# Jewish funerals

> A Jewish funeral is traditionally a simple burial held as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours, but never on Shabbat or major festivals. The burial society (Chevra Kadisha) prepares the body (tahara) and dresses it in white shrouds; mourners recite Kaddish and then sit shiva at home for seven days. Orthodox Judaism does not permit cremation; Reform and Liberal communities do.

Source: https://funeralfinder.org/faiths/jewish/ — FuneralFinder

## Key facts

- **Burial or cremation:** Burial in Orthodox practice; cremation accepted by many Reform and Liberal communities
- **How soon:** As soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours — not on Shabbat or major festivals
- **Who arranges it:** Usually the synagogue’s burial society (Chevra Kadisha) rather than a high-street funeral director
- **Preparation:** Tahara (ritual purification) and plain white shrouds (tachrichim); no embalming or viewing
- **Mourning:** Shiva for seven days at home, then shloshim to day 30; stone setting within about a year

## What happens at a Jewish funeral

In most UK Jewish communities the first call is to your synagogue or its burial society rather than to a funeral director. The society collects the person who died, carries out tahara, dresses them in simple white shrouds and places them in a plain wooden coffin. A shomer (watcher) may stay with the body until the funeral.

The service is usually held in the prayer hall (ohel) at the Jewish cemetery. Close mourners perform keriah — tearing a garment or a ribbon — as a sign of grief. After prayers and a eulogy (hesped), the coffin is taken to the grave and mourners help to fill it with earth. The Mourner’s Kaddish is recited.

## Shiva, shloshim and the stone setting

- Shiva — seven days of mourning at home. Mourners sit on low chairs, prayers are held, and friends visit to comfort them. Mirrors are often covered.

- Shloshim — the first thirty days, during which mourners gradually return to normal life.

- Kaddish — a child mourning a parent traditionally recites Kaddish for eleven months.

- Stone setting — the headstone is consecrated at a short ceremony, often around the first anniversary (yahrzeit).

Membership of a synagogue or burial scheme often covers most funeral costs, so check this early.
Every family and community is different. Use this as a starting point, follow the wishes of the person who died, and ask their faith leader or community for guidance.

## Etiquette

- **What to wear:** Dark, modest clothing. Men (and in some communities women) cover their heads — kippot are usually provided.
- **What to say:** “I wish you long life”, or the traditional “HaMakom yenachem etchem…” (“May God comfort you among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem”).
- **Flowers:** Flowers are not customary. A donation to charity in the person’s memory is the usual gesture.

## FAQs

### Can Jewish people be cremated?

Orthodox Judaism requires burial and does not permit cremation. Many Reform and Liberal communities accept cremation, and will still help with the funeral.

### Why are Jewish funerals held so quickly?

Jewish law values burial as soon as possible as a mark of respect for the person who died. Funerals are not held on Shabbat or major festivals, so timing may move by a day or two.

### What is sitting shiva?

Shiva is the seven-day period of mourning after the funeral, when close family stay at home, prayers are said and friends visit to offer comfort.

### Do I bring flowers to a Jewish funeral?

No — flowers are not traditional. A charitable donation in memory of the person who died is the usual gesture.