Tuesday, June 23 and Wednesday, June 24 Gail Rubin is the keynote speaker at the summer meeting of the New Hampshire Funeral Directors Association. She will lead two sessions, “Jewish Funeral Traditions on Film” and “The Funeral Director on Film.”
Jewish Funeral Traditions on Film
Jewish traditions regarding death and dying, the funeral, the treatment of the body, burial, mourning, and annual remembrances are very different from Christian practices. This talk illuminates the differences and similarities of these funeral traditions – highly beneficial for interfaith families. Scenes from two comedic films from Mexico, My Mexican Shivah and Nora’s Will, as well as American movies This Is Where I Leave You and The Cemetery Club illustrate Jewish funeral, burial and mourning traditions.
The Funeral Director on Film
Watching scenes from comedies and dramas focused on funeral directors throughout history, attendees will learn the history of U.S. undertaking and tips for public relations and marketing. With humorous insights, Gail Rubin traces the evolution of the funeral industry through Hollywood portrayals of “the last man to let you down.” Films include The Shootist, The Loved One, About Schmidt, Get Low, Bernie and the TV series, Six Feet Under.
Gail Rubin, CT, The Doyenne of Death®, is author of the award-winning book A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die and The Family Plot Blog. Host of A Good Goodbye television series and Internet radio program, she’s a Certified Thanatologist (a death educator) and a popular speaker who uses humor and films to get end-of-life conversations started.
She’s a member of the Association for Death Education and Counseling, the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association and the National Speakers Association New Mexico Chapter. President of the New Mexico Interfaith Dialogue, she’s a Certified Celebrant who also serves on the cemetery committee for Congregation Albert and volunteers with the Chevra Kaddisha, which ritually prepares bodies for Jewish burial.
Phone: 505-265-7215 | Email: Gail@AGoodGoodbye.com