Immediate Burial

We learn about the dignity and respect that we are to have for the dead, from the law of the criminal who is hanged after being put to death by the court.

The Torah tells us that this person should be buried on the same day. His body shall not be left overnight. This is a reminder that, “Man comes from the dust, and returns to the dust.”

It is considered highly disrespectful to delay the burial of a loved one. In Kabbalistic terms, when the soul leaves the body, there is a longing on the part of the body, to return to the earth as soon as possible.

The Chevra Kadisha, the Burial Society, gives what appears to be unusual instructions, if the tragic event of a loved one passing away, takes place in that person’s home. They will instruct the family to place the body on the floor, and not leave it in its bed. We are fulfilling the wishes of the deceased to bring him closer to earth.

Those volunteers who deal with the ritual washing of the bodies, are very saintly people. I have told students for years, that if they are moving to a new city, find out who volunteers for ritual washings of the dead. These are the people you should choose as your friends.

It is also interesting to note that those individuals involved in the actual burial, ask the deceased for forgiveness, in the event that they were not treated with the utmost respect.

These Mitzvot are very difficult to fulfill, and there’s nobody to say thank you. But it is one of the highest Mitzvot because of this. We must diligently follow the burial laws just as we would follow any other Mitzvain the Torah, no matter how easy or hard it is to fulfill.