| There are three mainstream Jewish sects - | | | | teachings. |
| Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform. Each sect | | | | In many of the Jewish funeral services for many |
| has its own rules for the funeral or memorial | | | | of the Jewish congregations, part of the funeral |
| service.The most formal and conservative is the | | | | service is celebrated at the home of the |
| Orthodox Jewish Burial ritual, while the Reform | | | | deceased. In the more conservative sects, only |
| sect is considered to be the most liberal of the | | | | the closest family friends visit the deceased home |
| three. Usually the funeral service is considered to | | | | on the first day of shiva. Some may attend the |
| be the beginning of ceremonies rather than the | | | | funeral services everyday for the entire year as |
| end. | | | | a means to remember the deceased. |
| The funeral burial customs vary for the three | | | | Often the memorial headstone is not revealed |
| Jewish sects. The Orthodox sect uses more of | | | | until months after the funeral. The family and |
| the Hebrew language, Conservative uses only half | | | | friends gather together and on the anniversary of |
| while the Reform uses no Hebrew at all with the | | | | the death, the name of the deceased is read |
| except of saying the Kaddish. The underlying | | | | aloud in the synagogue. |
| funeral format however, is the same for each | | | | The afterlife Jewish belief is different from |
| sect. The funeral ceremony affirms the life that | | | | Christianity. If the deceased has had a long life |
| was lived and prayers that praise life. | | | | and many accomplishments, this is reason for |
| Scripture readings and eulogies are given by the | | | | celebration. There is no concept of a joyful |
| family or rabbi. The Kaddish is the traditional | | | | afterlife and for Jews, death is a somber event. |
| prayer of death which is spoken only by | | | | The Jewish sects do not celebrate death with |
| immediate family members of the deceased. The | | | | dancing or drinking over a person's departure to |
| Kaddish prayer of death is different from the | | | | heaven. |
| rabbi's traditional liturgical prayer at the funeral | | | | There is practically no opportunities to personalize |
| service. | | | | an Orthodox Jewish Burial Service. In the Reform |
| All sects have the tradition of going to the home | | | | sect, it is up to the rabbi to decide whether or |
| of the deceased after the funeral. There is a | | | | not you may add to the service. Some rabbis do |
| traditional seven days of the period of mourning | | | | not allow songs, music, or dance at the funeral or |
| called "shiva." While the bereaved family is in the | | | | memorial service. These may be permitted in a |
| home during the seven day mourning period, the | | | | separate service thirty days after death. The |
| funeral attendees visit the home to offer their | | | | more traditional services are held in a synagogue |
| condolences. The emphasis is on people sharing | | | | but liberal sects hold the service at any number |
| feelings and memories rather than religious | | | | of locations. |