Life is of paramount importance to the Jewish people and the preservation of life is even more so. For this reason, one could assume that death has negative connotations. This is not the case, because the Jewish people view death as a part of life and God's plan. The following is an overview of practices regarding the period of preparation and mourning in Jewish belief. When a Jew dies, his body is placed on the ground, surrounded by candles and his eyes are closed. The body is never left alone as a sign of respect. Those who remain with the body are called shomerim (guards). Eating, drinking, or performing mitzvot (613 commandments) are prohibited near the body, as such acts would mock the person who cannot do such things. This respect is not only because of their inability to perform such tasks but also because they have lost one of God's most precious gifts, namely life. The presence of a corpse is considered a source of ritual impurity. People who have been in the presence of a dead body wash their hands before entering a house. It is about symbolically eliminating spiritual impurities rather than physical impurities. From here we see the continued respect for the deceased and also the efforts made to keep the body pure and clean of any spiritual impurity so that it is prepared for the afterlife. When preparing for burial, the body is cleaned and wrapped in a clean linen shroud. Jewish law and custom dictate that the person's dress and coffin should be kept simple, so that a poor person receives no less honor than a rich person. By ensuring this, it illustrates to the Jewish people their origins, how they are all children of G-d when deprived of the pleasures of the world. Finally, the body should not...... middle of paper ......e Entry passage: Genesis 2 - Complete Jewish Bible. [online] Available at: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%202&version=CJB [Accessed: March 8, 2014].Chabad.org. 2014. What is the purpose of life? - Kabbalah. [online] Available at: http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/108390/jewish/What-is-Lifes-Purpose.htm [Accessed: March 8, 2014].Jewfaq.org. 2014. Judaism 101: A List of the 613 Mitzvot (Commandments). [online] Available at: http://www.jewfaq.org/613.htm [Accessed: March 7, 2014].Jewishvirtuallibrary.org. 2014. Death and mourning in Judaism | Jewish Virtual Library. [online] Available at: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/death.html [Accessed: March 9, 2014].Religionfacts.com. 2014. Jewish Death and Funeral Rituals - ReligionFacts. [online] Available at: http://www.religionfacts.com/judaism/cycle/death.htm [Accessed: March 9 2014].