· Autopsy
      · Organ Donations
      · Preparing the Body for Burial – Washing, Watching
      · Shrouds

Autopsy
Long shunned as a violation of the sanctity and dignity of the human form, autopsies are accepted and even considered praiseworthy in the eyes of Reform Judaism. The tide of opinion turned due to the potential lifesaving benefits and medical strides that may be made through the investigation. In this spirit, a Jewish body may be donated to science if there will be an eventual burial. The decision deserves discussion with a rabbi, and a specific request to not undergo an autopsy should be honored.

Organ Donations
Saving a life, pikuach nefesh, is a paramount Jewish value. Donating organs is a near-literal application of this idea. Organs may be donated for lifesaving or healing. However, among other streams of Judaism organ donation is a matter of considerable controversy.

Preparing the Body for Burial – Washing & Watching
The role of the Jewish Burial Society – the Chevra Kaddisha - Before the modern era, the Chevra Kaddisha, literally “the holy association,” was an esteemed group of volunteers who would assist the dying and the dead. Never charging for their services, the Chevra Kaddisha lead the person who hovered between life and death through the Vidui confession and the Shema prayer.

After the last breath was drawn, the Chevra Kaddisha stepped in to prepare the body for burial. As the one-time home of the soul, a body commands respect. Chevra Kaddisha members watched over the body until burial to honor and protect it.

Ritual washing of the body – Tahara
Today the Chevra Kaddisha is still called upon to care for the body, to wash and dress it for burial. However, their services are optional, and the responsibility to care for the deceased may be conferred upon a reputable funeral director. Inform the director if you would prefer Jewish traditions to be followed.

Shrouds – Tachrichim
Before the destruction of the second Holy Temple in Jerusalem in 70 C.E., Jews were buried in the clothing they wore in life. Elaborate burial costumes became the fashion. Poor families could ill afford them, and they began abandoning their dead rather than facing the shame of a meager burial. Rabban Gamliel, the head of the central Jewish court, in 125 C.E., introduced the custom of using plain linen shrouds for rich and poor alike. In death we are all equal before God, he said, setting the tone for the unpretentious Jewish burial customs followed today.

Clothing that conforms to this humble spirit is recommended. If traditional linen shrouds are preferred but are too expensive, shrouds of any material are fine. Burying a loved one in a particular piece or set of clothing is the family’s choice. Bear in mind the Jewish approach: money is better spent on those in need than buried.

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