Death means the separation of the body from the soul.
The washing of the corpse, the clothing in a plain shroud, the lying out, and the burial are
generally undertaken by the burial fraternity (Chevra Kadisha) which exists in nearly all parishes.
The relatives of the deceased are dispensed of all religious duties until the burial.
The burial usually takes place on the day after the death but not on a Sabbath or any of the
other Jewish holy days. Cremation in only permitted in Reform Judaism. Those present at the
burial throw three shovels of sand onto the coffin. The Kaddish which praises the name of God
is the most important prayer on this occasion. The first phase of the period of mourning lasts
seven days during which the mourners stay at home and do not work (Shivah). The second, less
intensive period of mourning (Sh(e)loshim) lasts 30 days. When one of the parents dies this is
followed by a year of mourning.
On the first anniversary of the death (Season) the gravestone is placed in the cemetery. During
each of the following "commemorative dates" a candle is lit in memory of the deceased and a fast is
observed.
In the cemetery, in Hebrew called the "House of Eternity" and the "House of Life", the dead are to
have eternal rest. The cemetery must never be dissolved.
The oldest Jewish cemetery in Hamburg is located in Königstraße in Altona and dates back to 1611.
The Sephardic Jews preferred gravestones lying flat on the ground with rich ornamentation whereas
Ashkenazi Jews usually placed them standing upright.
It is a custom to deposit a small stone when visiting a grave.
Symbols on Gravestones:
The hands held in benediction are the symbol of the Cohens, members of the priestly family of the tribe of Levi. The rabbi devinely blesses the congregation with this posture of the hands. The status of priest is hereditary and carries numerous rights and responsibilities.
The water jug and washing bowl is the symbol of the Levites, members of the priestly tribe of Levi. They have certain privileges in the synagogue service one being the washing of the hands of the priest before the service.
The crown has a number of meanings: it is a symbol of the re-establishment of the kingdom of Judah. It is also written: "There are three crowns - the crown of Torah, the crown of priesthood and the king's crown. But the crown of God surpasses all others".
Animals are often a reference to the name of the deceased. The lion corresponds with the name Ari, Leib, Löw (Loew), etc. The lion is also the symbol of the tribe of Judah.
The deer is a reference to such names as Hirsch, Herschel, etc. The deer is a symbol of the tribe of Naphtali, Jacob's sixth son whose mother was Rachel's handmaid (Genesis 30: 7-8). The Talmud states: "Be as enduring as the tiger, as free as the eagle, as fleet as the deer, as strong as the lion, so as to fulfil the will of your Father in Heaven."
The offering box generally symbolizes the charitableness of the deceased or refers to his office as treasurer. The Talmud states: "Charity overcomes death."
All the following Jewish cemeteries are closed except for the Altona Königstraße cemetery and the community cemetery in Ohlsdorf. The
requisit keys may be obtained from the Jewish Community in Hamburg.
Just as when entering a synagogue one's head should be covered.
On maps Jewish cemeteries are indicated with a right-angled bracket, not a cross,
depicting the headstone and grave.
The Jewish cemetery is regarded as a "beth olam" i.e. "House of Eternity". Within Jewish religious law the cemetery exists, in perpetuity, until the appearance of the Messiah. The cemetery constitutes an important institution for the community.
In the 17th century Hamburg denied the Jews a cemetery within the bounds of the city.
The earliest Jewish cemetery within the environs of Hamburg is the cemetery in Königstraße within the district of Altona, founded in 1663, with circa 2,500 Sephardic and 6,000 Ashkenazi graves. Today it is a significant historic monument.
After extensive research and restoration of the graves the cemetery was reopened on 29 November 2007 when Mayor Ole von Beust inaugurated the new reception building, the Eduard Duckesz House.
Eduard Jecheskel Duckesz was born on 3 August 1868 in Szelepszeny, Hungary. He was rabbi, historian and genealogist: After studying at the Pressburger Yeshiva in 1891 he became rabbi and teacher for the Altona Klaus synagogue. As well as serving as a judge on Jewish Law, Mohel, hospital pastoral worker, garrison chaplain and representative of the highest rabbinical court he also researched into the Jewish grave inscriptions and the genealogy of Jewish families from the Altona-Hamburg-Wandsbek (AHU) tri community.
In 1939 he immigrated to Holland from Nazi Germany. In 1943 he was deported from the Westerbork internment camp to Auschwitz where he was murdered on 6 March 1944.
It has been nominated for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The Jewish cemetery in the former Langenreihe, renamed Königsreihe within the district of Wandsbek, founded in 1637, was closed in 1886.
Chronologically, followed the foundation in 1663 of the Jewish cemetery within the district
of Ottensen, with circa 1,000 graves.
In 1941 it was desecrated by the National Socialist regime and disturbed by the building of
bunkers in 1939 and 1942/43.
In 1995 the "Mercado" shopping centre was erected on the spot, after consultation with
a rabbi from Israel. As can be seen below a plaque has been erected on the stairway to
the basement.
During the time of the Plague the Hamburg Senate perforce allowed the founding of a Jewish cemetery within the city, in the "Grindel" district, founded in 1711/13, with circa 9,000 graves.
This was vacated in 1937 (Third Reich), in agreement with the Jewish Community. Complete
exhumation, reburial and the transfer of gravestones of eminent Jews to the Jewish cemetery
in Ilandkoppel within the district of Ohlsdorf was carried out.
As can be seen below a plaque has been erected in An der Verbindungsbahn, near the
junction with Renzelstraße.
A temporary cemetery was founded, during the period between January and May 1814, in Neue
Steinweg, situated within the Neu-Stadt (New City), during the French occupation of the city.
There were 57 dead and 18 gravestones.
In 1954 an exhumation and reburial took place to the Jewish cemetery in Ilandkoppel within
the district of Ohlsdorf.
The Jewish cemetery in Ilandkoppel within the district of Ohlsdorf was established in 1882/83 by the Ashkenazi and Sephardic communities following contracts with the City of Hamburg, which remained owner of the land.
It is the only Jewish cemetery in Hamburg in use today.
Open:
Mon-Fri 08.00-16.00hr
Sun 10.00-16.00hr
Through the transfer of the graves of eminent Jews from the former cemeteries in the
districts of "Grindel" and Ottensen it is today a significant Jewish cultural monument.
In addition there are four small, disused Jewish cemeteries:
In Schwarzenbergstraße within the district of Harburg, founded at the end of the 17th century. Ascending the right side of Schwarzenbergstraße from the town turn right onto the path after the buildings end and the green area begins. This path curves to the left passing a side entrance to a school and a Drug Rehabilitation Centre before arriving at the cemetery on the right. This is a small but extremely beautiful cemetery.
In Bornkampsweg within the district of Bahrenfeld, founded in 1874.
In Jenfelder Straße within the district of Wandsbek, founded in 1886.
In Försterweg within the district of Langenfelde, founded in 1886/87.
