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Congregation Beth Sholom-A San Francisco Jewish Conservative Synagogue
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Burial, Shiva and Yahrzeit

From the Moment of Death

From the moment of death until a body is buried Jewish law and custom are focused on honoring the deceased. The body is ritually washed and watched over until the moment of burial, which takes place as quickly as possible. Jewish tradition includes burial in the ground, and our clergy do have a policy on cremation and interment in a mausoleum. While we will always assist your family in the bereavement process, our clergy do not officiate at cremations or memorial services following cremations. For interment in a mausoleum, while we will not officiate at the funeral itself, we will participate in a memorial service following this type of burial.

 

Shiva
The clergy with whom you meet will discuss mourning customs, and you will decide to what extent you would like to observe certain customs. Shiva, which is traditionally observed for seven days, is very helpful to most individuals and families in beginning the grieving process in community. Our Ritual Committee will provide you with prayer books, kippot (head coverings), and traditional mourning chairs, and leadership for shiva minyanim in your home. The Shechinah Committee is also available to help with certain needs, e.g., food during shiva.
 

Saying Kaddish
Beyond the week of shiva, many Beth Sholom members who have gone through the mourning process have found great comfort and strength in attending the daily minyan in order to say kaddish among a community of individuals who understand the meaning of loss and mourning. We invite you to join us at these minyanim, which meet morning and evening, every day of the year. Please see the Event Calendar on this website for times and locations.

Yahrzeit
If you have a yahrzeit, we have a tradition of reciting El Malei Rachamim for those whom we are remembering. When you come to the daily minyan, please let the leader know that you have a yahrzeit, and the service leader will be happy to recite the special prayer for your loved one. We also recite El Malei Rachamim at the Friday night service.

The Jewish tradition for helping individuals and families through the bereavement process is well developed and wise. From the funeral through shiva through the year of mourning and yahrzeits, Jewish rituals of death and bereavement help guide us through terrible moments of loss and towards healing.

El Malei Rachamim: the memorial prayer, asking God to shelter the soul of the deceased "on the wings of God's Divine Presence".

Yahrzeit: Anniversary of the death (in Yiddish).

 

 
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