Everything you need to know about the Jewish cemetery
The Jewish cemetery is the place where, according to Jewish tradition, Jews bury their dead, hold funerals, pray for the soul of the dead and recite Kaddish. The Jews believe in the resurrection of the dead and therefore it is important to keep the body as a whole as possible. Jewish cemeteries are sacred areas that must exist without interruption, so for example it is forbidden to build or vacate a Jewish cemetery. This situation has created friction between archaeologists and the ultra-Orthodox community in Israel. With the inauguration of a cemetery, there is even a special kiddush ceremony. However, priests are not allowed to enter the cemetery area.
In Judaism, it is customary to maintain the custom of “honoring the dead,” as has been the practice for most Jews around the world Jewish for years. According to this custom, one should not make derogatory remarks, tell jokes, eat, drink or smoke in the presence of the dead. Even after the dispersal of the Jews in the Diaspora Jewish diaspora, the Jews continued to bury their dead according to Jewish custom.
Jewish funeral traditions
A Jewish funeral can take place from the deceased’s home, cemetery, or funeral home. There is also a custom of holding a funeral procession from the synagogue where the deceased used to pray to the Jewish cemetery. Unlike Christian burial, in Jewish burial, the dead are not buried in a coffin but are wrapped in a shroud-like the Torah scroll. This is because of the belief in the eternity of the soul. At the end of the burial, the customs of mourning and shiva begin – Jewish shiva.
There are two main traditions for the funeral and burial in Judaism – Jewish funerals traditions, the Sephardic Jewish tradition – Sephardic Jewish and the Ashkenazi Jewish tradition – Ashkenazi Jewish. They differ in the order of the burial ceremony and the funeral.
Jewish burial traditions, traditions for Jewish funerals among Sephardim
The Sephardim begin with an obituary recited by the participants, and it is held in the eulogy room or near the grave. Afterward, the mourners say the “Kaddish on Israel” prayer, an Aramaic prayer that praises God and asks for redemption and that the resurrection of the dead will be hastened. Kaddish in Israel is not customary in the Ashkenazi style. The Sephardim then say the Mishnah of Akavia ben Mahalal, chapter three of Pirkei Avot, in these words: “Look at three things and you will not commit a sin: Know where you came from, where you are going, and before whom you will be held accountable”
Then certain verses are recited, like “Gadol Haetsah”. After the verses, one of the Jewish burial men (Hevra Kadisha) recites a Kaddish prayer that begins with the words, “And he is the future.” After the Kaddish – prayer for the dead Jews they ask for forgiveness from the dead. During the funeral, psalms are recited from Psalms: צ”א – a song of wounds and if she dies – Chapter ל”א, verses י-“א – “Eshet Chayil”. In Jerusalem it is customary to walk laps around the bed of the deceased or the grave seven times and then recite the prayer “and he is merciful” from the supplication prayer in the Shmone Esrei. Then the prayer of justification Whose wording is different among the Ashkenazi Jews and the Sepharad jew.
They then read The funeral for the dead, which is also different according to the various customs. Then the mourners recite “Baruch Dayan Emet” and tear the lapel of their shirts.
Jewish burial ceremony Jewish traditions funeral for Ashkenazim
Among the Ashkenazim, the order is different. First of all, the obituary is held in a synagogue, at the obituary stand, or near the grave. Among the Ashkenazi mourners, they recite “Baruch Dayan Emet” before the burial ceremony. After that the children of the deceased tear the shirt on the left side near the heart and the rest of the mourners on the right. When they take out the bed of the dead, they say a verse from Psalms, פ”ה, י”ד “Justice before him will go and set out on his way.” When the ark is already outside, the Mishnah of Akavia Ben Mahalal is recited from Pirkei Avot. Then, on days when the prayer of supplication is said, the representatives of a burial society say the “Gadol Haetsah” (Jeremiah, Lev, 19) and after that, the mourners say Kaddish, a prayer for the dead” During the funeral, Psalms are recited for a man “Shir Pegim” and for a woman “Eshet Chayil”. Before the burial, they recite the Mishnah, “The newborns die.” Then again repeat the verse Gadol Haetsah.
Jerusalem custom: On days when the prayer of supplication is recited, they take seven laps around the deceased before he is buried. The burial man places silver or copper coins and with each lap, another verse is read. At the end of each lap, one of the bystanders approaches the deceased and discards it, in order to expel the impurity. In each of the laps, a stone is thrown in a different direction by the wind. The custom is done only in broad daylight and with each projection, they recite “the sons of the concubines who gave gifts to Abraham” (Genesis 26: 6).
After the laps, they lower the deceased to the grave right away to preserve the honor of the dead, and the cantor says: “And he is merciful and will atone for sin and will not corrupt.” After closing up the tomb they say the prayer “The innocent have acted”. On days of pleading the rabbi or mourners say the “great Kaddish,” and on days when there is no pleading “an orphan Kaddish,” a prayer for the dead that is usually said by the firstborn of the deceased. On days when there is no supplication, “Hatzur Tamim” is also not recited.
At the end of the funeral, the mourners take off their shoes and pass between the men. Those present greet the mourners with: “The place will comfort you.”
Shiva
After the end of the burial ceremony in both traditions, the mourners go to the house of the deceased, where the rules of shiva apply – they must eat and sleep in the house of the deceased, the mourners must rest from any work and the comforters serve them. The custom lasts for seven days from the day of the funeral. If the burial is done in another country, the shiva does not start until the mourner’s return. Mourners are also not allowed to go to synagogue, not even for mitzvot. On the first day of burial, the convalescent meal is held, symbolizing the cycle of life. It is forbidden to pray – except for the laws of mourning.
It is forbidden to bathe, get a haircut, wear shoes, say hello, or even shave and bathe. It is also customary for the mourners to sleep on the floor. Throughout the seven days, people come to comfort the mourners.
Thirty days of mourning
After the shiva begins the period of the thirty, thirty days of mourning, fewer rules apply during the thirty days, it is possible to leave the house and return to work, but it is still forbidden to shave, get a haircut, wear new or ironed clothes and listening to music is not allowed. During this period candles are lit on each of the days. After the thirtieth period the mourning ends, except for those mourning for a father or mother. On holidays the days of mourning cease and on all these days an orphan Kaddish continues to be said. After 30 days of mourning, they go up to the cemetery and it is customary to reveal the tombstone.
Kaddish for the deceased and wording of prayers for the dead – Jewish prayers for the dead
The Jewish prayer for the dead is a Babylonian Aramaic prayer. Originally said after the Aggadah. But then introduced into the public prayers and practiced after the standing prayer. Since the Middle Ages, it is used in mourning for the deceased and as part of the burial ceremony. The Kaddish must be recited when there is a minyan – ten worshipers. The Ashkenazim recite it while standing and in other cultures, they stand only for part of the prayer, or only the Kaddish reciter stands up to the part of “Amen let her name be great.”
The text of the Kaddish in Aramaic according to the various testimonies:
Orphan Kaddish [Spharad version]
May her great name be magnified and sanctified. [Audience answers Amen]
In the world He created according to His will, may He establish His Kingdom and may His salvation blossom and His anointed be near. (Amen)
In the life and in the daytime and in the life of the house of Israel, in the chariot and in the time of sacrifice, and they said Amen.
[Amen, may the great heavens bless you, forever and ever].
May His great name be blessed forever, and to all eternity! Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He.
Above and beyond all the blessings, hymns, praises, and consolations that are uttered in the world! And say, Amen.
May there be abundant peace from heaven, [and] [good] life satisfaction, help, comfort, refuge, healing, redemption, forgiveness, atonement, relief, and salvation for us and for all his people [upon us and upon all] Israel; and say, Amen.
May He who makes peace in His high places grant [in his mercy] peace upon us and upon all [his nation] Israel; and say, Amen
The Orphans Kaddis (Ashkenaz version)
May His great Name grow exalted and sanctified (Amen.)
in the world that He created as He willed.
May He give reign to His kingship in your lifetimes and in your days,
and in the lifetimes of the entire Family of Israel,
swiftly and soon. Now respond: Amen.
(Cong Amen. May His great Name is blessed forever and ever.)
May His great Name be blessed forever and ever.
Blessed, praised, glorified, exalted, extolled,
mighty, upraised, and lauded be the Name of the Holy One, Blessed is He
(Cong. Blessed is He) beyond any blessing and song,
praise and consolation that are uttered in the world. Now respond: Amen.
May there be abundant peace from Heaven, and life
upon us and upon all Israel. Now respond: Amen.
He Who makes peace in His heights, may He make peace,
upon us and upon all Israel. Now respond: Amen.
Kaddish Yatom [Yemenite version]
May her great heavens be magnified and sanctified. [Amen]
(Searched and searched but could not find a translation for the Yemenite version!)
In the future, Hadatta Alma and Acha Mitaya. And to the point of life. And to the children of Kartaa, Jerusalem. And for the incarceration of the house of Kadisha. And for the sterilization of the cult is expelled from Ara. And let there be a worship of the heavens, that they may be exalted. In Hadariya in Zivia and in her visits. And her kingdoms shall reign, and her exodus shall grow, and she shall draw near her anointed, and shall unite her people. The house of Israel was desolate in their days, and in their days, and in their days, in the chariot and in the time of sacrifice, and they said, Amen.
And immediately the public and the public messenger say with them:
May the great heavens bless the world and the people of the world:
And the public messenger says alone: Blessed: [Amen].
And he will boast and be glorified and exalted and exalted and exalted and glorified and exalted, whose heavenly sanctuary is in the pool. [Amen]
Above all the blessings that have been sung and praised and comforted, Damiran in Alma said Amen. [Amen]
For Israel, and for Rabbanan, and for the disciples, and for all the disciples of the disciples, Let there be fortune and mercy, mercy and compassion and mercy from before Abuna Debshmaya and they said Amen. [Amen]
May His great name be blessed and help and purify and be merciful and merciful, [Amen]
From this point on the public and the public messenger say together:
May He who makes peace in His high places grant [in his mercy] peace upon us and upon all [his nation] Israel, and we will be comforted in Zion and will build in his mercy Jerusalem in our lives and in our days in the near future Amen and Amen:
If you are having difficulty organizing a Jewish burial or finding a Jewish cemetery and you want to learn more you can enlist the guidance of Jewish community organizations in the United States and around the world American Jewish Committee.