Beth Abraham Orthodox Synagogue

Today's Date

21 Adar 5785

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Visiting the Cemetery

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  1. Some have the custom to visit the cemetery for prayer, for inspiration to spiritual elevation and to give honor to the deceased:
    1. after seven days
    2. at thirty days
    3. on or before the yahrtzeit (anniversary)
    4. a. before Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur
  2. We pray there
    1. that the deceased should request mercy for us
    2. a. Hashem should have mercy on us in the merit of our righteous ancestors
  3. One should also give tzeddakah at the time.
  4. One who has not been or seen a Jewish cemetery for thirty days says this special blessing:
    Boruch Atoh Hashem Elokeinu Melech Haolam asher yatzar eschem badin, v'zun v'chilkel eschem badin, v'hu asid l'hachayoschem u'likayem eschem badin, Boruch Atoh Hashem mechayeh hameisim. Atoh gibor l'olam Hashem, mechayeh meisim atoh, rav l'hoshea. Mechalkel chaim b'chaesed, mechayeh meisim b'rachamim rabim, somech noflim, v'rofei cholim, u'matir asurim, u'mikayeim emunaso lisheinei afar. Mi chamoch baal gevuros, u'me domeh lach, melech meimis u'michaye u'matzmiach yeshuah, v'neman atoh l'hachayos meisim.
    Blessed are You, Hashem our G-d, King of the Universe, Who has created you with judgment, Who fed and sustained you in judgment, Who brought death upon you in Judgment, He knows all of you in justice and He will restore you back to life: Blessed be You, Hashem Who revives the dead.
    The blessing is said when coming close to the burial plots.
  5. Before leaving, one places his left hand on the monument and says, "May it be Hashem's will that the deceased should rest honorably and may his merit benefit us." One may kiss the monument in honor of the deceased. (Yalkut Yoseif)
  6. Some have the custom to recite certain chapters of Tehillim (Psalms) (16, 17, 33, 72, 9l, 104, 119, 130) on the Yahrtzeit. In Chapter 119, we follow the letters of the person's name and say the verses corresponding to the initials of the name.
  7. Before leaving the cemetery it is customary to place a pebble on the monument to show that you have been to visit and honor the deceased.
  8. The hands are washed three times upon leaving.
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