Hebrew (Jewish) Culture

• Form of worship
• Elements of the individual

• Monotheism
• by about 150 B.C. beliefs were basic

Belief in one God

the end of the Babylonian Captivity (597 to 547 B.C.)

Hebrew's central figure of worship

• 1. upon death, souls of he righteous passed directly into a blessed existence
• 2. souls of the wicked were sent into a state of punishment
• 3. both the righteous & the wicked would be raised from the netherworld at the day of last judgement to receive final rewards or punishments

Basar & Nefesh

referred to the flesh

the flesh

referred to the breath, spriit or soul of the individual

in the blood in life

emotions, sexual desires, fear, sadness, etc.

• Sheol-they believed to be the netherland or "land of the Dead"
• and that the Nefesh would rise from the body & go to Shoel to remain until judgement day

• 1. Those involved in the preparation of the body
• 2. process of the body treatment

were considered very important indivdiuals assigned the care of the dead

• Closing the mouth & the eyes
• Bathing the body
• Anointing process
• Dressing the Remains

• by tying a scarf around the head to hold the jaw in place until rigor set in
• & by using an adhesive powder on the eyes

The washing process was considered a very important step in preparing the body

They used spices & oils which to anoint the body but only those, which would prevent decomposition

• Body would be dressed in the finest clothing owned by deceased
• This practice was important due to their belief of being more easily recognized in the afterlife

• Creamation concept
• Burial practices

it wasn't practiced because they felt that fire would destroy Nefesh

• *generally too place at sundown on the day of death due to hygienic necessity
• *early Hebrews buried their dead without coffins( it came into limited use after the Babylonian Captivity)
• *The body would be carried tothe place of interment on a Bier

• Trench Graves
• Sunken Graves
• Chamber Graves

utilized mainly by the poor & simple consisted of placing the body in a shallow trench & over that a mond of earth was shoveled

• *a shallow grave over which a slab of stone would be placed as the cover
• *the stone slab offered more protection from predators or grave robbers

• the most common type of grave used
• man-made caves carved in the side of a hill or mountain or natural caves discovered & found to be suitable

• Early Practices: indicated protection of the dead
• 1. didn't belive in marking their graves with any identification
• 2. no dates of birth or death or the name of the deceased were used
• 3. no flowers were allowed to adorn the grave

• Behavior of the Survivors
• The use of professional Moruners
• The offering of sacrifices

• *Kriah referes to the practice rendering or tearing ones garments as a sign of mourning
• *the removal of all clothing w/ the exceptions of a loincloth of goat or camel hair & remain that way until the burial rites were completed
• * to leave the head always covered either by shawl or you could use the hands
• * wearing a Yamaka
• *bare feet
• *cutting or scratching ones flesh, a sign of mourning, its forbidden now
• * me would shave their head, if more grief striken then they would shave thir beads
• *throwing oneself in the dust, now sitting in the dust or placing dust upon the head
• * fasting from food & drink; began at the moment of death & terminated at the and of the day of death

• to increase he wailing volume of the family
• also to recite poems & verses about the deceased

the first-born son had the responsibility to bring sacrifices tothe grave in the form of food & drink sotat his deceased father could enjoy his final rest