Every Day You Learn Something New...

Today I learned volumes as I became part of a Chevra Kadisha ( pronounced heh vra kah dee shah) a member of a  women's burial society who prepare the deceased female according to Jewish law and tradition. There is a specific ritual with prayers recited with proper decorum as the corpse is washed, dried and shrouded.

 There were five of us this particular evening participating.

The first part is an initial inspection and washing/cleansing of the body and the second is the ritual purification/ tahara . You see in Judaism the body is not embalmed. During the tahara there is a continuous flow of water starting on the right side at the head and continuing down over the entire body.

Once the body has been dried, it must be shrouded in pants, a top and a tunic and a cap  all to be twisted and tied in a special way.

Traditional pine box with wooden pegs. Courtesy Google

A muslin shroud is placed in the simple pine box and the body is lifted and placed on top of that feet first and then swaddled in the sheet.  The top of the casket is put into place and the wooden pins inserted.

Although none of our group knew the deceased, she has lived an hour away for 30 some years and  had not been in our shul recently since the burial of her parents and even purchased her plot about 15 years ago.

It is considered a mitzvah (good deed) to help with the rituals including the meal of condolence...

Eleven months/ within a year after the burial a headstone will be placed on the grave. Traditionally visitors place stones on the headstone to mark their visit. I hope the deceased family will come to visit. No matter what, I have a feeling I will always remember to pay my respects at least every year at this time...