Glossary

Aron: The casket, traditionally all wood.

Chevra Kadisha: Burial society or "Sacred Society," whose members perform taharah.

K’vod Hameiteh: Honoring the dead by treating the body with respect and care until burial.

Meit/ meitah/ meiteh: The deceased (male/ female/ gender-inclusive)

Mitzvah: commandment

Tachrichim: Simple white linen or muslin burial garments. They are hand-sewn and have no buttons, zippers or fasteners.

Taharah: Ritual purification of the meit / meitah / meiteh

External Resources:

Websites

• Kavod v'Nichum: https://kavodvnichum.org/

• Personal stories and reflections on performing taharah: https://www.jewish-funerals.org/tahara-stories

• https://www.jta.org/2019/06/26/opinion/what-preparing-a-jewish-body-for-death-is-really-like

Videos

• ER physician Michael Slater: "Living Jewishly Means Dying Jewishly too" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_zhr6IwrrA

• Ask a mortician: https://www.youtube.com/user/OrderoftheGoodDeath