Just a curious Goy.
2007-08-09 14:12:13 · 8 answers · asked by The Nerd 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Stones were traditionally placed on graves as a mark of respect- it showed that people had been there. It also served an important purpose: Coming into contact with a dead body, or a piece of a body larger than a figure bone renders a person (tamei) impure- and, if a kohen, from being able to offer sacrifices or perform any other duties of a kohen. It would also prevent someone in such state from participating in sacrifices- such as sin opfferings, the Pesach sacrifice, thanksgiving offerings, going up to the temple to during the shalosh regalim (three pilgramage festivals) etc. Thus knowing where graves are is important, more so in the past than now where graves were not necessarily in segregated graveyards, and had to be clearly marked to make sure they were not mistakenly plowed under, making it impossible for a kohen, or somebody on their way to perform holy activities, to cross the field. So the stones left behind by visitors formed a cairn that clearly marked the grave.
Today, it is a mark of respect, a permanent token that the person is remembered and not forgotten.
2007-08-09 20:23:42 · answer #1 · answered by allonyoav 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah. Read "A Stone For Danny Fisher". Good story.
AEN
2007-08-09 21:18:22 · answer #2 · answered by Grendel's Father 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the movie Schidler's list, at the very end, I saw the Jewish survivors place stones over Schindler's tomb... I guess it is.
2007-08-09 21:25:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, everytime a family member visits they grave they place a stone to mark that they were there.
2007-08-10 21:03:46 · answer #4 · answered by Angela 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
Stone are forever. Flowers die in a day or two.
(Plus, try to find a flower in a desert.)
2007-08-09 23:13:25 · answer #5 · answered by forgivebutdonotforget911 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Stones don't get there on their own... It's proof that someone is remembered.
2007-08-09 21:15:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
2007-08-09 21:15:51 · answer #7 · answered by desertviking_00 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is.
http://judaism.about.com/library/3_askrabbi_o/bl_simmons_stonesgraves.htm
2007-08-09 21:16:39 · answer #8 · answered by jace_mm 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋