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Facts You Should Learn When Engaging Jewish Traditions For Funeral
It is a Jewish funeral traditions not to leave the deceased unattended. The family or those conducting the funeral services must provide a Shomer, or watchmen, who will sit with the body until the burial. The very first person to be called upon a death is the rabbi, who decides upon a time for funeral proceedings. Funerals are typically held in the temple or synagogue, although many Jewish families are now opting for a graveside service only.
The Jewish custom calls for a closed casket and no viewing of the body because it is disrespectful to look at a person that is unable to look back.
Unless it is required by local laws, Jews do not take part in the embalming process, which is used for sanitation and temporary preservation of the body. Instead, the sacred society, called the Chevra Kadisha, prepares the body for burial. They perform the Taharah, a type of Jewish purification.
They bathe the body and dress it in the Tachrichim, which is the traditional burial garment. It is a simple shroud without any pockets. This symbolizes to all that the deceased does not take any material possessions with them when they leave this world and that God will judge them based on their merits and deeds alone.
Families are able to choose their own caskets and make decisions regarding funeral details, however Jewish custom calls for wooden caskets with no metal and no flowers at the funeral.
The funeral typically takes between 20 and 30 minutes in which the rabbi with conduct a reading of the Psalms, other chosen Scripture readings, and a reading of the eulogy. Prior to or following the service, family and other mourners conduct the K'riah, or rendering of the garment, where they tear their clothes or place a black ribbon on their clothes. This shows others that they are in mourning for the deceased. These Jewish funeral traditions have been somewhat modified over time, but are generally followed by most Jews.
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