The Rituals That Ward Off Bad Luck Aren’t Arbitrary

What is it in our ancient DNA that tells us collectively there is something beyond this physical realm? That we need to ritualize the burial of a body, inter it in a sacred place, and provide items to help it along its journey? Are we wired for a spiritual connection to our lost loved ones? And if so, why? I mean, from a sociological perspective, i

Rituals tether emotion in flesh and blood and bone and help release it. They embody memory in communal time.

Ritual practice becomes an easy way to locate someone along this denominational spectrum; as a result, ritual practice becomes the shorthand for particular Jewish identity. Ethics and moral standards become less significant than affiliation and belonging, often receiving less public emphasis or attention. This hierarchy of true ideas and binding pr