The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1889-01-26
JEWISH FUNERALS.
Curious Customs That Are the Same Now
AS in tho Days OF Moses.

ancient customs OF their race, StNS lHt ~.
lanes gazette. They still rcnd the upper
garments in token of bereavement, as Jacob
did when informed Of the death of his favor
tie son: they still seat themselves for seven
days ON the ground in sign of mourning as
Job and his friends are represented III the
Scripture to have done. They still eat the
mourners' meal, as their ancestors did IN
Palestine; they lSindle the memorial light
to comfort the departed soul, as they did, in
all likelihood, ages before Judaism WAS
known; and they still recitc IN pubic the
m0urners' prayer, every repetition OF which
according to rabbinical notions-helps the
deceased Il step further out OF purgatory.
The Jews rigidly exclude all relatives
from the chamber of a dying co-religionist.
Only strangers should be present when the
soul leaves the body. As soon as death oc-
ours all the vessels III the house containing
water are emptied On the continent, in
places where Jews reside, the emptying OF
the water vessels in the public roadway is
the usual mode of notifying that death has
occurred. The practice had its origin we
gather from the rabbinical books. in an Old
World superstition that standing water in
such circumstances became the abiding
place of certain evil spirits whose presence
in the house was prejudicial both to the dead
and to the living. In the interval between
death and interment the Jews lay the
corpse upon the bare ground with the feet
toward the door. The body is covered, but
nothing-save occasionally little straw
may be placed under it. Then the two big
toes are tied together. On Sabbaths il is
not, however, permitted to remove body
on to the floor; itwould be work. But as it
is sometimes necessary that this should
nevertheless be done, rabbinical ingenuity
has contrived means of accomplishing it
without violating the sanctity Of the day
A loaf of bread is placed upon the corpse,
and the two together are lifted to the
ground. 1t is held that only the bread has
been moved, and this is permitted on the
sabbath.
Two or three hours before the intermcn,
takes place, the ceremonial publication OF
the body known as the tdho,d takes place
1t consists merely in pouring seven def
mite measures Of warm water over the
body. while repeating the words; II will
pour upon you cleansing waters, and ye
shall be cleansed Of your uncleanliness foi
of all your iniquties l will purify you. y
The body is then placed in the coffin at.
tired in white cotton gown known as a
kittcl. This klttel is, in Northern Europe
presented to a bridegroom by his bride on
the day Of their wedding, and is worn by
him on certain occasions, such MS the Day
Of Atonement and the Passover Eve cole
bration. 1t is made by the female relatives
OF the bride, but she herself must not take
part in the sewing Of it. In Poland Galicia,
and in Russia the bridegroom always wears
dGpfh Mt no.
opy during the performance of the marriage
ceremony. Besides the kiitci, the body is
envel0ped in the praying scarf or tain uset
by the deceased during lie. When this il
done the relatives are summoned One By
one they draw near and bend over tho
colin: friend takes sharp knife apd
makes slit in one of the outer garments of
me mourner--on the right side if the de.
ceased be parent, on the left if child
The mourncr himself then rends the gar.
ment according to the custom of the coun.
try. In the East the Jews tear the vest
ments clean across; in England it is only
torn couple Of fingers breadth. The rent
must not be sewn up for month"; and the
mourning garment must be worn, fol. a
parent, fully eleven months. The Spanish
and Portuguese Jews rend their undergar.
ments as well Except among the German
JeWs-as they are called-in this country.
the last offices of the dead are performed by
me members Of what are termed "Cheyrah
hadlshah," or 4" Holy Brotherhood an or.
ganization formed in every orthodox con.
gregatiOn only for this purpose.
JUST as near relatives are excluded ttom
me death chamber, so are females probib.
tied from attending a funeral or interment
Why this should be so it is difficult to saw
Inc custom OF excluding women on such
occasions ls certainly not an ancient one.
SINCE we know from the Talmud and later
raooinical books that, Of old, women Joined
IN the funeral professions of their pcopIe
chanting dirges appropriate TO the cere.
mony. However, nowadays they are not
permitted to join, and the obsequies are
attended by males only. In Northern En-
rope and in parts Of Russia, father is not
allowed to be present at the interment of
the first child he is unfortunate enolgh IA
lose. 1t is believed he will lose a second ii
ne does; though this will not in Itself suffice
to explain the existence OF so strange a
custom. The Polish Jews are, however.
peculiar in more than this. 1t is tho mn
versal belief of orthodox Hebrews that the
resurrection of the dead will take place IN
The holy Land, and therefore all bodies
VIII have to make their way underground to
Palestine before the Day of Judgment. So
to facilitate this task, the .'Chassidiul, y or
ultra pious Of Russia and Poland. put n
fork in the hands Of the deceased when he
Is placed IN the ground-for coffins are
only used in the case Of a b'chor first
born), or kohen Zone of priestly family
in order that he may dig his way through
the ground with it and thus reach the
Holy Land, where the resurrection takes
place.
On leaving cemetery-which is known
as the bethclam, "house of eternity., or
beth hahn, house Of life"-it is CUSTOMARY
TO pluck some of the grass growing there
and throw it over the shoulder without
looking back, repeating the words; ia
uQYeth pefzach,, LII6 a,.ill das4,..... :,