Jewish

 The Jewish faith does not have a concrete conception of an afterlife, rather believing that upon death all are judged by God and be may destine for ‘The World to Come’, a higher state of being.

Funeral practices do differ somewhat between the different sects of Judaism. Attending a Jewish funeral service may seem similar to a Christian one, but there are some differences to be aware of.

Before the funeral

·         A member of the clergy will be contacted to assist, usually alongside a funeral director, in the planning of a Jewish funeral

·         Custom is to bury the body within 24 hours of death, although there are exceptions and allowances for legal or logistical reasons

·         In line with Jewish funeral traditions, a ‘shomer’ is elected from the family or synagogue community to be the body’s guardian and accompany it from time of death until burial or cremation, and the role may be shared amongst several people

·         The body is washed by family members of the same gender and then dressed in white linen. A skullcap may be placed on the head if it is a male

·         Whilst organ donation is encouraged by the faith, embalming and autopsies are prohibited. The latter may only be done when legally required, and even then a rabbi’s presence is desired

·         Cremation in more conservative sects of Judaism is forbidden and the body must be buried intact. More progressive sects, however, allow the practice and it is becoming more commonplace

·         Visitation before the funeral is not common. The family will gather and often rip a piece of the clothing that they are wearing in the sign of grief, usually done just before the funeral service commences.

During the service

·         Jewish funeral customs dictate that the service is to be simple and modest. Flowers are not seen, and the coffin is basic and made of biodegradable pine

·         That said, the dress should still be dark and formal. Men are asked to wear a skull cap and women may also choose to cover their heads, although this may not be a requirement

·         A eulogy will be delivered, often at the beginning of the proceedings by either the rabbi or the family. This will be followed by Jewish funeral service prayers, Jewish funeral music and readings

·         The funeral will either be in a synagogue or by the gravesite. If you arrive late, wait for a moment in which you won’t disrupt the service (i.e. not during readings)

·         The typical Jewish funeral service length is 15 to 60 minutes, depending on how many people will offer eulogies

After the service

·         Immediately following the funeral, a period of seven days (called shiva, the Hebrew word for seven) of intense mourning is observed. In many families, services are held the evening after the funeral or at another time during the seven days – some families hold services for a few days or the entire week. It is customary for the community and friends to provide food and other support during this period, to allow the mourners to concentrate on the grieving process (Reverend Samuel Zwarenstein, Emmanuel Synagogue) .

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·         At this point, it would be fair to ask: ‘What do you bring to a Jewish house of mourning l?’ Well, this is the appropriate time to bring a plate of something to share (keep in mind Kosher food guidelines)

·         The ripped clothing, or a ripped piece of ribbon, will be worn for an entire week following the death as part of the seven-day mourning process, known as shiva. Guests may be received at the family home and loved ones will take the week off work

·         Shloshim follows the shiva and lasts for 30 days. Normal activities and routines resume, however, daily prayer is still recited. If the deceased was a parent, their children will mourn for a full year, rather than just 30 days

·         A further memorial event takes place a year later which involves the lighting of a candle the night before that will burn for 24 hours

·         It is also customary to “unveil” the headstone at the graveside shortly before the one year anniversary. (Reverend Samuel Zwarenstein, Emmanuel Synagogue).