January 25, 2026
Online: 10:00 am–2:30 pm PST / 1:00–5:30 pm EST
A day of learning and connection
For centuries, Chevrei Kadisha have carried the quiet, essential work of Jewish end-of-life care. And today, more people than ever are seeking meaningful ways to show up for their communities, to weave tradition with creativity, and to find connection in this sacred work.
After Gather & Grow in November, our first in-person gathering since 2019, one message rang out: people want more. More learning. More grounding. More chances to connect with others doing this work across North America.
Let’s Gather.
Gather & Grow at Home is a spacious, half-day online learning experience designed for anyone who couldn’t join us in person — and for everyone eager to keep growing.
We’re bringing the wisdom forward: featuring teachers, educators, and keynote voices from the in-person gathering, along with new opportunities for small-group conversation, networking, and national community-building.
It’s a place to renew your spirit, deepen your practice, and feel part of a wider network dedicated to Jewish sacred care. Together, we’ll explore ritual, text, leadership, and community connection through teaching, reflection, and real-time conversation.
Participants include Chevra Kadisha volunteers, clergy, end-of-life doulas and midwives, Jewish communal professionals, students, funeral home staff, chaplains, and anyone curious about Jewish end-of-life rituals and practices.
Whether you’re brand-new or deeply experienced, this day offers a meaningful way to keep learning, stay connected, and strengthen the movement we’re building together.
Join us. Let’s grow together.
Schedule for Gather & Grow at Home
1:00–1:15 ET
Welcome
1:15–2:00 ET
Why We Do This with Rabbi Morris Panitz & Rabbi Keilah Lebell
2:00–2:10 ET
Creative Reset / Break
2:10–3:10 ET
Workshop Sessions
- Between Illness, Healing, Death: Reconceiving Rituals for the In-Between, Rabbi Joey Glick
- Storytelling for Recruitment: Sharing Your Work in Ways That Resonate, Shelly Nelson-Shore
- Medically Complex Taharot, Michael Slater, MD
- Jewish Funeral, Burial and Mourning Traditions on Film, Gail Rubin
- Jewish Sacred Knot Tying for Taharah, Julie Weinstein
3:15–4:00 ET
Facilitated Group Conversations
4:00–4:10
Creative Reset / Break
4:10–5:10
Workshop Sessions
- Bridging the Gap: Honest Conversations with a Funeral Director, Sherry Bensimon
- From Adam to Adamah: Returning Home Through Green Burial, Rabbi Jonathan Bernhard
- Sacred Collaboration: Stories from the Front Lines of Jewish End-of-Life & Death Care, Lisa Finkelstein, Donna Neumark, Yael Galinson, Rhyena Halpern
- Pregnancy and Infant Loss: How to Help When Help is Hard, Reva Judas
- Music and Mystery: Songful Interpretations of Texts for Life and Death, Rabbi Micah Shapiro
5:10–5:15
Break
5:15–5:30
Closing
We are deeply grateful to the amazing sponsors who help bring this Conference to life and provide vital services and resources to our communities.
Would you like to become a sponsor for this year’s Conference?
CONFERENCE FAQ
Where will Gather & Grow at Home be held?
We’re gathering online on Sunday, January 25, 2026 for a half day of learning featuring a “best of” selection of our workshops and presentations from our in-person conference this past November.
We’ll be using Zoom throughout.
Who is this for?
Whether you’re a Chevra Kadisha volunteer, clergy, end-of-life doula or midwife, Jewish communal professional, student, funeral home professional, chaplain, or simply someone passionate about Jewish end-of-life wisdom and practices, this space is for you. Come join a community and a movement that’s learning, sharing, and supporting each other.
What makes Gather & Grow at Home special?
Gather & Grow isn’t just a conference; by bringing the in-person experience home, we’re co-creating a heartfelt community experience rooted in learning and connection. We’ll explore Jewish traditions and new practices, and be part of an inspiring network that shares a commitment to sacred care.
How much does Gather & Grow at Home cost?
The prices listed below are reflective of our sliding scale pricing. Please choose the option that feels most accessible to you.
- Sustainer Rate – $180
- Builders Rate – $126
- Full Rate – $90
- Reduced Rate – $36
- Group rate – $72 p/p for 3+ participants
*Kavod v’Nichum strives to make our opportunities financially accessible, and we utilize a sliding scale model based on need. When choosing your price point, please consider your income and wealth, as well as the resources your supporting organization may contribute to this work. If the rates are not accessible, please reach out to hello@kavodvnichum.org
Will Gather & Grow at Home be recorded?
Yes, we will record all the keynotes and workshop sessions. Following the event, the recordings will be made available to anyone who registers.
Are scholarships available?
Yes! We want to make sure cost isn’t a barrier to joining us. If the $36 rate isn’t accessible, please reach out to us at hello@kavodvnichum.org. And if you’d like to help others attend, you can also donate to sponsor a scholarship.
What's planned for the Conference experience?
The heart of Gather & Grow at Home is connection. This half-day online gathering brings together the best of our in-person experience in a way that you can join from wherever you are.
You will learn from incredible educators and peers, explore meaningful workshops, hear from keynote voices, enjoy moments of music and reflection, and spend time in conversation with others who care deeply about Jewish end-of-life practices and sacred communal care. It is a chance to recharge, deepen your practice, and feel part of a wider network committed to honoring the sacred at the end of life and supporting one another through grief.
We are planning an experience full of depth, learning, community, and maybe a surprise or two.
How can I become a Conference Sponsor?
Thanks for asking! We are grateful to our conference sponsors for supporting this important event and are thrilled to connect participants with amazing resources and organizations. We offer different sponsorship levels, starting at $500. Contact our Executive Director, Sarit Wishnevski, at sarit@kavodvnichum.org to learn more.
What is the Cancellation Policy?
Because this is a short online program and all sessions will be recorded and shared with registrants, all registrations are final.
If you register in error or need assistance, please email hello@kavodvnichum.org
Who do I contact with more questions?
We’re here for you! Email us anytime at hello@kavodvnichum.org for anything — from registration questions to accessibility, a great idea, or just to say hello.