When a person passes away and his soul ascends heavenward, he or she is compared to a priest entering G‑d’s sacred abode. On a related note, some associate the linen shroud with the white linen uniform that both the (ordinary) priests wore when entering the Holy Temple (the holiest point in the Temple that they were permitted to go) as well as the High Priest when entering the Holy of Holies (the holiest point that he was permitted to go). As he played his pivotal role in securing a good year for the universe, wearing pure white linen provided the protection he needed. This is reminiscent of the white linen garments worn on Yom Kippur by the High Priest (who ordinarily wore colorful clothing containing gold and precious gems). As the soul embarks on its journey heavenward, being dressed in pure white linen, with nothing else mixed in, serves as a spiritual protection against any impurity or evil forces. The mystics 5 explain that “there is a great secret” behind this custom. It is customary that not only the shroud, but even the threads used to sew the pieces together, should all be made of white linen. Put shoes on my feet, a stick in my hand and place me on my side, so that when Moshiach comes, I will be ready to greet him.”įollowing this, it became the custom to use white shrouds. Dress me in what I would wear during my life. In a similar vein, Rabbi Yirmiyah instructed: "Dress me in white shrouds that are sewn properly. Rabbi Josiah, who was confident that he lived a good life and would be rewarded in the World to Come, asked that he be buried in freshly ironed white shrouds. Thus, Rabbi Yochanan asked that he be buried in neutral colors so that if he would be punished for his sins, he would not stand out among his fellow penitents (who would be wearing black), and if he would be rewarded for his good deeds, he would not stand out among the righteous (who would be draped in white). The Talmud explains that when this happens, people will wear whatever they wore at the time of burial. It is a basic tenet of Judaism that the dead will rise once again. Why is the custom to specifically bury the dead in white shrouds? In fact, in the generations that followed, it even became acceptable to bury the dead in plain hemp garments ( tzerada) that only cost a dinar. Once the stigma was broken and this was seen as a viable option, it soon became standard for all, from the very rich to the very poor, to be buried in simple linen. Seeing that the situation was untenable, Rabban Gamliel asked that he be buried in simple linen. Things got so bad that families would sometimes abandon the corpse rather than provide the deceased with socially acceptable shrouds. The Talmud 1 relates that in his time there was such social pressure to procure expensive shrouds that the strain it placed on families was even more painful than death itself. This dates back two millennia to the times of Rabban Gamliel the Elder in the early 1st century. The time-honored Jewish custom is to bury our departed in (inexpensive) linen shrouds.
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