Tahara Without Tachrichim?

Q: If a family requests a tahara, but does not want tachrichim to be used, should we accommodate such a request?

A: No. A tahara without tachrichim is not a tahara.  The tahara process includes three essential elements:  Rechitza (washing), tahara (purification), and halbasha (dressing). Unless unusual circumstances require an abbreviated process, such as traumatic death, decomposition, etc., leaving out any of these steps means the process is incomplete. Moreover, if the chevra kadisha believes that the funeral home plans to  remove the tachrichim after the tahara, they should refuse to perform the tahara altogether. 

This request often stems from a lack of knowledge. Families may think a shroud is just a sheet wrapped around the meis. Sometimes, the family is planning to identify (ID) and will want to see the meis in “regular” clothing. If the funeral director, rabbi, or a chevra kadisha member can explain to the family that tahcrichim are a full set of clothing, rich with meaning and beauty, they will often agree to use tahcrichim. NASCK offers resources to  assist with these conversations, including the Jewish Burial Customs brochure and the article “He Wouldn’t Be Caught Dead in a Shroud.”

A possible compromise, if the family would otherwise refuse a tahara, is to dress the meis in clothing over the tachrichim. Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt’l, and Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky, zt’l, ruled that in these circumstances, the chevra kadisha may perform the tahara. 

In such cases, the chevra kadisha should be mindful of the following:

• The chevra kadisha should never be the ones to put the clothing on the meis; this should be done by the funeral director. 
• If possible, encourage the family to permit placing the clothing in the aron, rather than dressing the meis in them.
  The options in order of preference, are:
  • Place the clothing at the foot of the aron.
  • Place them beside the meis.
  • Lay them on top of the meis, without actually dressing the body.
• If the funeral director agrees, the chevra kadisha should complete the tahara in the usual manner – placing the meis in the aron, with the sovev (and talis). The funeral director can then dress the meis in the aron.
• Earth should be placed on the eyes as usual, though just a few grains should be used, so that it is not visible.
• The chevra should prepare the sherblach (broken pottery) and head covering and remind the funeral director to put them on.

It is important to note that some poskim disagree with this psak and hold that a chevra kadisha should not participate in such a tahara. The final decision should reflect the guidance of the community’s rav, who may determine that a stricter standard is appropriate for his community.