Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-11-16
EUROP GAN HEBREWS
Some of the Pecu'iar;ties of Thai.
Honore burial Custom

,"'ae OF Ihe IRREGULARITIES of Their r.
Honore Burial Customs "h
The Jews rigidly exclude All
tlves from the chamber of a dvins
religionist. Only strangers sbo,,fs
present when the soul leaves the hoa
As soon as death occurs ali the vas
in the house containing water
emptied, On the continent, wbera r
reside. the emptying of the water
sells in the public roadway is the ne,
method of notifying that a death !
occurred. The practice had its owl.
we gather from the rabbinical he,
in an old-world superstition that s,s.
ing water in such circumstances
came the abiding place of certain .,
spirits whose presence in the bon
was prejudicial both to the dead and
the living. In the interval between do.
and interment the Jews lay the corn
upon the bare ground with d
feet toward the door. The bod,
covered. but nothing saving ooo
sionally little straw may be plaoo
under it. Then the two big toes ~
tied together. On Sabbaths it is M
however, permitted to remove bod
on to the floor; it would be work RI
as it is sometimes necessary that Ind
should nevertheless be done, rabbinI
cal ingenuity has contrived a means
accomplishing it without violating n
sanctity of the day. A loaf of bread
placed upon the corpse, and the tv
together are lifted to the ground !
is held that only the bread has bee
moved, and this is permitted on nj
the Sabbath.
Two or three hours before the int !
ment takes place, the ceremonial puri
fication of the body known as the n
hara takes place. 1t consists mere
in pouring seven definite measures /
warm water over the body while I'd
peating the words: II will pour uuI
you cleansing waters, and We shall N
cleansed of your uncleanliness; from al
your iniquities l will purify YOU" TIL
body is then placed in a coffin, attire
in a white cotton gown as a kiul !
This kittle is in Northern Europe prI
sented to a bridegroom by his BIRD
on the day of their wedding, and
worn by him on certain occasion
such as the day of atonement and Il
Passover-eve celebration. II is MAD
by the female relatives of the Bird
but she herself must not take p....
the sewing of it. In Poland, Galaci
and in Russia the bridegroom alway
wears the death garment under thI
wedding canopy during the pc
Torrance of the marriage cerd
mony. Besides the kittle the bod
is enveloped in a praying scarf, d
talith, used by the deceased during lid
When this is done the relatives or
summoned. One by one draw nea
and bend over the coffin; friend take
a sharp knife and makes slit in on
of the outer garments of the mourner1
on the right side if the deceased be !
parent, on the left If child. IN
mourner himself then rends the gar,
ment, according to the custom of thj
country. In the East Jews tear TIL
vestment clean across; in England it |
only torn a couple of fingers breadths|
The rent must not be sewn up for |
month, and the mourning garmer
must be worn for a parent fully eevei
months. The Spanish and Portuguese
Jews rend their undergarments aswel
Except among the German Jews-a
they are called-in this country, tbI
last offices of the dead are performeI
by the members of what are termeI
"Chevrah Kadisha," or Holy Brother
hood" an organization formed in ever
orthodox congregation only for THU
purpose. No hired hands are suffered
to perform for pay the last serviceI
needful in the case of a departed col
religionist. The kindness in this way
shown to the dead is regarded as al
act of the highest merit, since from iii
very nature it is such as the recipien1