•  Granite Headstones

•  Upright Markers

•  Memorial Monuments

•  Memorial Tomb Stones

•  Cemetery Gravestones

•  Cemetety Statues

•  Memorial Stones

•  Obelisks & Cenotaphs

•  Granite Memorials
  •  Bench Headstones
  •  Angel Memorials
  •  Jesus Headstones

•  Garden Stones

•  Memorial Symbols
  •  Crosses
  •  Jesus
  •  Crucifixion
  •  Resurrection
  •  Mary
  •  Heart Shapes

•  Service Areas

•  Funeral Services & Tips

•  Mortuary List & Tips

•  Cemetery List & Tips

•  Obituary Glossary & Tips

•  Cremation Tips

•  Memorial Music Tips

•  Memorial Poems & Tips

•  Sympathy Quotes & Tips

•  Urns Glossary & Tips

•  Caskets Glossary & Tips

•  Funeral Cost & Tips

•  Funeral Flowers & Tips

•  Funeral Homes Tips

Basics You Need To Know About A Jewish Funeral

A traditional Jewish funeral has certain elements to it. The main aim of these rituals is to honor the dead person, while being sensitive to his surviving family members. Generally, the specific customs carried out depends on the community the deceased person hailed from. But there are general customs that are observed at most burials.

Burial is normally carried out within a day when a person dies. The burial may be postponed for another day or two, so as to wait for any close family member who has to travel from a far place to attend the burial. It's totally up to the family to decide whether the burial should be postponed or whether it should go ahead as required by custom.

Viewing of the body is not allowed. The casket is normally sealed during the memorial service and burial. The casket chosen should be simple and be made out of wood only. No metallic parts are allowed as metal is not biodegradable.

For the process of decomposition to take place naturally, embalming is not allowed. However, since Jewish customs are subject to local laws, it may be necessary to have the body embalmed. This is so as to satisfy the public health regulations set by the local council.

Short services that last only a couple of minutes are encouraged. Flowers are not present in most memorial services as they are considered unnecessary. Mourners cannot talk and interact with other attendees until after the burial service has been completed.

When leaving the graveside, attendees at a Jewish funeral form a double line facing each other. The mourners pass in the middle and receive consolation messages from others. Any kind words of comfort are offered at this time. Mourners may symbolically wash their hands before leaving the cemetery as a sign of cleansing.