The Torah devotes considerable space to the topic of burial, especially in Israel, and emphasizes the obligation to accord respect to the dead. Jewish tradition highly regards the social value of burial and mourning, in addition to their serving basic human needs. Participation in the funeral and burial is considered a great mitzvah, ‘an act of true loving kindness’ (since the deceased will never be able to repay anyone for it) and a responsibility incumbent upon both the family and the community, as it is written “It is better to go to house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting (Kohelet 7:2).” Originally, the responsibility for burial and all that comes along with it fell on every individual in whose city there was a de Fceased. Over the years, in most Jewish communities, voluntary burial societies formed, who assumed this responsibility. In the State of Israel, the chevra kadishas are recognized by law as professional organizations, staffed both by paid employees and volunteers, which serve most of the population of Israel.

Many of our modern day burial customs have their roots in practices of earlier periods: The Bible relates how Abraham purchased a burial plot for his wife Sarah. Jews, apparently, buried their dead in the ground, already in the time of the Bible, unlike the Egyptians who embalmed their dead. The psychological, physiological, and halachic value of prompt burial was recognized already in those days. During the time of the Mishnah and Talmud, additional burial customs were established, such as the interment of the deceased in simple cloth garments without coffins. During part of the Talmudic period the prevalent custom was to ‘collect the bones’ from burial caves, a year after burial and transfer them to a coffin.

Jewish mourning customs are also rooted in ancient traditions. The Bible recounts how Abraham eulogized and mourned for Sarah after her death (Genesis 23:2), as well as how Jacob was mourned for seven days after his death (Genesis 50:10), corresponding to our shivah. The Bible describes additional mourning customs, practiced by the mourner, which have endured until day, such as the rending of one’s garments, removal of one’s shoes, not bathing, throwing dirt on one’s head, and sitting on the ground. Certain customs, which were commonly practiced in Biblical times as signs of mourning, such as the pulling out of one’s hair and the mutilation of one’s body, were prohibited by the Bible.