The Key events that take place during and after a Jewish Funeral.

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AO1 The Key events that take place during and after a Jewish Funeral

The Jewish religion strongly stresses that everyone who dies, dies in the good hands of God. From the time of death until the time when a person is buried there is a Jewish tradition that a close relative should stay with the body. A short time of one or two days during this time the mourner is called an onan, onans are released from all other religious responsibilities during this time and the main task in this time is to arrange the funeral. Onan’s accustomed not too eat meat or drink any wine.

     Traditionally when a Jew dies he/she is buried, however Reform Judaism does not particularly object to cremation but strong Orthodox Jews believe that the Torah says that the man must return to the dust. The burial service in itself is very brief. During the service psalms from the Jewish scriptures are sung. The special prayer, the Kaddish is read which includes:

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‘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 ...

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