Our Chevrah Kadisha follows the Jewish tradition of burying the deceased in simple white linen garments called tachrichim. They are made from cotton, muslin, or linen with no zippers, fasteners, buttons, or metal.

Tachrichim are created to parallel portions of what the High Priest wore during the time of the Temple. Yet the simplicity is to remind us to be humble. Tachrichim do not have pockets, to remind us that we carry nothing material with us when we leave the physical world.

The outfit is similar for men and women, and consists of closed-foot pants with a tie at the waist, a shirt with a tie at the neck, a jacket with a collar and tie at the neck, sometimes an apron for a woman, a face cover and bonnet for a woman, and a head cover for men. There are ties around the legs and a belt around the waist. Some people choose to be wrapped in their favorite tallit. Finally, a large sheet is wrapped around the meit/meitah, like swaddling a baby, before they are placed in the casket.

The meit/meitah is dressed by the Chevrah Kadisha after they have performed the taharah ritual. Dressing the meit/meitah is called halbasha (dressing). When we dress our dead, we tie special knots representing the names of Adonai. Everything we do during this ritual is to honor the dignity and holiness of the deceased.

Before dressing, we say a prayer called Sos Assis, with passages from Isaiah and Zechariah.

While most Chevrot Kadisha and funeral homes purchase tachrichim from Rose Solomon, a commercial supplier in Brooklyn, there is a growing trend for Chevrot Kadisha to revive the practice of sewing tachrichim locally. Sewing patterns are available via Threads of Tradition. To purchase tachrichim in any amount, contact Rose Solomon at: RoseSolomonCompany@gmail.com.

Next: The Liturgy of the Chevrah Kadisha

Cary Mannaberg