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Jewish Death Practices:
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Origins and History
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Phases of Death Observance
    Approaching the Time of Death
    Between Death and Burial
    Shemira
    Tahara
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    Mourning Practices

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Tahara Manual of Practices

in
$18

 

Tahara Manual of Practices
including
Halacha Decisions
of
 Hagaon Harav Moshe Feinstein, zt'l
3rd Edition (Soft Cover)


By Rabbi Mosha Epstein
Bridgeport, CT


Published by the Chevra Kadisha Zichron Shabtai Leib of Greater Bridgeport

Also available in bulk pricing - Minyan Size (10) or Case Size (30)


This manual provides detailed instruction concerning how a Tahara is performed and some of the reasons why these customs are observed. The Tahara Manual also covers issues related to Availus learned from HaGaon HaRav Moshe Feinstein.

Originally published in June 1995, second edition with 9 new articles in Fall 2002, third edition with 13 new articles in Fall 2005. Third edition soft cover published Spring 2014.

Rabbi Mosha Epstein was the Rabbi of Congregation Agudas Achim in Bridgeport, Connecticut for hirty-five years. He was a member of Agudas ha Rabonim since 1964. His was also a member of the Igud HaRabonim of the United States and the Va'ad HaRabonim of Massachusetts. He was Kasruth Consultant for the Va'ad HaRabonim of Massachusetts and the Jewish Home for the Elderly of Fairfield County. Rabbi Epstein was ordained by HaGaon HaRav Moshe Feinstein in 1961. He studied in the Kollel through 1965.

 

Table Of Contents

  • Chapter 1. Preparation and Practices
  • A. Preparation
  • B. Practices
  • Chapter 2. Explanations
  • Chapter 3. Questions and Answers
  • A. Relating To Tahara Practice
  • 1. Postmortem Bleeding
  • 2. Broken Pieces of Earthenware and Small Sticks
  • 3. Belongings Buried With the Deceased
  • 4. Pouring the Nine Kavim
  • 5. Quantity of the Nine Kavim
  • 6. Mikvah Rather Than Nine Kavim
  • 7. Linen Tachrichim (Shrouds)
  • 8. Egg Mixed With Wine Or Vinegar
  • 9. Viewing The Deceased
  • 10. Use Of Vaults
  • B. Relating To Tahara Principles
  • 1. Who May Do a Tahara
  • 2. Purity Of Chevra Kadisha Members
  • 3. Reciting Tehillim (Psalms)
  • 4. Kohen As Shomer
  • 5. Infant Death
  • 6. Accidental Death
  • 7. Suicide
  • 8. Murder
  • 9. Tahara For Non-Observant Jews
  • 10. Postponing a Funeral For a Tahara
  • 11. Tahara And Aids
  • Chapter 4. Related Issues Learned From HaGaon HaRav Moshe Feinstein, Zt'l
  • A. Aninus
  • 1. Definition
  • 2. Extending Aninus
  • 3. Restrictions
  • 4. After Aninus
  • B. Kaddish
  • 1. For Someone Other Than a Parent
  • 2. For Non-Righteous People
  • C. Caskets (Coffins)
  • 1. Usage
  • 2. Composition
  • D. Monuments
  • 1. Appropriate Time
  • 2. Birth Date
  • 3. Other Uses
  • E. Cemetery
  • 1. Refreshments
  • 2. Visiting
  • 3. Site Selection
  • F. Funeral Attendance By Kohanim
  • 1. "Incomplete" Funerals
  • 2. Attendance of a Child Kohen
  • 3. Attendance of a Kohen in Sheva Brachos Week
  • 4. When a Kohen Should Leave
  • 5. Funerals For Non-Observant Relatives
  • 6. Funerals After Autopsies
  • 7. Exiting the Cemetery
  • 8. Vaults/Coffins
  • 9. Mais Mitzvah
  • 10. Suicide
  • 11. Distance at a Cemetery
  • G. Burials For Non-Observant Jews
  • 1. Cemetery Layouts
  • 2. Jewishness of Non-Observant Jews
  • H. Mourners And Work
  • 1. Davar Haovud
  • 2. Maras Ayen
  • I. Parental Death Immediately Prior To a Wedding
  • 1. Talmudic Practices
  • 2. Later Opinions
  • 3. Suggested Option
  • 4. Alternative Procedure
  • 5. Davar Haovud And Hefsid Merubah
  • 6. A Parent In Mourning at a Child's Wedding
  • 7. Sibling In Mourning at a Sibling Wedding
  • Chapter 5. Relevant Viewpoints
  • A. The Meaning of the Ritual of Tahara - by Rabbi Dr. Isaiah Rackovsky (1994)
  • B. Postmorten Bleeding1 - by HaRav Yehuseal Greenwald (Ach Latzara, 1939)
  • C. Linen Tachrichim2 - by HaRav Solomon Braun (1989)
  • D. Burial On Yom Tov (Hebrew only) - by HaRav Shaul Shochat (1910)
  • E. Kaddish - by Mr. Reuven Epstein and Rabbi Donneal Epstein (1994)
  • F. Post Mortem Tahara If Bleeding Occurs - Boston Chevra Kadisha
  • G. 1 Postmorten Bleeding - by HaRav Yehuseal Greenwald (Ach Latzara, 1939) English Translation
  • H. 2 Linen Tachrichim - by HaRav Solomon Braun (1989) English Translation
  • I. Shiva Observance For Separated Spouses
  • J. Older With More Experience: Spice, Atara Talis, Kaddish, Chamol
  • K. Explanation of Terms Used To Describe Afterdeath
  • L. Understanding Maimonides: The Soul is Forever
  • M. Letter From Chevra Kadisha of Boro Park

Glossary

Bibliography

  • Chapter 6. Halacha Viewpoints
  • A. 4Redoing Tahara-Burial Away From Place Of Death (English Translation) Shemen Sason
  • B. 3A Kohen Attending Medical School (English Translation) HaRav Yekuseal Greenwald (Ach Latzara 1939)
  • C. When to Do the Tahara - Rabbi Moshe Epstein (2002)
  • D. A Minor Attaining Maturity During Shiva (Hebrew) HaRav Yekuseal Greenwald (Ach Latzara 1939)
  • E. A Kohen Attending Medical School 3(Hebrew) HaRav Yekuseal Greenwald (Ach Latzara 1939)
  • F. Redoing Tahara-Burial Away From Place Of Death(Hebrew) - Shemen Sason
  • G. A Married Sister Aninus - Explanation Of Rabbeinu Tam -Shemen Sason 1905
  • Chapter 7.Explanations and Responsa
  • A. Explanations: Rosho and Henei Mitaso Shel Shlomo
  • B. Responsa
  • 1. Kaddish for Non-Jews 5- Yecheva Das -(Hebrew)
  • 2. Tahara by Non-Jews 6- Yabia Omer (Hebrew)
  • 3. 5Summary Translation of Kaddish for Non-Jews by Rav Ovadia Yosef
  • 4. Summary Translation of Burial on Yom Tov by Shaul Shochat
  • 5. 6Summary Translation of Tahara by Non-Jews by Rav Ovadia Yosef
  • 6. Shomer
  • 7. Let's "Paskin" - 2005: Kaddish for Non-Jews
  • 8. Tahara by Non-Jews
  • 9. Tachrichim
  • 10. What a Shomer does by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe
  • 11. Tachrichim by Rabbi Moshe Epstein
  • 12. Tahara with Catheters, Stitches, Bedsores and Accidents by Jacob Stromer

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Make your check out to Kavod v'Nichum and mail your order and your check to:

Kavod v'Nichum

8112 Sea Water Path

Columbia, MD  21045

Price: $18
Jewish Funeral Practices Committee of Greater Washington