Dignity beyond Death: The Jewish Preparation for Burial
"A basic tenet of Judaism is the obligation to value and serve the deceased, to extend dignity beyond death. In Judaism, a death is the affair of the entire community. Preparation of the dead for burial is undertaken by a community organization called the Chevra Kadisha, the Sacred Society. The volunteers of the Sacred Society quietly and privately wash, purify and dress the deceased. They simultaneously recite lyrical prayers from Psalms, thereby bearing witness to death as the last of...
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"A basic tenet of Judaism is the obligation to value and serve the deceased, to extend dignity beyond death. In Judaism, a death is the affair of the entire community. Preparation of the dead for burial is undertaken by a community organization called the Chevra Kadisha, the Sacred Society. The volunteers of the Sacred Society quietly and privately wash, purify and dress the deceased. They simultaneously recite lyrical prayers from Psalms, thereby bearing witness to death as the last of life's important passages." Dignity Beyond Death examines the rituals of preparing the dead for burial from the point of view of those volunteers who undertake it, including chapters on the Holocaust and terrorism. For the first time, through personal interviews, the author shares a wealth of anecdotal material that will engage the reader in the humanity and ultimate dignity of this time-honored deed.
1The final act of loving-kindness252At death's door473Working together644Meeting the challenge775Personal impact936Tahara - the family dimension1077Dignity in the face of the Holocaust1258Dignity in the wake of terrorism1409Creating a caring community15510Informing the uninformed169Coming full circle187AppSample Tahara procedure manual192AppSample Tahara certificate212
