Saturday, May 22, 2010

Is there a type of flower that is taboo at a Jewish funeral?

Upon visiting the cemetary we do not bring flowers. aBringing flowers is a Christian thing. Instead we put pebbles on the grave site. Jacob's sons took a stone and put it on Rachel's grave to make up Rachel's tomb. Here and elsewhere we learn that by placing stones on the grave one participates in building the tombstone. We do not find any direct connection with our present practice, but we might ask if this is an ancient memory of this tradition.

Is there a type of flower that is taboo at a Jewish funeral?
Jewish people do not have a wake (where the body is displayed), because Judaism beliefs is that the body should be brought to its resting place as soon as possible. It is not customary to bring flowers because the funeral is to be as simple as possible.


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