- Family and Society
- General Questions
Question
Shalom and thank you ! when a jew is to be buried in the grave what direction should be be turned to with his feet which side? and his face is up and what about his hands? are hands free or what position of the hands?
Answer
ב"ה
Shalom
לז"נ אברהם יוסף בן אלטר משה
ב"ה
Shalom
The direction of the grave: when in Eretz Yisrael, the direction of the feet is towards Yerushalayim as if the deceased is ready to go to Yerushalayim and when outside Eretz Yisrael the direction of the feet is towards the place from where they go to Eretz Yisrael. There is also a custom of placing the feet in the direction of exit gate of the cemetery, as if the deceased is ready to walk out the cemetery. However, in a difficult situation in which placing the feet in the right direction is not possible, the burial is still considered proper.
The deceased is placed on his back and the hands are placed on his sides, with the fingers stretched open. (See גשר החיים חלק א, עמ' קלח )
May it be Hashem's will to answer happier questions in the future.
All the best