According to the Zohar, the Israelites had to endure Egyptian slavery in order to become spiritually purified.

The peacemarker.

A central figure in the development of Jewish mysticism, Luria died at 38 and left behind no significant writings.

The bete noire of the prophet Elijah, this biblical queen has become synonymous with feminine treachery.

Multi-faith families, neonatal loss, autopsies and suicide

The practice of shmirah ensures a body is never left alone before burial.

What you need to know about Judaism's death, mourning and burial practices

The rabbis mandated a simple wooden coffin to equalize people in death and to enable the return to dust.

What to do if you or a loved one wants a final resting place in an Israeli cemetery.

The earliest phase of mourning, aninut, which occurs between death and burial, applies to immediate family members.