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Jewish Funeral

A Jewish funeral generally occurs within 24 hours after death and is a solemn ceremony that emphasises respect, ritual, prayer and community.

Jewish funerals can include

  • Avelim
    • Selected mourners with roles to perform before, during and after the service.
  • Mitzvot (commandment)
    • Helping loved ones find their final resting place by placing earth in the grave of a loved one. Comforting mourners with acts of support.
  • Casket
    • Simple caskets are traditionally used to ensure natural decomposition, this also includes no embalming and no casket adornments that are not wood.
  • Gathering of mourners
    • Mourners do not greet attendees until after the burial, family members gather in a separate room until the service begins
  • Keriah (tearing)
    • A black ribbon is placed on mourners’ outer garments to symbolise the tear in the fabric of the family after the death of a loved one
  • Prayers, Hespeid (eulogy) and El Malei Rachamim
    • Readings, chanting and passages from the book of Psalms, followed by silent prayer, a hespeid is delivered followed by prayer (El Malei Rachamim).
  • Burial
    • Mourners gather at the grave where prayers are recited. Earth is symbolically placed in the grave.

The information provided is a brief summary only and may not include all aspects of traditional funeral rites.

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