B U R I A L W I S H E S

Dignity for the bodyPeace for the soul

�An introduction to

Jewish Burial Customs

CONTAINS FORMFOR BURIAL INSTRUCTIONS

UNITING CHEVROS KADISHA ANDENHANCING KOVOD HAMES

INFORMATION ● EDUCATION ● INSPIRATION

A project of theNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHEVRA KADISHA

The Association is dedicated to thedissemination of information

relating to traditional Jewish BurialPractices. It’s many projects are directedtoward assisting the Jewish Community

with decisions pertaining toend-of-life issues.

Visit us atwww.nasck.org

85-18 117th StreetRichmond Hill, NY 11418Phone (718)849-9700

v”g gahkt ic chhk ohhj rgykt ‘r ,nab hukhgkDedicated to the memory ofDr. Herman L. Gewanter a”h

�v”g rhtn vsuvh ‘rc iuard ‘r ,nab hukhgk

Dedicated to the memory ofGeorge Weinstein a”h

©Rabbi Elchonon Zohn, Vaad Harabonim of Queens 1994

Chevra Kadisha Brochure COVERS OP:Layout 1 2/12/2009 11:57 AM Page 1

What happens tothe Soul after death

should make all the differencein your burial decisions

When a person dies, thesoul or neshama hovers aroundthe body. This neshama is theessence of the person, the con-sciousness and totality. Thethoughts, deeds, experiencesand relationships. The body wasits container, while it lasted, andthe neshama, now on the way tothe Eternal World, refuses toleave until the body is buried. Ineffect, the totality of the personwho died continues to exist forawhile in the vicinity of the body.A Jewish funeral is thereforemost concerned with the feelingsof the deceased, not only the feelingsof the mourners. How we treat thebody and how we behave around thebody must reflect how we would actaround the very person himself atthis crucial moment.

Now more than ever, thebody deserves respect. After all,there is a real awareness aroundthe body that knows exactly whatis going on. It would be insensitiveto leave the body alone, withoutany attention, as if it were beingdiscarded because it was no longeruseful. Arrangements for a shomeror guard should therefore be made.These watchmen stay with the bodyday and night, reciting passagesfrom the Book of Psalms. This lendsgreat comfort to the neshama whileit waits for the body’s burial and itsascent to the Eternal World.

Shmira/The Vigil

From the moment of deathto the moment of burial

the body is never left alone

A newborn is immediatelycleaned and washed when itenters the world. And so it iswhen a person leaves the world.After all, the soul is about to bereborn in a new spiritual world.We also believe that eventuallythe body will be resurrected inthis world. A Tahara is performedby members of the Chevra Kadisha(Burial Society). This is a completecleansing and dressing of the body,performed according to Jewish Lawand Custom. Prayers asking for theforgiveness of the deceased and thesoul’s eternal peace are offered.While Tahara requires that the bodybe made as presentable as possible,embalming, cosmetizing or anyother attempts to create a life-likeappearance through artificial meansare contrary to Jewish Law.

Tahara/The Preparation

The body leaves the worldthe way it entered

The neshama is about toface its final Judgement Day andclothes don’t matter – good deedsdo. That’s why every Jew is buried exactly alike. In a hand-made, simple, perfectly clean,white linen shroud which includesa white linen hat, shirt, pants, shoes,coat and belt. Men are dressed in atallis (prayer shawl). The shroudshave no pockets to accentuate thefact that no worldly belongingsaccompany him. The shrouds aremodeled after the white uniformworn by the High Priest in the HolyTemple on Yom Kippur when hestood before G-d asking for the needsof his family and the entire JewishPeople. These shrouds are thereforeespecially appropriate because eachand every neshama asks for theneeds of his or her family on thefinal Judgement Day.

Tachrichim/The Shroud

Dressing forthe final Yom Kippur

“For dust you are and to dustyou shall return.” This biblicalteaching is what guides us inselecting a casket. The casket mustnot be made of a material thatslows down the body’s naturalreturn to the elements. Metalcaskets are therefore not permitted.Wood is the only material allowedand several holes are opened at thebottom to hasten the body’s returnto the earth. When vaults arerequired, they too should be openat the bottom. Caskets remain closedbecause viewing the body is seen asdisrespectful and undignified andis therefore forbidden according toJewish Law.

Aron/The Casket

Allowing the body’snatural return to dust

to be as swift aspossible

The neshama’s return to heavenis dependent upon the body’s returnto the ground. That’s what the Prophetmeans when he says, “The dustreturns to the earth... and the spiritreturns to G-d who gave it.” JewishLaw is therefore concerned with theimmediacy of burial and the naturaldecomposition of the body.Mausoleums are forbidden sincethey retard the process of return tothe earth. Cremation is certainlyforbidden. It is the harshest form ofindignity to the body and a paganritual that denies the existence ofG-d. The only acceptable burial isdirectly in the ground, with familymembers and friends helping to fillthe grave completely until a moundis formed. No attempt to retard thebody’s decomposition is permitted.

Kvura BiKarka/In-GroundBurial

The natural decompositionof the body is of

utmost importance inJewish Law

The Role of theChevra Kadisha/Burial Society

Preparing a fellow Jew forburial is an especially great

mitzvah

Throughout Jewish History beinga member of the Chevra Kadisha hasbeen a great honor. Members of theBurial Society are selected for theircharacter, integrity and personaldevotion to Jewish Tradition. Thesemen and women are on call 24 hoursa day, to perform a Tahara and toensure that the laws and traditionsof Jewish burial are executed properly.Their greatest concern is the sensitivecare, modesty and dignity of thedeceased. Men care for men, womencare for women, Jew cares for fellowJew. There is no better way to ensurethe dignity of the body than toentrust its preparation to theChevra Kadisha.

B U R I A L W I S H E S

Dignity for the bodyPeace for the soul

�An introduction to

Jewish Burial Customs

CONTAINS FORMFOR BURIAL INSTRUCTIONS

UNITING CHEVROS KADISHA ANDENHANCING KOVOD HAMES

INFORMATION ● EDUCATION ● INSPIRATION

A project of theNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHEVRA KADISHA

The Association is dedicated to thedissemination of information

relating to traditional Jewish BurialPractices. It’s many projects are directedtoward assisting the Jewish Community

with decisions pertaining toend-of-life issues.

Visit us atwww.nasck.org

85-18 117th StreetRichmond Hill, NY 11418Phone (718)849-9700

v”g gahkt ic chhk ohhj rgykt ‘r ,nab hukhgkDedicated to the memory ofDr. Herman L. Gewanter a”h

�v”g rhtn vsuvh ‘rc iuard ‘r ,nab hukhgk

Dedicated to the memory ofGeorge Weinstein a”h

©Rabbi Elchonon Zohn, Vaad Harabonim of Queens 1994

Chevra Kadisha Brochure COVERS OP:Layout 1 2/12/2009 11:57 AM Page 1

In recognition of the fact that there may come a time, after my death, when decisionswill need to be made with regard to the care and disposition of my body, it is mydesire and I, ____________________________________________________________________________________ ,

______________________________________________________________________________________________________(Hebrew Name) (Father’s Hebrew Name)

do hereby direct thatA. I object to any autopsy of my body except when permitted by Jewish lawB. My funeral should be conducted with the dignity and respect accorded by Jewishlaw and tradition as described in the pamphlet entitled: “Dignity For The Body /Peace For The Soul.”Designation of Rabbi or Alternate: Promptly, upon my death, in addition toor in the absence of my family, please notify:

Rabbi: ________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________________________

Tel. Day: _______________________________ Eve. _______________________________________

I request that any questions that may arise at the time of my deathregarding dissection or autopsy of my body, donation of body organs,or the preparation for and the time of my burial, be made in consul-tation with the Rabbi.If the Rabbi listed is unavailable, please contact: Rabbi/Cong./Inst./Org./Chevra Kadisha

Name: ________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________________________

Tel. Day: _______________________________ Eve. _______________________________________

Location of Documents and Grave Information:My Last Will and Testament is located at:

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________The deed or permit for my grave is located at:

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name of cemetery: ___________________________________________________________

Grave location: Sec. _______ Block no. _________ Row _______ Grave __________

To receive grave information please call:

Name: ________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________________________

Tel. Day: _______________________________ Eve. _______________________________________

Funeral Arrangements: The funeral home where I

❑ have already made pre-arrangements is:

❑ would like to have my funeral arranged is:

Name: ______________________________________________________________________

Phone: _____________________________ Ask for: _______________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________Signature Date

(If you are not physically capable of signing, another person may sign your nameon your behalf).

D E C L A R A T I O N O F W I T N E S S

I declare that the person who signed (or asked another to sign) this document is per-sonally known to me and appears to be of sound mind and acting willingly and freefrom duress. This document was signed in my presence.

Witness: ____________________________________________________________________

Residing at: _________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

(It is recommended that copies of this form be given to the Rabbiand the alternate designated therein, to the funeral director andto your doctor, lawyer, family members, friends or social workerswho are likely to be contacted in the event of your death).

s”xcMY BU R I A L WI S H E S