Jewish funerals

Jewish beliefs about death

Jewish tradition views death as a natural part of life, and treats the body with great respect both before and after death. Beliefs about what follows vary across Jewish thought, from olam ha-ba (the world to come) to the resurrection of the dead. But the focus of Jewish practice is less on the afterlife and more on honouring the person who has died and supporting those left behind.

Jewish funeral ceremonies

A Jewish funeral is simple, swift and communal. Burial traditionally takes place within 24 hours of death, though this rarely happens in the UK due to legal restrictions, and may also be delayed for Shabbat, festivals, or to allow close family to travel. The body is washed and dressed by the chevra kadisha (burial society), placed in a plain wooden coffin, and buried in a Jewish cemetery. A rabbi leads the service, and mourners take part in filling the grave themselves.

Jewish funerals are quiet, communal occasions, focused on honouring the person who has died and supporting their family. Here's what to expect:

• Chevra kadisha: The burial society. A group of trained community members who prepare the body for burial.
• Tahara: The ritual washing and purification of the body, performed by the chevra kadisha.
• Tachrichim: The simple white shroud the body is dressed in for burial.
• Shomer: A watcher who stays with the body from death until burial, often reciting psalms.
• Kriah: The tearing of a garment or ribbon by immediate family, as a visible sign of mourning.
• Hesped: The eulogy, delivered at the funeral.
• Kaddish: The Mourner’s Kaddish, a prayer recited by mourners. It affirms life and is said throughout the mourning period.
• Shiva: the seven days of intense mourning following the burial, observed at home.
• Shloshim: The thirty-day period of mourning following the burial.
• Yahrzeit: The anniversary of a death, marked each year by lighting a candle and reciting Kaddish.
• Tzedakah: Charitable giving, often made in memory of the person who has died.
• Olam ha-ba: “The world to come”. A broad term for what follows death in Jewish thought.

The cost of a Jewish funeral in the UK depends on the funeral director, the cemetery, and whether the family is affiliated with a synagogue or burial society. Many Jewish communities operate their own burial societies and cemeteries, and members may have some of their funeral costs covered through their synagogue subscription. Most Jewish families choose a swift burial in a plain wooden coffin, with the body prepared by the chevra kadisha and a graveside service led by a rabbi. Cemetery fees vary by location and tend to be higher in or near major cities. Your local Dignity funeral director can talk you through everything that's included, and the costs, so you can plan with confidence.

At Dignity, we’re here to support people of all religions and none. We can arrange Catholic, Anglican, Hindu, Buddhist, Orthodox, Methodist, Baptist, Anglican, and Quaker funerals. Call your local funeral director today to talk about your needs.