Dying, Death and Burials in Jewish Culture

Overview

According to the Talmud nobody must be deserted in illness or death. All religious and practicalmatters connected with dying, death, burial and help to relatives are looked after by the burialfraternity (chevra kaddish). The first chevra kaddish in this country was founded in Prague in1564. Traditions govern also the behaviour of relatives and demand special reverence ofancestors’ graves. Contrary to Christian customs to the dead intactness of their graves for evermust be ensured. Therefore despite all adverse historical events (pogroms, exile, holocaust) forcenturies to the present time many Jewish cemetries, urban and rural, were preserved.

Key words:
Talmud - dying - death - burials.