Summary: The Jewish Mourning Process

The incredible depth and detail of the Jewish mourning process serves to recognize the struggles of dealing with loss while simultaneously anticipating needs and bringing mourners closer to accepting their grief. It does so by providing a framework of stages through which custom demands certain practices from family, friends, and the whole community. These practices serve as a method of expressing grief, supporting each other, and acknowledging death as a natural part of life. Judaism provides not just a spiritual basis for working through loss, but also brings people together in a network of practical supports.
The intention of the framework is to show respect for the dead while the living comfort each other in their time of loss. It also …show more content…
Importantly, the body is never left alone until after burial, and those who sit with it are called shomerim. Shomerim, which means “keepers” in Hebrew, are not allowed to eat or drink in the presence of the dead as it is considered extremely disrespectful (Gerson, 1977). Often, these are members of a society called a hevra kadisha, volunteers who make sure the funeral practices are carried out correctly (United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism [USCJ], n.d.). Their highly-valued volunteer work is considered a mitzvah – “an act of kindness performed without ulterior motive” (USCJ, n.d.). The burial preferably will take place within 24 hours, which is why pre-planning funeral preparations before death is encouraged. If this is impossible due to a traveling delay for close relatives, legal reasons, or because of a holy day, then the funeral needs to happen as soon as possible (USCJ, …show more content…
The body is dressed in a simple white shroud, which represents equality, as rich and poor are buried alike (Chabad, n.d.). Likewise, the coffin should be plain and without ornamentation (Springer). As the body is considered sacred, it cannot be embalmed or cremated, and autopsies are extremely discouraged except when absolutely necessary (Chabad, n.d.). For this reason organ donation may also be discouraged, though some take the opposite view, as the organs will be returned to the earth and buried with the death of the person they were donated to. As organ donation saves a life, it can be considered to be a mitzvah or good deed (USCJ,

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