Why Do Jews Put Rocks on Headstones?
No one knows for sure where the Jewish tradition of placing pebbles on gravestones came from. There are many theories to explain the origin of the custom, which has been practiced for thousands of years. Today, Jews place pebbles on gravestones to demonstrate that someone still cares for and remembers the dead.
Other People Are Reading
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Biblical References
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Scores of passages in the Old Testament refer to marking graves with stones in the Jewish culture.
Early Graves
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Thousands of years ago, a grave was covered with rocks or stones to prevent animals from digging up the deceased. It is possible the tradition of placing a pebble on a gravestone comes from this practice.
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Nomadic People
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The Jewish people were nomadic. It is possible that when they passed near the grave site of a tribe member, they would straighten up the burial place. This may have included replacing the stones, which were readily available anywhere and did not need to be transported.
First Reference
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The first modern reference to leaving pebbles at a Jewish grave site appeared in the 18th century, with the explanation that it was a "sign of respect" and evidence that someone had visited the grave.
Counting
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One theory suggests pebbles mark the number of visitors to a grave, but most scholars believe this explanation came long after the practice was already well established.
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References
- Photo Credit Wikimedia Commons
