JFJ Forums

this evening i got asked the question
how were Jewish People Buried in Christ's time
and what practices were involved since i have only the detail's of the accounts of Lazarus's and Christ's burial's i need a little more info to answer the querie

like us in the west when we die we get sent to a funeral parlour- get drained- and filled up with formaldehyde and then tidied up

in ancient egypt the dead, had brains whipped out- then wrapped-in bandages- put in sarcaphocus
i do not not mean to sound crass or disrespectfull

though the practices wouldnt have been this gruesome
i still need to know what would have been involved what would have been done to the body itself and who would've done what
would a Rabbi or priest been involved what went into the normal burial practices and so forth

any assistance would be appreciated  

especially from Jans and Sheitl Queen

Hi, I posted a response to the question you asked directly to Jans
in the "ask a mod" section...

Well, unfortunately there does not seem to be
reliable sources as to the exact methods used.
The Torah, Oral Law and Josephus (who apparently
is not always reliable) give only fleeting information.
It is clear that either individual burials or family
tombs were used; and for a period of time the bones
were collected after decomposition and put into
ossuaries. The use of shrouds was first noted
approximately 1800 years ago, but they may have
been in use before.
Bodies were never embalmed.
Sorry not to have more info for you, but there just
does not seem to be much available.
However, I will give you a basic overview of what
we do now during the tahara (preparation of the
body for burial). I won't go into a lot of detail because
I don't know how much you want to know; and there
is much ritual that probably is beyond what you
are interested in. Much of what is done is minhag
(custom) and not halachah, so it details can vary
from chevra kadisha to chevra kadisha, although
the basics are the same.
I have no reason to believe that these basics are
any different than they were at the time period
you are asking about....

See my next post for continuation.....

This is how we do the tahara today; I think the proceedure
itself has changed little (if any) since the time period you
are asking about. There is no evidence that embalming or the
methods you mentioned the Egyptians used were ever employed.

In Israel caskets are not used; in the US they are required.
However, they must be plain, undecorated wood with no metal
or nails used in it. There need to be holes in the casked, especially
in the bottom; gaps in the seams and wood usually suffice.
A sovev (sheet) is placed in it diagonally
and earth from Israel sprinkled on top.

The meis (body) is kept covered at all times except when
necessary to do the tahara; and only those portions needed
to be cleansed are uncovered. Modesty and dignity of the meis
is extremely important.
Eyeglasses, hearing aids, wigs, jewelery are removed and given
to the family. Bleeding and other bodily fluids are stopped and
cleaned. Blood which is dam nefesh (blood connected to the
cause of death) must be buried with the meis. Other can be
discarded. Iv tubes, bandages, etc are removed.

The body is then given a prelimary washing with soap and water.
It begins at the head, then right torso and arm, right leg; then
repeats down the left side. The back is washed in the same
sequence.

Nail polish is removed; nails cleaned; fingernails and toenails
trimmed (which are buried with the meis).
The hair is combed out. We go through a lot of other details
but I don't want to gross anyone out here...

Next comes the ritual washing. The meis is elevated off the
table with wet wood boards. The meis is washed in a contiunous
motion. Three buckets of water are poured simultaneously down
the body: one down the right side, one down the left and one
down the middle (beginning at the head). The meis is then covered
with a clean sheet and the boards removed and the body dried.

The meis is then dressed in shrouds which consist of a head piece
or veil that covers the head; a shirt, pants, kittlel and belt.
A man is buried in his tallis with the tiztzit removed.

After the meis is placed in the casket, pottery shards are placed
directly over the eyes and mouth, and Israeli dirt sprinkled over
the shards. Israeli dirt is also sprinkled directly over the heart
and groin; then the meis is swaddled in the sheet. A bag containing
any loose hairs, blood, skin, or nail clippings is placed in the foot
of the casket.

Also during the tahara, prayers are recited, G-d is asked to have
mercy on the departed, and we ask forgiveness of the meis if
we have failed to perform the tahara adequately.


Again, this is a very basic overview of what we do; if you have
further questions, let me know.