Jewish Beliefs and Traditions

For the Jew, beliefs about life and death are firmly rooted in the world of the living. Judaism has no dogma concerning what happens to a person after death (such as heaven and hell). Rather, a Jew is taught to live life to its fullest and perform deeds of loving kindness for as many people as possible. Rewards and punishments for behavior occur in this world, but also affect our final status in the world to come. Life is so precious that saving a life is the highest ethic and demands the breaking of all other Mitzvot (commandments) in order to do so. Further, death is regarded as a natural part of being human. The story of Adam and Eve explains the introduction of death to the world. Adam and Eve were dismissed from the Garden of Eden to avoid becoming like the angels, living eternally yet childless by continually eating from the tree of life. Instead, human beings were meant to leave progeny and live for a limited time. Judaism, like other religions, focuses on coping with the reality that although human beings may wish to live forever, the body is mortal. A dominating theme in Judaism is that one continues to live on after death in the memories of one's children and grandchildren, which is reinforced with rituals and memorialization. Judaism must help its adherents recover from the trauma of death to return to the world of living despite the absence of a loved one. To do this, the mores of Jewish law cover three areas: (1) care and disposition of the remains, (2) acclimation of the mourner to a new life, and (3) keeping the deceased's memory alive. Within a Jewish religious and cultural framework, the mourner can depend on these traditions to treat the deceased with dignity, help ease the pain of bereavement, and memorialize loved ones. Rich in symbolism, ritual, and spirituality, the phases of Jewish mourning carefully bring the bereaved through the anguish of grief using the structure of ancient traditions and the support of the community.

Care and Disposition of the Remains

Jewish law defines the mourner as a parent, spouse, child, sibling, or half sibling. While extended family and friends certainly grieve, only the mourner is required to observe the following laws. Upon learning of a death, the mourner enters a period of ahneenoot (mourning, literally, being thrown into a world of chaos). All daily rituals are suspended and every effort is directed toward preparing for the funeral. The general rule is that burial should occur within 24 hours of death.

Jews consider the body, the sacred vessel of the soul, as created in the image of God; therefore, it is to be cared for with the utmost respect. The body is not to be left alone from death until burial. It is to be watched over by a shomer (guard), lest rodents or body snatchers molest it. Specially trained members of the community (the Chevra Kadisha, or Jewish Sacred Society) prepare the body by washing it with a solution of water, vinegar, and eggs. During this solemn ceremony known as t'hara (cleansing), the members of the [Page 616]Chevra Kadisha recite prescribed benedictions and psalms and do not engage in trivial conversation.

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