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What To Expect When Showing Up At Jewish Funeral Rites
Certain rituals are normally performed at a Jewish funeral. These rituals vary, mainly depending on which community the deceased is from and the person who is officiating the wedding. Some officials are quite strict in observing that all rituals are performed as required, while others are flexible. The customs carried out aim at showing respect to the deceased as well as the mourners.
Burial should take place as soon as possible. This is normally on the same day that the person has died. However, since it is not always possible to have all the family members around when the person dies, it may be necessary to delay the burial for sometime until all the mourners have arrived. It is up to the family to decide if they will delay the burial or not.
Open caskets are not allowed at memorial services. The casket chosen should be simple and totally biodegradable. This means that it should be made purely out of wood. Even nails are not allowed, as they are metallic and can't decompose.
The body is not embalmed unless it is mandatory by law. This is to allow for fast decomposition when buried. A sacred society can be called upon to cleanse the body of the deceased and prepare it for burial. They bath the deceased and dress him.
The burial ceremony does not take a long time. It can be completed in less than half an hour. Flowers are normally considered as frivolous adornments, so they are often avoided at burials. If you wish, you can choose to have a small floral tribute, as long as the officiant is not opposed to it. Mourners cannot talk to the attendees until the whole burial ceremony is over.
When leaving the graveside, attendees at a Jewish funeral form a double line facing each other. The mourners pass in the middle and receive consolation messages from others. Any kind words of comfort are offered at this time. Mourners may symbolically wash their hands before leaving the cemetery as a sign of cleansing.
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