The final milestone in a person’s life – funerals – carries many significant meanings in both Judaism and Hinduism, the various traditional rituals help overcome the heartbreak of funerals.
Looking firstly at a Jewish funeral. According to Levison (2002), “All Jews believe as long as they follow the laws laid out in the Old Testament, they will attain holiness”. As soon as possible after death, the Chevra Kadisha, a Jewish organization that arranges funerals, must be notified, as Jews believe it is disrespectful to leave the body unburied, preferably the body should be buried within 24 hours except for the Sabbath. After death, the body must be washed thoroughly, this is known as Taharah, water is either poured over the body or the body submerged in water, as mentioned by Levison. If the deceased was injured and there is blood on them the washing is not complete, as Jews believe a person’s blood is just as important as their life. Hunter (2020) mentioned that the Chevra Kadisha dress the deceased in white tachrichim. The body must always be guarded until the funeral this is known as a shomer. The immediate family members tear their clothing to symbolize their loss. All mirrors in the mourner’s house are covered, as mourners should concentrate on God and on the departed soul, instead of dwelling on themselves. The casket must be a simple box, preferably made of pine with no metal, the concept is that the casket should be 'dust to dust'. The funeral is healed in the synagogue and begins with several readings and closes with the eulogies and the memorial prayer. The casket is then walked to the burial site, with the pallbearers stopping seven times on the way, symbolizing their reluctance to let go of their loved one, communicated Hunter (2020). Once in the ground, mourners add a shovel of dirt to cover the casket, it is a tradition to place the shovel back in the ground rather than handing it to the next person, this way personal grief is not passed on. Shiva is the first period of mourning, which begins immediately after burial and lasts seven days, during this period the family does not participate in their normal routine, they do not attend work, school, or cook meals. A candle is burnt throughout this. Shloshim is the second mourning period, it begins the first day after the funeral, the family resumes their daily routine, but will recite mourners' Kaddish for 30 days. If the deceased is a parent this will last for one year as Levison (2002) revealed.
Now, looking at the traditions surrounding a Hindu funeral. Hindu funeral traditions serve as both a celebration of life, as well as the remembrance of the person who died. Death for Hindus is a transition as they believe in reincarnation, thus entering another body. According to Frawley (2007), “Generally, the soul at the time of conception chooses the body it will inhabit but does not enter the womb until the infant body takes life”. Hindus believe the soul will reincarnate into the same extended family. Karma plays a major factor in what happens to your soul after you pass. When the physical body dies, the soul is believed to continue a journey. This is somewhat like a Jewish belief as they believe in life after death, whether that is heaven or hell. Frawley (2007) mentioned that women attending the funeral walk around the body and offer puffed rice into the mouth to nourish the deceased for the journey ahead. Hindus avoid medicine and excess drugs when they are dying as a conscious death is what Hindus hope for. Frawley (2007) stated that “loss is not suffered when something is given up voluntarily, only when it is taken from us by force”, therefore those who die suddenly have no time to prepare themselves for death, traditionally full death rites are not performed after such deaths because rebirth is expected almost immediately. Hindus believe dying is not unlike falling asleep, they also believe we have all experienced death many times in past lives, as stated by Frawley (2007). Similar to Judaism, funerals take place rather quickly as it is believed that the body can inhibit the soul from moving on to the next journey, this is also the reason for the body being cremated, burial is forbidden as it preserves the body. While Jews reject cremation as they believe it will shock the body. Shortly after someone dies a light is placed above their head, this helps guide the soul, as voiced by Frawley (2007). Hindus are not allowed to touch the deceased; the deceased’s body is washed in a mixture of yogurt, milk, ghee, and honey and dressed in white, similar to Jews. The deceased’s big toes will be tied together and the hands will be placed in prayer position. Antyesti is a ritual that returns the body to the five elements, which include air, water, fire, earth, and space. Frawley (2007) cited: “The chief mourner leads the rites. He is the eldest son in the case of the father’s death and the youngest son in the case of the mother's”. Traditionally the ashes are scattered in the Ganges River in India, and companies will transport the ashes to India and deposit them in the Ganges. If that is not possible, the ashes are scattered at a sacred body of water or somewhere important to the deceased. Frawley (2007) mentioned that preta-karma is held 10 days after death, it is held in the deceased home. This is a ceremony to liberate their soul for the ascent to heaven. During this period the family refrains from visiting shrines, temples, or any other sacred place as they are considered as being spiritually impure. Just like Jews, Hindus have a mourning period that can last from 10 to 30 days in the grieving families’ homes. A memorial event called Sraddha will be held one year after the passing, this is when the family invited members of the highest caste known as Brahmins to have a meal in their home.
Overall, this essay has highlighted the different traditions and rituals surrounding funerals as the last stage in a person’s life in both Hinduism and Judaism. One could conclude that this major milestone, along with birth, and marriage, has a great influence on shaping a person’s life. It is celebrated in both religions with different traditional rituals, which help define the religion within an individual.