Losing someone close can be traumatic, but honoring the departed soul through certain practices or rituals is recommendable. In Jewish customs, people say Kaddish, reaffirming their faith in the almighty. However, scholars discuss many other ways to elevate the parted soul, such as learning Mishnah. Mishnah is the essence of Jewish legal laws and the very foundation of the Talmud. But this part of Talmud is terse, and some phrases can be difficult to understand. One can overcome this obstacle by taking to Gemara; this part of the Talmud elaborates on Mishnah, highlighting rabbinic traditions with explanations.
If you plan to have a siyyum, you can explore daily Gemara study services to complete the remembrance process per the authentic traditions. The custom of siyyum usually entails completing a section of Talmud’s Torah or tractate(s) in the first month after the passing of the loved one and having a communal siyyum at the end to honor the deceased.
The benefit of the Gemara study
Rosh Hashana is considered a crucial period of judgment and analysis undertaken by the almighty for your actions in the last year and your actions that inspired others. Once the person has left the world, they cannot acquire any merit directly. But they can still influence others’ actions. Therefore, undertaking a Gemara study can benefit your close ones who are no longer on this planet. They can be grandparents, parents, or friends.
Taking help from experts in this matter is advisable because the Mishnah/ Gemara study can be complicated. Mishnah contains 63 tractates across six orders that run around 525 chapters with 4200 laws. The breadth of the subjects is overwhelming, which only a scholar with intensive knowledge and years of experience can manage. The Talmud is so extensive, with 5,422 pages, that even one lifetime can feel short.
Other actions to take for the deceased
You can do many things per the traditional beliefs to the merit of the departed soul, and Mishnah study is one aspect. Another act that can benefit your loved one in the other world is donations. The children of the deceased can also light a yartzheit candle. There is a deep connection between Neshama and Candle. Candle’s flame is a physical form, while neshama is a pristine, spiritual light. When the candles are lit up, the neshama is attracted to the flame and enjoys its splendor. Then, you can also visit the grave like other times. If the cemetery is far from your place, you can donate to tzedaka instead. More precisely, as the good child of your loved one, you can honor the departed soul by following good deeds and traits.
Most people study the Talmud in the first year of their loved one’s death and try to read most of the Mishnah in the first 30 days of the mourning period. One can also do it during the annual yahrtzeit or other times. This flexibility is allowed because these acts are for the elevation of the departed soul. Hence, any time you do an act of kindness or pray, it will benefit your beloved in the heavenly abode.
