The Southern Jewish weekly. [volume] (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1939-1992, 1947-11-28
When Bereavement Comes
To a Jewish Family
BY RABBI DAVID B. ALBERT
Continued from last week.

Nv brother was a war veteran. and took pride in
his veteran organization. He always expressed the
wish for military funeral How do arrange that!
The religious service goes on as usual "A detan
of men in uniform (members of the post to when ne
belongs stand as honor guard during the services
After the religious services the commander chaplain
of the post offers short prayer The pail bearers are
members of the post in uniform and the caske is drap-
ed with the American flag The pail bearers and 9TH
of the military escort keep formation in slow pace
The military detail remain at present arms, while the
commander presents the American flag to the family
and the body is lowered Taps is sounded the buge
The firing squad and the voley are neither desirable
nor necessary.
religion require burial the very day of death?"
Burial should follow at early convenience. Our re-
ligion advises against unreasonable delay in commit
ting the body to the earth When possible and where
circumstances permit burial should be close to the day
of death No funerals, however, permitted the
Sabbath the first day of holidays The Shulchan
Aruch authoritative CODE specifically says that it
is valid ito postpone the funeral to pay full honors to
the deceased provide the coffin and proper Clothes
to await relatives coming from a distance to await
the arrival of the eminent friend who is to conduct the
services Only those delays are forbidden which would
be insulting to the deceased" Moreover, the
code mentions that che who too eager for the
quick burial of parent may be lacking in respect"
Our religious faith, in long and wise experiences
recognizes that the best interests of the bereaved fam
lily served by prompt BURIAL that is usually the day
of death or the day Immediately following For urgent
reason the funeral may be set ahead another day. The
choice of day and time of the service should be by
the wishes of the family and the appointments of the
funeral director.
The purpose of the religious regulations is to
courage burial without undue delay that the family
meet the situation, and begin on the new ar
rangementS Thus, they learn pay honor to the de-
ceased by actively chershng his memory and example
by turning to the living Postponing the funeral un-
duly is unknd upon the family, and may give chance
to start unhealthy rites that should be started
My father was orthodox; is it necessary that we
have pine box and shrouds? He himself indicated that
he wished to be placed at in business suit and
casket."
The purpose of the ancient religious custom was
to avoid extravaganza luxury and ostenation Death
is one form of equality The tradition became general
that man was laid to rest in simple Clothes and in
simple box Qnade by friends) In those days the
shroudS resembled the flowing gowns which then were
the common mode OF daily The of pine
box today is regarded by many people as a new kind
OF ostentaton using factory product mot made by
friends) for boastful parade of piety in reverse
Religious duty requires that pay our last re-
specS to the departed with reverence and feeling and
loving Excessive display and cost is never prop
er. Avoid lavish abundance of flowers and theatrical
settings Conform to prevailing usage and CUSTOM and
standards Of good TASTE The religious traditions of our
own day generally recognize burial in business clothes
and casket with few flowers Gf any,. The taith is
still draped about the shoulders The funeral prepar-
atoms Including the making of pine box and shrouds)
are rarely the work of friends today.
The deceased leaves to say Kaddsh for
him. May his daughters say Kaddish? Or shall the
family set aside trust fund at Jewish charitable in
stitution for "Kaddish?"
By all means, the daughters may and should saw
klddsh Certainly they should go regularly to services
and stand among the mourners
The Kaddish is song of life spoken bv those in
bereavement in genuine appreciation of life Those
VINO realize what life is, and how quickly it goes are
best able to appreciate the value of ife-and to speak
the praise of life in the Kaddish Thus the family af
firm and acknowledge the worth of the life thew mourn
In this way the Kaddsh cherishes personal sentiment
and affection. Let the Kaddish remain an office of