Glossary of Jewish Funeral Terms
Explore our glossary of common Jewish funeral, mourning, and memorialization terms.
Chevra Kadisha: “Holy Society”, an organization of Jewish men and women who prepare the deceased for burial per Jewish law (halacha).
Kaddish: A Jewish prayer recited in memory of the deceased. The Mourner’s Kaddish, a specific version for mourners, is traditionally recited by immediate family members during funeral services, throughout the mourning period, on the anniversary of death (Yahrzeit), and during Yizkor services.
Kohen (Kohanim pl.): A man descended patrilineally from Aaron, the first High Priest of Israel. Traditionally, Kohanim have special privileges and responsibilities within the synagogue. In accordance with Jewish law (halacha), Kohanim are prohibited from coming into contact with a deceased person. Thus, some funeral homes and cemeteries provide accommodations for Kohanim to attend and participate in funerals. Kohanim are often memorialized with a symbol depicting two hands joined with the thumbs touching and the fingers spread in the traditional priestly blessing.
Kriah: A ritual typically performed before the funeral service in which immediate mourners tear a garment or a symbolic ribbon as an outward expression of grief. When a parent dies, the tear is made on the left side, over the heart; for other relationships, the tear is made on the right side.
Levite (Levites pl.): A man directly descended from Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. Historically, Levites were responsible for singing, guarding, and carrying sacred items at the temple. Levites are often memorialized by a pitcher of water, representing the ritual washing of the hands of the Kohanim before the Priestly Blessing.
Matzeivah: A traditional Jewish grave marker or monument. The formal dedication of the matzeivah typically occurs during the unveiling ceremony.
Minyan: A quorum of ten Jewish adults required for certain communal prayers and religious observances. A minyan is needed for the public recitation of Kaddish during mourning services and on a yahrzeit.
Sheblach: Pieces of pottery placed over the deceased’s eyes and mouth after the tahara, symbolizing “see no evil, speak no evil.”
Sheloshim: Hebrew for “thirty”, referring to the traditional thirty-day period of mourning following the burial and includes the seven-day mourning period of shiva.
Shiva: The formal seven-day mourning period observed by the immediate family. Shiva begins immediately after the burial and concludes on the seventh day after the morning Shacharit service.
Shomer: Hebrew for "watcher." A shomer sits with the deceased and recites prayers or Psalms until burial or interment. The shomer guards the body and provides comfort and respect to the soul until it is reunited with the physical body at burial.
Shroud (Tachrichim): Traditional Jewish burial garments commonly made from linen or cotton. A set of tachrichim typically includes pants, a shirt, foot and head coverings, and an outer wrapping. These burial garments are simple, contain no pockets, and symbolize equality in death.
Tahara: The ritual cleansing and dressing of the deceased performed by members of the Chevra Kadisha. In accordance with Jewish law (halacha), men prepare men, and women prepare women.
Tallit/Talis: A fringed prayer shawl traditionally worn during religious services.
Unveiling: A graveside religious ceremony marking the formal dedication and setting of a loved one's monument or memorial.
Yahrzeit: The anniversary of death, following the Hebrew calendar. It is customary to recite prayers, including those based on one’s relationship to the deceased and the Kaddish, and to light a twenty-four-hour yahrzeit candle.
Yizkor: A Jewish memorial prayer service observed four times each year in remembrance of the deceased. Yizkor, which translates to "may He remember," is recited on Yom Kippur, Shemini Atzeret, the eighth day of Passover, and the second day of Shavuot.