Jewish Burial Customs

Jewish Burial Customs

After the Jewish funeral ceremony is over, a procession to the cemetery will occur. If you plan on attending the graveside portion of the funeral, here are some customs you need to keep in mind:

- When you arrive at the cemetery, refrain from greeting the grieving family. They will take their seats, and the guests should stand behind them. 

- The pall bearers carry the casket from the hearse to the gravesite. For some communities, the pall bearers momentarily stop seven times to say prayer. The main reason for this custom is to recognize that this is a challenging task and there is no rush to complete it. 

- A rabbi or officiant will lead the group in a series of prayers including the Mourners Kaddish. 

- After the casket is lowered into the grave, each of the attendees will take a turn and place a handful of dirt onto the casket. Sometimes soil from Israel is also placed on the casket. 

- Once the graveside service has concluded, jon the other guests in forming two rows. In this way the guests create a sheltered walkway for the passage of the bereaved family. As the family walks by, say the traditional words of consolation, “Hamakom y'nachem etchem b'toch sh'ar availai tziyon ee yerushalayim”. You can also say these words in English if you feel like you may mispronounce them, “May the Almighty comfort you among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.” Do not approach the family; simply recite the words as they pass. However, if they approach you, it is acceptable to respond with a gentle hug and kind, comforting words. 

- Under strict Jewish burial customs, women exit the gravesite first followed by men.

Jewish Caskets  

Jewish law tells us the deceased should be buried in a casket that is made completely out of wood – with no metal or nails. These caskets are often referred to as kosher caskets. The reason for kosher caskets aligns with the overall Jewish perception of keeping the entire funeral as simple as possible. Please take a look at the Jewish caskets we offer. 

Do You Still Have Questions about Jewish Burial Traditions? 

Then it's time to pick up the phone and call us. Everyone at Sherman's Flatbush Memorial Chapel, Inc. has the experience to provide you with the answers you are looking for. Simply call (718) 377-7300 to reach one of our funeral professionals.
Sources:

Black, J. (2019). What to expect at a Jewish funeral. Retrieved from https://reformjudaism.org/what-expect-jewish-funeral 

Goldstein, Z. (2014). After the burial in Judaism. Retrieved from https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/368098/jewish/After-the-Burial-in-Judaism.htm 

Klug, L. (2014). Jewish funeral customs: Saying goodbye to a loved one. Retrieved from https://www.jfedgmw.org/jewish-funeral-customs-saying-goodbye-to-a-loved-one 

Wolfson, R. (2019). Jewish funerals: When you go. Retrieved from https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/going-to-a-jewish-funeral/ 
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