| In this article we're going to cover the basic ritual of | | | | to the deceased to walk along side the funeral car |
| funerals in the Jewish faith. | | | | for the last mile of the trip to the cemetery. |
| An associate of mine happens to come from Jewish | | | | Once at the cemetery the service begins. It is usually |
| ancestry, though today he lives his life as a Christian. | | | | done mostly in Hebrew until it comes time to speak |
| What follows are his observations of Jewish funerals, | | | | personally about the deceased; his accomplishments, |
| not so much from a technical aspect, but from a | | | | his family, etc. At the end of the service the Rabbi |
| personal perspective. | | | | leads the mourners in what is called the mourners |
| The Jewish people, unlike those of the Christian faith, | | | | kaddish. This is also done in Hebrew. It is actually one |
| have not yet found their savior. They are still waiting | | | | of the few pieces of Jewish ritual that most Jews, |
| for the coming. Because of that, death to them is | | | | orthodox, reformed, or conservative, know by heart. |
| very final. There is no salvation for them yet, only | | | | It is probably one of the most famous of all Jewish |
| the hope that someday there will be. Because of this, | | | | writings. |
| a Jewish funeral and the time after is a very sad | | | | After the mourners kaddish, each person at the |
| time. | | | | grave side takes a shovel, digs up a little bit of dirt |
| After a person of the Jewish faith dies, the very | | | | and tosses the dirt onto the coffin just before it is |
| first and most important thing is a quick burial. Jewish | | | | completely lowered into the grave. This significance |
| funerals must be within three days after the person | | | | of this ritual is that the mourners are assisting in the |
| dies. The funeral service itself is conducted in a | | | | burial as a final act of service to the deceased. |
| temple. Depending on whether the person is | | | | After the service is over the mourners head to the |
| orthodox, conservative or reformed, the service may | | | | home of the deceased family. There begins a seven |
| be either in Hebrew or English. Most orthodox Jews | | | | day period of mourning where all the mirrors are |
| have their service performed in Hebrew. Most | | | | covered, they sit on hard seats and people bring |
| reformed, in English. | | | | them food. The reason for the covered mirrors is so |
| The service itself is very solemn. The men wear | | | | the mourners can't see their sadness. The hard seats |
| what is called a yarmulke or skull cap. The women | | | | are to remind them of their suffering. The food |
| must also have their heads covered with some type | | | | brought in is to show the mourners that they are in |
| of hat. Most of the women and men dress in black. | | | | others thoughts. No food is allowed to be brought |
| The men in black suits and the women in black | | | | out of a house in mourning once it is brought in. |
| dresses. | | | | Death in the Jewish faith is a sad thing, and the |
| After the service at the temple the casket is then | | | | ceremony from beginning to end serves as a |
| transported to the cemetery. In the very orthodox | | | | reminder of just how sad death is to the Jewish |
| Jewish religion it is customary for the closest relative | | | | people. |