- published: 02 Jul 2014
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Ohel (Hebrew: אוהל; plural, ohalim, literally, "tent") is a structure built over a Jewish grave as a sign of prominence of the person buried within. Ohalim range from small wooden, brick, or plaster structures to large buildings which include one or more graves and area for visitors to sit and meditate.
The graves of some (but not all) prominent Hasidic Rebbes and Jewish community leaders in Europe, North Africa, America and Israel are covered by an ohel. One or more graves may be included in the same structure. Landmark ohalim include:
Biblical figures and Talmudic sages are typically buried in ohalim:
Ohel may refer to:
A grave is a location where a dead body (typically that of a human, although sometimes that of an animal) is buried. Graves are usually located in special areas set aside for the purpose of burial, such as graveyards or cemeteries.
Certain details of a grave, such as the state of the body found within it and any objects found with the body, may provide information for archaeologists about how the body may have lived before its death, including (but not limited to) the time period in which it lived and the culture that it had been a part of.
In some religions, it is believed that the body must be burned for the soul to survive; in others, the complete decomposition of the body is considered to be important for the rest of the soul (See Bereavement).
The parts of a grave are usually:
Grave cut. The excavation that formed the grave. This can vary from a shallow scraping, to removal of topsoil to a depth of 6 feet (1.8 metres), or more where a vault or burial chamber is to be constructed. However, most modern graves in the United States are only 4 feet deep as the casket is placed into a concrete box which prevents a sinkhole, is strong enough to be driven over, and won't float in a flood.