Question 11.6.7: Death and Burial: Are Jews buried facing West?

                                  Answer:
   
   The custom is that the body is buried with its feet facing east, so
   that when the Messiah comes and we awake from our slumber, called
   death, we will already be on the right path toward Jerusalem. So, if
   someone were buried in South Africa, their feet would face North. As a
   matter of fact , many Lubavitch Hasidim communities bury their loved
   ones with walking sticks for their eventual pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
   However, many Jews are buried with their heads towards Jerusalem (i.e.
   East) to be closer to that holy city.

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Last Update July 09 2008 @ 00:13 AM