Friday, 3 August 2018

Mourning Time With Rabbi Funeral

By Laura Long


As all things in life and that live, there comes a time of death where the soul of a loved one passes on to the next world and continues its journey. A Rabbi funeral is essential to those that are left behind to follow the laws laid down in Judaism as exactly how to go about mourning. There are customs that some follow and essentially, it is believed and practiced that the mourning period last eleven months.

Many find the laws meaningful and in keeping with practices that have been passed down for millenia. Some choose to keep these and to abide by them as they help with the grieving process. Others stick to customs that their parents had and some of these include wearing socks only around the home and covering hanging mirrors and paintings.

Some also go so far as to cover mirrors and paintings hanging on the walls of the home as a sign of mourning. Some wear only socks around the house. These are traditions that are not practiced by all but for some, they have been handed down for the passed hundred of years.

Then there is the burial itself where there is a set procedure as to how it is carried out. The dead are not buried in fancy and expensive coffins but rather in a pine casket that is modest. Before the burial takes place the body is washed in what is known as Tahara or cleansing after which it is laid to rest in the coffin sometimes wrapped in a prayer shawl especially for men.

It is also customary to cover hanging mirrors and paintings in the home in order to make it known that the house is in a state of mourning. The burial itself is not a lengthy process and usually all in all lasts about three quarters of an hour. Family and friends escort the coffin to the grave site upon which prayers are said out of the book of Tehillim whilst the Rabbi eulogizes.

With the body ready for burial it is time for the ceremony to proceed. The coffin is rolled to the grave site and this is when, close family and friends can help to act as pallbearers. This is a great honour and it is a time for those who do so to reflect on the life they had with the deceased.

Once at the grave site the body is lowered and prayers continue to be said. One such prayer, at the conclusion of the ceremony, is called Kaddish and is a prayer that will be said in Synagogue for the next eleven months during morning, afternoon and evening prayers. It helps to grieve during this period and not to block those emotions that need to be expressed as if not allowed, one can suffer longer than one should and this is not in keeping with this Religion.

Death is never a good thing and saying goodbye to a loved one really hurts deep down. By following the laws of burial one can find peace and with it the ability to move on. Finding a suitable Rabbi to officiate the ceremony is a must as he will be able to enlighten one as to its practices.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment