ihave posted the same question in the "what do ya wanna talk about" section
however im putting it here as well, since i would like an answer primarily from the Moderator Jans and if possible Moishe Rosen
the question i put forward was about Burial practices in Christ's Time
cos i got asked this evening and was stuck
aside from the Biblical accounts of Lazarus's and Christ's Burial i know little on the subject
therfore i need to know what wouldve have been normal or accepted Practice for preparing a body for burial like would a rabbi or priest been involved what would've been done (if anything) to the body and where
Just genaral info
Many Thanks Martin (Agent of Grace)
ihave posted the same question in the "what do ya wanna talk about" section
however im putting it here as well, since i would like an answer primarily from the Moderator Jans and if possible Moishe Rosen
the question i put forward was about Burial practices in Christ's Time
cos i got asked this evening and was stuck
aside from the Biblical accounts of Lazarus's and Christ's Burial i know little on the subject
therfore i need to know what wouldve have been normal or accepted Practice for preparing a body for burial like would a rabbi or priest been involved what would've been done (if anything) to the body and where
Just genaral info
Many Thanks Martin (Agent of Grace)
I am not knowledgable on the historical aspects of burial during
the time frame you are inquiring about, but I do work with our
local chevra kadisha (burial society). We prepare the meis
(body) for burial, help the mourning family, sit with the meis
til burial, and accompany it to the cemetary.
Many of the traditions may be the same now as then. If you
have specific questions I can answer them as to what we
do today and you can probably get a pretty good basis as
to what was done then. I can also ask our chevra kadisha
director if she knows of a knowledgable source of ancient burial
practices.
I can for sure tell you the priests (kohanim) did
not
take part as they are not allowed to be in the presence
of a meis, nor enter a cemetary.
I am not knowledgable on the historical aspects of burial during
the time frame you are inquiring about, but I do work with our
local chevra kadisha (burial society). We prepare the meis
(body) for burial, help the mourning family, sit with the meis
til burial, and accompany it to the cemetary.
Many of the traditions may be the same now as then. If you
have specific questions I can answer them as to what we
do today and you can probably get a pretty good basis as
to what was done then. I can also ask our chevra kadisha
director if she knows of a knowledgable source of ancient burial
practices.
I can for sure tell you the priests (kohanim) did not
take part as they are not allowed to be in the presence
of a meis, nor enter a cemetary.
if you could ask your chevra kadisha director,
though any information you, she could share, that provides insight would be appreciated
like what is involved in preparation for burial?
though any information you have that provides insight would be appreciated
like what is involved in preparation for burial?
That is what I do with the chevra, the taharah, which is the
preparation of the body for burial. I can tell you what we
do now days and I think the overall process has not
changed (with some minor variations). I'll give you a basic
outline in a day or two when I have more time, as well as
see if I can find out anything about earlier practices...