JEVRA KADISHA - Dresses for Eternity

Translated from the Israel Museum website

An exhibition on the clothing of the dead can cause some discomfort; like all matters relating to death, it is a topic we would rather not think about. However, by choosing to focus on this sensitive topic, we discover a fascinating world.
This exhibition of shrouds follows on from previous ones that showcased clothing and fashion from Jewish culture.
As with the clothing of the living, the history of the changing shape of shrouds exemplifies the transition from traditional dress, unique to each community, to unification.

In the past, shrouds were sewn by members of the community, in some cases by the very people for whom they were ultimately intended. How did these garments come to the Museum? When did the tradition of making shrouds begin? Is it customary only among Jews? What elements does a shroud set contain? Why are shrouds almost always white, why are they made of cotton or linen, and what can we learn from the differences between shrouds from different communities?

Join us on a journey in which the specimens - mostly taken from the Israel Museum's rich collection of costumes - will reveal the answers to these and other questions. Perhaps, as we leave the exhibition, we will reflect a little more on the idea that death - including shrouds - is a natural continuation of life.

The exhibition was open from February 2023 to March 2024.
If you want to know the answer to some of the questions in this introductory text, you can speak to someone at the Atid Chevra Kadisha.