ICJudaism: A Teacher’s Guide to Judaism
Hosted by ICTeachers Formerly: Mike’s Rough Guide to Judaism
Disclaimer:
The contents of these pages represent the author’s personal views, experience and
understanding.
There are bound to be some things here that some Jews would disagree
with.
Death and Burial
Death
Whilst Judaism does not spend much energy speculating about what happens to the soul after death, there is a belief in an afterlife of some sort, the Olam HaBa (The World to Come). The rituals associated with death serve two important functions: to honour the deceased, and to comfort the mourners. Both functions are the subject of commandments.
The Deceased
When a person dies their body is not left alone until burial. Most communities have a voluntary society called the Chevra Kadishah (holy fellowship) who will take care of looking after the body and preparing it for burial. Chevra is from the same root word as chaverim (friends) in the well known song, Shalom Chaverim, that is sung in many school assemblies). The dead person’s eyes are closed, they are laid, covered, on the floor and candles are lit beside them. The people who sit with the body are known as shomerim (guardians). As a mark of respect, shomerim may not eat or drink, or perform mitzvot in the presence of the body, since the dead person can no longer do these things.
Out of respect for the deceased:
- autopsy is discouraged, but if necessary it should be minimally invasive;
- the body is never embalmed;
- the body is never displayed;
- orthodox Judaism forbids cremation, the view being that God created the first human from the earth and our remains should be returned to the earth. Progressive Judaism is more relaxed about cremation.
Before burial, the body is washed and wrapped in a plain white shroud or garment. Jewish law and custom decrees that a poor person should receive the same honour in death as a rich one.
Funeral
Burial takes place as soon as possible after death, preferably the same day, but normally within one or two days. The coffin is plain, usually of unfinished wood. It must have holes to allow the body to come in contact with the earth. There are never flowers at a Jewish funeral.
A Jewish cemetery may have its own prayer hall where a short service is held before the burial or the service may be held in the open air. The service includes: the recitation of Psalm 23; a prayer asking God to shelter the soul of the deceased; and a Hesped (eulogy). The coffin is then carried or wheeled out to the grave with the congregation following. (Walking in procession with the deceased to the grave is a mitzvah). During this procession Psalm 91 is recited He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.. (Ps.91 is sometimes referred to as “the Psalm of Protection”).
After the coffin has been lowered into the grave the mourners will throw shovel-
On returning to the prayer hall the mourners sit on low chairs and everyone present lines up to offer each of them condolences. The traditional thing to say is, "May the Almighty comfort you among all the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem", although in many communities it is much more common for people to simply say, “I wish you a long life.”
The funeral party then leaves the cemetery and gathers at an appropriate house of mourning, usually the home of the deceased or of one of the mourners.
At the house of mourning, relatives, neighbours or friends will give the mourners their first meal after the funeral. This is called the Meal of Condolence and traditionally includes round shaped foods such as eggs and bagels, the round shape being symbolic of the circle of life.
