Introduction
Jewish Mourning
If a parent dies, sons and daughters traditionally tear their clothes over their heart. If another relative dies, the tear is made on the right side. In the day or two between death and burial, no one visits the mourners so they can concentrate on the dead. For seven days after the burial, the mourners do not work or do anything for pleasure. Services are held every evening. For 30 days after the death the mourners do not go to parties or listen to music.
Parents continue mourning a dead child for 12 months by reciting the memorial prayer known as Kaddish. On every anniversary of the death, a candle is lit in the home to remember the person, and their name may be mentioned in a synagogue on, or near, to the actual anniversary.
articles
"Religious people often have ceremonies to mark significant life events. Jews are guided through life by the laws contained in the Torah and rabbinic law and their rites of passage reflect this."
- Bar Mitzvah, a History"The Jewish coming-of-age ceremony of bar mitzvah was first recorded in thirteenth-century France, where it took the form of a simple statement by the father that he was no longer responsible for his thirteen-year-old son. Today, bar mitzvah for boys and bat mitzvah for girls are more popular than at any time in history and are sometimes accompanied by lavish celebrations ... "
- Examining the Impact of Religious Initiation Rites on Religiosity and Disaffiliation over Time."Early religion scholars stressed the importance of institutionalized "rites of passage" to integrate and reinvigorate groups themselves. Surprisingly, little work, however, has explored the efficacy of such rites for the religious lives of individuals. Although research has examined the transformative role of semi‐institutionalized rites like short‐term mission trips and pilgrimages, we shift the focus to consider the potential influence of more fundamental initiation rites such as baptism, first communion, and bar/bat mitzvahs ... "
- Judaism: Religious Rites and Practices"Judaism, like other religions, provides an individual with meaning and structure in life. It emphasizes acts, both rituals and deeds of loving-kindness. Jewish beliefs underlie the acts but play a secondary role. Judaism holds that not only do such acts have intrinsic value but, ultimately, will bring the one who performs them to a state of perfect faith ... "
- Death and Mourning'Mourning practices in Judaism are extensive, but they are not an expression of fear or distaste for death. Jewish practices relating to death and mourning have two purposes: to show respect for the dead (kavod ha-met), and to comfort the living (nihum avelim), who will miss the deceased...'
- My Jewish Learning: Mourn'Judaism does not shy away from close encounters with death, but frames them ritually. Much attention is paid to treating the dead (and even a dead body) with respect (k’vod ha-met) and to comforting mourners (nichum aveilim)...'
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How to 'tear kriyah' upon the death of a relative
Jewish funeral kriyah ribbon
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Jewish burial garments - tachrichim
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Jewish prayer in honour of the deceased at 9/11 Memorial