When attending a funeral, a person is already grieving the loss of a friend or a family member, on top of that if one has no clue about what to say or do at the funeral, it can get very stressful. Knowing the proper funeral etiquette helps a person to conduct himself properly at a funeral and can save him from getting into awkward situations. So, if you are attending a Jewish funeral and are thinking what would be the proper Jewish funeral etiquette, then here are some tips to ease your confusion. Appropriate Jewish Funeral Etiquette The first thing that you should do is to find out where the memorial service will be held. Some Jewish families have this at the funeral home, some at the cemetery while others hold it at the synagogue. So, it is always better to ask the family where the memorial service is going to take place. Jewish Funeral Etiquette : Dress Jewish are very traditional people so it is very important that a person dresses conservatively and follows an appropriate funeral etiquette. Clothing for men should be a coat and a tie, while women should wear a dress which is well below the knees with shoulders completely covered. Read more on funeral wear. Jewish Funeral Etiquette : Flowers According to Jewish traditions and customs, funeral flowers should not be sent or given to the mourning family. In fact, any effort to make the family cheerful should not be made. Orthodox Jewish funeral etiquette says that the family should be left to mourn their loss. sympathy flowers Jewish Funeral Etiquette : What to Say A person should not initiate a conversation, instead he should wait for the family members to say something. Once the family members have spoken something, a person should console them and talk to them about the decedent. Traditionally, the guests are supposed to praise the decedent and share their memories with the family members and other people present. A person is also expected to ask the family whether they need any kind of help. Read more on funeral - what to say. When a person attends the funeral service and the burial, he should attentively listen to the eulogies, even if he does not understand them. He should show respect when prayers are being offered and listen to them. sympathy flowers During the burial, a person should participate in filling the grave with dirt. When holding the shovel, it should be seen to it that it is pointed downwards. Three shovelfuls of dirt should be put in the grave by one person. When a person is finished with it, he should keep the shovel in the dirt and should not hand it over to anyone else present. After leaving the graveside, he should wash his hands symbolizing cleansing. Read more on Jewish death rituals funeral flowers. This was in short about the Jewish funeral etiquette. After the burial, according to Jewish custom, the family should be given a period of seven days to mourn their loss. This morning period, known as "Shiva" is an essential grieving tradition followed by the family of the decedent. When this mourning period is over, a person can contact the family through telephone and ask them permission to visit their house. When visiting the mourning house, a person should never go empty handed. He should take gifts such as fruit baskets or some kosher foods and offer them to the family. When visiting the family, a person should sit on seats which are of regular, average height. The other seats which are low lying, are meant for the family members who are mourning. A person should console the family members and offer them his sympathy and support in bearing their loss.