DEATH ANNIVERSARY REACTIONS AND THE HASSIDIC YAHRZEIT OBSERVANCE

Rather than indicate the existence of pathological mounting, anniversa ry reactions may reflect the need to deal with thoughts and feelings r epressed during the bereavement process. This article looks at the use of the Hassidic Yahrzeit observance as a model for new family rituals designed to incorporate this repressed material into ongoing memories of the deceased. The observance allows for overt recognition of posit ive as well as negative recollections and emotions and does so with fl exible practices in a fixed time frame.