The Shomer

The Shomer is a film that demystifies Jewish death rituals. These rites are elaborate and precise. The head of the Chevra Kadisha (Jewish Burial Society) explains these traditions in a very straightforward manner. His compassion for the deceased makes this film compelling viewing. The customs and the reasons behind them are eloquently explained. There are no fancy coffins, fine clothes to be buried in or funeral directors fighting for your business. Everybody is treated the same. For most people, including Jews, this would be the first time they would have seen many of these rituals. It is a compliment to the filmmakers that they have produced such a gripping film on a topic that is not usually talked about.

"I see death everyday. People don't see death," reflects Ephraim Finch in The Shomer.

And he's correct. In the fast-paced, modern, twenty-first century Western world, we do all that we can to avoid seeing death. Magazines sell us wrinkle cream promising to give us the appearance of eternal youth; we lie about our age as we get older; grey hairs are banished with hair colourants; we pop vitamin pills and eat margarine fortified with Omega 3 and hope that death is a long way off. But that is all a lie. Death is inevitable for every one of us, and the precious few moments we are allotted should be valued and cherished: let us be mindful of their evanescence. "Live in this world as if you are a traveller passing through," said Prophet Muhammad.

Jews and Muslims are cousins in faith, and many of the practices are shared as two members of an extended family might have the same hair colour, gait or sense of humour. So as a Muslim, I watched The Shomer as an outsider, yet with a strange sense of familiarity. We too show deep respect for the modesty of our dead; we too lovingly wash them as if preparing them for prayer; we too wrap them in simple shrouds; we too shun ostentatious coffins.

The sense of community and connection that Jews feel for each other is palpable in the work that the Shomer does, preparing each body for burial with the same simple and ancient customs that have been passed down through generations. It is this juxtaposition between the modern, clinical, stainless steel environment of the preparation room, and the Hebrew calligraphy on the wall that seems 4000 years old, that is most striking. So too, the wisdom with a hint of sadness etched on Ephraim Finch's face, as someone who faces death everyday.

All three of us (Judith-Ann, Brian, Senja - not pictured) "liked" The Shomer the most in so far as having something of spiritual significance to say.

Brian:
This was a gentle reality check on death; from a Buddhist perspective it is a reaffirmation of impermanence. It gives an honest interpretation of the transition of life to death and shows how death is indeed the great leveller.

The question to viewers would be how best should bodily remains be treated?

Senja:
This movie contained lots of wisdom on death and the movie of life. It offered a view of ritual and traditional, with a focus on the mind. I liked that it related to death in a down to earth simple way while keeping the spiritual practice alive. It was pleasant and educational and gave a glimpse of a greater/broader view of reality that embraces death.

Judith-Ann: Loving kindness is a primary tenet in Buddhism and I found it both interesting and reaffirming that this and respect for the individual are the two underlying aspects to the rituals and practices undertaken within Judaism. Though the rituals are a bit different, the approach to death and life in Judaism and Buddhism are similar in that life is transitional, death is real, and loving kindness is an important part of both. I enjoyed that the Rabbi had such a no-nonsense sense of both respect for the dead and his work, yet maintained a gentle sense of humour about both.

Audience question: How do the rituals surrounding death affect you personally?

Brian S. Ashen
President, Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils

Senja Antilla
Professional Organizer and
Buddhist Practitioner, Hawaii

The Shomer is of considerable spiritual significance but has less creative content. It raises important questions about the source of human religions, rituals and cultures.

It records successfully the activities of a Jewish undertaker - a subject totally foreign to most of us. He is very open and honest about a career many would cringe from. The pauper and the rich man are treated equally - all get a plain pine coffin, devoid of brass fittings. And the rich man's crowd are asked to flesh out the poor man's few mourners. Male bodies are prepared my men, women by women.

What does the title mean? A little research shows a "Shomer" can mean a paid custodian. It can also mean a stamper of carcasses in an abattoir. But shomer can also mean something spiritual - such as when the undertaker says "...when He decides to take the soul and the shomer back". It would be nice to explain.

My most lingering impression (as a secularist) was the lack of concern about where the rituals come from. For example, the bodies are dipped in holy water, dressed in white garments, and sprinkled with soil from the Holy Land. Most Jewish funerary rituals are based on the Torah (a holy book inspired by God), and the undertaker makes several references to a divine being, as in taking the soul back. But he never mentions the Jewish bibles - either he has accepted the human origins, or he doesn't care. To me, this is a momentous question - either God laid down these pointless rules, different for every sect and era on earth, which can only be some sort of joke. Or religions, morals and rituals are manmade - the product of the huge variety of human cultures.

There is a more sinister procedure. The undertaker binds himself with straps and tefillin (leather box containing sacred parchments), producing discomfort or even pain. He is then high on religion, without drugs. I suspect there is a grey area between such rituals, and masochistic rituals such as the flagellation, stigmata and tortuous pilgrimages seen in other religions. What worries me is this: if they are willing to harm themselves in the name of their One True God, then would they hesitate to harm others? Especially those who believe only in false gods?

[Indigenous] The Shomer was the Campfire winner for me. I see many similarities in Judaic culture and Aboriginal traditional ways and this film offers insight into an area often unseen and misunderstood by many. The Rabbi communicates with humor and clarity explaining in laymen's terms why ritual and ceremony coupled with strict gender protocols exist in all ancient cultures. I reckon he allows us through this film to gain greater insight into how ancient cultures pay respect to the one guaranteed destiny for us all, transition.