This is How I Want to Die

by Rabbi Jack Mpline

This essay was published on October 22, 2014 in The Jewish Forward.

Deborah Alecson writes: "This is lovely and spot-on request made by a rabbi re: his dying."

This is an edited version of the 2011 Yom Kippur sermon by Rabbi Jack Moline where he explores the condition he wants to be in at the end of his life and how best to assure that outcome.  He describes his father's series of illnesses and surgeries that enabled him to live until the age of 65, only to die of brain cancer. When reflecting on his father's suffering he is aware that ages ago we died of incurable diseases, natural events, starvation, as prey to animals, etc. Modern medical technology and advances have brought us what is too often a long drawn out dying and years of chronic illness leading up to our death. Rabbi Moline does not want to die this way. He urges each of us to talk with our loved ones about what we want at the end of our life and not to soley rely on the advanced directives that we hopefully have also put into place.  Debra Alecson