30 Days

February 26, 2008 - 3:30 PM by Stephanie

In Jewish tradition, thirty days after a burial or “shloshim” marks the end of the 1st period of mourning.

Why 30 days? The Jewish calendar is marked by lunar time. As the moon waxes and wanes in a cycle, the 30-day period of mourning is an opportunity to emotionally come full circle. The process begins with the funeral and first days of shiva, when not even a glimmer of light is seen. As time goes on, the light slowly comes back, fuller and fuller. The 30 days is an important central cycle of time, a time to renew and to come to grips with a new reality.

Blogger Elms in the Yard has written a heartfelt tribute to friend Beverly Burge who died suddenly last month. Beverly “was the section head of the Quarantine Unit at the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo where she hand-raised many animals including a tiger, lion, kittens, ferrets and, last of all, a Persian leopard named Roo who died last year.”

Beverly’s “shloshim” will be marked tomorrow in Jerusalem during a special memorial service.

“Beverly Burge?” asked the angel. “Welcome! Right this—” Suddenly she froze. “Goodness! Duck!”

Bev looked into the distance and grinned. “Cassowary,” she corrected as the cloud of feathers, fur, skin and scales hurtled closer. The angel leaped aside as a young Persian leopard sprang forward, knocking Bev to the ground.

“Roo, let me up! I’m glad to see you too, but I can’t hug you all at—”

Roo nudged her gently, his eyes twinkling.

“Oh,” Bev breathed, spreading her arms and finding that her embrace was as wide as it needed to be. “Oh. I guess I can.”

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