Traditions for Jewish Funerals

The traditions for Jewish funerals are similar for traditional and Reform Jews. The traditional burial preparations are done in order to honor the person and the life that he or she led.

One of the most important traditions for Jewish funerals is the preparation of the body for burial. Jewish congregations have individuals, who are part of the the Chevra Kaddisha, a sacred burial society whose jobs are to prepare bodies for burial and protect them until that time. Belonging to this group is considered very honorable because the members are performing a service to the dead that can never be repaid. The society women prepare the bodies of women, and men prepare the bodies of the men.

A ritual washing of the body with warm water is performed first, and the body is thoroughly cleaned. Autopsies are not done unless required by law, and when they are done, a rabbi usually oversees them. Organ donations may be performed because it is believed that the organs will eventually be buried. If a person bled on their clothing right before death, the clothing that they were wearing is buried with them. Everything about the body is sacred, including the individual's blood.

The body is wrapped in a white burial shroud called a tachrichim, and men are also wrapped in their prayer shawl called a tallits. One piece of fringe is cut from the shawl, which is done to make it ineffective.

According to the traditions of Jewish funerals, the body must be buried as soon as possible. Honoring the dead, also known as k'vod hamet, is the most important tenet of the Jewish funeral.

Preparations at a funeral home are very simple. If the individual dies in Israel, the body will be buried in the shroud without a coffin. The goal is to place the body in as close a contact with the earth as possible. Individuals who die elsewhere may be placed in a simple pine coffin with holes drilled in the bottom to bring the body in closer contact with the earth. The reason for these simple funeral preparations are so that the bodies of the rich and the poor are viewed as equal in God's eyes. Cremation is never performed on the body of a Jewish person, and the body is not embalmed.

Family members or individuals appointed by the funeral parlor, are expected to keep watch over the body until the funeral takes place. The body should never be left alone, which would be considered dishonorable. No eating or drinking is allowed around the body because the dead person is unable to enjoy such things. Watching over the dead body is called shemira, and reciting psalms helps pass the time for the watchers. An open casket is not allowed, as it would make the body vulnerable to enemies in this helpless state.

The funeral usually begins by the members of the immediate family tearing a piece of their clothing to symbolize their loss of a loved one. Reform Jews may receive a piece of torn black ribbon from the rabbi, which is then pinned to their clothing. A short ceremony is performed that includes reading of psalms and a eulogy, followed by the memorial prayer, El Maleh Rachamim. Male family members or male members of the Chevra Kaddisha then wheel the body out of the funeral home. Reform Jews will recite the Psalm 23 as the body is removed from the funeral home.

Traditional Jews may follow the hearse for a short distance, which fulfills the mitzvah of leveyat hamet. Reform Jews will express their condolences to family members at this time.

At the cemetery, the tradition is to stop the procession seven times. Psalm 91 is read and the body is lowered into the grave. Family members will then toss a handful of dirt into the grave before the body is buried. This is symbolic of the close contact with the earth that is required at the funeral. The rabbi will then recite Psalm 91 again, as well as the El Maleh Rachamim. The burial is then completed and once the grave has settled a tombstone is placed on the grave. Jewish tombstones will have symbols on them such as the Star of David, lions, a menorah, scrolls or the tablets with the 10 Commandments.

Jews will wash their hands before leaving a cemetery, as it is considered unclean to be around a dead body.

Shiva is the Jewish tradition of mourning after the funeral. Traditional Jews will sit Shiva for seven days, whereas the Reform Jews will sit for three days. All mirrors in the home where Shiva is done are covered and individuals sit on special Shiva benches. During this time individuals may visit those in mourning and bring food to them instead of flowers.

Shiva is a time when family members can give condolences and share stories about loved ones. It can also be a healing time for families, as they can forget about their differences and comfort those around them.

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