The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz

Essay by chillum420High School, 12th grade January 2005

download word file, 2 pages 4.6

In "The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz" we get to watch Duddy grow up, see many Jewish traditions, the ritual of the bar-mitzvah, the Jewish food and the funeral rites observed by the people of his faith.

Funerals have many different procedures depending on the person's religion and their wishes. Judaism, like other religions, does have many laws and traditions regarding funerals and mourning. There are seven immediate family members who are expected to attend the mourning period. The seven members are not allowed to wear leather shoes, put on makeup or perfume, shave, cut their hair, or take a bath. All mirrors in their houses are covered and the mourners have to sit on low stools or on the floor. It's custom to start the burial as quickly as possible. It is considered discourteous to delay the burial process. Jewish people do not have a wake, cremation is not allowed in the Jewish law since their bodies were given to them as a gift from God.

They are expected to take care of themselves and return it in the best of condition. Autopsies are also not allowed according to the Orthodox law. In the novel "The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz" it however does not explain about the Jewish funerals, it only states "Your uncle Benjy died at three o'clock this morning. He passes away in his sleep and he didn't suffer". They try put it very lightly so that it sounds more peaceful.

The Jewish law states a boy is a bar-mitzvah when he turns thirteen and reaches his adulthood. A Jewish girl becomes a bat-mitzvah when she turns twelve. Girls achieve the adulthood a year earlier than boys since they are considered to be more emotionally and physically matured. The term bar-mitzvah means "Son of...