2006-07-24 12:05:45 · 6 answers · asked by miss angel 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Excellent question:
The most probable origin is in ancient times when people were concerned about protecting the body from animals or grave-robbers. They would either use a tomb or cover the grave with rocks. At the same time, the mound of rocks would serve as a grave marker, much as we have a tombstone today.
At about the same time, people were afraid that the spirit - being separate somehow from the body - might "stay around" and they wanted to be sure that body and spirit stayed in one place - and thus they weighted down the body and the coffin if it were used with stones. (That's one of the reasons mourners stay in their homes for a week; after a week the spirit of the dead depart naturally for another place and can't be "carried" into someone else's home.)
Afterwards, when we wanted to let others know that people had visited the grave, they marked it with rocks. The higher the pile, the more visitors.
Today, we just do so as a custom.
2006-07-24 12:11:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to Rabbi Maurice Lamm (author of "The Jewish Way in Death and Mourning") the custom of placing stones on the monument "probably serves as a reminder of the family's presence. [The evidence that this grave is attended, visited and cared for, is respectful for the deceased - NS]. Also, it may hark back to biblical days when the monument was a heap of stones. Often the elements or roving vandals dispersed them, and so visitors placed other additional stones to assure that the grave was marked."
Also, by placing a stone we further participate in the "construction" of the tombstone -- which in itself constitutes a mitzvah.
Incidentally, it is not a Chabad custom to place stones on tombstones.
2006-07-24 19:10:19 · answer #2 · answered by penwater1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
rocks on the headstone are the equivalent of flowers, but yet it's different. No one knows for sure, but the scholars best guess is that it's just to leave your mark
2006-07-24 19:09:17 · answer #3 · answered by Eli W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
placing a rock or a stone is a statement that someone visited and it is for others to see that the deceased is being remembered. Flowers wilt.
2006-07-24 19:10:31 · answer #4 · answered by rosends 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ammunition if you are going to distrub the site!! Ask a Rabbi!!
2006-07-24 19:09:25 · answer #5 · answered by Tom W 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was here missing you........
2006-07-24 19:23:10 · answer #6 · answered by deed 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋