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Jewish Death

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Submitted By Shaneka1986
Words 405
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Introduction
Death is a catastrophe of life, our culture, socio economics and religion affect the way which an individual approaches the death of a loved one. However, religion plays a central focus in people’s life. Religion helps to shape our thoughts as well as our beliefs and practices. Religion imbeds its values and ideologies in a person, whereas it teaches one morality and ethics to a high extent. In Judaism life is valued, however, when one dies there are customs that they adhere to during the time of bereavement. This paper will analyze the profound impact of how religion plays an imperative role in funeral practices that are performed by Jews. This paper also aims to highlight how the Jewish community cope with the loss of loved one and how they prepare a loved one for burial .This paper will examine Jewish customs and laws concerning to death and mourning. In addition, it will focus on the post mourning procedure and methods.
Statistics/ Jewish meaning of life & death
The U.S. Census data in 2010 reported that nearly 2,468,435 died. The five leading cause of death includes heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, stroke, and accidents. The life expectancy at birth for all races and both sexes was 78.7 years in 2010. The study displayed that Hispanic females have the longest life expectancy of 83.7 years, followed by non-Hispanic white females with 81.1 years, Hispanic males 78.9 years, non-Hispanic black females 77.8 years, non-Hispanic white males 76.4 years, and non-Hispanic black males 71.6 years.(Miniño, 2011).
In Judaism life is highly valued because of their strong beliefs. Their belief state “life is valued above almost all else. The Talmud notes that all people are descended from a single person, thus taking a single life is like destroying an entire world, and saving a single life is like saving an entire world.”(pg, 28) Bank et al. (1998).However, Judaism teaches that death is not a catastrophe but it has significant meaning and it’s a part of G-d’s plan. In addition, the Jewish community believes in the afterlife. Their teaching express that the dead will be rewarded if he/she lived a worthy life. Mourning customs in Judaism aims to respect the dead (kavod ha-met), and to provide comfort for the family and friends of the deceased. (Nihum avelim)

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