Jewish Headstone Inscriptions

Jewish Headstone Inscriptions

Matzevah is the Hebrew word for the practice of inscribing text to a gravestone. This is done to provide remembrance of an individual who has passed away. Gravestone inscriptions are important in Judaism because of the belief that the physical world is only a transition for the spirit world. The belief is that because the soul continues to live after this life, remembrance of the deceased is important. It is Jewish tradition that burial is not completed until the inscription has been finished.

The Jewish epitaph contains information that is typically inscribed directly into the tombstone in a specific order. First is a Hebrew acronym that stands for “here is buried.” Underneath that will be the deceased’s given name, followed by their hebrew name. Next is inscribed the deceased’s date of death, sometimes with the date of birth as well. Jewish monuments may also include a brief description of the deceased as well as a quote from a prayer written in hebrew letters. Jewish headstones traditionally close with another acronym meaning “may his (or her) soul be bound in the bond of everlasting life”. There are no specific Jewish regulations regarding the sizes and types of foot and headstones, however cemeteries do have specific rules.