‘Let the glory of God be extolled, let his great name be exalted in the world whose creation he willed. May his kingdom prevail in your own day, in our own lives, and the life of Israel. Amen…May the source of peace send peace to all who mourn and comfort those who are bereaved, Amen.’
Among the Orthodox Jews only man can recite this, however amongst Reform Jews both men and women have the ability to recite it.
The end of the funeral marks the beginning of mourning,
‘May God comfort you amongst those who mourn for Zion and for Jerusalem’
This is said in Hebrew to those who visit the mourners shortly after the funeral. Within Judaism there are strong beliefs and traditions about how a person should mourn and the amount of time they should spend mourning. The customs are there for the intention to help people mourn and gradually try to return to their normal life styles.
A seven-day period of mourning follows the funeral. This being the most important time for deep mourning, which is called Shiva. The members of the family remain at home, cared for by friends who bring food and encourage mourners to talk of their loss. Three times a day relatives and members of the synagogue visit the homes of the mourners to pray. However, there is no mourning on Shabbat and the mourners attend the synagogue service. During this week of mourning, the mourners sit on low chairs or the floor to receive visitors. They must do anything, which includes pleasure or comfort. This including not shaving, not cutting hair, not going for a bath, no sex, not wearing perfume, not wearing leather shoes and not changing from clothes. Orthodox mourners also keep the custom of formally tearing their clothes as a sign of deep grief. Though not required this may offer an outlet of emotion in Reform Judaism. A Jahrzeit candle is also lit during the Shiva period all night and day, a passage from the proverbs:
‘A person’s soul is the candle of the lord’
Once these seven days are over the mourners return to their daily lives but do not go to any entertainment in the next 23days following the Shiva.
A further period of this 23 days then follows, called shloshim. During this period mourners are no longer expected to sit on low stools. Gradually life returns to normal. By the end of this many people will set up a headstone over the grave but some will leave this for 6months or after a year has passed from the burial with a short ceremony at the grave to unveil it.
A period of light mourning lasts until the end of the eleventh month after the person’s death. For all this time the mourners do not listen to any kind of music. The male member must say the Kaddish prayer each day:
‘Magnified and sanctified by his great name in the world which he hath created according to his will,’
Children are obliged to recite the Kaddish at the funeral of a parent and daily for eleven months following the death. However among Orthodox Jews only men have the right to recite this according to the strict rules but among Reform Jews both men and women have the ability to recite it.
The dead are not forgotten. The anniversary of the death is marked at home by lighting a Jahrzeit candle for 24 hours the nearest relative lights this every year for as long as he or she lives. It is also customary to recite the Kaddish on this day. And there forth people who visit the grave will traditionally place a stone on it instead of flowers.
Azmat Suleman 11:2
Ms Turner
GCSE Religious Studies Coursework