Jewish Funeral Customs Trust and Mourning Traditions - Weinstein Chapels

1. Birth is a beginning, And death a destination. And life is a journey, A  sacred pilgrimage – To life everlasting – Alvin Fine  Honoring Jewish Tradition  We serve Jewish families within all three branches of Judaism, whether affiliated with a  community or synagogue, or not. Often, families would like to follow Jewish funeral  traditions but are not familiar with what it entails. We can help you learn about the  traditions and incorporate the rituals and practices that are meaningful to you.  What are the preparations before burial?  There are two important principles in the Jewish faith regarding death and mourning.  The first, ​k’vod ha-met, ​requires that the body be treated with the utmost of respect from  the time of passing until burial is completed. The second is the idea that death is a  natural process, a normal part of the life cycle.  In traditional Jewish funerals, the body is prepared for burial in a special way, involving a  series of steps. The ​chevra kadisha​ (holy burial society) is made up of practicing Jews  who help prepare the deceased’s body for burial. This includes properly washing the  body, referred to as ​tahara​.​ As members of this burial society wash the deceased’s body  — men prepare deceased men’s bodies, while women prepare deceased women’s 

2. bodies — they also recite prayers for the dead. After this ritual washing, the deceased’s  body is dressed in traditional burial clothing, called ​tachrichim​. They are simple white  garments, usually made from 100% pure linen and are meant to ensure equality  between rich and poor; all are buried in the same garments. In addition, tradition says  that since these shrouds have no pockets, wealth or status cannot be expressed or  acknowledged in death.  The biblical basis for this practice is found in Ecclesiastes 5:14, which reads, “He shall  depart, just as he came.” Since one is washed at birth, it is interpreted, one should also  be washed at death. The simple white garment is meant to signify that we are all equal  in death and we are judged on our merits and deeds, not material possessions.  Many men and women are buried in their ​tallit (​prayer shawl). One of the fringes of the  tallit is cut to show that it will no longer be used. Some people are buried in their typical  daily dress.  In traditional Jewish practice, the deceased is not left alone from the time of death until  burial. This ritual act of ​shemirah​ (“watching,” “guarding”) is performed as a sign of  respect to the deceased. A ​s​homer​,​ a Hebrew word for meaning “guard,” sit with the  deceased from the time of death until the time of the funeral. This custom is based on  the desire not to leave a loved one unattended and may be handled, on a rotating basis,  by members of the ​chevrah kadisha​, who read psalms, prayers, or study sacred texts  while in attendance.  When should the burial take place?  While Jewish tradition requires that burial take place as soon as practical following  death, we understand that modern life doesn’t always allow for this—family members  from outside the area may need to travel to attend the funeral, your rabbi or the person  you want to lead the service may not be available, and participating cemeteries may  have limitations that impact scheduling.  *​ Funerals are not held on Shabbat; on the Festival Days of Pesach, Shavuot, and  Sukkot; or on the High Holy Days.