The Horse Adjutant When they were ready, the Chevra Kaddisha (the men that handle all of the funeral arrangements) became the pallbearers. The body was wrapped in fabric and placed on top of the plank that they all held. Then the body was moved to the plank within the freshly cut earth. The mourners placed a broken piece of glass or a small pebble on the body, and the Kaddish prayer was spoken. The people gave way to the Chevra Kaddi- sha as they buried the body. Afterward, the men had some vodka with cake. The reason I know all of this is that I did not stay home. Instead, I found myself sneaking up the side street out of sight, and then through the bushes at the graveyard behind the small chapel. I watched the whole thing while staying out of view. I became quickly bored with the proceedings, and my eyes started to wander around the headstones. I saw some with dates hundreds of years old. I remember one with two entries. I stopped cold at this one because it read ‘Schagrin’ in Hebrew, my own last name. After my grandfather was laid to rest, I saw my mom, with a tear in her eye, place a small rock on top of that headstone. They must have been my two older sisters, placed together in the same grave. My grandfather’s death was handled in an honorable way. Eventually, I would learn to recite the Kaddish, by heart. It is an ancient tradition meant to honor the dead.
Glorified and sanctified be God’s great name throughout the world which He has created according to His will. May He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and dur- ing your days, and within the life of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon; and say, Amen. May His great name be blessed forever and to all eter- nity. Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that are ever spoken in the world; and say, Amen. May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.
Yitgadal v’yitkadash sh’mei raba b’alma di-v’ra chirutei, v’yamlich malchutei b’chayeichon uvyomeichon uvchayei d’chol beit yisrael, ba’agala uvizman kariv, v’im’ru: “amen.” Y’hei sh’mei raba m’varach l’alam ul’almei almaya. Yitbarach v’yishtabach, v’yitpa’ar v’yitromam v’yitnaseh, v’yithadar v’yit’aleh v’yit’halal sh’mei d’kud’sha, b’rich hu, l’eila min-kol-birchata v’shirata, tushb’chata v’nechemata da’amiran b’alma, v’im’ru: “amen.” Y’hei shlama raba min-sh’maya v’chayim aleinu v’al-kol-yisrael, v’im’ru: “amen.” Oseh shalom bimromav, hu ya’aseh shalom aleinu v’al kol-yisrael, v’imru: “amen.”
He who creates peace in His celestial heights, may He create peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.
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