Jewish

A natural burial is a hugely important part of a Jewish funeral. Jewish law forbids embalming, as Jews believe that the body is sacred and should not be tampered with, thus the burial is performed as soon as possible following the death. The funeral proceedings are kept minimal, usually just a simple wooden casket with no flowers.

The service commences at either the funeral home (where the preparation of the departed is conducted by members of the community) or cemetery, or in the case of a particularly significant person – the synagogue. Eulogies are spoken at the start in the Prayer Hall prior to the internment followed by prayer at the grave side where the ultimate act of love and kindness is performed, which involves covering the coffin with soil, then in most cases the service terminates back in the prayer hall.

It is customary, following the internment that those who are not considered to be mourners (members of the immediate family) form a double line facing each other for mourners to pass through where words of consolation are offered. The family then enters a seven-day period of mourning known as ‘shiva’.