Torah Table Talk

The Greatest of All Mitzvot:
Caring for the Dead

Parshat Bishalach
Exodus 13:17 - 14:31

This week’s Torah portion contains the dramatic climax of the Exodus as Moses leads the people “through the sea on dry land.” Upon reaching the other side of the sea, Moses and the Israelites sang a song that has become part of our daily service, “Az yashir Moshe...” Before leaving Egypt, however, the Torah tells us that the Israelites took “utensils of silver and gold and clothing,” from the Egyptians to pay for the years of unpaid service to their oppressors. Moses had other last minute plans according to the Torah:

Exodus 13:19

Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, who had exacted an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will be sure take note of you; then carry up my bones from here with you.”

1.	Why wasn’t Joseph buried in the land of Canaan at the time of his death just as his father Jacob was?
2.	Why do you think he exacted an oath from his family to make sure that they would take his bones with them back to the land of Canaan?
3.	Do you think it is important to respect the final wishes of someone who is about to pass away concerning their burial? What happens if one’s parents or loved ones ask you to do something that is against the Jewish religion (for instance they ask to be cremated) or they ask you not to do something that would be personally meaningful (they insist that you should not sit Shiva?)

The importance of seeing to the proper burial of another person is expressed in the following discussion in the Mishnah:

Mishnah, Sotah 9b

Joseph earned merit by burying his father and there is none among his brothers greater than he - whom do we have greater than Joseph since Moses occupied himself with his burial? Moses earned merit through the bones of Joseph and there is none greater than he, as it is said, “And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him” Who have we greater than Moses since none other than God occupied himself with his burial? As it is said, “And He (God) buried him in the valley.” Not only concerning Moses did the sages say this but concerning all the righteous, as it said, “And Your righteous shall go before You, the glory of God shall be Your reward.” (Isaiah 58:8)

1.	How does seeing to a person’s burial both confer honor on the one who is being buried and on the one who is doing burial?
2.	Why does the Mishnah suggest that God personally saw to the burial of Moses?
3.	In what way do we honor the dead in the Jewish funeral service? How does the Jewish funeral service allow people to openly express their emotions and their sense of loss?
4.	One of the things we do in a Jewish funeral service is to deliver a eulogy in which we speak about the most enduring values in the life of the deceased. Today relatives often choose to deliver the eulogy? How do you feel about this practice? What types of things are appropriate and inappropriate to speak about in a eulogy?
5.	Think of three things you would like people to be able to say about you in your eulogy (many years from now, of course!).
6.	Should children attend funerals? At what age? Discuss with your children or grandchildren what happens at a Jewish funeral and why we do the things that we do. You may want to refer to other sources that are most helpful on this topic. Here are three sources:
a.	The Jewish Way in Death and Mourning by Maurice Lamm
b.	Mourning and Mitzvah by Anne Brener
c.	A Guide to Jewish Religious Practice by Isaac Klein (See chapters on funeral practices and bereavement)

	How to use Torah Table Talk

1.	Read the sheet out loud to one another. Discuss what it has to say.
2.	Focus on the text in the box. It is taken from Biblical, post-biblical and modern Jewish sources. What does it mean? How does it make you feel?
3.	Try to answer the questions following the text.
4.	This is not a test and there are many correct answers and interpretations to each question. Share your ideas with one another. Be open and honest in sharing your ideas.

	All it takes to study Torah is an open heart, a curious mind and a desire to grow a Jewish soul.

	Copyright 2004: Rabbi Mark B Greenspan