Shulchan Arukh Yoreh De'ah · Siman 359

Shulchan Arukh Yoreh De'ah 359 — English translation

Translation: Code of Hebrew Law by Chaim N. Denburg, Montreal, 1955. Section numbers match the Hebrew text above.

1. 1Wherever it is the accepted custom for women to precede the bier, they may do so; wherever it is the accepted practice to follow the bier, they may do so. II, 4(20b). In Y. the following reasons are advanced for these customs: a) The custom of women preceding the bier is due to the fact that they were the first to cause death in the world (cf. Gen. III); b) The custom of women following the bier is on account of propriety, so that the men should not have to gaze at the women. The latter custom was adopted, for it avoids the possibility of commiting a sin. Cf. San. ibid., Tosaf. s.v. נשים ; Gen. R. § 17, 8 and comment, of MaHaRIF and RaDaL a.l. Now it is customary for them only to follow the bier, and [this custom] should not be changed.
2. 2Women should be withheld from following the bier to the cemetery. par. 1), but they are not permitted to enter the cemetery grounds when the corpse is interred. This is derived from Zohar, Ex. Way-yakhel 196a-b. Cf. Ber. 51a. B.L.Y. rejects this ruling.

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