Jewish Funeral Customs Gutterman Bros. New York New Jersey

Seek information and learn about the beauty and

meaning of traditional Jewish burial

practices.

Call your synagogue and Rabbi first to assist you and

to guide the funeral

arrangements

you make. If

you do

not have a rabbi, Gutterman Bros. can assist you in

engaging one.

Interment should not be unnecessarily delayed.

Ostentation should be avoided.

The dress and behavior of family and friends should

reflect the dignity and solemnity of

the

occasion.

Visiting with and viewing of the remains (open casket)

are contrary to Jewish law.

Cremation is a service we offer. Speak to your

Gutterman Bros. professional for more

information

Aron – (A-rone) the burial casket.

Taharah

- (Ta-ha-rah) the traditional washing and

dressing of the deceased with

dignity.

Performed

trained members of the Chevra Kadisha (Sacred

Society). In

accordance with

Jewish traditional

law,

men prepare men, while women prepare women.

Embalming,

cosmetics or any other artificial

preparation of the remains is not permitted

by Jewish

law.

Tachrichim

- (Takh-ree-kheem) the burial shroud. A

full set of traditional white clothing,

preferably

made of

linen, includes: hat, shirt, pants, jacket, belt and

wrapping sheet.

This

garment symbolizes

equality

and purity.

Sheloshim

– (sh’losh-sheem) the thirty days following

burial (in

cluding shiva).

Shmira

- (Shmee-rah) the watching of remains. To

show respect to the departed, the

deceased is

never

left alone until after burial. The Shomer (Watcher)

traditionally recites

psalms.

Shiva

– (Shee-vah) the traditional seven-day mourning

period immediately following

burial,

observed

by the

bereaved. Consult your rabbi for details o

n the

customs and

observances

of shiva.

Kaddish

– (Ka-dish) the traditional prayer in praise of

G-d, recited after burial.

Keriah

– (Kree-ah) the practice of rending or cutting a

garment, or symbolically wearing

cut black

ribbon

over the heart, to indicate that one is in mourning.

Those observing

keriah

are generally adult

children,

father/mother, brother/sister, or spouse of the

deceased.

Kvurah B'karka

– (Kvoo-rah B’kar-kah) burial in the

ground. Biblical mandate requires

burial in the

ground, filling the grave completely until a mound is

formed. Participation in

filling the grave is a

religious

privilege and duty and an expression of honor for the

deceased. Above ground burial is an

option you may

discuss with the Gutterman Bros.

staff.

Who will conduct the service?

When and where will

the service be?

It is important to

make

these

decisions jointly with the rabbi and the funeral director.

Do not give friends

and

relatives the time and

place of

a funeral or memorial service until both the rabbi and

the

funeral director have confirmed the

time and place.

If you are unaffiliated

with a synagogue

Call Gutterman Bros. Let us assist you in

ngaging a rabbi to

officiate

FOUR
GENERATIONS
OF
TRADITION

GUTTERMAN
Bros.
Funeral Directors
866-473-3700

Guidelines and Terms