Judaism - Jewish farewell to the deceased, the full list of funeral rites

Funeral - one of the most important rituals in Jewish culture.

The process begins with the wires late purging (called "Tahara"). Washing the body must hold a person of one sex with the deceased in the absence of the family. At the same time are required to use no less than twenty gallons of water, and washing steps are strictly defined. During the washing of the body need to read the psalms. After cleansing the body from the head, wrapped in white cloth. On the body should not be any metal jewelry, metal buttons also prohibited. The exception is the tallit - a special decoration of the Jewish prayer blankets (eter), his take is prohibited.

During the vigil, which is traditionally a family there in full force, must necessarily burn candles as a sign of immortality. Do not leave the body unattended, regardless of the circumstances and time of day. In the room where the body, all mirrors should be shut down or turn away.

Jewish tradition forbids embalming the body. However, if the body should be transported to another country, embalming procedures can be carried out, as the coffin should remain open, and his body was subsequently buried in the ground.

In the body of the deceased's coffin is placed relatives. The deceased is laid on his back, face up, sprinkling his zamley from Israel, arms stretched along the body, and under her head enclose zamley bag. Coffin lid is closed tightly, at the head of the coffin should be covered not completely throws over the fabric in black. The coffin must be down to the exit. Himself a coffin made of wood, the inside is not upholster and decorate with decorative details. The only exception may be the star of David.

It is desirable to burial in a short period of time not exceeding 24 hours. Do not hold funerals only during holidays and the Sabbath.

In the synagogue memorial service is not available, since the synagogue is a place where there are real people. Flowers bring to the funeral is not accepted. Typically, families are making every effort to bury a Jew in a Jewish cemetery. The width and height of the graves identified at 60 cm and the distance between the tombs of 30 centimeters. If neither is possible to find a place in the Jewish cemetery, a Jew could be buried, and on an ordinary cemetery. But apart from the non-Jews.

Postmortem autopsy in the Jewish tradition is prohibited.

Cremation in the Jewish culture is not accepted, although in recent years, progressive representatives of the nation began to resort to this method. But the religious leaders did not accept this way of burial.

Farewell ceremony held at the cemetery. The rabbi says the funeral sermon, after which all participants take turns rolling three handfuls of earth. After reading the Kaddish all ordered to wash his hands, but do not wipe them as a sign that they remain symbolically with a man who left his family.

The Jews, like Christians follow the teachings of the resurrection from the dead, believing that the day will come when all the dead will live again and will continue to exist in the flesh. Talked about this many Jewish prophets. So, the prophet Daniel said: "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:2).

At the funeral of Jewish monuments may be placed an inscription in Hebrew, or character tables of the law. Installation of the monument is made in a month or a year after burial. Dead bodies of Jews allowed to give to research, are also prohibited from post-mortem organ donation.