Handout from Rev. Eileen and Rev. Karen G.'s class on Spiritual Memoirs and Ethical Wills -- Planning For What Matters series, July 15, 2020

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"Ethical Wills: A Starting Point."

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Ethical Wills

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Leaving an ethical will is a practice that comes to us from the Jewish tradition. Preparing an ethical will is a way to tell loved ones what lessons you have learned along the way in your life, the ethical, spiritual, and religious values that you have honored and upheld, and the wisdom you want to pass along to those that will follow. While not legally binding, it is a deeply personal statement that allows others to understand more fully the legacy you leave behind. While in the past an ethical will was a written document, today people are experimenting with video, audio, and other means of creating one.

 

Here are some resources to help you find out more and create your own ethical will:

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• Writing and Reading Ethical Wills, by Rabbi Jack Riemer, explains the history and cultural context of ethical wills.

• Ethical Wills/Legacy Letters, on the Celebrations of Life website, provides instruction and examples of ethical wills.

• The Ethical Will, an Ancient Concept, is Revamped for the Tech Age, by Constance Gustke, New York Times, October 31, 2014, explains how ethical wills are being re-visioned today.

• Unitarian Universalist Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture, Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams is an example of an ethical will done via video. If you are unable to stream the lecture from the Internet, purchase a copy of the DVD from Carnegie Mellon University or obtain a copy from your public library.

• From the High Hill: Odyssey Writing for Elders  offers help with reviewing your life and gathering your thoughts before creating an ethical will. 2 weekend retreats frame a period of personal work.

• In Later Years, by Bruce T. Marshall (Skinner House, 2018). A Unitarian Universalist minister and chaplain explores questions of meaning and spirituality in aging through the stories and experiences of elders. The book includes personal reflection questions and instructions for writing an ethical will.

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The Ethical Will Worksheet

 

An Ethical Will is a personal document that you create in order to communicate your values, experiences, and life lessons to your family.  By leaving your family an Ethical Will, you'll be leaving something meaningful behind, so they—and future generations—can learn from you and remember your stories after you are gone. 

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Ethical Will Worksheet

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