fbpx

Shrouded in Mystery – A Look at the Well-Dressed Jewish Corpse

[additional-authors]
April 27, 2016

[Ed. Note: The following is a more ‘formal’ presentation, something we will present here in the blog on occasion. This entry looks at how we dress our deceased. We know that today customs vary from place to place, and we see that is  apparently true through time as well. This entry explores the records (as it exists) of historical practices. It is longer than usual: it is presented in its entirety because I didn’t think it would sustain being broken up and presented across weeks.  — JB]

 

ETIOLOGY OF JEWISH SHROUDS

The earliest record we have of what someone is dressed in when buried is in the story when the Prophet Samuel is raised from his grave by the Necromancer of Endorמְעִ֑יל עֹטֶ֖ה וְה֥וּא

The word MA’EL is exactly the same word that is used when his mother on her annual” name=”_ftnref3″ title=””>[3] and RalbagRashi This indicates that one is buried with the clothing that one habitually wore during his /her lifetime.

Another early source” name=”_ftnref7″ title=””>[7] will he appear in the age to come quoting Job” name=”_ftnref9″ title=””>[9]

Talmudic quotations regarding what the deceased were dressed in are numerous, but what exactly they consisted of or what form they took is seldom mentioned; perhaps due to the fact that it was a given that they were buried in the clothing they wore in everyday life.

 

The following is a short compilation of early interesting discussions regarding shrouds.

First and most important:

During the late Second Temple period it became common to spend great sums on expensive shrouds. As the Talmud explainsThe whole point of putting people in uniforms is to minimize their differences; when we do want to stand out we do so through what we wear. Forty verses in Exodus Chapter 28 are devoted to what Aron and the Priests wore to set them apart.

 

Rabban Gamliel did far more than just to keep expenses down on shrouds; he made us all equal in death.

However my research indicates that there were no shrouds; plural- or multiple pieces of clothing.

It was all one ‘Sovev”, a wraparound sort of cloak that probably had a sash.

Rabban Gamliel asked to be buried in a “klei pishtan”Rav Papa added: And now it is the practice to take out the dead even in a shroud of rough cloth worth no more than a Zuz.In our whole cannon” name=”_ftnref14″ title=””>[14]

“וּמָרְדֳּכַי יָצָא מִלִּפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ, בִּלְבוּשׁ מַלְכוּת תְּכֵלֶת וָחוּר, וַעֲטֶרֶת זָהָב גְּדוֹלָה, וְתַכְרִיךְ בּוּץ וְאַרְגָּמָן; וְהָעִיר שׁוּשָׁן, צָהֲלָה וְשָׂמֵחָה.”

Mordechai went out from before the king in royal clothing of blue and white and a great crown of gold WRAPPED “Tachrich” in fine linen and purple, “it was Tachrich, singular, an outer cloak that was wrapped around the body.

Preparation for Jewish burial consisted of washing the corpse and wrapping or dressing it in shroud(s).In MSAdditional Talmudic Comments:

“Whoever heaps elaborate shrouds upon the dead transgresses the injunction against wanton destruction”, Says Rabbi Meir.

Adds Rabbi Eleazar bar Zadok “such a one disgraces the deceased.”

Rabban Simeon ben Gamliel said: “He invites more worms to feed on the deceased.”Rabbi Yannai said to his children:” name=”_ftnref19″ title=””>[19] But bury me in “OLARYIN” (dun-drab?) colored cloth that comes from a city across the sea used by bath attendants.” This is a wraparound dun colored cloth used by wealthy persons at the bath house.

When Rabbi Yochanan was about to depart from the world, he said to those who were to attend to his burial: Bury me in dun–colored shrouds, neither white nor black, so that if I stand among the righteous, I will not be ashamed, and if I stand among the wicked, I will not be humiliated.When Rabbi Josiah was about to depart from the world, he asked those who were standing about him, “Call my disciples.” When they came , he said to them, “bury me in freshly ironed white shrouds,” When they asked him , “Are you better than your master Rabbi Yochannan (see Rabbi Yochanan above) ?” he replied , “It is to show that I am not ashamed of my deeds when I greet my creator.” Rabbi Yehuda Ha’Nassi” name=”_ftnref23″ title=””>[23]

Rabbi Jeremiah directed that he be buried in proper garments with sandals on his feet and a walking staff in his hands ready to meet his creator.

Jesus was buried “in white linen cloth,” according to the burial customs of the Jews.” Shila bar Avina asked his wife to prepare his “zavadsa” shrouds for him; indicating that shrouds in early Talmudical times consisted of more than one garment; whereas if it was one garment he would have asked her to prepare ”zavad” a shroud singular.The Talmud quotes a Baraitha ” name=”_ftnref27″ title=””>[27]), a mixture of two species may be made into a shroud for a corpse. Rabbi Joseph observed: “This implies that the commandments will be abolished in the Hereafter.” The Talmud concludes that as soon as a person dies he is freed from all the commandments.

The MishnahThere is also a discussion in the TalmudAs we see there are numerous early discussions going back over 2000 years ago regarding burial shrouds but what the material is or what form it takes or how many pieces it consists of is seldom mentioned. Apparently there is no guideline nor Halacha concerning what one wears when one is buried.

 

Greco-Roman Period

The earliest archeological records we have go back to the Greco- Roman period” name=”_ftnref31″ title=””>[31] on the southern bank of Nahal Arugot excavated by G. Hadas in 1988.

In Tomb 1, Coffin 4, textile fragments were found along the limbs and around the skull and a knotted piece lay above the right shoulder of the deceased. A similar knot was found in Tomb 6, Coffin 2. The MisnahSeventy textile fragments of an un-dyed cream colored linen were preserved.

Shrouds dated from the Greco Roman period were also found at Akeldama, Gesher Haziv, and Jericho. There are indications that shrouds were sometimes made from reused textiles.

 

Byzantine Period 

Shrouds made from light colored linens were found at Tell Sheva, Tell El-Full and Rehovot.

 

Conclusion 

To summarize, we don’t know how or in what exactly a deceased person was dressed in antiquity ; we do know for the most that it was white or cream colored, and we do know that it was mostly linen,” name=”_ftnref35″ title=””>[35] explaining what we wear, what the shrouds consist of, and why these specific shrouds.


16Mesachot Semachot 8:7

25 BT Niddah 37:B Zavadsa is Aramaic for shrouds or its possible it also indicates provisions.

2BT Niddah 61:B Mishna Kilayim 9:4 A Baraitha is a Mishnaic teaching outside the six orders of the Mishna. (I think that his question is much more then rhetorical. He is asking that in Tachiath Hamsim – the resuscitation of the souls in Messianic times – we will all arise again wearing Kilayim?)

27 Leviticus 19:19, Deuteronomy 22:9-11 it is permitted to use wool and linen for the garments worn by the Kohanim and for Tzitit

28MS 6:5

29 BT  Megilla 26:B

30 Persian rule over the Jews ended when the Greeks conquered the Persians in the 4th Century BCE, The Greeks, in turn, were conquered by the Romans who took over Israel in 40 BCE; hence this period is known as the Greco-Roman period.

31 Israel Antiquities Authority, Orit Shamir

32 Mishnah Miqvaot 10:4

33 The Byzantine empire was the continuation of the Roman Empire in the East from the 5th Century until conquered by the Ottoman Turks in 1453.

 

Isaac Pollak is the Rosh/Head of a Chevrah Kadisha on the upper East Side of Manhattan, NYC and has been doing Taharot for almost 4 decades. He is fascinated by and a student of customs and history concerning the Chevrah Kadisha and Jewish burial and mourning ritual. He is an avid collector of Chevrah Kadisha material cultural items, with over 300 historical artifacts in his own collection. He serves as chairperson of the Acquisition Committee for Traditional Material Culture at the Jewish Museum in NYC, and is CEO of an International Marketing Company. He is a student and participant in Gamliel Institute courses.

 

   


TASTE OF GAMLIEL

 

Taste of Gamliel registration is still open. Join us for this webinar series with the theme The World To Come – Do You Have Your Ticket?

 

The series includes one session each month from January to May, each on Sundays. All sessions are recorded and available to those who are registered.  

 

Free, with a suggested $36 donation for the entire series to help us defray the expenses of presenting these amazing webinars.

 

View the program titles and speakers by clicking   

Register ” target=”_blank”>http://bit.ly/1PvJ5kw.

 

KAVOD V’NICHUM CONFERENCE:

Now Online: information about the 14th Annual North American Chevrah Kadisha and Jewish Cemetery Conference, to be held in Lexington, MA Sunday to Tuesday, June 5-7, 2016. Register Check online for information on almost anything you might want to know. Click here to ” target=”_blank”>more about the conference and our plenary ” target=”_blank”>options. Look at the direct   

GAMLIEL INSTITUTE STUDENT SESSIONS AFTER THE KAVOD V’NICHUM CONFERENCE

Gamliel Institute students (past and present) are also encouraged to attend the conference and plan to remain for an additional day (through mid-day/lunch Wednesday) following the conference for a live educational program. During the conference, we will be celebrating the first group of graduates of the Gamliel Institute, and looking forward to the next cohort. Immediately following the close of the conference, we continue with learning specifically geared to Gamliel Students. We have as our instructors for this fabulous closed session series of Text study opportunities Reuven Kimmelman on Kaddish, Eddie Feld on Psalm 49, and Ruth Langer on Tziduk Hadin. This will be an in-depth, informative, and inspirational program! Mark your calendar, make your plans, and register to attend now! The class is free to Gamliel students, but donations to help us offset the cost are very welcome.  Please RSVP to David Zinner info@jewish-funerals.org to let us know to expect you.   

 

GAMLIEL STUDENT PROJECTS

Check out our new website for Gamliel Institute information, and Gamliel Student projects at   

GAMLIEL INSTITUTE COURSES

Please Tell Anyone Who May Be Interested!

Fall 2016:

Gamliel Institute Course 5, Chevrah Kadisha Ritual, Practices, & Liturgy (RPL) will be offered from September 6th, 2016 to November 22nd 2016. This course has no prerequisites. The focus is on practices and all ritual and liturgy excluding Taharah & Shmirah. Please register, note it on your calendar, and plan to attend.

You can “>jewish-funerals.org/gamreg. A full description of the courses is there as well. For more information, visit the “>Kavod v’Nichum website.

INFORMATION:

Please contact us for information or assistance. info@jewish-funerals.org or j.blair@jewish-funerals.org, or call 410-733-3700, or 925-272-8563.

 

DONATIONS:

Donations are always needed and most welcome. Donations support the work of the Gamliel Institute, help us provide scholarships to students, support programs such as Taste of Gamliel, and many other programs and activities. You can donate online at  “>here (http://www.jewish-funerals.org/money/).

 

MORE INFORMATION

If you would like to receive the Kavod v’Nichum newsletter by email, or be added to the email discussion list, please be in touch and let us know at info@jewish-funerals.org.

You can also be sent an email link to the Expired And Inspired blog each week by sending a message requesting to be added to the distribution list to j.blair@jewish-funerals.org.

Be sure to check out the Kavod V’Nichum website at  

RECEIVE NOTICES WHEN THIS BLOG IS UPDATED!

Sign up on our Facebook Group page: just search for and LIKE “>@chevra_kadisha.

 

To find a list of other blogs and resources we think you, our reader, may find to be of interest, click on “About” on the right side of the page.There is a link at the end of that section to read more about us.

 

 

Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.

Editor's Picks

Latest Articles

Difficult Choices

Jews have always believed in the importance of higher education. Today, with the rise in antisemitism across many college campuses, Jewish high school seniors are facing difficult choices.

All Aboard the Lifeboat

These are excruciating times for Israel, and for the Jewish people.  It is so tempting to succumb to despair. That is why we must keep our eyes open and revel in any blessing we can find.  

More news and opinions than at a
Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.