Sympathy Etiquette for a Jewish Cremation Service

Expressing your sympathy and condolences at a time of loss is very important to both your own grief and to the family of the person who passed on. Jewish traditions don’t encourage sending flowers, but there are other ways you can express your sympathy during a cremation service in Manalapan, NJ. Here are a few suggestions to help you know what is appropriate to do or say.

Remain Sincere and Thoughtful

If you attend the cremation service, you want to remain sincere with your thoughts and statements. While it is perfectly fine to tell the family you are sorry for their loss, it is nice to be personal about the situation as well. Perhaps share a way the deceased touched your life to bring a smile to their face for a life well lived.

Charitable Contributions

Donating money to a charity the deceased appreciated is a wonderful, meaningful way to express your sympathy to the family. The family will often suggest a cause that the person who passed on held close to their heart. If there is no suggestion, you can use what you know about the person to make a choice on your own. You could donate to the American Cancer Society in memory of someone who died of cancer, for example.

Lasting Memorials

If you want to do something that will last years into the future, consider contacting a park department, art center, or historical organization for ideas. You could do something like plant a tree, donate a park bench, purchase a nameplate, or buy library books in honor of the person who passed on.

Use the Gift of Time

Your time is precious and the family of the deceased will understand that. Offer your help in specific ways. Perhaps you could bring food, answer the phone or the door during the cremation service, or transport guests to and from the airport or the service venue. You could also provide childcare, help with household chores, or run errands. Little details are overwhelming at a difficult time and when you use your time as a sympathetic gesture, the family will not soon forget your kindness.

Contact Professionals for More Ideas

If you need further ideas on how to honor someone you knew with your condolences to their family, contact the professionals at Mount Sinai Memorial Chapels. You can call us at (800) 395-9199 or (732) 390-9199 and ask any questions you have about what’s appropriate and what you might do to ease the grieving’s burdens during this difficult time. If you are not familiar with Jewish funeral customs, visit our facilities to see things in person at 454 Cranbury Road (at Evergreen Blvd.), East Brunswick, NJ 08816. We are a locally owned and operated funeral home and we aim to treat any grieving family like our own family members. We understand that it is hard to know what to say and do during this time and we are here to help with the process as much as we can.