What happens to the soul at the moment of transition from this world to the next? Jewish funeral and mourning practices are closely tied to the process by which the soul separates from the body. Three days, seven days, 30 days, one year – each has an associated practice and a reason. The body is not just treated with respect because we cared about the person, it is actually treated with reverence because it is a holy object, likened to the Torah itself.
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