How Do You Behave At A Jewish Funeral?
Behaving at a Jewish funeral shows your respect for the Jewish faith and the decedent. Follow these simple rules to properly conduct yourself at a Jewish funeral and during the traditional mourning periods with the decedent’s family and friends. Find out if the funeral will be conducted according to Orthodox Jewish or Reform Jewish customs. Each faith has different customs and etiquette requirements. Determine when and where the funeral will be held. Jewish funerals usually take place 24 hours after the death and can occur at temples, synagogues or funeral homes. Attend the funeral service and burial. Listen to eulogies and respect prayers, even if you do not understand them. Take part in filling the grave with three shovelfuls of dirt; be sure to only hold the shovel pointing down and replace the shovel into the dirt when you are through instead of handing it to someone else. These specific actions are symbolic in the Jewish faith. Allow the family a mourning period of at least three
