2006-08-30 07:29:33 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Jews believe that you must bury the dead and mark their burial place. Even after a marker has been erected, they place stones on the marker to show the they are marking the grave, or erecting a tombstone symbolically.
2006-08-30 07:37:43 · answer #1 · answered by erin7 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The origin of this is a time before organized cemetaries. Buried bodies were covered with rocks to prevent wild animals from digging them up. It was considered a particularly good deed to put an extra rock on the grave because it made the body that more safe from animals and because you were doing something completely selfless -- no one could think you were doing for the dead person in hopes they were doing it for you.
In modern times, there are two rituals that come out of this. The first is placing a small rock or pebble on the headstone when you visit and say Kaddish, the prayer for the dead. This indicates that you were there and that someone prayed for this person. When the family visits the grave, it is really nice to know that someone was there and "cared for" your loved one.
At Jewish funerals, it is still traditional for the mourners to help bury the coffin. Each takes a turn putting a shovel of dirt on the coffin.
In addition to placing rocks on headstones at the cemetary, I placed a small pebble at the stone monument at Hiroshima after praying for the dead there. As I placed it, I noticed it wasn't the only one there -- great minds think alike!
2006-08-30 07:40:06 · answer #2 · answered by PrincipalNZF 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Customs decision as to mutually as one might bypass to the grave internet site. In Israel, it somewhat is standard for persons to bypass on the day they end sitting Shiva. Others might bypass on the top of the Shloshim (The Thirty Days), others do now no longer be certain for 11 months. visitors can carry stay vegetation even though if the Orthodox custom, which many diverse Jewish human beings additionally do, is to place stones on the grave extremely. putting a pebble on the grave is an expression of somebody having visited to pay enjoy for the deceased individual. Customs additionally decision with regard to the Tombstone Unveiling ceremony. In Israel, numerous human beings do it after 30 days, persons do it on the 11th month after the burial. The kin individuals Rabbi could be the perfect individual to make certain with. shop on with this link to artwork out examples of tombstone Symbols Any information might desire to be placed on the tombstone. standard technique is to place the two the English and Hebrew names of the deceased on the tombstone with their fathers call. some human beings might additionally checklist the start date and the date that the guy kicked the bucket. Jewish people who're Cohenim or Leviim additionally placed symbols alongside with a pair of hands or a wash basin to coach that they look a Cohen or a Levi. Anniversary We notice the Yarzheit (anniversary date of passing) on the day the guy kicked the bucket in accordance to the Jewish calendar. for the size of the 1st 3 hundred and sixty 5 days after a be sure passes away, one joins indoors the Yizkor centers on the three fairs and Yom Kippur yet would not say the prayer. between the justifications is by ability of way of the reality Kaddish is declared for the guy standard for the size of the 1st 11 months. Yizkor in Hebrew potential bear in suggestions. Yizkor is a prayer reported in memory of the guy. This prayer is declared on Yom Kippur, Shimini Atzeretz, on the perfect day of Passover, and Shavuot.
2016-11-06 02:11:10 · answer #3 · answered by saturnio 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a respectful way to show that one has visited a particular grave. A lot of it has to do with it being a religious tradition.
2006-08-30 07:33:26 · answer #4 · answered by x 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is a marker that you visited. I actually have been re-thinking why it is, but it is a traditional Judaic thing; actually when I think about it...it is a ritual I honestly never understood. I was just taught it meant it marked our visit that day when we would visit my grandparents grave.
***ponders, time to re-evaulate why I still do some of these rituals. makes no sense to me anymore.***
2006-08-30 07:33:50 · answer #5 · answered by Bible Trekker 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a ritual just to show that you had been there...and I knew there were going to be some stupid wise-*** comments about this. Why is it people with no sense of humor whatsoever think they are funny?
2006-08-30 07:36:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rocks last more than flowers.
Seriously, that is a way of honoring the deceased and show him that he's been visited.
2006-08-31 05:15:09 · answer #7 · answered by yotg 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To keep the corpses from clawing their way out.
2006-08-30 07:33:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
Is is because they are too cheap to buy headstones and flowers?
2006-08-30 07:34:49 · answer #9 · answered by DinDjinn 7 · 0⤊ 4⤋