Do Jews really have tails?

Posted on Wed 10/12/05 in South Florida

I attended funeral on Wednesday for a young woman who is the daughter of a family friend of my parents. The funeral was held at a Jewish temple in south Florida. After the funeral service, my wife and I went across the street to the local salad and sandwich shop for lunch. Since my wife is pregnant and cried for an nearly hour straight during the service, we had decided not to attend the burial.

Now before I continue this brief story, I’d like to put something into perspective. We live in the heart of south Florida where many Jews live. It’s not like living in Kentucky, where you could possibly go your entire life without ever meeting anyone Jewish. I would have thought that nearly everyone down here either works with someone Jewish, has friends who are Jewish, or has children with Jewish friends. But, I guess I just assume wrong sometimes.

So, we are standing in the lobby of this restaurant waiting to be seated. I am standing as my wife sits next to two women, who are also waiting to be seated. One woman comments that the funeral procession coming from the temple across the street held the light for five turns—it was the longest she had ever seen. And it was long… the girl who died was only about twenty years old. She suffered from a disease called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome, which caused her extreme pain 24/7. The woman commenting about the procession follows her comment by saying, “I didn’t even know that Jews had funerals.”

I snickered. I couldn’t help it. I really didn’t mean to, but that just sounded completely outrageous. What exactly does she think we do with our dead?

She looked up and asked me why I was laughing; I told her that I thought it was funny that she thought Jews didn’t have funerals. She restated that she didn’t think they used cemeteries. This all seemed very bizarre. Again—had I been in Alabama, this would not be so surprising. But, Cooper City?!?

So, being the proud Jew I am, I explained that Jews bury their dead as soon as possible (generally). We do not cremate (though it does happen). And there is no viewing of the body. I felt glad to educate her about the Jewish ways. http://www.jewfaq.org/death.htm has some good information on Jews and death.