I’ve been to Israel twice and find it starkly beautiful, haunting, and inspirational all at the same time. (If you’re interested in getting involved with a wonderful Israel-Palestine group working toward peace: click here now.)
I visited Israel (and Egypt) once in 1999 and again visited Israel in 2013. As I wandered north, south, east, and west, I found Israeli death rituals and customs shaped by diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. Jewish traditions influence the majority of rituals. However, Israel also has significant Muslim, Christian, and Druze communities. Each has its own way of doing things.
Jewish Death Rituals
When a Jewish person dies, anywhere in the world, the community treats the body with great respect. This is also true in Israel. A group of people, mostly women, called the Chevra Kadisha gather. They prepare the body, including washing it in a ritual known as taharah. Then they dress the body in simple white shrouds (tachrichim).
I belong to a Chevra Kadisha here in Chicago. I love the simplicity and care that goes into taharah.
In Israel, it is customary to bury the body directly in the earth without a coffin. This is in accordance with traditional Jewish law. However, in some cases, Rabbis use a simple wooden coffin. In Jewish tradition, leaders generally prohibit cremation. Many believe that the body should return to the earth naturally.
After the funeral and burial, the immediate family observes Shiva. This is a seven-day mourning period. During this time, mourners stay at home, refrain from work, and receive visitors who come to offer condolences. They cover mirrors, and mourners sit on low stools as a sign of grief.
Mourners recite the Kaddish during daily prayers for 11 months for parents and 30 days for other relatives. This prayer praises God and asks for peace but does not directly mention death.
Each year, on the anniversary of the death (according to the Hebrew calendar), family members observe yahrzeit. THey light a memorial candle, visit the grave, and recite prayers.
Muslim Death Rituals
I’m so grateful that during my trip to Israel in 1999, I was able to visit the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Sadly, that’s no longer possible for non-Muslims. I remember pulling my hair back, covering my arms, and walking in the back door feeling a warm welcome from everyone there. It was my favorite Muslim site of the trip.
Similar to Jewish traditions, Muslims in Israel perform ghusl (ritual washing) of the body and wrap it in white cloth (kafan.)Then mourners bury the body as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours. They place the deceased directly in the ground, facing Mecca.
They also recite a special prayer, the Salat al-Janazah, before burial. Unlike Jewish customs, where mourning rituals extend for days, Muslim mourning rituals tend to be shorter. Three days of mourning (Idda) are common.
While Idda is the immediate mourning period, some families observe a 40-day mourning period. They recite prayers for the deceased and gather in the person’s memory.
Christian Death Rituals
My favorite Christian site in Israel was the Church of Gethsemane. I felt a kinship with tearful pilgrims, humbled by their devotion and mourning rituals at such a sacred place. Christians in Israel, including Roman Catholics, Greek Orthodox, and others, hold a funeral mass or church service for the dead. This includes reading prayers, hymns, and Bible texts.
Burial typically follows the service, and family members observe a period of mourning. Some Christian communities also have memorial services held 40 days after the death, similar to Orthodox Christian traditions.
Mourners visit loved ones’ graves on important dates, such as Easter or All Saints’ Day.
Druze Death Rituals
Druze customs emphasize simplicity. They bury the deceased in plain clothes and hold a modest funeral. Druze believe in reincarnation, so they don’t see death as an end.
What is Druze?
The Druze religion is a unique blend of faiths and philosophies. It originated in the 11th century and is practiced by an ethnoreligious minority in the Middle East:
- The Druze religion has its roots in Ismaili Shia Islam. It also incorporates elements of Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, and classical Greek philosophy.
- Adherents believe in Allah, reincarnation, the unity of God, and the eternity of the soul. They also honor many prophets and mentors. This includes Moses, Jesus, John the Baptist, and the Prophet Muhammad.
- The Druze keep many of their religious practices secret. But some of their tenets include not eating pork, smoking, or drinking alcohol.
- They are a close-knit community that lives in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. They are largely separate from surrounding communities and discourage marriage outside the faith.
- Druze often makes pilgrimages to the burial site of Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law. This is said to be near Tiberias and Mount Arbel.
Instead of extensive mourning periods, Druze communities focus on reciting prayers and maintaining a calm demeanor. This reflects their belief in the soul’s continuation in another form.
Israeli Military Funeral Customs
For soldiers or individuals who have served in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), military funerals include national honors. They bury soldiers in designated military cemeteries. They drape the flag of Israel over the coffin during the ceremony.
Mount of Olives
The Mount of Olives in Jerusalem is one of the most significant and ancient Jewish cemeteries in the world. Its history dates back over 3,000 years. Traditionally, Jews have sought to be buried there because of its proximity to the Temple Mount. They also connect it with Messianic prophecies in Jewish tradition.
Any Jewish person, regardless of background, can have a destination funeral in Israel. This includes being buried on the Mount of Olives. For both religious and secular Jews, as long as they are of Jewish descent or converted according to Jewish law, this is a great honor.
Many rabbis, scholars, and prominent Jewish leaders are buried on the Mount of Olives. This includes Holocaust survivors, revered figures like Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak Kook, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, and others who have had a lasting impact on Jewish religious life.
Some families have historical plots or burial rights on the Mount of Olives. They’ve been passed down for generations. These plots often belong to families who have been buried there for centuries.
Some Jews from around the world wish to be buried in the Holy Land. Many choose the Mount of Olives as their final resting place. Local Israeli funeral directors also work with many international groups to get the deceased to Israel. Then they perform the burial.
Notable Restrictions
In general, Israel doesn’t allow non-Jews to be buried on the Mount of Olives. This is because it’s primarily a Jewish cemetery. Jewish law maintains that burial grounds should be reserved for Jews. Again, traditional Jewish burial customs in Israel prohibit cremation. Therefore, individuals whose remains have been cremated are generally not eligible for burial on the Mount of Olives.
Israeli authorities might make exceptions depending on individual or family history. This is particularly true for individuals who have contributed to the Jewish community in unique ways.
Due to its location in East Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives has faced security challenges over the years. But it remains an active cemetery. Families or individuals seeking burial there must work with local Jewish societies to arrange for a plot. The Mount of Olives remains an important religious and cultural symbol for Jews worldwide. This is especially true for those wishing to be laid to rest near Jerusalem.
A Jewish Death Doula
These customs reflect the diverse nature of Israeli society. A land where religious traditions hold a prominent place in the ways that communities deal with death and mourning. As a traveling Jewish death doula, with a reverence for all beliefs, don’t hesitate to reach out for more information.
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