Jewish Mourning Rituals: Caring for the Body

12 videos about Jewish death and mourning rituals: www.bimbam.com/judaism-101/je...
In Judaism, traditions around death have two purposes - to comfort the living, and to show respect for the dead. Understanding some of the more nuanced Jewish traditions and rituals for caring for a body before the funeral may help provide some support in a grieving process.
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Written by Sarah Lefton, Matthue Roth and Jeremy Shuback
Storyboards and Character Illustrations by Jeanne Stern
Animation by Rick Acosta
Background Illustrations by Tammy Chang
Music by Ben Bromfield
Narrated by John Cavanagh
Produced, Directed, and Sound Edited by Jeremy Shuback
Audience Development and Partnership Coordination by Lisa Finkelstein
Operations and Development by Barbara Barza and Oren Stevens
Executive Producer was Sarah Lefton
Key Script Advisor was David Zinner
This video was made possible with generous support from the Koret Foundation, as part of their Initiative on Jewish Peoplehood.
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BimBam sparks connections to Judaism through digital storytelling for learners of all ages. Founded in 2008, BimBam’s catalog of hundreds of animated videos and other digital content are now under the auspices of the Union for Reform Judaism, and many can be found on its flagship educational website, ReformJudaism.org. Watch something Jewish at reformjudaism.org.

[@michellemarie1197]

The narrator's voice is soothing this is beautiful

[@SephardicHawaiian]

I have been a member of my local Chevra Kadisha for 5 yrs now. It has been one of the most profoundly moving spiritual experiences of my life. It has also made the sense of community so much more meaningful to me as our Chevra consists of Jews from all the Movements; I am one of 2 male Reform members, and I have gotten to know and become close to men from the local Conservative and Orthodox congregations that never would have happened on this level had I not been a member of the Chevra. Thank you for posting this video!

[@BimBam]

+SephardicHawaiian thank you for sharing about your experience. You make a truly meaningful difference in this world. Many blessings.

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Embalming fluid bodies

[@SpiritualBabies]

this brought me to tears. great series. thank you.

[@BimBam]

+SpiritualBabies Thank you.

[@moniquemayer3933]

Great series. And nice little touch, having Debbie Friedman's yahrzeit plaque in the first few seconds. :-)

[@BimBam]

+Monique Mayer (rabbimonique) we miss her and those seen in the virtual wall. may all of their memories be for a blessing. thanks for watching the series Rabbi.

[@kylpyvene]

This was interesting, I stumbled upon your channel while looking for a video on jewish death rituals to use in a presentation, but I might watch more of your videos now

[@TheMagicToyChest]

I'm not Jewish, but this video got me crying over some cartoon Jews dying. And this coming from a usually non-emotional stone-face.

[@lorileifer613]

Jewish mourning rituals are very powerful.

[@Kumutuna]

I like that never leaving the body alone. Thats true

[@BhagyaYogShala]

Yeah so important actually, when there are cases where people had been buried alive by mistake and they died in the coffin scratching screaming to death.

[@dedchannel4510]

This is so beautiful ♥️

[@nuhdels3728]

!y best friends dad passed away yesterday. The service is on Sunday. I just realized that his dad is gone. I'm thirteen and he's fourteen. It's just sunk in to me and I don't know what to do at the funeral. I'm scared I'll hurt my best friend by saying or doing the wrong thing. He's going through so much right now. I just... don't know what to do. I was going to text or call him but I was too scared to hurt him, even though looking back, it probably would make him feel better. I hope they ended on good terms. I hope my friend isn't regretful, and I hope I can comfort him. If anyone can give advice before Sunday on what to do, I'd love it. This is the first funeral I've ever been to, and I just want my best friend to be okay.

[@BimBam]

First of all, I’m so sorry for your friend and your loss. What grief. You cannot hurt your friend by being innocent and real. We encourage you to watch this video of ours to learn a bit more about how to support your friend. kzbin.info/www/bejne/epyuoqKLjtSLisk

[@nuhdels3728]

BimBam, Thank you so much. It was a hard weekend, but especially for my friend. I'm not gonna get too personal, but I won't forget how he cried. He's coming home on Thursday, and we're going over to his house for a shiva. I'm also helping him get a cat, and even though I'm allergic I'm still gonna spend a lot of time with him and his cat. Once again, thank you so much.

[@loveisthekeythatwillsetyou4648]

I feel the music is too loud and competes with your narration that I struggle and feel inclined to seek information of this subject elsewhere ... my feedback is only intending to help.

[@lindachurchman9521]

What a very informative series thank you

[@onlyperlas9138]

Thank you. This really help for my report😊

[@diannan8394]

My Respect ✡️

[@kristine8338]

Respect.

[@erinvaughn3739]

Wow ! Very Nice !

[@AbrahamsBridges]

Beautiful!

[@loveisthekeythatwillsetyou4648]

I have re listened and it's towards the end I felt the music got too loud ... who knows maybe it's just me lol

[@janishart5128]

*Love is the key & Love is of pure intention:* Yes, now that you mention it, the music was quite loud!

[@michellemarie1197]

this has got to be one of the most beautiful religions I've ever heard of

[@u.s_nyc8513]

michelle kearsey It is❤

[@syedusmanali6196]

yes it is, so is us Muslims. We also give deceased the same rituals

[@joshi3518]

Are you for real?

[@ormand.943]

it is

[@shanetsung3558]

@@skvmma disagreed*

[@Sonneteer1]

I wonder if you could assist me please? I have studied the Jewish law of Tahara and also, of how, those with "mingled blood" remain unwashed. When performing the Tahara, is every part of the body washed? How do you lay your dead? For example, "are the arms crossed upon the chest or left to rest at the side of the body". I would be most grateful for any comments please.

[@BimBam]

This is beyond our scope - there's a lot of great information at www.jewish-funerals.org/ - one of the head people there, David Zinner, was instrumental in editing and help write these videos.

[@ziggypiosicki]

Thx

[@Tubulous123]

Thank you.

[@katme4676]

Beautiful and sacred

[@katrinagiselleolivas8305]

How do rituals reflect the beliefs of the soul and afterlife?

[@BimBam]

+Katrina Giselle Olivas Great question. We are actually working on a new video about this right now. There are a lot of varied philosophies within Judaism about these questions.

[@darlamakiyrwright4688]

I wish to know more. Are the bodies embalmed or if not how is the body prepared? If the bodies are prepared otherwise, do the states, then, allow this type of burial, without embalming?

[@BimBam]

Short answer - no, they don't embalm and yes the states allow that. Long answer - we're working on a video now on Cremation vs. Burial in Judaism that should be ready a few months from now. So, I'm glad this is exactly the follow up question you're having.

[@anitharowe5654]

@@birdie331 .

[@BlackDeath920]

Do they ever come back to the body after burying them?

[@josephprieto4734]

Im not trying to bash this practice. But why would you need to hide your naked body before god?

[@BimBam]

Thanks for your comment Joseph. In the Jewish tradition, we are not using clothes to hide the body but rather purify it and present it to God. The clothes that are put on the body that similar to clothes of the cohanim (Jewish high priests).

[@josephprieto4734]

BimBam thank you for helping me understand.

[@messianic_scam]

what!

[@Yael-hx8ys]

Im jewish by birth. Not practicing. Im wondering what if i do not want a traditional jewish funeral. What if i dont want my body washes or an autopsy or to wear the shroud?

[@awosodefamily7731]

how do you spell the terhela psalm thing

[@leslieelderkin6499]

Tehillim

[@faywillamson7848]

music too loud

[@Nothin2seehere-e4z]

Deep.

[@paulustarsus]

Who was it that performed shmira on the body of Jesus Christ? Genuine question.

[@robinrymshaw6653]

I most loving and kind thing to do and with respect for the person I know I do this and it’s and honor for last thing you before buriel

[@49_Chay]

Everything I’ve read in Torah says not to touch the dead....The closest of kin only and after they have tended their loved one ....they are unclean for a period of time

[@blyrax]

I was wondering why those instructions are being ignored. I'm sure there's some beautifully decorated illogical reason for it. Roman catholicism follows this same pattern; obvious deviations from initial instructions, disguised as pious acts.

[@jaicilfrancis8444]

Shalom

[@MostPowerfulPMofIndia]

Beautiful rituals. I am a Hindu brahmin from India but I love Israel and Judaism.

[@tapatot541]

Definitely beautiful because we only go to one god compared to 300 gods are very ugly

[@tapatot541]

You are burn in this world before the next life , Tahara is beautiful 🌹.

[@outrageousspeaker444]

The irony satanas chosen liars trying to insults a belief system that they know nothing about, which is also the county mathematics originated from,while in jadaism all prayers end in Amen. As in ancient Egypt all prayers were to end with the word Amen as it was the name of the sun god Amen Ra

[@outrageousspeaker444]

Different gods represent different avatars of the God head, like the 72 names of jehovah the main names or the main 99 names of Allah. Which is a concept people in Ancient Egypt also believed.

[@outrageousspeaker444]

There is nothing uglier than a jelous and angry god with a constant need to be worshipped.

[@alexandermartinez2593]

Hi CCC

[@ezonrapp9935]

we are the best mourners in the world

[@alvanitabell9915]

Alva Nita Bell

[@smpeace2683]

Your music is too loud. Turn it down a bit. Lovely video otherwise.

[@Happy_HIbiscus]

😊😊😊😊

[@raphaelolschwang9907]

Hi pressman kids

[@varunsharma3532]

Jai Jai Shankar

[@ilhamsyahrimanda6815]

it is like Islam way

[@NenaMataHari]

We are your cousins, after all.

[@yakov95000]

Islam copy from the original...

[@ISREALYAHWEH3INONE]

We are not cousin Mohammed killed ishmeal grandchildren in medina

[@dougrogan379]

And Jihaddi??? 911 what fun that was hey

[@user-ht9ug4zv6v]

@@ISREALYAHWEH3INONE 😂😂 what a Jewish lie. Muhammad pbuh is from the lineage and descendant of Ismail pbuh who is the son of Abraham pbuh. Muhammad pbuh got rid of paganism and preached monotheism to believe and worship the 1 God alone without any partners. Before you lie about Islam don't make yourself look like a fool.

[@aribahaidermalik4459]

Its exactly like Muslims do omg

[@no2mob889]

Muslim IS Abrahamic. So they just changed from Judaism after Muhammad had his dream. He had a visitation I believe that’s how the Koran was written. Anyway I believe there are angels of Light and of the DARK he believed this was an angel of light but Abba father is loving.

[@mikaybalo]

✡️✡️✡️✡️✡️✡️✡️

[@misdnouaria2049]

Same on islam. Wow

[@acedrawler3175]

I don’t understand Jews. I’m Christian

[@blyrax]

Reading the so called old testament will explain Judaism to you.

[@messianic_scam]

@@blyrax so called hhh

[@blyrax]

@@messianic_scam fam, i don't know what hhh means

[@messianic_scam]

@@blyrax my punctuation always bad "so called" you called old testament so called , coming from a christian it's funny

[@blyrax]

​@@messianic_scam can you please tell me why you think it's funny?

[@TMPreRaff]

The use of cartoons to illustrate serious traditions seems so disrespectful. I'm not Jewish, but I think there are better ways of depicting these rituals.

[@blyrax]

Whats wrong with using cartoons?

[@saagisharon8595]

I thought muslims have that problem

[@asiya6496]

Free palestine