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Sunday 5 May 2019

Rules Of Etiquette To Uphold During A Rabbi Funeral

By Harold Lee


According to the funeral practices of Jews, a loved one is burred about 24 hours after they pass on. This makes it unusual to have a viewing ceremony or even wakes. Before the service begins, family members practice Keriah, which involves tearing a visible piece of cloth or black ribbons in honor of the life of the deceased. This also symbolizes their grief during a rabbi funeral.

In case you are not a Jew, it certainly is important for you to know what to expect during the funeral and also what is expected of you. First, it is okay to be there for your friend, though it is adequate to say less or even nothing at all to the mourners. Even if a mourner engages you, choose to say as little as possible and perhaps focus on finding out more about the deceased.

When choosing your dress code, you can settle for a smart casual outfit. Make sure your footwear is sensible, especially if you will be visiting the graveside. It is also ideal to get to the funeral at least 30 minutes ahead of time to offer your condolences. According to the Jewish tradition, the family directly leaves the chapel for the cemetery or the cemetery to their homes. You do not want to be that person holding them up after the service.

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.

As mentioned earlier, your presence is appreciated and this means it is okay for you to just listen. Very little is required of the congregation and there will be someone conducting some psalms, prayers and reading the eulogy. The stories about the rabbi may bring about moments of light laughter amid the sadness of saying the final goodbye.

The final service for rabbis will in the majorities of cases happen in the chapel. This makes it unnecessary for non-family members to attend the graveside ceremony that will only take ten minutes at most. The area is likely to have limited chairs that ought to be used by the mourners.

Jews host a Shiva about seven days after the funeral. If you choose to attend the home gathering, again, the most important thing is your presence and it is okay to stay for half an hour or less before leaving. Bringing some food with you is a good gesture because it will save the family from shopping and cooking as they grieve. Simply avoid meat and shellfish and play safe if you do not know the Jewish food laws.

Jews do good when they are alive and you may not want to indulge in talk about the afterlife. You can refer to the eternity of ones soul and period. Flowers are also not a common sight in traditional Jewish funerals and if you want to show a kind gesture, it is okay to make a donation in the memory of the dead.




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