Embrace the Tachrichim
Mourning cloths and Judaism
A Jewish funeral generally involves many rituals, laws and customs that are based on the Torah. There are four different types of Judaism: Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Reformed, and the funeral traditions differ between each of them.
The Jewish faith believes that one should embrace life. Unlike other religions, Judaism does not define a specific afterlife. They believe in the immortality of the soul, the world to come and the resurrection of the dead, leading a reverent life will help the soul in death.
These beliefs remain important in Orthodox and conservative Jewish cultures, but some traditional practices have changed under Reform Judaism.
The mourning cloths
‘Lewaja’ stands for the entire Jewish funeral. This Jewish custom stems from the following thought: “One comes into the world empty-handed and one leaves the earth empty-handed.” The same principle also applies to the mourning cloth.
Jewish people are humble at death and generally choose the most natural way to return to Earth. We have mourning cloths made of 100% natural materials especially for the Jewish community. That is why a cotton seed or molton mourning cloth is a perfect cloth to be laid out in, the cloth is unbleached, sturdy and has a clean appearance. Such a natural and sober funeral is at the top!
Exception and holidays
Saturday is considered a holy day among Jews and therefore funerals never take place on the Sabbath. In addition, funeral services do not take place on Jewish holidays. These include Purim the lotus festival, Rosh Hashanah the Jewish New Year, Yom Kippur Day of Atonement.
How does a Jewish funeral go?
A traditional Jewish funeral takes place within 24 hours of the time of death, as it is a sign of respect for the deceased. Many modern funeral services will take place later so that friends and relatives can all attend. There is no public viewing of the loved one.
A typical Jewish funeral goes like this
– mourners come together
– Keriah, the ritual, tearing the black ribbon
– Entrance chapel
– Narrations and prayers
– eulogy
– The family of the deceased leaves the chapel
– Then the deceased leaves the chapel
– Funeral procession to the cemetery
– Accompanied to the grave
– Prayers and lowering the coffin
– Funeral ceremony and prayers
– The Mourner’s Kaddish, a memorial prayer.
– Cover the loved one with soil
Did you know
– There are never flowers or music at a Jewish funeral? This goes hand in hand with the idea that we came to Earth without stuff.
– There is always thought or prayer being done. Arriving at the tomb, the porters lower the deceased and the family throws three shovels of sand on the coffin and pronounces the following sentence: “The dust returns to the earth from which it originated; however, the soul returns to God. who gave her.”
– In most Jewish cemeteries the deceased is buried towards the Temple of Jerusalem? They do this because the resurrection of the dead begins in Jerusalem.
– as a sign of mourning, a tear is made in a garment of the relatives most involved before the funeral. This derives from the moment when the patriarch Jacob, upon hearing the news that his son Joseph had been mauled by a wild animal, tore a piece of clothing. Now most will have a black ribbon pinned on them and tear it up.
– Stones are placed in Jewish cemeteries? By placing a stone, the relatives show that she has visited the grave and commemorated the deceased. The origin of this custom dates back to the time when the Jewish people led a Nomadic existence.