Comments on: Random funereal thought

By: Meryl Yourish

Meryl Yourish — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 00:11:13 +0000

So, Snoopy, you don’t like being tickled, and you don’t like going barefoot. Well, I don’t like being tickled. But the barefoot thing is bliss.

I really won’t mind being tickled after I’m dead, what with being dead and all.

By: SnoopyTheGoon

SnoopyTheGoon — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 19:33:08 +0000

Hmm… so that site skipped the tachrichim. Go figure…

And Meryl, I do realise that I will be dead, but I don’t like being tickled even then.

By: Sabba Hillel

Sabba Hillel — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 19:23:27 +0000

When I was in the Chevra Kadisha in Baltimore, we would dress the body (male) in tachrichim burial garments, consisting of pants, shirt, long tunic (or robe), head covering that would also cover the face, and booties. No skin was showing except for the hands. We would place the shards of clay over the eyes and mout under the hat. A talis with one corner cut (so as to be pasul – invalid for the mitzvah) was placed in the coffin and the mais (dead person) placed on top of it. He was then wrapped in the talis and the tzitzis placed in his left hand between the fourth and fifth fingers.

In any case, he was not barefoot.

Note that everything was made from the special burial garments. No regular clothing was used. No buttons or zippers were used and the ties were twited and not knotted.

By: Rahel

Rahel — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 17:05:18 +0000

In Jewish custom, after washing the body is clothed from head to foot in special linen garments called takhrikhim and then wrapped in a linen sheet (or prayer shawl with one of the corner fringes cut off) that covers the entire body. As far as I know, no shoes are used.

By: Meryl Yourish

Meryl Yourish — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:23:21 +0000

And oh: Cool about being buried barefoot.

Snoopy, I’m thinking it won’t matter if the worms tickle your feet. You’ll be dead.

By: Meryl Yourish

Meryl Yourish — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:21:52 +0000

The Comments quicktags plugin isn’t working for some reason. Haven’t been able to figure out why or fix yet.

By: SnoopyTheGoon

SnoopyTheGoon — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:19:00 +0000

Er… for more info look here:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week723/belief.html

Where is that set of buttons that used to be up there? Like to link stuff and everything?

By: SnoopyTheGoon

SnoopyTheGoon — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:17:19 +0000

Interesting. In my family I am the only one who hates going barefoot. 3 against 1.

And re the burial – Jews are put into the shroud naked, so no chance of shoes or even a pair of jeans.

Which bothers me a bit – wouldn’t the worms tickle my feet?

By: Houston

Houston — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:14:00 +0000

I wouldn’t think it all an odd question, seems sensible enough to me. I am not completely familiar with Jewish burial traditions, but, I think most burials are with the deceased barefoot as there isn’t much need for shoes. Even an open casket funeral has the feet covered and shoes aren’t a necessity.

Interesting question. Please let us know what the Rabbi says.