This article was co-authored by David I. Jacobson and by How.com.vn staff writer, Dan Hickey. David I. Jacobson is the founder of Chicago Jewish Funerals, an independent Jewish owned funeral provider that evolved into two funeral homes in the Chicagoland area. With over 30 years of experience serving families, David is a leading expert on Kavod Hamet, the Jewish traditions of honoring and respecting the dead. David is an active funeral director that serves people planning and in need of funerals, lecturing to congregations, community groups, and schools extensively about the values of the Jewish funeral as well as the dying process and the value of one’s legacy.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
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Anyone of any faith is welcome to mourn a Jewish friend or loved one at a Jewish funeral. Traditional services are somber, contemplative affairs with unique cultural practices and etiquette, including wearing a yarmulke or head covering, helping the family cover the casket in earth at the burial, and waiting to offer condolences to the deceased’s family until a period of structured mourning called shiva. In this article, we’ll explain the must-know Jewish funeral practices for non-Jews (also called gentiles) to help you honor your lost loved one with dignity and respect.
Things You Should Know
- Wear dark, formal clothing (a suit and tie or a modest dress or skirt). Men typically wear a yarmulke, and women may be asked to cover their hair.
- Keep conversation to a minimum and wait until the family is sitting shiva (a mourning period after burial) to offer them your condolences.
- Follow the rabbi’s instructions at graveside ceremonies (you may be asked to help bury the casket, but this is not always open to non-family members).
Steps
Expert Q&A
Tips
References
- ↑ https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/story/guide-jewish-funeral-practice
- ↑ https://afteryourtime.com/jewish-funeral-customs/
- ↑ https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/367836/jewish/Basic-Laws-of-a-Jewish-Funeral.htm
- ↑ https://beyondthedash.com/blog/cultural-spotlight/what-to-wear-to-a-jewish-funeral/6456
- ↑ https://rohatynjewishheritage.org/en/culture/death-burial-mourning/
- ↑ https://afteryourtime.com/jewish-funeral-customs/
- ↑ https://coffeeshoprabbi.com/2013/09/30/jewish-funeral-etiquette-10-tips/
- ↑ https://afteryourtime.com/jewish-funeral-customs/
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