Embalming is the practice of preserving a deceased person’s body for an extended period, often so that time can be made for funeral arrangements or so that the body can be viewed in an open casket. Embalming typically involves draining the body’s blood and other fluids, replacing them with chemical preservatives such as formaldehyde, and sometimes reconstructing features to maintain a lifelike appearance. In Judaism, embalming is discouraged and, in most cases, not practiced at all. This custom stems from the religious belief that the body should be treated with respect, quickly returned to the earth and allowed to decompose naturally.
The Jewish Approach to Death and Burial
Judaism views the body as sacred and it is treated with the utmost respect from the moment of passing until burial. (Judaism eschews cremation as well.) Judaism emphasizes the principle of kavod ha’met (honoring the dead) and taharah (ritual purification), which is performed by the chevra kadisha (a sacred burial society). The body is gently washed, purified and dressed in a simple white shroud (tachrichim), emphasizing equality in death. The deceased is then placed in a plain wooden coffin (or buried without one, depending on custom), allowing for natural decomposition, which aligns with Jewish beliefs about returning to the earth.
Jewish law prescribes that the deceased should be buried as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours of death. Swift burial is based on Deuteronomy 21:13: “You shall surely bury him on that day.” In the modern era, when families are more dispersed, sometimes burial is delayed a few days until all family members can be present, but speed is still a priority. Delaying burial without necessity is generally discouraged, making embalming unnecessary.
Additionally, Judaism is opposed to open-casket funerals. This is rooted in the belief that death is a natural part of life and that the deceased should be treated with modesty and dignity. An open casket could be seen as a violation of kavod ha’met as it exposes the body to public viewing, which may be considered undignified. Furthermore, Jewish tradition holds that mourning should focus on honoring the person’s life and legacy rather than on their physical appearance after death.
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Why Jews Typically Don’t Embalm
These are the primary reasons that Jews avoid embalming their dead:
- Respect for the body (kavod ha’met) — Jewish tradition teaches that the body should return to the earth naturally, as stated in Genesis 3:19: “For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” Embalming, which involves draining blood and injecting chemicals into the body, interferes with this natural process.
- Purification of the body (taharah) — The Torah prohibits unnecessary tampering with a body. A Jewish corpse is traditionally washed and dressed in a white shroud.
- Speedy burial — Since Jewish law encourages burial within 24 hours, there is little need for preservation techniques like embalming, which are typically used to delay decomposition for public viewings or long funeral processes.
- Burying all parts of the body — Blood, other fluids or organs removed during the embalming process are considered part of the body and, according to Jewish custom, should not be discarded but be buried with the body.
In addition, Judaism has a notion that decomposition facilitates atonement for the deceased (Sanhedrin 47b). Embalming would interfere with this process.
Exceptions to the Rule
While embalming is typically prohibited, there are certain circumstances where Jewish law may allow it. In jurisdictions where embalming is required by law, Jewish authorities will not stand in the way. Additionally, if a body poses a health risk, authorities may require preservation methods to prevent contamination. In such cases, Jewish authorities often permit the minimum necessary procedures to comply with legal safety mandates. In rare cases, when burial cannot be performed promptly (such as in remote locations or logistical delays), some minimal preservation methods might be employed.
Embalming of Jacob and Joseph
While Jewish tradition has generally eschewed embalming, the Hebrew Bible records that some biblical figures were embalmed. Notably, in Genesis 50:2–3, we learn that Joseph, who was then living in Egypt, commanded his servants to embalm his father Jacob, following ancient Egyptian custom, and that the process took 40 days. The embalmed body of Jacob was then taken back to the land of Canaan for burial (Genesis 50:12–13). Similarly, when Joseph died in Egypt, he was embalmed. However, his body remained in Egypt for hundreds of years until Moses and the Israelites brought it out of Egypt during the Exodus (Exodus 13:19). Eventually, Joseph’s remains were also buried in the land of Canaan (Joshua 24:32).
Because Jewish tradition does not condone embalming, later interpreters had to make sense of these biblical texts. Some minimize the embalming procedure Joseph performed on his father while others, including Genesis Rabbah 100:3, suggest that Joseph was punished severely for the embalming: He died ahead of his brothers.
