חסד של אמת Chessed Shel Emet, RivkA's Funeral

This post is an elaboration of my comment to Jameel's post on RivkA's blog, Coffee and Chemo written after her funeral.  Here's my comment to his post, and following that is my post about the funeral:

Thanks, Jameel,
I was one of the lucky ones to be near the front. I could see what a good friend you are to the family. The friends I traveled with had decided to leave at 11:30 "regardless." That was exactly when the "hespedim" ended, so we didn't see the burial. I understand that it was in the new "vault" section.
All the hespedim were very special, rounding out more of the knowledge of RivkA I lack.
Obviously there's much more.


As one of the speakers said, I trust she's making a balagan up there. We need her energy in Olam Haba, since we in Olam Hazeh are failing.

Soon after RivkA's soul left her body, we received two calls to notify us.  One from Jameel and the other from someone I know in Eli who offered me a ride to the funeral as long as it wasn't going to be on Friday.   I asked if there would be room for a neighbor who knew RivkA from yet another part of her busy life, and then I notified the neighbor.  Later on we got word that it would be a 10pm Saturday night funeral.

Trust G-d to plan things well.  Earlier in the week I had been asked to host our neighborhood Shabbat Shiur Nashim, Women's Torah study class, so as soon as I heard of RivkA's death it was obvious that the learning would be in her memory, לעילוי נשמת l'ilui nishmata, to elevate her soul.  The neighbor who gave the class did his best to connect our RivkA with the Biblical one according to my description of her.

I title this: חסד של אמת Chessed Shel Emet, Charity/Kindness to the Dead, because it's considered the greatest level of giving. That's because the dead can't repay you.  Whenever I see the word אמת emet, true, in this context, I see it with an added "vov," making it אמות amoot, "I will die."  We will all die at one time. That's the truth and the only absolute.  The mitzvah of חסד של אמת Chessed Shel Emet, Charity/Kindness to the Dead is a vital chain which we must never break.


RivkA, ZaTza"L, as young as she was, knew that her life would probably be much shorter than the ideal 120 years, performed her חסד chessed charity/kindness with a zeal rarely seen.  Her blog gave strength and inspiration to others.  Her family, Moshe, the children, her parents, siblings etc and f2f friends have volumes of stories to tell about all the wonderful things she accomplished in her much too short life.  RivkA wasn't out there to get paid.  She lived as fully as possible doing חסד chessed charity/kindness, because it must be done before one dies.

I stood inside the בית הספדים  Beit Hespedim Eulogy Building.  I was almost touching distance to her covered body.  For those who have never been to or seen an Israeli Jewish funeral, you should know that according to Jewish Law there is no coffin.  We are buried wrapped in cloth so that our bodies can return to nature as quickly as possible.  The body is carried on a stretcher which is held by male family members and close friends.  The Givat Shaul, Jerusalem, בית הספדים Beit Hespedim Eulogy Building has a small closed off room at the front where the family members can depart from the dead in private. 

When they were ready, Moshe and their son (with others holding the sides and back of the stretcher) led her out and gently placed her on the platform.  Then various men and women were called to say their parting words. It built up, each one added various perspectives on RivkA.  Finally the family, her father, brother and Moshe all spoke.

A few people recorded it, and I trust that Jameel will get the recordings posted on her blog and possibly facebook, too.  I don't trust myself to summarize what was said.  Most of the people spoke in English.  I'm sure there will be some translation of the Hebrew hespedim, eulogies.

HaMakom y'nachem...
May G-d comfort the mourners...