How to Arrange a Jewish Funeral Service

A Jewish funeral service is a life cycle ritual that goes back thousands of years. Psychology has noted the positive effect that the style of Jewish mourning and burial has on the bereaved, making the funeral service a critical part of saying goodbye. Following these steps will help you understand what it takes to arrange a Jewish funeral.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Contact a rabbi. A rabbi will be the most central figure in the pre-burial and burial process. Almost all rabbis know where to find other resources connected to the funeral and can give you the kind of advice needed to properly arrange the funeral service.
2. Find a "shomer." A shomer, or guard, is someone who stays with the body at all times between death and the burial. The shomer must be with the body during the funeral service as well, so be sure that an experienced shomer is available.
3. Coordinate with the funeral home and cemetery administration. These two organizations will arrange the times and places of the burial and, therefore, the funeral service. Also, if you plan on conducting the service at the cemetery and not in a synagogue, you can get directions and instructions for the service attendees from one of these two groups.
4. Publicize the date, time and location of the funeral service. Jewish custom prohibits inviting people to the funeral, since an invitation too closely implies a celebration. So, make the details of the service known by publishing them in your local Jewish newspaper, synagogue or by word of mouth.
5. Confer with anyone who might wish to speak. While you do not need to arrange a formal eulogy, it is customary for some to say a few words about the deceased if they want. Speak with these people before the service so everything is coordinated correctly.