I know ppl put stones on graves when they visit, but what is the meaning of this?
I always liked that, but I never knew why they did it.
Any religious ppl around?
Thanx
loons
There are lots of reasons; probably some do it for one reason, soome for another:
[list=1]
[li]It’s traditional[/li][li]It shows that someone has visited the grave[/li][li]In areas where anti-Semitism is or was rife, placing a pebble on the grave stands in place of erecting a tombstone that might desecrated by the authorities or by vandals[/li][li]It symbolically weights down the portion of the soul (the nefesh, IIRC) that remains in the grave and prevents it from following mourners home[/li][li]It is said (i.e,, I doubt if this is more than a story) that a certain Hasid wanted his grave stoned in atonement for having violated the Sabbath (although by doing so he saved lives). The local Jewish community decided that all graves would have stones placed on them, in recognition that no one could claim to be better than he.[/li][/list=1]
Take your pick.
thanx 