the Hebrew word for “funeral” – it’s not לווייה…
הלוויה
Looks like “Hallelujah”, doesn’t it?
Actually, the word printed above is הַלְוָיָה (hahl-vah-YAH), and it means funeral.
In Yiddish it’s called a לְוָיָה (le-VAH-yah). Of course, this word comes from the same Hebrew root – ל.ו.ה (l.v.h.) – which carries the concept of escorting, but the Modern Hebrew usage is הלוויה.
I introduce this word today as yesterday (actually, it’s taking place as I write) was the funeral of Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, one of the spiritual leaders of the Jewish people in this generation.
Here’s a picture from the הלוויה, which shows both National-Religious-identified Jews and Haredi-identified Jews carrying together the body of הָרָב אֵלִיָהו (hah-RAHV eh-lee-YAH-hoo), זִכְרוֹנוֹ לִבְרָכָה (zeekh-roh-NOH leev-rah-KHAH) – may his memory be a blessing. This type of unity is becoming more and more the norm.
