Bereavement in Judaism Isobel Sinclair ST1 GPVTS1/2/12

Upon receiving news of the passing  Orthodox men will cut the lapel of their suit on the left side, over the heart  Non-orthodox practice may be to cut a necktie or to wear a button with a torn black ribbon

Preparing the body — Taharah  Prayers and readings from The Torah are recited  There are three major stages to preparing the body for burial: washing (rechitzah), ritual purification (taharah), and dressing (halbashah)

Preparing the body — Taharah  In Judaism there is no viewing of the body and no "open casket" at the funeral. Sometimes the immediate family pays their final respects before the funeral.

Funeral service  The Jewish funeral consists of burial, also known as interment.  Cremation is not considered acceptable.  Burial is considered to allow the body to decompose naturally  Burial is intended to take place in as short an interval of time after death as possible. Jewish law forbids embalming  Flowers would not be found at a traditional funeral  Funeral service usually commences at the burial ground

Mourning Stage 1 (aninut) Stage 1 (aninut) -A person is considered to be in a state of total shock and disorientation -Lasts until burial is over

Stage 2 (avelut)  Mourning - no music, concerts, parties or marriages  Consists of 3 distinct periods: -Shiva – 7 days of mourning -Shloshim – 30 days after burial -Shneim asar chodesh – 12 months after burial

Matzevah (Unveiling of the tombstone)  A headstone (tombstone) is known as a matzevah ("monument")  Most communities have an unveiling ceremony a year after the death

Controversy following death  Donating organs - Being an organ donor is permitted provided that instructions have been left in a written living will - Being an organ donor is permitted provided that instructions have been left in a written living will  Suicide - Judaism considers suicide to be a form of self murder and thus a Jew who commits suicide is denied some important after-death privileges: no eulogies should be held for that person, and burial in the main section of the Jewish cemetery is normally not allowed - Judaism considers suicide to be a form of self murder and thus a Jew who commits suicide is denied some important after-death privileges: no eulogies should be held for that person, and burial in the main section of the Jewish cemetery is normally not allowed