Jewish Funeral Etiquette

If you are intending to attend a Jewish funeral, you will have to know the funeral etiquette, so that you do not end up making any unnecessary faux pas. You should also know how to go about offering condolence to a grieving Jewish family.

Find out the place where the funeral is going to be held. Some families have the funeral service at a funeral home, while others can have it at the cemetery or the local synagogue.

Generally, Jewish are extremely traditional, more so when it comes to wearing the right attire for a funeral. Men should dress in suits and tie, while women should wear dresses that cover the needs. In addition, women need a shawl to drape over both their shoulders.

It is not a custom or tradition to send flowers to the grieving family. According to Jewish customs, no efforts should be made to cheer up the family. For Orthodox Jewish families, it is best to leave the family alone, so that they can mourn the loss of their loved one. Hence, refrain from sending flowers or floral arrangements to a Jewish funeral.

When visiting a Jewish family to offer condolence or attending a funeral service, a mourner should not attempt to begin a conversation with the grieving family members. Instead, he or she should wait until someone from the family says something. Once the family member starts a conversation, it is proper to first console the person and then say something honoring and praising the deceased person. A mourner can also evoke some good times and memories of the deceased. In addition, it is customary to ask the grieving family whether they need any help for the funeral arrangements.

When eulogies are read in a Jewish funeral, mourners should listen to them attentively. Also, prayers should be shown respect. The mourner can take part in filling the gravesite with mud. Care should be taken that the shovel is pointing downwards when putting 3 shovelfuls of mud into the grave. After the person finishes putting the mud into the gravesite, the shovel should be stuck into the dirt and not be handed over to the next mourner. Once the burial is over, the person should wash his or her hands before entering the grieving family?s home. This is a Jewish ritual that symbolizes cleansing of the body.

The Jewish family will follow a mourning period of 7 days and this period is called Shiva. Once the mourning period is over, it is alright to contact the grieving family via telephone and seek permission to visit their home. When a person visits the family, he or she should carry some gift like kosher food or a basket of fruits. The person should take a seat that is of normal height as the low lying seats are meant for mourning family members. The person should use the visit to console the family members and offer them sympathy and support.

About Author:
Kum Martin is an online leading expert in elderly care. He also offers top quality articles like:
Poem at Funeral, Resolution for Funeral

Source: http://www.womenfavor.com/home-and-family/death-dying/jewish-funeral-etiquette.html

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