Jewish Funeral Traditions

This article is a part of our religious traditions series. Below we will help you understand the timeline of the services that take place for this religion and clarify any unfamiliar terms. Please note that our timelines start when the deceased is picked up by the funeral home and brought into their care. For information on what happens before a loved one is taken into the funeral home's care, read our article on what to do when someone dies.

Before you continue, we wanted to let you know that After Goodbye works with local funeral homes to list their services on our website. Funeral homes bundle commonly purchased services into packages for your convenience. You can see these packages, compare them across other funeral homes and personalize your arrangements from the comfort of your couch. Our services are completely free, find funeral homes near you now.

Common FAQs regarding Jewish funeral traditions

Can I be cremated if I'm Jewish?

  • No, but it does depend on your faith and preferences. If you are reformed and are looking to follow some but not all traditions, then you can certainly choose to be cremated while also following some of the traditions outlined below. If you looking to strictly follow Jewish funeral traditions, then you should not choose cremation.

What is a Shomer?

  • A Shomer is anyone of the Jewish faith who can be with the deceased's body from the moment of their death (or as soon after death as possible) until they are buried. The belief here is that the body should be guarded and not abandoned. The shomer will watch over and guard the deceased's body while reciting prayers every hour. Multiple people can alternate being the Shomer and you can even hire someone to be a Shomer.

What is the Chevra Kadisha?

  • Chevra Kadisha are the friends and family of the deceased or a local group of jewish volunteers who will perform the Tahara and dress the deceased for burial.

What is a Tahara?

  • A Tahara is the ritual washing and dressing of the deceased before burial. In this tradition, men prepare men and women prepare women.

What is shiva?

  • The word "shiva" means seven in Hebrew and refers to the seven day mourning period for immediate family after the death of a loved one.

How soon after death is the burial?

  • The burial should occur within 24 to 48 hours after death. The belief here is that the body should return to Earth as naturally as possible and that it is treated with respect and dignity.

What is the point of a graveside service?

  • The purpose of this service is to come together as family and community to confront the reality of a loss. A common tradition is for the mourners to place soil on top of the casket before it is buried, as a sign of understanding that the body will now return to the Earth.

Funeral Timeline

Below is a general timeline of the funeral services you can expect when working with a funeral home. Again, these timelines depend greatly on the type of funeral services you plan to hold.

Day 1

  • The deceased is picked up by the funeral home staff and transported to the funeral home.

  • Family, friends and the Rabbi are notified of the passing.

  • The family gathers the information required for filing a death certificate for the funeral home.

  • A Shomer or multiple Shomers are chosen to remain with the deceased at the funeral home.

  • Chevra Kadisha perform the Tahara.

Day 2

  • The deceased is transported to the cemetery.

  • A graveside service is held for a gathering of family and friends to share stories of the deceased and to say prayers.

  • A reception may be held at the home of the family.

  • Family begins sitting shiva.

Day 3 to 9

  • The family will observe shiva, with a pause for Shabbat.

Notes:

  • If the family wants to have a funeral service at the synagogue, funeral home or other chapel before the burial, they will need to schedule this service which can extend the timeline of the burial by up to a few days.

  • Some mourners may choose to observe shiva for a shorter time period.

If you're looking for more information about funeral costs or planning a funeral, check out our funeral planning page for more articles and answers to your questions.

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