My grandmother just passed away this morning and is being buried in the Jewish tradition. Since therefore we must bury her by sundown tomorrow, we’re trying to throw together a nice service. One of her favorite songs was Amazing Grace, and a family member asked me to sing a few verses at the service. However, I know it is typically associated with Christianity and I’m not sure if it would be appropriate. If I do sing it, I plan on only singing the first three verses, since there is no reference to Jesus in those first three verses.
Just as a footnote, I myself am a baptized Roman Catholic and have absolutely nothing against Christianity, Jesus Christ, or the song Amazing Grace (one of my favorites actually). I just don’t want to perform the song if it’s going to offend some of my Orthodox Jewish relatives who will be in attendance.
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I love the song & can understand why your grandmom liked it. At first I didn’t know what to say, but my conclusion is to err on the side of caution. It may be quite nice & uplifting, but the downside risk of hurting feelings badly — over a song — isn’t worth it.
As I think further, I’m Reform Jewish, not Orthodox, & I wouldn’t want it played at my funeral. Even though I have the song bookmarked, & listen to it once in a while because it’s so beautiful. It touches on a human condition. But if even I without Orthodox observance, wouldn’t want it because it’s theme isn’t totally consistent with my life & beliefs…I wouldn’t suggest it.
What about a Jewish song? Hatikvah, or Shalom Rav, or …I’m not good at thinking of songs. I’ll star for other Jewish folks to spot.
if your grandmother, God rest her soul, found comfort in the song, no doubt the family will to.
I fail to see how anyone can find offense with grace, let alone Orthodox Jews.
Grace is hardly a foreign concept to the old testament.
the song was penned by a slave trader as I recall who saw one night how wrong his line of work was.
there is no mention of Christ in the song.
Peace
well,firs i wanna send my condolences,i’m sorry 4 you .
it’s really thoughtful from you do ask a q like this.
look,i love this song,i didnt know it had a special connection to christianity-maybe there are some versions to the song.
i’m jewish ,i love the song and if your grandma loved it-i cant c a reason why not to sing this in her funeral.
i think it will honor her if you sing it!
You need a definitive answer from a Jewish person, but I’d think that it would taken oddly. Grace is the doctrine of Christianity that says God forgives us all of our sin, if we trust in Jesus Christ. You can’t separate Jesus from the concept of Grace in the same way you can’t separate the concept of jihad from Islam — it’s unique to the belief.
It would be better if you did not sing. Your grandmother is in the world of truth. IF Judaism is the truth, then imagine how it might hurt her spiritually to have something like that sung at her funeral.
I don’t think it would be at all appropriate.
That said, if it gives you comfort to sing it maybe you could sing it after the funeral while thinking of the times you shared.
Just let it be known at the funeral that your grandmother enjoyed the song and that she’d appreciate the song being sung at the funeral. Most people would understand
Since you won’t ask the officiating rabbi, go ahead and sing.
Usually no, but since she wanted it, do it.
If you do not want to shock people and destroy your grandma’s funeral, you should better not sing.
At Jewish funerals one does not sing. The Chazzan generally does the funeral service which will be very short if you compare it with Christian funerals in the hall and relatives might say a bit about the person who died, then, after El Male Rachamim the coffin and the guests go to the grave while Psaum 91 is said and the whole mouring community stopps during this seven times. When the coffin is in the ground, the Chazzan takes three shovels of earth and puts it in, after him the relatives and the child of your grandmother has to tear a bit of the cloth he/she is wearing. When the coffin is no longer to see, one male decendant says Kaddish and after that the guests fill the grave with earth until it is fully closed. Then the guests form two rows, and the entire family leaves the grave by passing through it.