Bereavement in Judaism () is a combination of Jewish custom ( ''minhag'', modern pl. ''minhagim'') and

commandments Commandment may refer to: * The Ten Commandments The Ten Commandments (), or the Decalogue (from Latin , from Ancient Greek , ), are religious and ethical directives, structured as a covenant document, that, according to the Hebrew Bible, ...

( ''mitzvah'', pl. ''mitzvot'') derived from the

Torah The Torah ( , "Instruction", "Teaching" or "Law") is the compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, namely the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The Torah is also known as the Pentateuch () ...

and

Judaism Judaism () is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic, Monotheism, monotheistic, ethnic religion that comprises the collective spiritual, cultural, and legal traditions of the Jews, Jewish people. Religious Jews regard Judaism as their means of o ...

's classical

rabbinic literature Rabbinic literature, in its broadest sense, is the entire corpus of works authored by rabbis throughout Jewish history. The term typically refers to literature from the Talmudic era (70–640 CE), as opposed to medieval and modern rabbinic ...

. The details of observance and practice vary according to each Jewish community.

Mourners

In Judaism, the principal mourners are the first-degree relatives: parent, child, sibling, and spouse.Klein, Isaac, ''A Guide to Jewish Religious Practice'', Ktav Publishing House, 1979, page 286. There are some customs that are specific to an individual mourning a parent. Religious laws concerning mourning do not apply to those under thirteen years of age, nor do they apply when the deceased is aged 30 days or less.

Upon receiving news of the death

Upon receiving the news of the death, the following blessing is recited: : ("Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the universe, the True Judge.") In the

Tanakh The Hebrew Bible or Tanakh (;"Tanach"
. ''

Terminology and timing

* ''Avel'' (plural ''Avelim'') – mourner(s) * ''

Avelut Bereavement in Judaism () is a combination of Jewish custom ( ''minhag'', modern pl. ''minhagim'') and commandments ( ''mitzvah'', pl. ''mitzvot'') derived from the Torah and Judaism's classical rabbinic literature. The details of observance ...

'' – mourning. There are different levels, based on who is mourned and timing: ** ''

Aninut Bereavement in Judaism () is a combination of Jewish custom ( ''minhag'', modern pl. ''minhagim'') and commandments ( ''mitzvah'', pl. ''mitzvot'') derived from the Torah and Judaism's classical rabbinic literature. The details of observance ...

'' – generally the day when the news is heard; before burial. A mourner in this period is known as an ''onen''. ** ''

Shiva Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...

'' – seven days, from the Hebrew word for "seven". Begins with day of burial. ** ''

Shloshim Bereavement in Judaism () is a combination of Jewish custom ( ''minhag'', modern pl. ''minhagim'') and commandments ( ''mitzvah'', pl. ''mitzvot'') derived from the Torah and Judaism's classical rabbinic literature. The details of observance ...

'' – 30 days, starting from the day of burial ** ''

Shneim asar chodesh Bereavement in Judaism () is a combination of Jewish custom ( ''minhag'', modern pl. ''minhagim'') and commandments ( ''mitzvah'', pl. ''mitzvot'') derived from the Torah and Judaism's classical rabbinic literature. The details of observance ...

'' – mourning period of twelve months for a deceased parent * ''

Chevra kadisha The term ''chevra kadisha'' () gained its modern sense of "burial society" in the nineteenth century. It is an organization of Jewish men and women who see to it that the bodies of deceased Jews are prepared for burial according to Jewish tra ...

'' – burial society * ''

Hesped Bereavement in Judaism () is a combination of Jewish custom ( ''minhag'', modern pl. ''minhagim'') and commandments ( ''mitzvah'', pl. ''mitzvot'') derived from the Torah and Judaism's classical rabbinic literature. The details of observance ...

'' – eulogy * ''

Qaddish The Kaddish (, 'holy' or 'sanctification'), also transliterated as Qaddish, is a hymn praising God that is recited during Jewish prayer services. The central theme of the Kaddish is the magnification and sanctification of God's name. In the lit ...

'' – said by a mourner (or by someone else, on behalf of ...) * '' Qeriah'' – tearing. Timing varies by custom. At times deferred to funeral chapel or at the cemetery * '' Qvura'' – burial * '' Levaya'' – funeral service. The word means "escort(ing)." * ''L'Illui Nishmat'' – Hebrew for

elevation of the soul The elevation of a geographic ''location'' is its height above or below a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface (see Geodetic datum § ...

, sometimes abbreviated ''LI"N'' * ''

Matzevah A ''masseba'' or ''matzeva'' (,, plural ''maṣṣēḇoṯ'') is a term used in the Hebrew Bible for a ''baetyl'', a type of sacred column or standing stone. In the Septuagint, it is translated as . Archaeologists have adopted the term for the ...

'' – monument or tombstone. ''See also

Unveiling of the tombstone Bereavement in Judaism () is a combination of Jewish custom ( ''minhag'', modern pl. ''minhagim'') and commandments ( ''mitzvah'', pl. ''mitzvot'') derived from the Torah and Judaism's classical rabbinic literature. The details of observance ...

'' * ''Petira'' – passing * ''

Shemira ''Shemira'' (, lit. "watching" or "guarding") refers to the Jewish custom of watching over the body of a deceased person from the time of death until burial. ''Shemira'' is practiced out of respect for the dead, in that they should not be abandon ...

'' – watching or guarding of the body until burial, to ensure it is not left unaccompanied * '' Tahara'' – purification (by water) of the body * ''

Yahrzeit Yahrzeit (, plural , ) is the anniversary of a death in Judaism. It is traditionally commemorated by reciting the Kaddish in synagogue and by lighting a long-burning candle. Name The word ''Yahrzeit'' is a borrowing from the Yiddish (), ul ...

'' – Yiddish for anniversary of the (Hebrew / Jewish) date of passing

Chevra kadisha

The ''

chevra kadisha The term ''chevra kadisha'' () gained its modern sense of "burial society" in the nineteenth century. It is an organization of Jewish men and women who see to it that the bodies of deceased Jews are prepared for burial according to Jewish tra ...

'' ( "sacred society") is a Jewish

burial society A burial society is a type of benefit/ friendly society. These groups historically existed in England and elsewhere, and were constituted for the purpose of providing by voluntary subscriptions for the funeral expenses of the husband, wife or chi ...

usually consisting of volunteers, men and women, who prepare the deceased for proper Jewish burial. Their job is to ensure that the body of the deceased is shown proper respect, ritually cleansed, and shrouded. Many local ''chevra kadishas'' in urban areas are affiliated with local

synagogue A synagogue, also called a shul or a temple, is a place of worship for Jews and Samaritans. It is a place for prayer (the main sanctuary and sometimes smaller chapels) where Jews attend religious services or special ceremonies such as wed ...

s, and they often own their own burial plots in various local cemeteries. Some Jews pay an annual token membership fee to the ''chevra kadisha'' of their choice, so that when the time comes, the society will not only attend to the body of the deceased as befits Jewish law, but will also ensure burial in a plot that it controls at an appropriate nearby

Jewish cemetery A Jewish cemetery ( ''beit almin'' or ''beit kvarot'') is a cemetery where Jews are buried in keeping with Halakha, Jewish tradition. Cemeteries are referred to in several different ways in Hebrew, including ''beit kevarot'' (house of s ...

. If no

gravedigger A gravedigger is a cemetery worker who is responsible for digging a grave prior to a funeral service. Gravediggers have historically often been members of the church, though in modern secular cemeteries, they may be temporary or full-time staf ...

s are available, then it is additionally the function of the male society members to ensure that graves are dug. In

Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...

, members of ''chevra kadishas'' consider it an honor not only to prepare the body for burial but also to dig the grave for a fellow Jew's body, particularly if the deceased was known to be a righteous person. Many burial societies hold one or two annual fast days, especially the 7th day of Adar, Yartzeit of Moshe Rabbeinu (

Moses In Abrahamic religions, Moses was the Hebrews, Hebrew prophet who led the Israelites out of slavery in the The Exodus, Exodus from ancient Egypt, Egypt. He is considered the most important Prophets in Judaism, prophet in Judaism and Samaritani ...

), and organize regular study sessions to remain up to date with the relevant articles of Jewish law. In addition, most burial societies also support families during the ''

shiva Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...

'' (traditional week of mourning) by arranging prayer services, preparing meals, and providing other services for the mourners.

Preparing the body – ''taharah''

There are three major stages to preparing the body for burial: washing (''rechitzah''), ritual purification (''taharah''), and dressing (''halbashah''). The term ''taharah'' is used to refer both to the overall process of burial preparation, and to the specific step of ritual purification. Prayers and readings from Torah, including

Psalms The Book of Psalms ( , ; ; ; ; , in Islam also called Zabur, ), also known as the Psalter, is the first book of the third section of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) called ('Writings'), and a book of the Old Testament. The book is an anthology of B ...

Song of Songs The Song of Songs (), also called the Canticle of Canticles or the Song of Solomon, is a Biblical poetry, biblical poem, one of the five ("scrolls") in the ('writings'), the last section of the Tanakh. Unlike other books in the Hebrew Bible, i ...

Isaiah Isaiah ( or ; , ''Yəšaʿyāhū'', "Yahweh is salvation"; also known as Isaias or Esaias from ) was the 8th-century BC Israelite prophet after whom the Book of Isaiah is named. The text of the Book of Isaiah refers to Isaiah as "the prophet" ...

Ezekiel Ezekiel, also spelled Ezechiel (; ; ), was an Israelite priest. The Book of Ezekiel, relating his visions and acts, is named after him. The Abrahamic religions acknowledge Ezekiel as a prophet. According to the narrative, Ezekiel prophesied ...

, and Zechariah are recited. The general sequence of steps for performing ''taharah'' is as follows. # The body (''guf'') is uncovered (it has been covered with a sheet awaiting ''taharah''). # The body is washed carefully. Any bleeding is stopped and all blood is buried along with the deceased. The body is thoroughly cleaned of dirt, body fluids, and solids, and anything else that may be on the skin. All jewelry is removed. The beard (if present) is ''not'' shaved. # The body is purified with water, either by immersion in a ''

mikveh A mikveh or mikvah (, ''mikva'ot'', ''mikvot'', or (Ashkenazi Hebrew, Ashkenazic) ''mikves'', lit., "a collection") is a bath used for ritual washing in Judaism#Full-body immersion, ritual immersion in Judaism to achieve Tumah and taharah, ...

'' or by pouring a continuous stream of 9 kavim (usually 3 buckets) in a prescribed manner. # The body is dried (according to most customs). # The body is dressed in traditional burial clothing (''

tachrichim Tachrichim (Hebrew: תכריכים) are traditional simple white burial furnishings, usually made from 100% pure linen, in which the bodies of deceased Jews are dressed by the Chevra Kadisha, or other burial group, for interment after undergoing ...

''). A sash (''avnet'') is wrapped around the clothing and tied in the form of the Hebrew letter '' shin,'' representing Shaddai, one of the names of God. # The casket (''aron'') (if there is one) is prepared by removing any linings or other embellishments. A winding sheet (''sovev'') is laid into the casket. Outside the Land of Israel, if the deceased wore a prayer shawl (''

tallit A tallit, taleth, or tallis is a fringed garment worn as a prayer shawl by religious Jews. The tallit has special twined and knotted fringe (trim), fringes known as ''tzitzit'' attached to its four corners. The cloth part is known as the ''beged ...

'') during their life, one is laid in the casket for wrapping the body once it is placed therein. One of the corner fringes (''

tzitzit ''Tzitzit'' ( ''ṣīṣīṯ'', ; plural ''ṣīṣiyyōṯ'', Ashkenazi Hebrew, Ashkenazi: '; and Samaritan Hebrew, Samaritan: ') are specially knotted ritual Fringe (trim), fringes, or tassels, worn in antiquity by Israelites and today by o ...

'') is removed from the shawl to signify that it will no longer be used for prayer and that the person is absolved from having to keep any of the mitsvot. # The body is lifted into the casket and wrapped in the prayer shawl and sheet. Soil (''afar'') from the

Land of Israel The Land of Israel () is the traditional Jewish name for an area of the Southern Levant. Related biblical, religious and historical English terms include the Land of Canaan, the Promised Land, the Holy Land, and Palestine. The definition ...

, if available, is placed over various parts of the body and sprinkled in the casket. # The casket is closed. After the closing of the casket, the ''ḥevra'' asks forgiveness of the deceased for any inadvertent lack of honor shown to the deceased in the preparation of the body for burial. Caskets are not used in

(with the exception of military and state funerals, when the casket is being carried on the shoulders of others) or in many parts of the Diaspora, especially in Eastern Europe and Arab countries. Instead, the body is carried to the grave (or guided on a gurney) wrapped in a shroud and ''tallit'' and placed directly in the earth. In the Diaspora, in general, a casket is only used if required by local law. Traditionally, caskets are simple and made of unfinished wood; both wood with a finish and metal would slow the return of the body to dust (). Strictly-observant practice avoids all metal; the wood parts of the casket are joined by wood

dowel The dowel is a cylindrical shape made of wood, plastic, or metal. In its original manufactured form, a dowel is long and called a ''dowel rod'', which are often cut into shorter ''dowel pins''. Dowels are commonly used as structural reinforceme ...

s rather than nails. There is no viewing of the body and no open casket at the funeral. Sometimes the immediate family verify the identity of the deceased and pay their final respects right before the funeral. From death until burial, it is traditional for guards or shomrim "watchers" to stay with the deceased. It is traditional to recite

(''Tehillim'') during this time.

Funeral service

The Jewish funeral consists of a burial, also known as an interment. Cremation is forbidden. Burial is considered to allow the body to decompose naturally, therefore

embalming Embalming is the art and science of preserving human remains by treating them with embalming chemicals in modern times to forestall decomposition. This is usually done to make the deceased suitable for viewing as part of the funeral ceremony or ...

is forbidden. Burial is intended to take place in as short an interval of time after death as possible. Displaying of the body prior to burial does not take place. Flowers are usually not found at a traditional Jewish funeral but may be seen at statesmen's or heroes' funerals in Israel. In Israel, the Jewish funeral service usually commences at the burial ground. In the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

and

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

, the funeral service commences either at a

funeral home A funeral home, funeral parlor or mortuary is a business that provides burial, entombment and cremation services for the dead and their families. These services may include a prepared visitation and funeral, and the provision of a chapel for t ...

or at the

cemetery A cemetery, burial ground, gravesite, graveyard, or a green space called a memorial park or memorial garden, is a place where the remains of many death, dead people are burial, buried or otherwise entombed. The word ''cemetery'' (from Greek ...

. Occasionally the service will commence at a

. In the case of a prominent individual, the funeral service can begin at a synagogue or a

yeshivah A yeshiva (; ; pl. , or ) is a traditional Jewish educational institution focused on the study of Rabbinic literature, primarily the Talmud and halacha (Jewish law), while Torah and Jewish philosophy are studied in parallel. The studyin ...

. If the funeral service begins at a point other than at the cemetery, the entourage accompanies the body in a procession to the cemetery. Usually the funeral ceremony is brief and includes the recitation of psalms, followed by a eulogy (''hesped''), and finishes with a traditional closing prayer, the El Maleh Rachamim. The funeral, the procession accompanying the body to the place of burial, and the burial, are referred to by the word ''levayah,'' meaning "escorting." ''Levayah'' also indicates "joining" and "bonding." This aspect of the meaning of ''levayah'' conveys the suggestion of a commonality among the souls of the living and the dead.

Yemenite Jews Yemenite Jews, also known as Yemeni Jews or Teimanim (from ; ), are a Jewish diaspora group who live, or once lived, in Yemen, and their descendants maintaining their customs. After several waves of antisemitism, persecution, the vast majority ...

, prior to their return to the land of Israel, maintained an ancient practice during the funeral procession to halt at, at least, seven stations before the actual burial of the dead, beginning from the entrance of the house from whence the

bier A bier is a stand on which a corpse, coffin, or casket containing a corpse is placed to lie in state or to be carried to its final disposition.''The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language'' (American Heritage Publishing Co., In ...

is taken, to the graveyard itself. This has come to be known as ''Ma'amad u'Moshav'', (lit. "Standing and Sitting"), or "seven standings and sittings," and is mentioned in

Tosefta The Tosefta ( "supplement, addition") is a compilation of Jewish Oral Law from the late second century, the period of the Mishnah and the Jewish sages known as the '' Tannaim''. Background Jewish teachings of the Tannaitic period were cha ...

''Pesahim'' 2: 14–15, during which obsequies only men and boys thirteen years and older took part, but never women. At these stations, the bier is let down by the pallbearers upon the ground, and those accompanying will recite "''Hatzur Tamim Pe'ulo''," etc. "''Ana Bakoach''," etc., said in a doleful

dirge A dirge () is a somber song or lament expressing mourning or grief, such as may be appropriate for performance at a funeral. Often taking the form of a brief hymn, dirges are typically shorter and less meditative than elegy, elegies. Dirges are of ...

-like melody, and which verses are followed by one of the party reading certain Midrashic literature and liturgical verse that speaks about death, and which are said to eulogize the deceased.

''Keriah''

The mourners traditionally make a tear (''keriah'' or ''kriah'', ) in an outer garment before or at the funeral. The tearing is required to extend in length to a ''

tefach Biblical and Talmudic units of measurement were used primarily by ancient Israelites and appear frequently within the Hebrew Bible as well as in later rabbinic writings, such as the Mishnah and Talmud. These units of measurement continue to be used ...

'' (handbreadth), or what is equivalent to about . The tear should be on the left side (over the heart and clearly visible) for a parent, including foster parents, and on the right side for siblings (including half-brothers and half-sisters), children, and spouses (and does not need to be visible). Non-Orthodox Jews will often make the ''keriah'' in a small black ribbon that is pinned to the lapel rather than in the lapel itself. In the instance when a mourner receives the news of the death and burial of a relative after an elapsed period of 30 days or more, there is no ''keriah'', or tearing of the garment, except in the case of a parent. In the case of a parent, the tearing of the garment is to be performed no matter how long a period has elapsed between the time of death and the time of receiving the news. If a child of the deceased needs to change clothes during the ''

'' period, they must tear the changed clothes. No other family member is required to tear changed clothes during ''shiva''. Children of the deceased may never sew the torn clothes, but any other mourner may mend the clothing 30 days after the burial.

Eulogies

A ''hesped'' is a

eulogy A eulogy (from , ''eulogia'', Classical Greek, ''eu'' for "well" or "true", ''logia'' for "words" or "text", together for "praise") is a speech or writing in praise of a person, especially one who recently died or retired, or as a term o ...

, and it is common for several people to speak at the start of the ceremony at the funeral home, as well as prior to burial at the gravesite. " d

Abraham Abraham (originally Abram) is the common Hebrews, Hebrew Patriarchs (Bible), patriarch of the Abrahamic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In Judaism, he is the founding father who began the Covenant (biblical), covenanta ...

came to eulogize

Sarah Sarah (born Sarai) is a biblical matriarch, prophet, and major figure in Abrahamic religions. While different Abrahamic faiths portray her differently, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all depict her character similarly, as that of a pious woma ...

." uses the word "Lispod" from which is derived the Hebrew term Hesped. There is more than one purpose for the eulogy. * it is both for the deceased and the living, and should appropriately praise the person's good deeds. * to make us cry Some people specify in their wills that nothing should be said about them.

Days of "no eulogy"

Eulogies are forbidden on certain days; likewise on a Friday afternoon. Some other times are: * each month's Jewish New Moon (

Rosh Chodesh In Judaism, Rosh Chodesh or Rosh Hodesh (; trans. ''Beginning of the Month''; lit. ''Head of the Month'') is a minor holiday observed at the beginning of every month in the Hebrew calendar, marked by the birth of a new moon. Rosh Chodesh is obs ...

) * the four days between

Yom Kippur Yom Kippur ( ; , ) is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. It occurs annually on the 10th of Tishrei, corresponding to a date in late September or early October. For traditional Jewish people, it is primarily centered on atonement and ...

and

Sukkot Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of Booths, is a Torah-commanded Jewish holiday celebrated for seven days, beginning on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei. It is one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals on which Israelite ...

* '' Chol HaMo'ed'' ("intermediate days" of

Jewish holiday Jewish holidays, also known as Jewish festivals or ''Yamim Tovim'' (, or singular , in transliterated Hebrew []), are holidays observed by Jews throughout the Hebrew calendar.This article focuses on practices of mainstream Rabbinic Judaism. ...

s) * during the month of Nisan A more general guideline is that when the

Tachanun ''Tachanun'' or ''Taḥanun'' ( "Supplication"), also called ''nefilat apayim'' ( "falling on the face"), is part of Judaism's morning (''Shacharit'') and afternoon (''Mincha'') prayer services; it follows the recitation of the ''Amidah'', the ce ...

(supplication prayer) is omitted, it is permitted to deliver a brief eulogy emphasizing only the praise of the departed; the extensive eulogy is postponed, and may be said at another time during the year of mourning.

Burial

''Kevura'', or burial, should take place as soon as possible after death. The ''

'' requires burial as soon as possible, even for executed criminals. Burial is delayed "for the honor of the deceased," usually to allow more time for far-flung family to come to the funeral and participate in the other post-burial rituals, but also to hire professionals, or to bury the deceased in a cemetery of their choice. Respect for the dead can be seen from many examples in the ''

'' and ''

Tanakh The Hebrew Bible or Tanakh (;"Tanach"
. ''

when God himself buries him: " odburied him in the depression in the land of

Moab Moab () was an ancient Levant, Levantine kingdom whose territory is today located in southern Jordan. The land is mountainous and lies alongside much of the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. The existence of the Kingdom of Moab is attested to by ...

, opposite Beth Peor. No man knows the place that he was buried, even to this day." In many traditional funerals, the body, wrapped in a shroud (or casket where used), will be carried from the hearse to the grave in seven stages. These are accompanied by seven recitations of

Psalm 91 Psalm 91 is the 91st psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." In the slightly different numbering system us ...

. There is a symbolic pause after each stage (which are omitted on days when a eulogy would also not be recited.) When the funeral service has ended, the mourners come forward to fill the grave. Symbolically, this gives the mourners closure as they observe, or participate in, the filling of the grave site. One custom is for all people present at the funeral to take a spade or shovel, held pointing down instead of up, to show the antithesis of

death Death is the end of life; the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism. Death eventually and inevitably occurs in all organisms. The remains of a former organism normally begin to decompose sh ...

life Life, also known as biota, refers to matter that has biological processes, such as Cell signaling, signaling and self-sustaining processes. It is defined descriptively by the capacity for homeostasis, Structure#Biological, organisation, met ...

and that this use of the shovel is different from all other uses, to throw three shovelfuls of dirt into the grave. Some have the custom to initially use the shovel "backwards" for the first few shovelfuls. Even among those who do it, some limit this to just the first few participants. When someone is finished, they put the shovel back in the ground, rather than handing it to the next person, to avoid passing along their

grief Grief is the response to the loss of something deemed important, particularly to the death of a person to whom or animal to which a Human bonding, bond or affection was formed. Although conventionally focused on the emotional response to loss, ...

to other mourners. This literal participation in the burial is considered a particularly good

mitzvah In its primary meaning, the Hebrew language, Hebrew word (; , ''mīṣvā'' , plural ''mīṣvōt'' ; "commandment") refers to a commandment Divine law, from God to be performed as a religious duty. Jewish law () in large part consists of disc ...

because it is one for which the beneficiary—the deceased—can offer no repayment or gratitude and thus it is a pure gesture. Some have a custom, once the grave is filled, to make a rounded topping shape. After burial, the

Tziduk Hadin Tziduk Hadin () is a prayer recited at a Jewish funeral, immediately after the grave has been filled. The prayer affirms that the Divine Judgment is righteous and perfect. It is followed by Psalm 49. It is not recited on various holidays A ho ...

prayer may be recited affirming that

Divine Judgment Divine judgment means the judgment of God or other supreme beings and deities within a religion or a spiritual belief. Ancient beliefs In ancient Sumerian religion, the sun-god Utu and his twin sister Inanna were believed to be the enfo ...

is righteous. The family of deceased may then be comforted by other mourners with the formula: :In Ashkenazi communities: ::הַמָּקוֹם יְנַחֵם אֶתְכֶם בְּתוֹךְ שְׁאָר אֲבֵלֵי צִיּוֹן וִירוּשָׁלָיִם :: :: The Omnipresent will comfort you (pl.) among the mourners of

Zion Zion (; ) is a placename in the Tanakh, often used as a synonym for Jerusalem as well as for the Land of Israel as a whole. The name is found in 2 Samuel (), one of the books of the Tanakh dated to approximately the mid-6th century BCE. It o ...

and

Jerusalem Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...

. :In Sephardic communities: ::מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם תְּנוּחָמוּ :: ::From heaven above may you be comforted. In the 21st century, as space has become scarce in Israeli cemeteries, the ancient practice of burying a person for one year, then exhuming their bones for burial in a smaller plot, has been reestablished.

Mourning

''Aninut''

The first stage of mourning is ''aninut'', or ()." ''Aninut'' lasts until the burial is over, or, if a mourner is unable to attend the funeral, until the moment he is no longer involved with the funeral itself. An ''onen'' (a person in ''aninut'') is considered to be in a state of total shock and disorientation. Thus the ''onen'' is exempt from performing

mitzvot In its primary meaning, the Hebrew word (; , ''mīṣvā'' , plural ''mīṣvōt'' ; "commandment") refers to a commandment from God to be performed as a religious duty. Jewish law () in large part consists of discussion of these commandments ...

that require action (and attention), such as praying and reciting blessings, wearing ''

tefillin Tefillin (Modern Hebrew language, Israeli Hebrew: / ; Ashkenazim, Ashkenazic pronunciation: ; Modern Israeli Hebrew, Modern Hebrew pronunciation: ), or phylacteries, are a set of small black leather boxes with leather straps containing scrolls o ...

'' (phylacteries), in order to be able to tend unhindered to the funeral arrangements. However the ''onen'' is still obligated in commandments that forbid an action (such as not violating the Shabbat).

''Avelut''

''Aninut'' is immediately followed by ''avelut'' (). An ''avel'' ("mourner") does not listen to

music Music is the arrangement of sound to create some combination of Musical form, form, harmony, melody, rhythm, or otherwise Musical expression, expressive content. Music is generally agreed to be a cultural universal that is present in all hum ...

or go to

concert A concert, often known informally as a gig or show, is a live performance of music in front of an audience. The performance may be carried by a single musician, in which case it is sometimes called a recital, or by a musical ensemble such as an ...

s, and does not attend any joyous events or parties such as

marriages Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

or bar or bat mitzvahs, unless absolutely necessary. (If the date for such an event has already been set prior to the death, it is strictly forbidden for it to be postponed or cancelled.) The occasion of a ''

brit milah The ''brit milah'' (, , ; "Covenant (religion), covenant of circumcision") or ''bris'' (, ) is Religion and circumcision, the ceremony of circumcision in Judaism and Samaritanism, during which the foreskin is surgically removed. According to t ...

'' is typically an exception to this rule, but with restrictions that differ according to tradition. ''Avelut'' consists of three distinct periods.

''Shiva'' – seven days

The first stage of ''avelut'' is ''shiva'' (), a week-long period of grief and

mourning Mourning is the emotional expression in response to a major life event causing grief, especially loss. It typically occurs as a result of someone's death, especially a loved one. The word is used to describe a complex of behaviors in which t ...

. Observance of ''shiva'' is referred to by English-speaking Jews as "sitting ''shiva''". During this period, mourners traditionally gather in one home and receive visitors. When they get home, the mourners refrain for a week from showering or bathing, wearing leather shoes or jewelry, or shaving. In many communities, mirrors in the mourners' home are covered since they should not be concerned about their personal appearance. It is customary for the mourners to sit on low stools or even the floor, symbolic of the emotional reality of being "brought low" by the grief. The meal of consolation ( ''seudat havra'ah''), the first meal eaten on returning from the funeral, traditionally consists of hard-boiled

eggs An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo begins to develop. Egg, EGG or eggs may also refer to: Biology * Egg cell, the female reproductive cell (gamete) in oogamous organisms Food * Eggs as food Places * Egg, Austria * Egg, Switzerland ...

and other round or oblong foods. This is often credited to the Biblical story of

Jacob Jacob, later known as Israel, is a Hebrew patriarch of the Abrahamic religions. He first appears in the Torah, where he is described in the Book of Genesis as a son of Isaac and Rebecca. Accordingly, alongside his older fraternal twin brother E ...

purchasing the birthright from

Esau Esau is the elder son of Isaac in the Hebrew Bible. He is mentioned in the Book of Genesis and by the minor prophet, prophets Obadiah and Malachi. The story of Jacob and Esau reflects the historical relationship between Israel and Edom, aiming ...

with stewed

lentils The lentil (''Vicia lens'' or ''Lens culinaris'') is an annual plant, annual legume grown for its Lens (geometry), lens-shaped edible seeds or ''pulses'', also called ''lentils''. It is about tall, and the seeds grow in Legume, pods, usually w ...

(

Genesis Genesis may refer to: Religion * Book of Genesis, the first book of the biblical scriptures of both Judaism and Christianity, describing the creation of the Earth and of humankind * Genesis creation narrative, the first several chapters of the Bo ...

25:34); it is traditionally stated that Jacob was cooking the lentils soon after the death of his grandfather

. During ''shiva'', family and friends come to visit or call on the mourners to comfort them ("''shiva'' calls"). This is considered a great ''

'' (commandment) of kindness and compassion. Traditionally, no greetings are exchanged and visitors wait for the mourners to initiate conversation. The mourner is under no obligation to engage in conversation and may, in fact, completely ignore their visitors. Visitors will traditionally take on the hosting role when attending a Shiva, often bringing food and serving it to the mourning family and other guests. The mourning family will often avoid any cooking or cleaning during the Shiva period; those responsibilities become those of visitors. There are various customs as to what to say when taking leave of the mourner(s). One of the most common is to say to them: :הַמָּקוֹם יְנַחֵם אֶתְכֶם בְּתוֹךְ שְׁאָר אֲבֵלֵי צִיּוֹן וִירוּשָׁלָיִם :''Hamakom y'nachem etkhem b'tokh sha'ar avelei tziyon viyrushalayim'': :"May The Omnipresent comfort you (pl.) among the mourners of

and

" Depending on their community's customs, others may also add such wishes as: "You should have no more ''tza'ar'' (distress)" or "You should have only ''simchas'' (celebrations)" or "we should hear only ''besorot tovot'' (good tidings) from each other" or "I wish you a long life". Traditionally, prayer services are organized in the house of mourning. It is customary for the family to lead the services themselves.

''Shloshim'' – thirty days

The thirty-day period following burial (including ''shiva'') is known as ''shloshim'' (). During ''shloshim'', a mourner is forbidden to marry or to attend a ''

seudat mitzvah A ''seudat mitzvah'' (, "commanded meal"), in Judaism, is an obligatory festive meal, usually referring to the celebratory meal following the fulfillment of a ''mitzvah'' (commandment), such as a ''bar mitzvah'', '' bat mitzvah'', a wedding, a ' ...

'' (religious festive meal). Men do not shave or get haircuts during this time. Since Judaism teaches that a deceased person can still benefit from the merit of ''

'' (commandments) performed in their memory, it is considered a special privilege to bring merit to the departed by learning Torah in their name. A popular custom amongst Orthodox Jews is to coordinate a group of people who will jointly study the complete

Mishnah The Mishnah or the Mishna (; , from the verb ''šānā'', "to study and review", also "secondary") is the first written collection of the Jewish oral traditions that are known as the Oral Torah. Having been collected in the 3rd century CE, it is ...

during the ''shloshim'' period. This is due to the fact that "Mishnah" (משנה) and "Neshamah" (נשמה), soul, have the same (Hebrew) letters.

''Shneim asar chodesh'' – twelve months

Those mourning a parent additionally observe a twelve-month period (), counted from the day of death. During this period, most activity returns to normal, although the mourners continue to recite the

Kaddish The Kaddish (, 'holy' or 'sanctification'), also transliterated as Qaddish, is a hymn praising God that is recited during Jewish prayer services. The central theme of the Kaddish is the magnification and sanctification of God's name. In the lit ...

as part of synagogue services for eleven months. In Orthodox tradition, this is an obligation of the sons (not daughters) as mourners. There remain restrictions on attending festive occasions and large gatherings, especially where live music is performed.

Unveiling of the tombstone

headstone A gravestone or tombstone is a marker, usually stone, that is placed over a grave. A marker set at the head of the grave may be called a headstone. An especially old or elaborate stone slab may be called a funeral stele, stela, or slab. The u ...

(tombstone) is known as a ''matzevah'' (Hebrew: "pillar", "statue", or "monument"). Although there is no

halakhic ''Halakha'' ( ; , ), also transliterated as ''halacha'', ''halakhah'', and ''halocho'' ( ), is the collective body of Jewish religious laws that are derived from the Written and Oral Torah. ''Halakha'' is based on biblical commandments (''mitzv ...

obligation to hold an unveiling ceremony (the ritual became popular in many communities toward the end of the 19th century), there are varying customs about when it should be placed on the grave. Most communities have an unveiling ceremony a year after the death. Some communities have it earlier, even a week after the burial. In Israel it is done after the ''shloshim'' (the first 30 days of mourning). There is no universal restriction about the timing, other than the unveiling cannot be held during Shabbat, (work-restricted) Jewish holidays, or Chol Ha'Moed. At the end of the ceremony, a cloth or shroud covering that has been placed on the headstone is removed, customarily by close family members. Services include reading of several psalms.

Gesher HaChaim Rabbi Yechiel Michel Tucazinsky (; 1871–1955) was a halachic scholar and author who served as rosh yeshiva of the Etz Chaim Yeshiva in Jerusalem. He is best known for his work on the laws of mourning, Gesher HaChaim, and for developing the I ...

cites (chapters) "33, 16, 17, 72, 91, 104, and 130; then one says Psalm 119 and recites the verses that spell the name of the deceased and the letters of the word ''Neshama''.". This is followed by the Mourner's Kaddish (if a ''

minyan In Judaism, a ''minyan'' ( ''mīnyān'' , Literal translation, lit. (noun) ''count, number''; pl. ''mīnyānīm'' ) is the quorum of ten Jewish adults required for certain Mitzvah, religious obligations. In more traditional streams of Judaism ...

'' is available), and the prayer " El Malei Rachamim". The service may include a brief eulogy for the deceased.

Monuments

Originally, it was not common practice to place names on tombstones. The general custom for engraving the name of the deceased on the monument is a practice that goes back (only) "the last several hundred years." Jewish communities in Yemen, prior to their immigration to the Land of Israel, did not place headstones over the graves of the dead, except only on rare occasions, choosing rather to follow the dictum of Rabban

Shimon ben Gamliel Simeon ben Gamliel (I) ( or רשב"ג הראשון; c. 10 BCE – 70 CE) was a '' Tanna'' (sage) and leader of the Jewish people. He served as nasi of the Great Sanhedrin at Jerusalem during the outbreak of the First Jewish–Roman War, succe ...

who said: "They do not build monuments (i.e. tombstones) for the righteous. Their words, lo! They are their memorial!" Philosopher and Halachic decisor,

Maimonides Moses ben Maimon (1138–1204), commonly known as Maimonides (, ) and also referred to by the Hebrew acronym Rambam (), was a Sephardic rabbi and Jewish philosophy, philosopher who became one of the most prolific and influential Torah schola ...

, likewise, ruled that it is not permissible to raise headstones over the graves of righteous men, but permits doing so for ordinary men. In contrast, the more recent custom of Spanish Jewry, following the teachings of Yitzhak Luria (''Shaʿar Ha-Mitzvot, Parashat Vayeḥi''), is to build tombstones over the grave, seeing it as part of the complete atonement and amendment for those who have died. Likewise, Rabbi Shelomo b. Avraham Aderet (RASHBA) wrote that it is a way of showing honor to the dead. In this manner the custom did spread, especially among the Jews of Spain, North Africa and

Ashkenaz Ashkenaz ( ''ʾAškənāz'') in the Hebrew Bible is one of the descendants of Noah. Ashkenaz is the first son of Gomer, and a Japhetic patriarch in the Table of Nations. In rabbinic literature, the descendants of Ashkenaz were first associated ...

. Today, in Israel, all Jewish graves are marked with headstones.

Annual remembrances

Anniversary of death (''yortseyt'')

''Yortseyt'' () means "time (of) year" in

Yiddish Yiddish, historically Judeo-German, is a West Germanic language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews. It originated in 9th-century Central Europe, and provided the nascent Ashkenazi community with a vernacular based on High German fused with ...

. Alternative spellings include ''yahrtzeit'', ''Jahrzeit'' (in German), ''yohr tzeit'', ''yahrzeit'', and ''yartzeit''. The word is used by

Ashkenazi Jews Ashkenazi Jews ( ; also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim) form a distinct subgroup of the Jewish diaspora, that emerged in the Holy Roman Empire around the end of the first millennium CE. They traditionally speak Yiddish, a language ...

and refers to the

anniversary An anniversary is the date on which an event took place or an institution was founded. Most countries celebrate national anniversaries, typically called national days. These could be the List of national independence days, date of independen ...

, according to the

Hebrew calendar The Hebrew calendar (), also called the Jewish calendar, is a lunisolar calendar used today for Jewish religious observance and as an official calendar of Israel. It determines the dates of Jewish holidays and other rituals, such as '' yahrze ...

, of the day of death of a loved one. On the anniversary of a death, it is the custom to light a candle to commemorate the departure of a loved one. These are called ''yortseytlikht'', meaning "

yahrzeit candle A yahrzeit candle, also spelled yahrtzeit candle or called a memorial candle, (, ''ner neshama'', meaning "soul candle"; , meaning "anniversary candle") is a type of candle that is lit in memory of the dead in Judaism. Name The word "''ya ...

". In order to keep track of the yortseyt, special time boards are used (German ''Jahrzeittafel''). They are used both in synagogues and in private contexts. They list the date of death of one person (sometimes several) according to the

for the next few years, and are then used by families to keep track of when the next yortseyt will be. Mostly the tablets are preprinted and secondarily adapted for the person in question (name and date of death). Non-Ashkenazi communities use other names for the anniversary of a death. The commemoration is known in

Hebrew Hebrew (; ''ʿÎbrit'') is a Northwest Semitic languages, Northwest Semitic language within the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family. A regional dialect of the Canaanite languages, it was natively spoken by the Israelites and ...

as ''naḥala'' "legacy, inheritance". This term is used by most

Sephardic Jews Sephardic Jews, also known as Sephardi Jews or Sephardim, and rarely as Iberian Peninsular Jews, are a Jewish diaspora population associated with the historic Jewish communities of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) and their descendant ...

, although some use the term , or, less commonly, ''anyos'' "years". Persian Jews refer to this day as ''sāl'' ( "year").

Commemorating

Jews are required to commemorate the death of parents, siblings, spouses, or children. # When an immediate relative (parent, sibling, spouse or child) initially hears of the death of a relative, it is traditional to express one's grief by tearing their clothing and saying "''baruch dayan ha-emet''" ("blessed is the true judge"). # Shiva is observed by parents, children, spouses and siblings of the deceased, preferably all together in the deceased's home. There is a halakhic obligation for sons to recite the Mourner's Kaddish for their parents. The various mourning customs are first discussed in detail in ''Sefer HaMinhagim'' (pub. 1566) by

Isaac Tyrnau Rabbi Isaac Tyrnau (יצחק אייזיק מטירנא or יצחק טירנאו; also Isaak Tyrnau) was an Austrian (or Hungarian) rabbi, born in the late 14th century and active in the 15th century; he is most famous for his ''Sefer haMinhagim'' ...

. Some Jews believe that strict Jewish law requires that one should fast on the day of a parent's yortseyt; although most believe this is not required, some people do observe the custom of fasting on the day of the yortseyt, or at least refraining from meat and wine. Among many Orthodox Jews it has become customary to make a

siyum A ''siyum'' () is the completion of any established unit of Torah study in Judaism. The most common units are a single volume of the Talmud, or of Mishnah, but other units of learning may lead to a siyyum. The typical structure of a siyyum includ ...

by completing a tractate of

Talmud The Talmud (; ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law (''halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of Haskalah#Effects, modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the cen ...

or a volume of the

on the day prior to the ''Yahrtzeit'', in the honor of the deceased. A ''halakha'' requiring a ''siyum'' ("celebratory meal"), upon the completion of such a study, overrides the requirement to fast. Many synagogues will have lights on a special memorial plaque on one of the synagogue's walls, with names of synagogue members who have died. Each of these lights will be lit for individuals on their ''Yahrzeit'' (and in some synagogues, the entire Hebrew month). All the lights will be lit for a Yizkor service. Some synagogues will also turn on all the lights for memorial days, such as

Yom Ha'Shoah Yom HaZikaron laShoah ve-laG'vurah (), known colloquially in Israel and abroad as Yom HaShoah (, ) and in English as Holocaust Remembrance Day, or Holocaust Day, is observed as Israel's day of commemoration for the approximately six million Je ...

Visiting the gravesite

Some have a custom to visit the cemetery on fast days (''

Shulchan Aruch The ''Shulhan Arukh'' ( ),, often called "the Code of Jewish Law", is the most widely consulted of the various legal codes in Rabbinic Judaism. It was authored in the city of Safed in what is now Israel by Joseph Karo in 1563 and published in ...

'' Orach Chayim 559:10) and before

Rosh Hashanah Rosh Hashanah (, , ) is the New Year in Judaism. The Hebrew Bible, biblical name for this holiday is Yom Teruah (, , ). It is the first of the High Holy Days (, , 'Days of Awe"), as specified by Leviticus 23:23–25, that occur in the late summe ...

and

(581:4, 605), when possible, and for a ''Yahrzeit.'' During the first year the grave is often visited on the shloshim, and the yartzeit (but may be visited at any time). Even when visiting Jewish graves of someone that the visitor never knew, the custom is to place a small stone on the grave using the left hand. This shows that someone visited the gravesite, and is also a way of participating in the mitzvah of burial. Leaving flowers is not a traditional Jewish practice. Another reason for leaving stones is to tend the grave. In Biblical times, gravestones were not used; graves were marked with mounds of stones (a kind of

cairn A cairn is a human-made pile (or stack) of stones raised for a purpose, usually as a marker or as a burial mound. The word ''cairn'' comes from the (plural ). Cairns have been and are used for a broad variety of purposes. In prehistory, t ...

), so by placing (or replacing) them, one perpetuated the existence of the site. The tradition to travel to the graveside on the occasion of a Yahrzeit is ancient.

Memorial through prayer

Mourner's Kaddish

Kaddish Yatom ('' heb.'' קדיש יתום ''lit. "Orphan's Kaddish"'') or the "Mourner's" Kaddish, is said at prayer services, as well as at funerals and memorials. Customs for reciting the Mourner's Kaddish vary markedly among various communities. In many

Ashkenazi Ashkenazi Jews ( ; also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim) form a distinct subgroup of the Jewish diaspora, that Ethnogenesis, emerged in the Holy Roman Empire around the end of the first millennium Common era, CE. They traditionally spe ...

synagogues, particularly

Orthodox Orthodox, Orthodoxy, or Orthodoxism may refer to: Religion * Orthodoxy, adherence to accepted norms, more specifically adherence to creeds, especially within Christianity and Judaism, but also less commonly in non-Abrahamic religions like Neo-pag ...

ones, it is customary that everyone in the synagogue stands. In Sephardi synagogues, most people sit for most sayings of Kaddish. In many non-Orthodox Ashkenaz ones, the custom is that only the mourners themselves stand and chant, while the rest of the congregation sits, chanting only responsively.

Hashkabóth

In many Sephardic communities, Hashkabóth ("remembrance") prayers are recited for the deceased in the year following death, on the deceased's death anniversary ("nahalah" or "anyos"), and upon request by the deceased's relatives. Some Sephardic communities also recite Hashkabóth for all their deceased members on Yom Kippur, even those who died many years before.

Yizkor

''Yizkor'' (Hebrew: "remembrance") prayers are recited by those that have lost either one or both of their parents. They may additionally say Yizkor for other relatives. Some might also say Yizkor for a deceased close friend.Chabad mentions this at It is customary in many communities for those with both parents alive to leave the synagogue during the Yizkor service while it is said. The Yizkor prayers are recited in the Eastern Ashkenazic rite four times a year, and are intended to be recited in a synagogue with a

; if one is unable to be with a minyan, one can recite it without one. These four Yizkor services are held on

Shemini Atzeret Shemini Atzeret (—"Eighth ayof Assembly") is a Jewish holidays, Jewish holiday. It is celebrated on the 22nd day of the Hebrew calendar, Hebrew month of Tishrei, usually coinciding with late September or early October. It directly follows ...

, on the last day of

Passover Passover, also called Pesach (; ), is a major Jewish holidays, Jewish holiday and one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals. It celebrates the Exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Biblical Egypt, Egypt. According to the Book of Exodus, God in ...

, and on

Shavuot (, from ), or (, in some Ashkenazi Jews, Ashkenazi usage), is a Jewish holidays, Jewish holiday, one of the biblically ordained Three Pilgrimage Festivals. It occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan; in the 21st century, it may ...

(the second day of Shavuot, in communities that observe Shavuot for two days). In the original Western Ashkenazic rite, Yizkor is recited only on Yom Kippur, and some Western Ashkenazic communities did away with the custom altogether in the mid-19th century. The primary prayer in the ''Yizkor'' service is '' El Malei Rachamim'', in which God is asked to remember and grant repose to the souls of the departed. Yizkor is customarily not said within the first year of mourning, until the first ''

yahrzeit Yahrzeit (, plural , ) is the anniversary of a death in Judaism. It is traditionally commemorated by reciting the Kaddish in synagogue and by lighting a long-burning candle. Name The word ''Yahrzeit'' is a borrowing from the Yiddish (), ul ...

'' has passed. This practice is a custom and historically not regarded to be obligatory. In

Sephardic Sephardic Jews, also known as Sephardi Jews or Sephardim, and rarely as Iberian Peninsular Jews, are a Jewish diaspora population associated with the historic Jewish communities of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) and their descendant ...

and Yemenite custom there is no Yizkor prayer, but the ''Hashkabóth'' serve a similar role in the service.

Av HaRachamim

Av Harachamim Av Harachamim or Abh Haraḥamim ( "Father fmercy" or "Merciful Father") is a Jewish memorial prayer which was written in the late eleventh or early twelfth century, after the destruction of the Ashkenazi communities around the Rhine River by Chri ...

is a Jewish memorial prayer that was written in the late 11th Century, after the destruction of the German Jewish communities around the

Rhine river The Rhine ( ) is one of the major rivers in Europe. The river begins in the Swiss canton of Graubünden in the southeastern Swiss Alps. It forms part of the Swiss-Liechtenstein border, then part of the Swiss-Austrian border. From Lake Cons ...

by Crusaders. In the Eastern Ashkenazic rite, it is recited on many

Shabbat Shabbat (, , or ; , , ) or the Sabbath (), also called Shabbos (, ) by Ashkenazi Hebrew, Ashkenazim, is Judaism's day of rest on the seventh day of the seven-day week, week—i.e., Friday prayer, Friday–Saturday. On this day, religious Jews ...

ot before

Mussaf Mussaf (also spelled Musaf or Musof) is an additional service that is recited on Shabbat, Yom Tov, Chol Hamoed, and Rosh Chodesh. The service, which is traditionally combined with the Shacharit in synagogues, is considered to be additional to t ...

, and also at the end of the Yizkor service; in the Western Ashkenazic rite, it is recited only twice a year on the Sabbaths immediately preceding Shavuot and Tisha Bav.

Elevation of the soul

According to Jewish belief, once a person dies, there is no way for them to accrue merit anymore through doing the mitzvot themselves. However, mitzvot done by the people they influenced (e.g. children, students, family, friends) can still bring them merit. For this reason, Jews will do mitzvot for the elevation of the soul (''L'Illui NishMat'' – , sometimes abbreviated LI"N ()) of a person who passed away, even for a stranger. Though not limited to any mitzvah, Aliyos (elevation) are often done through: * Kaddish (on the mourner's part) * Charity – Tzedakah * Dissemination of Torah learning and other mitzvot * Joint Tehillim Reading * Personal study and review, especially of

. The same letters that spell the Hebrew word ''MiShNaH'' () spell the Hebrew word for "soul", ''NeShaMaH'' ). * Saying of brachos on food and drink, or sponsoring said food (Tikkun) The Hebrew name of the deceased is commonly mentioned alongside these acts, or printed in said books or placed on a placard next to consumables – with the exception of kaddish.

Tikkun (sponsoring food)

At first a Hassidic custom, at first deriving from making a siyum on the yahrzeit, nowadays practised without one with the intention that the bracha said over the food brings an aliya. Schnapps and baked goods are popularly sponsored, though any kosher food or drink may be used.

Communal responses to death

Most Jewish communities of size have non-profit organizations that maintain cemeteries and provide ''chevra kadisha'' services for those in need. They are often formed out of a synagogue's women's group.

''Zihui Korbanot Asson'' (ZAKA)

ZAKA ( heb. זק"א ''abbr. for Zihui Korbanot Asson lit. "Identifying Victims of Disaster"'' – חסד של אמת ''Hessed shel Emet lit. "True Kindness"'' – איתור חילוץ והצלה), is a

community emergency response team In the United States, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) can refer to * an implementation of Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA's National CERT Program, administered by a local sponsoring agency, which provides a standardized training ...

in the State of

, officially recognized by the government. The organization was founded in 1989. Members of ZAKA, most of whom are

, assist

ambulance An ambulance is a medically-equipped vehicle used to transport patients to treatment facilities, such as hospitals. Typically, out-of-hospital medical care is provided to the patient during the transport. Ambulances are used to respond to ...

crews, identify the victims of

terrorism Terrorism, in its broadest sense, is the use of violence against non-combatants to achieve political or ideological aims. The term is used in this regard primarily to refer to intentional violence during peacetime or in the context of war aga ...

, road accidents and other disasters and, where necessary, gather body parts and spilled

blood Blood is a body fluid in the circulatory system of humans and other vertebrates that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. Blood is com ...

for proper burial. They also provide

first aid First aid is the first and immediate assistance given to any person with a medical emergency, with care provided to preserve life, prevent the condition from worsening, or to promote recovery until medical services arrive. First aid is gener ...

and

rescue Rescue comprises responsive operations that usually involve the saving of life, removal from danger, liberation from restraint, or the urgent treatment of injury, injuries after an incident. It may be facilitated by a range of tools and equipm ...

services, and help with the search for missing persons. In the past they have responded in the aftermath of disasters around the world.

''Hebrew Free Burial Association'' (HFBA)

The Hebrew Free Burial Association is a non-profit agency whose mission is to ensure that all Jews receive a proper Jewish burial, regardless of their financial ability. Since 1888, more than 55,000 Jews have been buried by HFBA in their cemeteries located on

Staten Island, New York Staten Island ( ) is the southernmost of the boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Richmond County and situated at the southernmost point of New York (state), New York. The borough is separated from the ad ...

, Silver Lake Cemetery and Mount Richmond Cemetery.

Hebrew Benevolent Society of Los Angeles

Formed in 1854 for the purpose of "…procuring a piece of ground suitable for the purpose of a burying ground for the deceased of their own faith, and also to appropriate a portion of their time and means to the holy cause of benevolence…," the Hebrew Benevolent Society of Los Angeles established the first Jewish cemetery in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

at Lilac Terrace and Lookout Drive in

Chavez Ravine Chavez Ravine is a shallow canyon in Los Angeles, California. It sits in a large promontory of hills north of downtown Los Angeles, next to Major League Baseball's Dodger Stadium. Chavez Ravine was named for a 19th-century Los Angeles councilm ...

(current home to

Dodger Stadium Dodger Stadium is a ballpark in the Elysian Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, United States. It is the home of the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). Opened in 1962, it was constructed in less than three years at a ...

). In 1968, a plaque was installed at the original site, identifying it as

California Historical Landmark A California Historical Landmark (CHL) is a building, structure, site, or place in the U.S. state of California that has been determined to have statewide historical landmark significance. Criteria Historical significance is determined by meetin ...

#822. In 1902, because of poor environmental conditions due to the unchecked expansion of the oil industry in the area, it was proposed by Congregation B'nai B'rith to secure a new plot of land in what is now East LA, and to move the buried remains to the new site, with a continued provision for burial of indigent people. This site, the Home of Peace Memorial Park, remains operational and is the oldest Jewish cemetery in Los Angeles. The original society is now known as the "Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles".

Controversy following death

Donating organs

According to some

Jewish denominations Jewish religious movements, sometimes called " denominations", include diverse groups within Judaism which have developed among Jews from ancient times. Samaritans are also considered ethnic Jews by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, although they a ...

, once death has been clearly established, provided that instructions have been left in a written

living will An advance healthcare directive, also known as living will, personal directive, advance directive, medical directive or advance decision, is a document in which a person specifies what actions should be taken for their health if they are no longe ...

, donation may be done. However, there are a number of practical difficulties for those who wish to adhere strictly to Jewish law. For example, someone who is dead by clinical standards may not yet be dead according to Jewish law. Jewish law does not permit donation of organs that are vital for survival from a donor who is in a near-dead state but who is not yet dead according to Jewish law.

and

Haredi Haredi Judaism (, ) is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that is characterized by its strict interpretation of religious sources and its accepted (Jewish law) and traditions, in opposition to more accommodating values and practices. Its members are ...

Jews may need to consult their rabbis on a case-by-case basis. Since 2001, with the founding of the

Halachic Organ Donor Society The Halachic Organ Donor Society, also known as the HOD Society, was started in December 2001. Its mission is to save lives by increasing organ donation from Jews to the general public (including gentiles). The organization recognizes the legitima ...

, organ donation has become more common in modern orthodox Jewish communities, especially with the support of rabbis like

Moshe Tendler Moshe David Tendler (August 7, 1926September 28, 2021) was an American rabbi, professor of biology and expert in medical ethics. He served as chairman of the biology department at Yeshiva University. Biography Moshe David Tendler was born on th ...

and

Norman Lamm Norman Lamm (December 19, 1927 – May 31, 2020) was an American Modern Orthodox rabbi, scholar, academic administrator, author, and Jewish community leader. He was the Chancellor of Yeshiva University until he announced his retirement on July ...

Jewish view of cremation

Halakha ''Halakha'' ( ; , ), also Romanization of Hebrew, transliterated as ''halacha'', ''halakhah'', and ''halocho'' ( ), is the collective body of Judaism, Jewish religious laws that are derived from the Torah, Written and Oral Torah. ''Halakha'' is ...

(Jewish law) forbids

cremation Cremation is a method of Disposal of human corpses, final disposition of a corpse through Combustion, burning. Cremation may serve as a funeral or post-funeral rite and as an alternative to burial. In some countries, including India, Nepal, and ...

Tacitus Publius Cornelius Tacitus, known simply as Tacitus ( , ; – ), was a Roman historian and politician. Tacitus is widely regarded as one of the greatest Roman historians by modern scholars. Tacitus’ two major historical works, ''Annals'' ( ...

described as "a distinguishing characteristic" that "Jews buried, rather than burned, their dead." Judaism stresses burial in the earth (including entombment, as in caves) as a religious duty of laying a person's remains to rest. This, as well as the belief that the human body is created in the image of the divine and is not to be vandalized before or after death, teaches the belief that it was necessary to keep the whole body intact in burial, in anticipation of the eventual resurrection of the dead in the messianic age. Nevertheless, some Jews who are not religiously adherent, or who have attached to an alternative movement or religious stream that does not see some or all the laws of the Torah as binding upon them, have chosen cremation, either for themselves prior to death, or for their loved ones.

Suicide

As Judaism considers suicide to be a form of murder, a Jew who commits suicide is denied some important after-death privileges: No eulogies should be given for the deceased, and burial in the main section of the Jewish cemetery is normally not allowed. In recent times, most people who die by suicide have been deemed to be the unfortunate victims of depression or of a serious

mental illness A mental disorder, also referred to as a mental illness, a mental health condition, or a psychiatric disability, is a behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning. A mental disorder is ...

. Under this interpretation, their act of "self-murder" is not deemed to be a voluntary act of self-destruction, but rather the result of an involuntary condition. They have therefore been looked upon as having died of causes beyond their control. Additionally, the

(in Semakhot, one of the

minor tractates The minor tractates (, ''masechtot qetanot'') are essays from the Talmudic period or later dealing with topics about which no formal tractate exists in the Mishnah. They may thus be contrasted to the Tosefta, whose tractates parallel those of the ...

) recognizes that many elements of the mourning ritual exist as much for the living survivors as for the dead, and that these elements ought to be carried out even in the case of the suicide. Furthermore, if reasonable doubt exists that the death was suicidal or that the deceased might have changed her mind and repented at the last moment (e.g., if it is unknown whether the victim fell or jumped from a building, or if the person falling changed her mind mid-fall), the benefit of the doubt is given and regular burial and mourning rituals take place. Lastly, the suicide of a

minor Minor may refer to: Common meanings * Minor (law), a person not under the age of certain legal activities. * Academic minor, a secondary field of study in undergraduate education Mathematics * Minor (graph theory), a relation of one graph to an ...

is considered a result of a lack of understanding ("da'at"), and in such a case, regular mourning is observed.

Tattoos

(Jewish law) forbids

tattoo A tattoo is a form of body modification made by inserting tattoo ink, dyes, or pigments, either indelible or temporary, into the dermis layer of the skin to form a design. Tattoo artists create these designs using several tattooing processes ...

s, and a myth persists that having a tattoo prevents burial in a Jewish cemetery. While a small minority of burial societies may not accept a corpse with a tattoo, Jewish law does not mention burial of tattooed Jews, and nearly all burial societies have no such restriction. Removing the tattoo of a deceased Jew is forbidden, as this would be considered damaging the body. This case has been one of public interest in the current generations due to the large population tattooed in

Nazi concentration camps From 1933 to 1945, Nazi Germany operated more than a thousand concentration camps (), including subcamp (SS), subcamps on its own territory and in parts of German-occupied Europe. The first camps were established in March 1933 immediately af ...

between 1940 and 1945. Since those tattoos were forced upon the recipients in a situation where any resistance could expect official murder or brutality, their presence is not in any way reflective of any violation of Jewish law on the part of both the living and deceased; rather under these circumstances it shows adherence to the positive command to preserve innocent life, including one's own, by passively allowing the mark to be applied.

Death of an apostate Jew

There is no mourning for an apostate Jew according to Jewish law. (See that article for a discussion of precisely what actions and motivations render a Jew an "apostate.") In the past several centuries, the custom developed among

Ashkenazic Ashkenazi Jews ( ; also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim) form a distinct subgroup of the Jewish diaspora, that emerged in the Holy Roman Empire around the end of the first millennium CE. They traditionally speak Yiddish, a language t ...

Orthodox Jews Orthodox Judaism is a collective term for the traditionalist branches of contemporary Judaism. Theologically, it is chiefly defined by regarding the Torah, both Written and Oral, as literally revealed by God on Mount Sinai and faithfully tr ...

(including

Hasidic Hasidism () or Hasidic Judaism is a religious movement within Judaism that arose in the 18th century as a spiritual revival movement in contemporary Western Ukraine before spreading rapidly throughout Eastern Europe. Today, most of those aff ...

and

Jews), that the family would "

sit shiva () is the week-long mourning period in Judaism for first-degree relatives. The ritual is referred to as "sitting " in English. The period lasts for seven days following the burial. Following the initial period of despair and lamentation immedia ...

" if and when one of their relatives would leave the fold of traditional Judaism. The definition of "leaving the fold" varies within communities; some would sit ''shiva'' if a family member married a non-Jew; others would only sit ''shiva'' if the individual actually converted to another faith, and even then, some would make a distinction between those who chose to do so of their own will, and those who were pressured into conversion. (In

Sholom Aleichem Solomon Naumovich Rabinovich (; May 13, 1916), better known under his pen name Sholem Aleichem (Yiddish and , also spelled in Soviet Yiddish, ; Russian and ), was a Yiddish author and playwright who lived in the Russian Empire and in the Unit ...

Tevye Tevye the Dairyman, also translated as Tevye the Milkman (, ''Tevye der milkhiker'' ) is the fictional narrator and protagonist of a series of short stories by Sholem Aleichem, and their various adaptations, the most famous being the musical '' ...

, when the title character's daughter converts to

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...

to marry a

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...

, Tevye sits ''shiva'' for her and generally refers to her as "dead.") At the height of the so called

Mitnagdim ''Misnagdim'' (, "Opponents"; Sephardi pronunciation: ''Mitnagdim''; singular ''misnaged / mitnaged'') was a religious movement among the Jews of Eastern Europe which resisted the rise of Hasidism in the 18th and 19th centuries. The ''Misn ...

term for traditional mainline Ashkenazi practitioners, meaning 'those who are against', meaning against the changes introduced by Chasidim) movement, in the early-to-mid nineteenth century, some families even sat ''shiva'' if a family member joined the Hasidim. (It is said that when joined Hasidism, his father, Rabbi Shlomo Eiger sat ''shiva'', but his grandfather, the famed Rabbi

Akiva Eiger Akiva Eiger (, also spelled Eger; , ), or Akiva Güns (8 November 1761 – 12 October 1837) was a Talmudic scholar, halakhic decisor and leader of European Jewry during the early 19th century. Eiger is considered one of the greatest Talmudic ...

, did not. It is also said that Leibel Eiger came to be ''menachem avel'' onsole the mourner. By the mid-twentieth century, however, Hasidism was recognized by most traditional Ashkenazim as a valid form of

Orthodox Judaism Orthodox Judaism is a collective term for the traditionalist branches of contemporary Judaism. Theologically, it is chiefly defined by regarding the Torah, both Torah, Written and Oral Torah, Oral, as literally revelation, revealed by God in Ju ...

, and thus the (controversial) practice of sitting ''shiva'' for those who realign to Hasidism almost completely ceased to exist. Today, some

, particularly the more strictly observant ones (such as many Haredi and Hasidic communities), maintain the practice of sitting ''shiva'' for a family member who has left the religious community. Most Jews, especially liberal Jews and Jewish religious communities, however, question the practice, eschewing it as a harsh act that could make it more difficult for the family member to return to traditional practice at a later date.

Days of remembrance

Tisha B'Av Tisha B'Av ( ; , ) is an annual fast day in Judaism. A commemoration of a number of disasters in Jewish history, primarily the destruction of both Solomon's Temple by the Neo-Babylonian Empire and the Second Temple by the Roman Empire in Jerusal ...

- A day of mourning for the destruction of both the First and Second

Temple in Jerusalem The Temple in Jerusalem, or alternatively the Holy Temple (; , ), refers to the two religious structures that served as the central places of worship for Israelites and Jews on the modern-day Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem. Accord ...

and other events *

, final day of

Pesach Passover, also called Pesach (; ), is a major Jewish holidays, Jewish holiday and one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals. It celebrates the Exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Biblical Egypt, Egypt. According to the Book of Exodus, God in ...

- The four days on which Yizkor is recited *

Tenth of Tevet Tenth of Tevet (), or ''Asarah BeTevet'' (), the tenth day of the Hebrew month of Tevet, is a fast day in Judaism. It is one of the minor fasts observed even in erev Shabbat from before dawn to nightfall, while other fast days are then post ...

- Fast day on which it has become a custom for some to say Kaddish for those whose yahrzeits are unknown or who were murdered in the Holocaust *

Yom HaShoah Yom HaZikaron laShoah ve-laG'vurah (), known colloquially in Israel and abroad as Yom HaShoah (, ) and in English as Holocaust Remembrance Day, or Holocaust Day, is observed as Israel's day of commemoration for the approximately six million Je ...

- National day of remembrance in Israel (and by many Jews worldwide) for those murdered in

the Holocaust The Holocaust (), known in Hebrew language, Hebrew as the (), was the genocide of History of the Jews in Europe, European Jews during World War II. From 1941 to 1945, Nazi Germany and Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy ...

as well as for the

Righteous Among the Nations Righteous Among the Nations ( ) is a title used by Yad Vashem to describe people who, for various reasons, made an effort to assist victims, mostly Jews, who were being persecuted and exterminated by Nazi Germany, Fascist Romania, Fascist Italy, ...

Yom Hazikaron Yom HaZikaron (), in full, ''Yom HaZikaron LeHalelei Ma'arkhot Yisrael ul'Nifge'ei Pe'ulot HaEivah'' (), is Israel's official day of remembrance for fallen Israeli soldiers and terrorism victims, enacted into Israeli law in 1963. While Yom H ...

- National day of remembrance in Israel for those who died in service of Israel or were killed in terrorist attacks

References

Sources

Yizkor definition

External links

"Mourning"
in ''

The Jewish Encyclopedia ''The Jewish Encyclopedia: A Descriptive Record of the History, Religion, Literature, and Customs of the Jewish People from the Earliest Times to the Present Day'' is an English-language encyclopedia containing over 15,000 articles on the ...

'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Bereavement In Judaism Cultural aspects of death Jewish life cycle