What was your experience at a Jewish funeral?

Question

Writing about death and afterlife in the Jewish tradition. If you have any insights or experiences, feel free to answer. Preferably someone who is Jewish. Maybe write about your beliefs in death and where your soul goes and what your religion says about it. Thanks.

Answer 1

Jewish funeral? I've been to plenty of them. I am Jewish.

Jews are buried within 24 hours of their death, except if it is shabbas (sabbath), or as soon thereafter as possible. We do not embalm and we do not have open viewings of dead bodies. There is a simple service, either at a synagogue, funeral chapel or graveside. Prayers are said all throughout and the family members, if they are able, will talk about the person who has passed.

If possible, (as is allowed in Israel) there are no caskets, only a shroud because it is desirable for one's body to "return to the earth" as soon as possible. Otherwise, a simple wooden box is preferred (it is the law in the United States that one be buried in a casket). There are no flowers. Flowers are seen as a symbol of joy. When the body (in or out of the casket) is lowered into the ground, each person in the deceased's immediate family will take the shovel and place some earth on top, but the shovel is never passed hand to hand, because that puts the task in the category of "work" which this is not. When the person has been buried, the immediate family walks through a double line of family and friends. At that point, the funeral is over and the period of shiva (mourning) begins. People will also place a stone on the gravestone of other relatives who are buried nearby as a symbol that they are remembered.

Jews believe in a "World to Come." It is imagined to be a place of great joy because we are in the immediate presence of G-d. However, during the course of one's life, we Jews are commanded to put our focus on the here and now, to do G-d's will (mitzvot) and specifically Tikun Olam (repairing the world). As Jews, we are not supposed to waste our precious time on earth speculating about something that we cannot know about.

Jews believe that for those individuals who do good in the world, they have a place in the world to come. You do not have to be Jewish.

Answer 2

Great question! I'm Jewish, so let me direct you to a few links (see below); they can give you a fuller explanation than I could here. Bear in mind that customs and beliefs vary between Orthodox, Conservative and the Reform movements to some extent. Personally I believe that when I die the part of me that was from G-d--the soul--will return to be with G-d. I don't know in what form that will take, but that's generally not a very significant question for Jews anyway--the here and now is much more the focus. Since you asked about funerals, the same comment applies--there are some differences among the movements as well as some similarities.