Wichita eagle., 1888-09-02
JEWISH FUNERAL CUSTOMS.


In their funeral TlfeS and OoSerVanceS
the Jews have preserved many OF tho
most ancient customs OF their race. They
still rend the upper garments n token OF
bereavement, as Jacob did when IL
formed Of the death of bis fsvorite son;
they still seat themselves for seven days
on the ground in sign Of mourning, Is
Job and his friends are represented in the
Scripture TO have done. They still eas
the nourners meal, as tiaeir ancestors
did in Palestine; they kindie the memo
rial light 10 comfort the departed soul,
as they did, in al Likelihood, ages before
Judaism was known; and they stin re-
cite IN public the mourners' prayer. every
repetition Of understanding 10 srab-
binical noticns-helpS the deceased q
step further ont OF purgatory. In the
west as in the east these customs arc
practically the same-we mean among
the great bulk of ohservant Jews. Tia
very wealthy and the mere highly cul-
tured members OF the synagogue are II
these things, as IL many others, law
unto themselves.
The Jews rigidly exclude al relatives
from the chamber Of dying co-rehgion-
ist. Only strangers should b present
when the soui leaves the bedy. As soon
as death occurs al the vessels IN tie
house containing water are empticd.
On the continent, IN places where jews
reside, the ernpSying of the water vessels
in the public roadway IS the usual mode
of notifying that a death has occurred.
The practice h2d its origin, we gather
from the rabhinicai books, in an Old
World superstition that standing water
in such circumstances became the ahid-
ing place If certain evil spirits whose
presence in TIE house was prejudicial
both 10 the dead and TO the living. In
tie interval between death and inter
ment the Jews lay the corpse upon tho
bare ground with the feet toward the
door. The body is covered, but nothing
saving occasionally little straw-may
be placed under it. Then the two big
toes are tied together. On Sabbaths it Is
rot, however, permitted 70 remove q
body on to the floor; it would be work.
But as il Is sometimes necessary that this
should nevertheless be done. rabbinical
ingenuity has contrived a means Of &C
complishing it without violating the
sanctity of the day. 4 leaf of bread IS
placed upon the corpse, and the two
held that only the bread has been moved,
ail1 this IS permitted CT tho Sabbath.
Two or three hours before the inter
ment takes place the ceremonial puriiica-
ton Of the bo.y Known as the tahasa
takes place. Ii consists merely in pour
ing seven definite measures Of warm
water over the body. while repeating the
words: II VII pour upon you cleansing
waters, and ye shall be cleansed Of your
uncleanliness; fer Of al your iniouities /
viii purify YOU" The body is then
placed in the coffin attired in white cot
ton gown known as kittel. This littel
is, in northern Europe, presented 10
bridegroom by his bride on the day Of
their wedding, and Is worn by hiu on
certain occasions, such Is the Day OK
Atonemcnt and the Passover Eve celehra-
ton. IL is made by the female relatives
Of the bride, but she herself must not
take part in the sewing q it. I'm Poland.
Gaiicia. and in Russia the bridegroom al
ways wears the death garment under tic
wedding canop9 during tic performance
Of the marriage ceremony. Besides the
k,ttcl. the body IS envcloped in the pray
ing scarf or tllith used b. the deceased
during lie. When this Is done the rsla-
tiyes are summoned. One By one they
draw near and bend over tbe coffin:
friend takes sharp knife and u1aIes a sit
III one Of the outer garments 81 tho
mourHer--On the right side II the de-
ceased be a parent, on the leis IL child.
The mourner himself then reuds the gar
ment, according 10 the custom Of the
country. In the east the jew tears the
vestment clean acres; in Lugland it -
only torn i ccupia Ct fingers breadth
The rent must lot be sewn up for a
month and the mourning, garment must
be worn for pareut fully eleven Ino-ths.
The Spanish aud Portuguese JeSgs rcbd
their undergarE7cnis "a well. Except
among the German Jews they are
called-in tbs country, tho last Offices Of
the dead arc performed by the members
OF what are termed "CEesrah Kadishaw'
or ''Iioly brotherhood" an organization
formed ia every orthodox congregation
only FOX this purpose.
Just as near relatives arc excluded
from the death chamber, 50 are females
prohibited from attending q funeral or
interment. Why this should be 50 it il
difficult % say. the custom Of eIclud-
ing women on such occasion Is certainly
not an ancient one, since We know FROM
the TaImud and later rabbinicaJ books
that, Of old, women joined ia the fussTsd
PROFESSIONS OF their people, chanting
dirgos appropriate 10 ;lao ceremony.
However, nowadays they are not per
Matted - JON. and the obse9uSeB are at
tended by males oniy, Ia Northern
Europe and Ia parts Of Russia. . father
Is not allowed 20 lie present 81 the inter.
ment Of the ftst child be Is unfortGBlatc
enough 10 lose. II Is believed he VIII
lose q second if jsc c.oes, though tbs vii
not in Itself suffice TO explain the exist
ence OK 20 strange "a cugtonl. Tie Polish
Jews are, hoxcsef. psculi&r in ulGns than
this. IL IL the uusrsrsal k@Aof o2 critic
dox Hebrews Tia: toc resurrection If TIE
dead Will take piacs IL tho LILY I-usd,
and therefore al bodies VIII have 40 make
their way underground 70 IalessAls b.
fore the day Of judgment 80. TO facsI-
itate this task, the '@ClssszsaiE4, F" CT ultr1
pious q Russia and Poland. put 4 fork
IN tiee hands Ct the aeceAsod when h -
placed Ia tie grOgn3-fos colIio5 sze ozly
used Ia the csao If b'cA0r lfir-1 bo-nl
or kobsn (oze Of pEies-ly f2r1iiyt--ia
order that be E.zy Dig LIS way 14ropSh
the ground with i and thus reach tAs
Holy LAID, where tie resurrection takes
plaoe.
o., lcasing q ccI1s.ery-v1tca -
Lraz-y, - Tho sefrctz.a sstc<1Ee a stsr-