Academy BJE - NSW Board of Jewish Education

Death & Mourning in Judaism

Fundamentally, Judaism is a happy and optimistic faith, yet it recognises that there are times when sadness overtakes a person and a process of mourning must take place. Never more so than when we lose one of our close relatives: mother, father, brother, sister, spouse, son or daughter.

In Judaism the deceased is buried as soon as possible. This takes place following a short period of time, during which the Jewish burial society - known as the Chevra Kadisha, prepares the body for burial. Observant Jews of all branches of Judaism do not cremate. At the funeral, each member of the immediate family, as defined above, makes a short tear in one of their garments. This action, known as keriah, symbolises the way the death has torn, or broken their heart.

During the funeral, Kaddish is recited for the first time. Mourners say this prayer, a praise of God, for the next eleven months. Many mourners make an extraordinary effort to go to synagogue regularly during this time since this prayer can only be said in the company of a minyan (ten Jewish men over the age of Bar Mitzvah in Orthodox Judaism).

After the funeral, the mourners return home and share a meal of condolence together.

Jewish tradition divides mourning into three successive periods which structure the mourners' lives and help them to gradually and gently return to the activities of life and work.

Shiva (7): The first period is the seven-day Shiva period, when the mourners abstain from all work and sit together at home receiving visitors who provide company and consolation. Friends and neighbours provide meals and take care of day-to-day tasks for the mourners. During this intense week of mourning, bathing, shaving, haircuts, marital relations and the wearing of leather shoes are forbidden.

Sheloshim (30): Following shiva, up until the end of thirty days counting from the burial, the mourners may return to work, but they abstain from most forms of entertainment, such as concerts, parties and movies. Many continue to avoid having a haircut or even a shave during this time.

Yud-Bet Chodesh (12 months): From the end of sheloshim until a year of mourning has passed, the close relatives avoid joyous activities, especially music and parties.

On a person's yahrzeit (anniversary of their death), relatives light a candle
which burns for the entire day.

Besides this first difficult year, Judaism impresses on us the need to remember and respect the memory of our departed relatives. We do this by lighting a candle on the anniversary of their death each year. This anniversary is known as the Yahrzeit. The candle burns at home for 24 hours and Kaddish is recited in synagogue on that day.

A further ceremony is known as Yizkor. This is a prayer commencing with the word Yizkor (meaning “May God remember the soul of ……”) that is said in synagogue four times a year on major festivals.

Finally, we are instructed to cover the grave with a stone. We read that Jacob set up a marker over Rachel's grave (Genesis 35:20). Jewish graves are marked with the name of the deceased. Rabban Gamaliel's instructions for burial emphasised equality and simplicity and thus large, ornate stone markers are discouraged. His son, Rabbi Shimon ben Gamaliel is quoted in an early rabbinic work as saying, "We need not erect monuments for the righteous; their accomplishments are their memorials."

According to Jewish law, Cohanim, the priestly descendants of Aaron, must not come too close to a grave for reasons of purity. Gravestones assist them in identifying the exact location of the graves. The stone or matzevah is normally erected during the first year of mourning.