Tuesday, 7 May 2019

Rules Of Etiquette To Uphold During A Rabbi Funeral

By Harold Lee


Jewish traditional funeral practices are a bit different from what most people are acquainted with. To begin with, the Jews bury their loved ones at least 24 hours following their death. This means that wakes and body viewing ceremonies are not a usual thing, though family members take part in Keriah. This means tearing a black ribbon or a cloth of visible color in honor of the memories of the deceased. This shows their sorrow during a rabbi funeral.

If you are not a Jew, this does not mean that you cannot attend the funeral of a dear friend or a close relative to your friend. It is even so vital for you to have a good idea of what to expect and also what people will expect of you. To begin with, say as little as possible. Even better, it is allowed to say nothing at all to the mourners.

When choosing your dress code, you can settle for a smart casual outfit. Make sure your footwear is sensible, especially if you will be visiting the graveside. It is also ideal to get to the funeral at least 30 minutes ahead of time to offer your condolences. According to the Jewish tradition, the family directly leaves the chapel for the cemetery or the cemetery to their homes. You do not want to be that person holding them up after the service.

If you arrive at the chapel before the service starts, get sited. You can also talk in low tones with the people next to you as long as you maintain a low key. This would also be the best time to switch off your phone to avoid interruptions once the service begins.

As mentioned earlier, your presence is appreciated and this means it is okay for you to just listen. Very little is required of the congregation and there will be someone conducting some psalms, prayers and reading the eulogy. The stories about the rabbi may bring about moments of light laughter amid the sadness of saying the final goodbye.

The final service for rabbis will in the majorities of cases happen in the chapel. This makes it unnecessary for non-family members to attend the graveside ceremony that will only take ten minutes at most. The area is likely to have limited chairs that ought to be used by the mourners.

The Shiva is hosted seven days following the funeral. Attending the home gathering is good, though again, your presence will be adequate. Bear in mind that this is not a party and you should hence feel free to leave after passing by for 30 minutes or less. You can bring some food with you, as long as you avoid foods that are prohibited by the Jewish laws, such as shellfish and meat.

The Jewish laws demand that one lives a good life when they are alive. They never talk about the afterlife so do not bring up the topic. You are also likely not to see bouquets of flowers all over so if you desire to make a kind gesture, choose to make a donation in respect of the deceased rabbi.




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