Psycho-Social Considerations: Values you may want to Communicate

It is important for family members to share what their priorities are with each other; family reunions or trips, watching a movie or cooking a ceremonial meal together can provide lasting memories. Maybe the entire family can participate in a tikkun olam project together — feeding the homeless at Thanksgiving, delivering shalach manos (gifts) at Purim or joining other members of your community to sing at a nursing home during the holidays. Personal values, as well as Jewish values, are significant legacies to leave behind and there are many ways to do this.

Bucket List Wishes

End-of-life conversations also include what people’s hopes, dreams and aspirations are for their last stage of life. Perhaps you always wanted to learn another language or learn to play the piano. Perhaps you always wanted to go back to where you were born with your grandchildren.

Your Ethical Legacy

Judaism offers many models of ethical wills, in which individuals convey their accumulated wisdom and the personal, spiritual and moral values they wish to leave as a legacy. While historically people wrote these in the form of a moral charge to the next generation, there are a number of options from which to choose: create a quilt with the pictures of family members on it, a recipe book of favorite family meals, a memory box with photos and tokens of remembrance, a playlist of favorite or even a list of favorite books, movies, plays or music. Find one that fits your family.

The Legacy Project Booklet is a guide to help you create a life legacy for family and friends. This life legacy project will help you bring together your family's history, preserving the memories and events that represent your own and your family's life story. It is a way to pass on your thoughts, your values and your jokes, your knowledge of the events that shaped your ancestors’ lives and your hopes for the future.