Jewish Burial Practices Explained: Honoring the Soul According to Torah

The Torah considers the mitzvah of accompanying the deceased (levayat hameit) to be a profound act of kindness that honors and aids the soul on its final earthly journey. This sacred practice — walking behind the bier of the departed as they are escorted to burial — is rooted in halachah (Jewish law) and recognition of the eternal nature of the soul.

An Aspect of the Mitzvah: “Love Your Neighbor as Yourself”

The mitzvah of accompanying the dead is an aspect of the mitzvah, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Vayikra 19:18). It is described by the Talmudic Sages as chesed shel emet—a “genuine kindness,” done purely for the sake of the deceased, with no expectation of repayment. The Talmud emphasizes its importance, stating that anyone who sees a deceased person being taken to burial and fails to accompany them deserves to be excommunicated, adding that those who do accompany the dead will be honored similarly at their own time of passing (Ketubot 72a).

This is one of the mitzvot “for which a person enjoys the fruits in this world, while the principal remains for the World to Come.”

Body and Soul: Understanding the Jewish View of Death

Humans are composed of two elements: body and soul. The soul is the life force — it sees, hears, and experiences — and the body serves as its physical vessel. When a person dies, the soul leaves the body but remains present nearby, hovering above the body and aware of everything happening around it.

Just as a living person would want companionship on a significant journey, the deceased’s soul desires support and honor on its journey to the upper world. Accompanying the dead is thus not only a gesture of respect but also a spiritual necessity for the soul’s comfort.

True Kindness to the Departed

After the body of the niftar (deceased person) is ritually cleansed during the taharah procedure, it is wrapped in simple white shrouds, akin to how a worn-out Torah scroll is treated before being buried. This reflects the Torah’s teaching of the immortality of the soul and respect for the body that contained it.

The funeral rites also embody faith in techiyat hameitim—resurrection of the dead, as the body and soul will ultimately be reunited in a perfected state.

Order of the Funeral and Burial: Sephardic Tradition

According to Sephardic custom, the funeral proceeds as follows:

Hesped (eulogy) – Given either in the eulogy room or at the graveside.

Mourners recite Kaddish – The traditional prayer sanctifying God's name.

Recitation of Mishnah (Pirkei Avot 3:1) – “Akavia ben Mahalalel says: Reflect upon three things and you will not come to sin: Know from where you came, and to where you are going, and before Whom you are destined to give an accounting and reckoning.”

Recitation of several verses.

Kaddish by a member of the Chevra Kadisha (Jewish burial society).

Asking forgiveness from the deceased.

Tehillim (Psalms) – For a male deceased, Psalm 91; for a female deceased, Proverbs 31:10–31 (Eishet Chayil: “A woman of valor, who can find”).

Circling the bier – In Jerusalem, it is customary to circle the deceased’s bier seven times either at the grave or at home.

Recitation of "V’hu Rachum" – A plea for mercy.

Recitation of "Tziduk Hadin" – Acceptance of Divine judgment.

Hashkavah prayer – For the soul's rest.

The close relatives recite the brachah, “Baruch Dayan HaEmet” – “Blessed is the True Judge.”

Keriyah (tearing of the garment) – The mourners tear their garments as a sign of grief.

Ashkenazi Funeral and Burial Traditions

For Ashkenazi Jews, the general structure is similar with a few variations:

Hesped – May take place near the synagogue, in the eulogy room, or at the graveside.

Mourners recite “Baruch Dayan HaEmet” and tear keriyah – The children of the deceased tear on the left side of their garments, near the heart; other mourners on the right.

Recitation of a verse from Psalms (85:14) – “Righteousness shall go before him, and He will place it on the way of his steps.”

Recitation of Mishnah (Pirkei Avot 3:1) – “Akavia ben Mahalalel says: Reflect upon three things and you will not come to sin: Know from where you came, and to where you are going, and before Whom you are destined to give an accounting and reckoning.”

Chevra Kadisha recites “Gadol Ha’etzah” – On days when Tachanun is recited.

Kaddish – Said by the mourners.

Tehillim – Psalm 91 for males, “Eishet Chayil” for females.

Recitation of “Ha’yeludim Lamut” and “Gadol Ha’etzah” – Before lowering the body.

Lowering the coffin with respect – The cantor recites “V’hu Rachum” three times.

After sealing the grave – Recitation of “HaTzur Tamim Pa’alo—The deeds of the Rock [Hashem] are perfect. ”

Final Kaddish – Led by the rabbi or mourners.

Comforting the mourners with the traditional phrase – “May the Omnipresent comfort you among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem, and may you know no more sorrow.”

Halachic Guidelines for Accompanying the Deceased

One should ideally accompany the deceased all the way to the grave. If this is not possible, walking at least four cubits (about two meters) behind the bier and then waiting until the bier disappears from view before moving away fulfills the mitzvah.

There is great merit in helping to carry the bier.

One must walk behind the bier (not in front), as that is considered genuine accompaniment.

According to the Zohar, women should not accompany the deceased. They are present at the start of the funeral but do not accompany the bier to the cemetery.

In Jerusalem, male descendants of a male deceased do not accompany him.

Psalm 91 is traditionally recited during the procession, or other chapters of Tehillim may be read. Those present should pray to Hashem to have mercy on the niftar and save him from harsh punishments for his sins.

Giving tzedakah (charity) during the funeral is encouraged.

Anyone who approaches within four cubits of the deceased should cover his tzitzit. The reason for this is not to flaunt the fact that the living person can still fulfill the mitzvah of tzitzit whereas the deceased person no longer has this opportunity.

Spiritual Reflection at a Jewish Funeral

A funeral is not only a moment of loss but also a time for introspection, and everyone present should conduct himself with due reverence. Funerals remind us that life is of limited length and that, in the end, we  will all be obligated to give a full accounting before the Heavenly Court.

The Talmud (Pirkei Avot ch.6) teaches us that only Torah and good deeds accompany a person after death — not wealth or material possessions:

“At the time of a person’s passing, neither silver nor gold nor precious stones nor pearls accompany them — only Torah and good deeds. As it is written: ‘When you walk, it will guide you; when you lie down, it will watch over you; and when you awaken, it will speak with you’ (Proverbs 6:22).
‘When you walk, it will guide you’—in this world;
‘When you lie down, it will watch over you’—in the grave;
‘And when you awaken, it will speak with you’—in the World to Come.”

Post-Funeral Practices

After leaving the cemetery, it is customary for everyone to wash their hands three times on each hand, due to the impurity associated with death.

The formal mourning period (aveilut) begins after burial is complete and the grave is fully covered.