4.6.3 Judaism: Mourning Rituals (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062))
Revision Note
Written by: Glenn Millington
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Mourning Rituals in Judaism
The rituals followed at death depend very much on the individuals and the strand of Judaism they follow
There are a number of important rituals around death in Judaism
As soon as a Jew hears of the death of a loved one, they make a tear in their clothing to show their grief
This action is called kriah and it is a symbol of loss
Upon death, the body is washed and prepared for burial
In the days before the funeral, the body is not left alone
The Kaddish is a prayer for those who mourn which declares God’s greatness and is often accompanied by the lighting of candles
The prayer is traditionally said by the closest male relative to the person who has died on the day of the death
Many Jews feel that the act of saying this prayer helps people to focus on God at a time when they may feel far from him
May his great name be blessed, forever and ever. Blessed, praised, glorified, exalted, extolled, honoured, elevated and lauded be the Name of the holy one, Blessed is he – above and beyond any blessings and hymns, Praises and consolations which are uttered in the world; and say Amen
The first week after the funeral is known as Shiva (meaning seven)
During this week, the mourners will stay in their homes
Male mourners will recite Kaddish
Some mourners will sit on low stools during Shiva, however, on Shabbat, no mourning takes place
During mourning, Jews cover mirrors and music cannot be played
A candle is kept burning day and night to represent the dead person's soul;
A person’s soul is the candle of the Lord (Proverbs 20: 27)
The end of Shiva is not the end of mourning. For four weeks (a period known as Shloshim), parties must be avoided and the hair is not to be cut
Burial Rituals
Jewish Burial
In Jewish tradition, burial should happen as soon as possible after death
Making sure that a Jewish person has a proper burial is not only an act of kindness, but it is also regarded as an honour and a sacred duty
A person who was a close relative (a parent, child, sibling or spouse) of the deceased becomes an onan whilst awaiting the burial
The onan are exempt from all mitzvot except for preparing for the burial
Out of respect for the deceased person, the immediate relatives must be fully focused on the burial of the person who has died
The coffin should be simple to show equality
Families must buy a gravestone so that the dead are not forgotten
The burial ceremony takes place at a cemetery, not in a synagogue
The Chevra Kadisha are a burial society, their members prepare the body for burial
Chevra Kaddisha means ‘sacred society’
This is a voluntary group that has members worldwide, performing the final rites for Jewish people
They work with funeral directors, cemeteries, hospitals and families to ensure that the person's death and burial fit with Jewish teachings and customs
Their work often starts with visits to a dying person
When the person dies they will continue to be involved in the burial and the mourning which follows
The group will prepare the body for burial
Burial Rituals
Upon death, the eyes of the deceased are closed and the body is washed and dressed in a plain white gown
Funeral services include prayers, psalms and a eulogy
Blessings are given and a memorial prayer is said
Some Orthodox Jews walk around the coffin 7 times and pray for the Angel of Mercy to accompany the coffin
The tombstone is to be erected before the end of the first year after death, and this ceremony is called 'The Unveiling'
Stones, not flowers are left by visitors to the grave
This may date back to Abraham marking the spot of Sarai’s grave with a pebble
A Yahrzeit ceremony is held each year to mark the death when prayers are said and a candle burns for 24 hours
Often, people will fast and make charitable donations to mark the anniversary of their loved one’s death
Orthodox and Reform Burial Rituals
There are some differences in burial rituals between Orthodox and Reform Jews
Orthodox Burial Rituals | Reform Burial Rituals |
|---|---|
Orthodox Jews want the burial to happen within 24 hours | Reform Jews allow more time to elapse before the funeral so all family members can attend |
Orthodox Jews will only bury their dead as the Torah teaches that we came from dust so we must return to dust | Reform Jews allow cremation as they believe only the soul will live on |
Orthodox and Reform Jews will make a physical mark to show they are grieving For Orthodox Jews, this involves tearing their clothes | Reform Jews may put on a black ribbon rather than tearing their clothes |
Orthodox Jews sit shivah for seven days | Reform Jews sit shivah for one day or at most three days and do not use low chairs |
Whilst Orthodox Jews are mourning no celebration should take place | Reform Jews may do this differently and they might play music at a funeral or have a party to celebrate the person’s life |
The Five Stages of Mourning
Stages of mourning
The ritual of mourning takes place in 5 distinct stages within Judaism
The ritual lasts for 12 months following the death of a loved one and involves close relatives
Relatives are assigned different roles within the mourning rituals, with the children of the deceased involved for the whole year
The stages of mourning
Worked Example
Explain two contrasting Jewish mourning rituals practised when someone has died
(4 marks)
Answer:
Orthodox and Reform Jews will make a physical mark to show they are grieving. For Orthodox Jews this involves tearing their clothes but Reform Jews may put on a black ribbon rather than tearing their clothes (2 marks)
Whilst Orthodox Jews are mourning no celebration should take place but Reform Jews might play music at a funeral or have a party to celebrate the person’s life (2 marks)
Examiner Tips and Tricks
You may be asked to evaluate the importance of mourning rituals within Judaism. This may also link to the purpose of them for Jewish people
For example, a previous examination question posed the following question;
‘Jewish mourning rituals are needed for the living more than for the dead.’
Evaluate this statement.
In your answer, you should:
• Refer to Jewish teaching
• Give reasoned arguments to support this statement
• Give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view
• Reach a justified conclusion
Responses to this question should consider the importance of rituals to the mourners as part of the grieving process but also the significance of the rituals in relation to the body of the deceased
Arguments in support of this statement could include
Rituals help the mourners come to terms with their loss
The whole community comes together to support the family in their time of need, such as preparing all the food for them in the first week
The main purpose of the rituals is to help those left behind which shows recognition of greater need as only a small number attend to the needs of the deceased
Blessings (berakhot) are said for the bereaved 'May God comfort you among all those who mourn for Zion and Jerusalem'.
When a person dies, those left behind feel sadness and loss and it is obvious that the bereaved have needs which are helped by the rituals
Arguments in support of alternative views include
There are special rituals for the dead, and the volunteer group (Chevra Kadisha, literally ‘sacred society’) prepare the body in a precise way. There is also the singing of hymns beside the body to comfort the soul, and the body is not left alone
At the grave, attendees often have to put soil into the grave intended to show respect to the dead person, and so this suggests graveside rituals are more for the dead than the living as they are focused on the deceased
By definition, mourning is about the dead, and so the dead and the mourners are two sides of the same coin, so mourning rituals cannot be seen as being about one rather than the other, etc.
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