Many communities have a volunteer group called the Chevra Kaddisha, or holy society (not to be confused with the Los Angeles mortuary of the same name but not a volunteer society). Where the Chevra exists, it is responsible for many of the rituals performed on the body of a deceased loved one. Funeral directors will coordinate these rituals for those who desire them.

Traditional rituals performed before burial:

Taharah - A person who has died is ritually bathed in order to leave to world as pure as he or she arrived. Prayers and psalms are recited. The deceased is then dressed in tachrichim. To preserve modesty even on death, men perform taharah for men as women do for women.

Tachrichim - A person who has died is clothed in a white cotton or linen burial garment. Today, many people are buried in their own clothes. Many men – and women, if they usually wore one – are buried wearing their tallit (prayer shawl). When a person is buried wearing a tallit, one of the tzitzit (long corner fringes) is cut off so it is unfit for ritual use. This also shows the deceased person is no longer responsible for doing the mitzvot. Many people are also buried with a small amount of earth from Israel under their heads.

Sh’mirah -Traditionally, a Jew who has died is not left alone from death until burial. Sh’mirah can be translated as “watching” or “guarding” and a shomer – a person who guards the body – can be hired to do this.