What were the most common phrases?
It would be more accurate to refer to them as inscriptions rather than phrases. Often a mother’s stone would include a section from Proverbs 31 (“A woman of valor”). It was quite common for a stone to carry the Hebrew letters representing the Hebrew phrase meaning “May his (her) soul be bound up in eternal life.” How do we select monuments today? Arrangements for a gravestone should be made as soon as possible after the funeral. The size of the stone and the inscription should be a family decision. Your local funeral director or cemetary can recommend one or more stonesmiths. The monument may be made out of stone or metal, upright or flat. It should be dignified and not ostentatious. Your rabbi can help you select an appropriate text, which should be reviewed carefully before the stone is prepared. The Dedication What is a dedication? An unveiling is a graveside religious ceremony marking the formal setting of a loved one’s headstone at the cemetery. When is the dedication held? Tradit
