What To Expect When Attending A Rabbi Funeral

By Harold Lee


Jewish traditional funeral practices are a bit different from what most people are acquainted with. To begin with, the Jews bury their loved ones at least 24 hours following their death. This means that wakes and body viewing ceremonies are not a usual thing, though family members take part in Keriah. This means tearing a black ribbon or a cloth of visible color in honor of the memories of the deceased. This shows their sorrow during a rabbi funeral.

You can still attend a Jew funeral in support of a dear friend. Your presence will be the best gift you can offer and hence it is unnecessary to say anything to the mourners. In case they engage you, simply offer your condolences and do not say more that is truly necessary.

You can choose to wear a smart casual outfit with flat shoes, especially if you want to attend the graveside ceremony. Because the Jews move directly from the chapel to the graveside and from the graveside to their homes, arrive at the service minutes in advance and offer your comforts if need be. It certainly is not polite to hold the morning family back with handshakes and sympathies.

If you arrive at the chapel before the service starts, get sited. You can also talk in low tones with the people next to you as long as you maintain a low key. This would also be the best time to switch off your phone to avoid interruptions once the service begins.

Your presence alone means everything so you can just sit and listen. The person conducting prayers and psalms will have been chosen ahead of time as well as the person reading the eulogy. Once the stories of the deceased rabbi are shared, you can expect moments of laughter even in the heart of the somberness of saying goodbye to a beloved soul.

Rabbi final services often take place in a chapel and not at the graveside. In case you are not a close family member of the deceased, there is no need for you to attend the graveside service. After all, lowering the casket will only take about ten minutes. There will be limited chairs, and these are mainly meant for the mourners.

The Shiva is hosted seven days following the funeral. Attending the home gathering is good, though again, your presence will be adequate. Bear in mind that this is not a party and you should hence feel free to leave after passing by for 30 minutes or less. You can bring some food with you, as long as you avoid foods that are prohibited by the Jewish laws, such as shellfish and meat.

The Jews laws command followers to be good when they breath. You may hence not hear talks about the afterlife. Consequently, do not raise such topics. It also pays to understand that you may not see a lot of flowers in rabbi funerals and if you need to make a kind gesture, you could make a donation in the honor of the deceased.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment