Numa Candles
A woman-founded business created by Morell Mordel, daughter of longtime B'nai Jeshurun member Dr. Michael Frankel (z"l). numa offers the first scented, non-toxic Yizkor (memorial) candle, with fragrances developed alongside master perfumers using green chemistry intended to support emotional balance through the various stages of grief — easing low energy, stress, and anxiety. Each candle is hand-poured and crafted to honor this time-honored Jewish ritual.
JWell now offers numa candles. Hand-poured in New York and designed to burn for 24-28 hours, numa honors the longstanding tradition of lighting a candle for a full day in remembrance of a loved one, while bringing scent, design, and ritual together with intention.
Lighting a memorial candle and saying a loved one's name aloud creates a dedicated moment to pause, reflect, and connect. In Jewish tradition this can be understood as an act of chesed shel emet (חסד של אמת), a true act of care given without expectation of reward or recognition. Unlike many communal mourning practices, it can be done privately, wherever you are and at any point in your grieving process.
Origins of Numa
Many of you will remember Dr. Michael Frankel, a devoted and familiar presence at B'nai Jeshurun. When his daughter, Morell (Frankel) Mordel, lost him, she turned to a ritual she had grown up with: lighting a Yizkor (memorial) candle in his memory.
"It became a time I could dedicate to him and feel our connection," she recalls. "But the candles I found felt disconnected from the ritual — unscented paraffin wax in disposable tin vessels covered in manufactured labels. numa, my new candle line, was born from a longing to create something worthy of the moment."
Based in New York's East Village, numa launches its first collection this September 2026: three memorial candles, hand-poured in small batches from premium coconut-soy wax. It is the first scented memorial candle made with aromatherapy at its center.
During spiritually intense days like the High Holidays, the connection between the light of the candle and the light of your loved one's soul feels especially close. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur emphasize memory and accountability for both the living and the deceased. Lighting a candle during this time, when the gates of heaven are understood to be open, is seen as a way to bring merit and honor to those who have passed and to help elevate their souls.