mourning rituals

• For most Jews the body will be buried rather than cremated and this should be done as quickly as possible
• the funeral should be kept as plain as possible and the coffin should e unpolished with no brass handles to show that rich and poor are alike in death
• once the grave is filled the mourners pray and the Kaddish are recited
• during the shiva (7 day mourning period) mourners will stay in their homes and be visited by relatives and members of the synagogue
• A yahrzeit ceremony is held each year to mark the death, prayers are said and a candle burns for 24 hours to symbolise the departed soul