Expert: Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner - 4/12/2010

Question
What is the purpose for the burial napkin (?) in the first place? Is there a cloth that covers the face only or does it cover the entire body like the shroud of Turan?
thanks,

Answer
Dear Donnie,

Thanks for writing. Please help me to help you by sharing with me why you are asking the question. If the word "napkin" occurs, please let me know the context of the word as it is unfamiliar to me.

If it would be helpful, please tell me something about yourself, your age and faith, that might help me understand what you are seeking to understand. Is this from a Bible class or any kind of class?

I recall reading that in an effort to have a standard or democratic funeral/burial for all Jews irregardless of their social and economic status the face was covered, but that was to my personal experience an extension of the cap. I would have to speak to someone in the Jewish Burial Society, known as the Hevrah Kadishah."


In terms of burial garments, the traditional shroud is described in the Jewish Encyclopedia as follows:

"Robe in which the dead are arrayed for burial. The shroud is made of white linen cloth, which is cut and sewed together with large stitches; the ends of the thread are left unknotted, the garment being intended to last only until the body has decayed. As a general rule, however, several garments are used instead of a single shroud; in the case of a man these are a cap (in the form of a miter), breeches, shirt, an over-garment somewhat similar to a surplice, and a girdle. For a woman, an apron with strings replaces the breeches and the girdle, and the cap is flat. To a prominent man's attire is added the ṭallit he wore at prayers, but with the fringes removed or cut. The shroud, as being a garment for the dead and not for the living, is not subject to the law concerning mixed material (= "sha'atnez"; Kil. ix. 4).

Prior to the destruction of the Second Temple, the Jews were buried in the garments they were wont to wear during life. When the woman of Endor saw the prophet Samuel rise from the grave he was covered with a mantle (I Sam. xxviii. 14), the same he had worn when living (Lev. R. xxvi. 7). The poor, however, were probably swathed like Egyptian dead, as the term "takrikin" seems to indicate. Later the attire of the corpse became more elaborate. The rich grew very extravagant in this respect, securing fanciful and costly garments, and establishing a custom which became a burden upon mourners of the middle and poorer classes, who could ill endure the expense and yet desired to show the highest respect for their dead. This caused R. Gamaliel, about fifty years after the destruction of the Temple, to inaugurate the custom of using a simple linen shroud for rich and poor alike (M. Ḳ. 27b).

One who dies as a result of an act of violence, or in consequence of loss of blood, or a woman who dies in confinement, must be buried in the bloody garments worn at the time of death, and not in a shroud. This custom is based on the view that the last drops of blood, the loss of which is the immediate cause of death, are part of the body, and as such require burial; and since they can not be removed from the garments, these must go into the grave. But one who is killed by drowning or hanging, without loss of blood, is buried in the usual way, as is also one who is injured, loses blood, but partially recovers, though he dies later as a result of the injury (Shulḥan 'Aruk, Yoreh De'ah, 364). Even where the corpse is buried with the garments it is covered with a white sheet (ib.).

The shroud is figuratively termed "zewada" (provision for a journey; Ket. 67b); and by many it was prepared during their own lifetime, before ill health and age had overtaken them (Men. 41a; see Rashi). Several reasons are advanced for this ("Shelah," p. 145a, Amsterdam, 1698). See also Burial; Sargenes.

Best wishes

Rabbi Dov

PS  Having now seen your postscript explaining your interest in the shroud of Turin, I just wanted to add that in spite of my "8" rating, I did do some research for you in Rabbinic sources. I found nothing that would justify the use of the term "napkin" in terms of burial dress.   

The history of the burial ceremony itself has to be discerned from a variety of Rabbinic texts, legal codes and "aggadata," meaning non-legal materials ranging from fables to narratives to dreams to pseudo-history. What is consistent in all of my research is that there was an increasing effort to simplify the burial of a Jew, decreasing any unnecessary expense. It would be logical that the simpler, less expensive, less complicated burial clothing would be the more desired. But, thus far no additional modern scholarly information of import. Similar to the Jewish sources, Matthew according to the Jerome commentary only notes that Jesus was dressed in a new linen shroud.

Best wishes

Rabbi Dov