JEWISH BEREAVEMENT IN THE TIME OF COVID-19: AN ETHNODRAMATIC EXPLORATION

Abstract

This study investigates the qualitative experiences of Jewish Canadians who were bereaved during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using ethnodrama as the methodology, nine participants were interviewed, and their words were transcribed. The transcripts were thematically analyzed through hermeneutic phenomenology as a point of departure, and organized into the form of a theatrical script to make the results more accessible to an audience, but also to prioritize and stay true to participants’ interpretations. While generalizations cannot be made from such a small sample, this study demonstrates the possibility of presenting research in an artistic format, and offers a snapshot in time of the unique experience of mourning during extraordinary circumstances.