Before death, the
primary focus is on the needs of the infirmed (Bikur Cholim). When death
occurs, the focus turns to honoring the deceased (Kavod Ha-Met).
From death to burial
the body is never left unattended and a religious watchman (Shomer)
prays for the soul of the deceased. This ancient custom has provided
invaluable comfort to survivors. Historically, the family immediately
contacted members of a Holy Society (Chevra Kadisha) when a death was
confirmed.
The Holy Society's
role is to prepare the body for burial according to traditional Jewish
practices. The Chevra Kadisha perform the meaningful task of purifying
the body, usually on the morning of burial, with a ritual bath (Taharah).
Just as a newborn child is immediately washed and enters this world
clean and pure, so is a person who departs this world be cleansed and
made pure. Today, many funeral homes that serve Jewish populations allow
the Chevra Kadisha to prepare the body for burial.
The Chevra Kadisha
also recite required prayers asking God for forgiveness for any sins
that may have been committed by the person who died. God is asked to
receive the soul of the deceased, guard the person and grant them eternal
peace. Prayers are always about life, gratitude, and appreciation, never
death.
Following the recitation
of the prayers required for Taharah is a tradition dating back thousands
of years, of burial in shrouds (Takhirkhin), preceding the placement
to the deceased in the casket.
As a further symbol
of a Jews' oneness with God and oneness with Israel, the Chevra Kadisha
(or the family) may place ground soil from Israel (Eretz Yisroel) into
the casket. This puts the body in constant contact with the Holy Land.
Many families will bring soil or Jerusalem stones from a visit to Israel.
It doesn't matter whether the soil is supplied for the family or they
bring a bag of soil home from their visit to Israel, or the soil may
be supplied to them.
The strictly traditional
funeral takes place within 24 hours after death, or as soon as possible.
The same tradition calls for the body to be buried, not cremated, because
of a belief that it is wrong to destroy what God has created, (although
Reform Jews allow cremation). The traditional service is very simple,
with a plain coffin and no flowers, in the belief that everyone is equal
and should be treated in the same way at death. A rabbi conducts the
service at the cemetery, reading prayers from the holy books. Mourners
will shovel dirt on top of the casket as it is lowered into the grave.
For the next seven
days, the immediate family will observe a mourning period (Shiva). For
the next year, families will say Kaddish, a Jewish prayer for the dead,
in remembrance of the deceased and each year, corresponding to the date
of death (Yahrzeit). One year after the person's death a simple ceremony
at the cemetery is conducted. A headstone is erected, the grave is covered
with a cloth and the headstone inscription is read aloud.
