Is there anyone Jewish/Or Not on MN who could answer this question

[Radley]

I have just been watching a programme where there was a funeral for a jewish gentleman.

At the interrment, stones were placed on the coffin by people attending the ceremony.

I am really interested to know what this symbolises/means.

Thanks

i believe it is a respect thing, to show that someone has visited and remembered you, i am not sure, i do it whenever i go to the cemetery, i will double check now. just one of those things i do,without really being sure why !

it is a respectful tradition

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am indeed, shosha. don;t practice a lot,erm, at all really , but brought up with all the traditions ...

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yup. not jewish but dh is...

I am culinarily Jewish
Yes, it is a mark of respect and to show that the grave has been visited. Someone also told me it is to symbolically "bury" the person as well.

Likewise Jewish people don't put flowers on the grave or send flowers to those in mourning. It's more common to send just a card and/or food and/or make a donation.

The custom comes from the rock being a symbol of the circle of life. Flowers wilt and die and the symbolism to that would be that it would suggest a finality in death, which is not something consistent with Jewish belief. We believe that spiritually speaking life is eternal. Not to mention it is also a symbol that living creatures are born and then die in a continuous cycle of life and this is something we must remember at a time of death or visiting those that have passed. A rock is something permanent and everlasting, it does not wilt and die. It is for the same reasons that there is absolutely no custom in Judaism of sending flowers to the family of the deceased. During the mourning phase visitors bring food and drink to the family of the deceased, never flowers.