vashemen roshi, kosi revaya.
Ach tov va’chesed yirdefuni kol yemei chayai,
ve’shavti be’veit Adonai l’orech yamim.

MOUNT SINAI MEMORIAL PARKS AND MORTUARIES

2

PSALM 23 – A PSALM OF DAVID

ADONAI, You are my shepherd; I shall not want.
You make me lie down in green pastures;
You lead me beside the still waters.
You restore my soul;
You lead me in straight paths for Your name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me.
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You set a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days

of my life,
And I shall dwell in the house of the Eternal forever.

MOUNT SINAI MEMORIAL PARKS AND MORTUARIES

3

PSALM 121 – A SONG OF ASCENTS

.‫ ֵמַא ִין ָי ֹבא ֶע ְז ִרי‬,‫ ֶאּ ָׂשא ֵעי ַני ֶאל ֶה ָה ִרים‬,‫ִׁשיר ַלַּמ ֲעל ֹות‬
.‫ ֹעׂ ֵשה ָׁש ַמ ִים ָוָא ֶרץ‬,‫ֶע ְז ִרי ֵמ ִעם יי‬

.‫ ַאל ָינּום ׁ ֹש ְמ ֶרָך‬,‫ַאל ִיֵּתן ַלּמ ֹוט ַר ְג ֶלָך‬
.‫ ׁש ֹו ֵמר ִיְׂש ָר ֵאל‬,‫ִהּ ֵנה ֹלא ָינּום ְוֹלא ִייָׁשן‬

.‫ יי ִצְּלָך ַעל ַיד ְי ִמי ֶנָך‬,‫יי ׁ ֹש ְמ ֶרָך‬
.‫ ְו ָי ֵר ַח ַּבּ ָל ְי ָלה‬,‫י ֹו מם ַהּ ֶׁש ֶמׁש ֹלא ַיּ ֶכּ ָכה‬
.‫ ִיְׁש ֹמר ֶאת ַנ ְפֶׁשָך‬,‫יי ִיְׁש מ ְרָך ִמּ ָכל ָרע‬
.‫ ֵמ ַעָּתה ְו ַעד ע ֹו ָלם‬,‫יי ִיְׁש מר ֵצא ְתָך ּוב ֹו ֶאָך‬

Shir lama’alot, Esa einai el heharim, me’ayin yavo ezri.
Ezri me’im Adonai, oseh shamayim va’aretz.
Al yiten lamot raglecha, al yanum shomrecha.
Hineh lo yanum velo yishan, shomer yisrael.
Adonai shomrecha, Adonai tzil’cha al yad yeminecha.
Yomam hashemesh lo yakeka, ve’yareyach ba’lailah.
Adonai yishmorcha mikol ra, yishmor et nafshecha.
Adonai yishmor tzeit’cha uvo’echa, me’ata ve’ad olam.

MOUNT SINAI MEMORIAL PARKS AND MORTUARIES

4

PSALM 121 – A SONG OF ASCENTS

I will lift up my eyes unto the mountains:
From whence shall my help come?
My help comes from ADONAI,
Who made heaven and earth.
ADONAI shall not suffer your foot to slip;
The One that keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, the One that keeps Israel
Neither slumbers nor sleeps.
ADONAl is your keeper;
ADONAl is your shade upon your right hand.
The sun shall not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
ADONAI shall keep you from all evil;
And shall keep your soul.
ADONAI shall guard your coming and going,
From this time forth and forever.

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WE REMEMBER THEM

In the rising of the sun and in its going down,
We remember them.

In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter,
We remember them.

In the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring,
We remember them.

In the blueness of the sky and in the warmth of summer,
We remember them.

In the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of the autumn,
We remember them.

In the beginning of the year and when it ends,
We remember them.

When we are weary and in need of strength,
We remember them.

When we are lost and sick at heart,
We remember them.

When we have decisions that are difficult to make,
We remember them.

When we have achievements that are based on theirs,
We remember them.

So long as we live, they too shall live,
For they are now a part of us,
As we remember them.

—RABBI SYLVAN KAMEN AND RABBI JACK RIEMER

MOUNT SINAI MEMORIAL PARKS AND MORTUARIES

6

UNVEILING THE
MEMORIAL TABLET

In recognition of all that __________________________
(insert name of the deceased) meant to us when (he/she)
was alive, and the precious memories that we treasure,
we dedicate this Memorial Tablet in (his/her) memory as
a symbol of our love and respect.

Tablet is uncovered and read by the leader.

for a male

.‫ְּת ֵהא ִנְׁש ָמת ֹו ְצרּו ָרה ִּב ְצר ֹור ַה ַחִּיים‬

Tehi nishmato tzrurah bitzror hahaim.
May his soul be bound up in the bond of eternal life.

for a female

.‫ְּת ֵהא ִנְׁש ָמ ָתּה ְצרּו ָרה ִּב ְצר ֹור ַה ַחִּיים‬

Tehi nishmatah tzrurah bitzror hahaim.
May her soul be bound up in the bond of eternal life.

This is an ideal time for family and friends to share memories and
stories.

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‫‪EL MALEI RACHAMIM‬‬

‫‪memorial prayer for the departed‬‬

‫ֵאל מ ֵלא ַר ח ִמים‪ׁ ,‬ש ֹו ֵכן ַּבְּמר ֹו ִמים‪,‬‬
‫ַה ְמ ֵצא ְמנּו ָחה ְנכ ֹו ָנה‪ַּ ,‬ת ַחת ּ ַכ ְנ ֵפי ַהׁ ְּש ִכי ָנה‪,‬‬
‫ְּב ַמ ֲעל ֹות ְקד ֹוִׁשים ּו ְטה ֹו ִרים‪ְּ ,‬כז ֹו ַהר ָה ָר ִקי ַע ַמ ְז ִהי ִרים‪,‬‬
‫ֶאת ִנְׁש ַמת ___________ (‪)insert name of the deceased‬‬

‫‪for a male‬‬

‫ֶׁש ָה ַלְך ְלע ֹו ָלמ ֹו‪.‬‬
‫ְּב ַגן ֵע ֶדן ְּת ֵהא ְמנּו ָחת ֹו‪,‬‬
‫ָל ֵכן ַּב ַעל ָה ַר ח ִמים ַי ְסִּתי ֵרהּו ְּב ֵס ֶתר ְּכ ָנ ָפיו ְלע ֹו ָל ִמים‪,‬‬
‫ְו ִי ְצר ֹור ִּב ְצר ֹור ַה ַחִּיים ֶאת ִנְׁש מת ֹו‪.‬‬

‫יי הּוא ַנ ח ָלת ֹו‪,‬‬
‫ְו ָינּו ַח ְּבָׁשל ֹום ַעל ִמְׁשּ ָכב ֹו‪ְ ,‬ו ֹנא ַמר‪ָ :‬א ֵמן‪.‬‬

‫‪for a female‬‬

‫ֶׁש ָה ְל ָכה ְלע ֹו ָל מּה‪.‬‬
‫ְּב ַגן ֵע ֶדן ְּת ֵהא ְמנּו ָח ָתּה‪,‬‬
‫ָל ֵכן ַּב ַעל ָה ַר ח ִמים ַי ְסִּתי ֶר ָה ְּב ֵס ֶתר ְּכ ָנ ָפיו ְלע ֹו ָל ִמים‪,‬‬
‫ְו ִי ְצר ֹור ִּב ְצר ֹור ַה ַחִּיים ֶאת ִנְׁש מ ָתּה‪.‬‬

‫יי הּוא ַנ ח ָל ָתּה‪,‬‬
‫ְו ָתנּו ַח ְּבָׁשל ֹום ַעל ִמְׁשּ ָכ ָבּה‪ְ ,‬ו ֹנא ַמר‪ָ :‬א ֵמן‪.‬‬

‫‪MOUNT SINAI MEMORIAL PARKS AND MORTUARIES‬‬

‫‪8‬‬

EL MALEI RACHAMIM

memorial prayer for the departed

El malei rachamim, shochen bam’romim, hamtzei m’nucha
n’chona tachat kanfei ha-sh’china, b’ma’alot k’doshim
u-t’horim k’zohar ha-raki’a mazhirim, et nishmat

__________ (insert name of the deceased)

for a male

shehalach l’olamo. B’gan eiden t’hei m’nuchato. Lachen, ba’al
ha-rachamim, yastirehu b’seter k’nafav l’olamim, v’yitz’ror
bitz’ror ha-chayim et nishmato. Adonai hu nachalato,
v’yanu’ach b’shalom al mishkavo. V’nomar: Amen.

for a female

shehalcha l’olama. B’gan eiden t’hei m’nuchata. Lachen, ba’al
ha-rachamim, yastireha b’seter k’nafav l’olamim, v’yitz’ror
bitz’ror ha-chayim et nishmatah. Adonai hu nachalatah;
v’tanu’ach b’shalom al mishkavah. V’nomar: Amen.

O God, full of compassion, who dwells on high, grant perfect
rest beneath the sheltering wings of Your divine presence,
among the holy and pure who shine as the brightness of the
firmament, unto __________ (insert name of the deceased)

for a male

who has gone to his eternal home. Author of mercy, bring
him under the shelter of Your wings and let his soul be
bound up in the bonds of eternal life. May you be his
inheritance and may his repose be in peace. Amen.

for a female

who has gone to her eternal home. Author of mercy,
bring her under the shelter of Your wings and let her soul
be bound up in the bonds of eternal life. May you be her
inheritance and may her repose be in peace. Amen.

MOUNT SINAI MEMORIAL PARKS AND MORTUARIES

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‫‪MOURNER’S KADDISH‬‬

‫‪Add the words in parentheses between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur‬‬

‫ִי ְתּ ַגַּדל ְו ִי ְת ַקַּדׁש ְׁש ֵמּה ַרָּבא‪.‬‬
‫ְּב ָע ְל מא ִּדי ְב ָרא ִכ ְרעּו ֵתּה‪ְ ,‬ו ַי ְמ ִליְך ַמ ְלכּו ֵתּה‪,‬‬
‫ְּב ַחּ ֵייכ ֹון ּו ְבי ֹו ֵמיכ ֹון ּו ְב ַחּ ֵיי ְד ָכל ּ ֵבית ִיְׂש ָר ֵאל‪,‬‬

‫ַּב ֲע ָג ָלא ּו ִב ְז ַמן ָק ִריב‪ְ .‬ו ִא ְמרּו‪ָ :‬א ֵמן‪.‬‬

‫‪Congregation and Mourners‬‬

‫ְי ֵהא ְׁש ֵמּה ַרָּבא ְמ ָב ַרְך ְל ָע ַלם ּו ְל ָע ְל ֵמי ָע ְל ַמָּיא‪.‬‬

‫‪Mourners‬‬

‫ִי ְתָּב ַרְך ְו ִיְׁשַּתַּבח ְו ִי ְתָּפַאר ְו ִי ְתר ֹו ַמם ְו ִי ְת ַנׂ ֵּשא‬
‫ְו ִי ְת ַהָּדר ְו ִי ְת ַעּ ֶלה ְו ִי ְת ַהּ ָלל ְׁש ֵמּה ְּד ֻק ְדָׁשא ְּב ִריְך הּוא‬

‫ְל ֵעּ ָלא (ּו ְל ֵעּ ָלא) ִמן ּ ָכל ִּב ְר ָכ ָתא ְוִׁשי ָר ָתא‬
‫ּ ֻתְׁשְּב ָח ָתא ְו ֶנ ח מ ָתא‪ַּ ,‬ד ֲא ִמי ָרן ְּב ָע ְל מא‪ְ .‬ו ִא ְמרּו‪ָ :‬א ֵמן‪.‬‬

‫ְי ֵהא ְׁש ָל מא ַרָּבא ִמן ְׁש ַמָּיא‪,‬‬
‫ְו ַחִּיים ָע ֵלינּו ְו ַעל ּ ָכל ִיְׂש ָר ֵאל‪ְ .‬ו ִא ְמרּו‪ָ :‬א ֵמן‪.‬‬
‫ֹעֶׂשה ָׁשל ֹום ִּב ְמר ֹו מיו‪ ,‬הּוא ַי ֲעֶׂשה ָׁשל ֹום ָע ֵלינּו‪,‬‬

‫ְו ַעל ּ ָכל ִיְׂש ָר ֵאל‪ְ .‬ו ִא ְמרּו‪ָ :‬א ֵמן‪.‬‬

‫‪MOUNT SINAI MEMORIAL PARKS AND MORTUARIES‬‬

‫‪10‬‬

MOURNER’S KADDISH

Add the words in parentheses between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

Yitgadal v’yitkadash sh’mei raba. B’alma di v’ra chir’utei,
v’yamlich malchutei, b’chayeichon u-v’yomeichon u-v’chayei
d’chol beit yisrael, ba-agala u-vi-z’man kariv, v’imru: Amen.

Congregation and mourners

Y’hei sh’mei raba m’varach l’alam u-l’almei almaya.

Mourners

Yitbarach v’yishtabach v’yitpa’ar v’yitromam v’yitnasei,
v’yit-hadar v’yitaleh v’yit-halal sh’mei d’kudsha, b’rich hu,
l’eila (ul’eila) min kol birchata v’shirata tushb’chata
v’nechemata, da-amiran b’alma, v’imru: Amen.
Y’hei sh’lama raba min sh’maya, v’chayim aleinu v’al kol
yisrael, v’imru: Amen. Oseh shalom bi-m’romav, hu ya’aseh
shalom aleinu v’al kol yisrael, v’imru: Amen.

Magnified and sanctified be God’s great name throughout
the world that God created and governs by divine will. May
the Kingdom of God be established during your lifetime, and
during your days, and during the days of all the house of Israel,
yea speedily and in the near future, and let us say, Amen.

Congregation and mourners

May God’s great name be blessed for ever and ever.

Mourners

Exalted, glorified and honored be the name of the blessed
Holy One whose glory is beyond all blessings, hymns and
praises that people render, and let us say, Amen.
May great peace emanate from Heaven with good life for us
and for all Israel, and let us say, Amen.
May the One who makes peace in the heavens, make peace
for us and for all Israel, and let us say, Amen.

MOUNT SINAI MEMORIAL PARKS AND MORTUARIES

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THERE ARE STARS ABOVE

There are stars up above,
so far away we only see their light
long, long after the star itself is gone.
And so it is with people that we loved —
their memories keep shining ever brightly
though their time with us is done.
But the stars that light up the darkest night,
these are the lights that guide us.
As we live our days,
these are the ways to remember.

—Hannah Senesh

Hannah Senesh, born in Hungary, was killed by the Nazis at age 23.
She had moved to pre-state Israel but then returned to Hungary in 1944,
in a doomed (and fatal) effort to help the anti-Nazi resistance fighters.

MOUNT SINAI MEMORIAL PARKS AND MORTUARIES

12

The “gift” of grief is that it presents us
with the opportunity to heal and grow.

— Jewish Proverb

Your absence has gone through me
Like thread through a needle.
Everything I do is stitched with its color.

— W.S. Merwin

I will build an altar from the broken
fragments of my heart.

— Rabbi Yehuda HaChasid

Unveiling19

A Jewish Family Tradition

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