Saturday 7 July 2018

Grieving With A Rabbi Funeral

By William Stewart


In Judaism there are set laws regarding mourning and burying the dead. A Rabbi funeral requires a qualified Rabbi to officiate when burying someone of this religion. It is a sad time when losing a loved one or close friend and it is believed and practiced that the sooner the burial takes place the better.

This is why Jews bury their dead very quickly so as not to cause more anguish than necessary to those left behind. Sometimes delays do happen especially should family members and close friends having to fly in for the ceremony. It is best to consult a Rabbi should this be the case so that he can advise on what is permissible in Jewish Law and what is not.

There is a process in Judaism that revolves around burying the dead and there are prescribed times of when one must mourn. For instance, the Shiva period lasts the first seven days and this is when the family is comforted by others close to them. It is a time when certain customs are practiced such as covering mirrors and paintings in the home with sheets.

Losing someone close is never easy even though it is understood by many that the soul continues its journey in the next life wherever that may be. It is just the shell of the body that is left behind but it is believed that the soul goes to Gan Eden or the Garden of Eden or paradise should it have done good on earth as opposed to going to a place of shame if the opposite is true. It is believed also in Judaism that when the task of a person is complete then God collects the soul and brings it to himself for a review on the life spent on earth.

A mitzvah or action that brings one closer to God is done so that one may achieve a better result when a life is reviewed in the hereafter. That is why there are so many in the Jewish Religion with life focused around this goal. Doing things like donning a Talit and putting on Tefillin are one of those actions that strengthen a connection with a Supreme Being. Saying Brachot or blessings over food is also one that reminds Jews that everything comes from God alone and should be appreciated to its fullest.

For those left behind it is not so simple as one finds oneself lost without that other person in their lives. Death is never an easy thing and it is a painful one at that but being as it may a fact of life, one must give oneself the care and attention to grieve in a meaningful way. The Jewish faith understands that it is difficult and continuing with normal life after the fact is not so easy.

For those in mourning this is a comfort too and something that is done without question. Losing someone is hard enough. When this is so following a system of mourning makes it that much easier as it helps one to grieve in the best way possible.

It is not an easy time. Keeping to tradition does help. For any queries or questions, a funeral Rabbi should be consulted.




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