What to expect at Jewish Funerals: Customs and Traditions

Summary

In Jewish tradition, a 'levaya' or funeral is a compassionate act of accompanying the deceased to their final resting place. The service, often devoid of flowers and open caskets, involves prayers, psalms, and eulogies. Following the burial, participants show support by forming lines for mourners to pass through. A unique custom includes shoveling dirt onto the grave without handing the shovel to the next person. After the service, the community begins the Shiva period, marked by specific rituals, signifying the transition from mourning to living.

Takeaways

• 🕍 The Jewish term for funeral is 'levaya', symbolizing the act of accompanying the deceased to their final resting place.
• 👮 Men, including non-Jews, are expected to cover their heads during the Jewish funeral service.
• 🚫 Traditional Jewish funerals do not feature an open casket, as it is considered disrespectful.
• 💐 Flowers are typically absent from Jewish funerals, as they symbolize life, contrasting with the theme of death.
• 🕊 Interaction with the immediate family of the deceased is usually postponed until after the funeral service.
• 🙏 The funeral service includes prayers, psalms, and a eulogy to honor the deceased.
• 🚶 Pallbearers are called to the front after the service, and there's a specific order for carrying and exiting with the casket.
• 🏔 At the cemetery, participants shovel or throw dirt onto the grave, a ritual that carries deep significance in Jewish tradition.
• 🔨 The shovel used for the burial is not passed but returned to the dirt, emphasizing the importance of the mitzvah (commandment).
• 🤝 After the burial, community members form lines for mourners to pass through, showing support and unity.
• 🌐 A common phrase of comfort used is 'HaMakom y'nachem etkhem b'tokh sh'ar aveilei Tzion v'Yrushalayim', meaning 'May God comfort you'.
• 🛁 Washing hands without drying them upon leaving the cemetery signifies a transition from the realm of death to life.
• 🕊 The Shiva period, lasting seven days, begins after the funeral and is filled with significant rituals and customs.

Q & A

What is the Hebrew word for funeral in Judaism and what does it signify?

The Hebrew word for funeral in Judaism is 'levaya' (לְוָיָה), which means accompanying. It signifies the act of accompanying a person to their final resting place as an act of love and kindness.

Where might a Jewish funeral typically start?

A Jewish funeral may start at a funeral home, a synagogue, or directly at the graveside.

What is the expectation regarding head covering for men, including non-Jews, at a Jewish funeral?

Men, including non-Jews, are often expected to cover their heads during a Jewish funeral.

Why is an open casket traditionally considered disrespectful in Jewish practice?

An open casket is traditionally considered disrespectful in Jewish practice as it goes against the beliefs and customs of the religion.

Why are flowers generally not present at a Jewish funeral?

Flowers are not usually present at a Jewish funeral because they represent life, and the funeral is a time about death.

What is the usual protocol for interacting with the immediate family of mourners during a Jewish funeral?

It is unlikely that one would talk to the immediate family of mourners until after the funeral, depending on the community.

What are the main components of a Jewish funeral service?

The main components of a Jewish funeral service include prayers, psalms, and a eulogy.

Who are typically called to the front after the funeral service, and what happens next?

The pallbearers are generally called to the front after the service. Everyone rises as the casket is carried out, followed by the immediate mourners and the rest of the attendees.

What is the significance of shoveling or throwing a handful of dirt onto the grave at a Jewish burial?

Shoveling or throwing a handful of dirt onto the grave is a powerful and important mitzvah (מִצְוָה), meaning 'commandment', symbolizing participation in the burial.

What is the significance of not handing the shovel to the next person during the burial?

Not handing the shovel to the next person and instead sticking it back into the dirt is a part of the mitzvah, signifying the individual participation in the burial act.

What is the traditional phrase said to mourners as they pass through the lines formed by the community after the burial?

The traditional phrase said to mourners is 'HaMakom y'nachem etkhem b'tokh sh'ar aveilei Tzion v'Yrushalayim', or in English, 'May God comfort you'.

What is the significance of washing hands without drying them when leaving the cemetery in Jewish tradition?

Washing hands without drying them is a symbol of leaving a place of death and reentering the world of the living.

What does the term 'Shiva' signify in the Jewish mourning tradition?

Shiva (שבעה‎) signifies the seven-day mourning period that begins after the burial, involving various rituals and customs.