Unveiling of a Matseva (tombstone)

The service at the unveiling of a Matseva (tombstone) at Beth Haim in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel.

A Matseva may only be unveiled on days that techinot are read.
Thus not on Friday afternoon, incoming Rosh Hodesh, Rosh Hodesh, the entire month of Nissan, Yom Ha'atsmaut, Pescah Shenie, Lag Langomer, Yom Jerushalaim, 1 to 12 Siwan, incoming 9 Ab, 9 and 15 Ab, incoming Rosh Hashana, 9 -30 Tishrie, incoming and every day Chamuka, 15 Shebat, 14 and 15 Adar I, incoming Purim, Purim and Purim Shushan.

All gather in the Casa dos Rodeamontos (house of citrclings or Metaher house). In contrast to the mitsva (levaya), there is no singing: all texts are recited.

Recordings: JBS, LAV (Hashcavot) & SVD (tefilla at the grave)

Remarks	Chajim Lanefesh[1]	Booklet[2]	תפילה
Recited	230	1	כל ישראל
Three mishnayot are read			משנה
Recited	230	1	רבי חנניא
Recited	232	1	[3]קדיש דרבנן
Recited	234	2	לכו נרננה
All Psalms are recited verse by verse: first line by chazzan, second by kahal, third by chazzan etc.	134-138	2-5	שיר של יום
Chajim Lanefesh Psalms: 49 & 121, Booklet: 120 & 121[4].	234 & 236	5	מזמורים ק"כ & קכ"א
Only the letters of the first names are recited[5]	200-216	6-12	מזמור קי"ט: שמות
Recited	236	12	ותשועת
Recited (similar to kadish Al Yisrael)	58	12	[3]קדיש יהא שלמא
All go to the grave, where the tefilla *()** is recited. Once finished, the matseva is lowered on the grave or unveiled. See web page about the names.	238	13	א-ל אלוקי הרוחות
Recited verse by verse	234	13	מזמור מ"ט
Recited	240	14	ותשועת
Recited (similar to kadish Al Yisrael)	58	14-15	³קדיש יהא שלמא
Hashcavah is said for the deceased and his/her deceased wife/husband[6] (for Chacham + for Parnaas etc. + any man, woman) See web page about the names.	60 for men 64 for women	15-16	השכבה

	Description, made by LAV (manuscript in Dutch), transcription.
	Printable pdf version of this page

The matseva (tombstone) text and shape need approval by the rabbinate.
An old custom, dating back at least to the 19the century, is to make a small dimple in the stone and fill it with rice. It then fills with rain, attracting birds (visitors?) to the grave. Putting a small stone on a grave is not our custom, although it is sometimes done.

19^th century 20^th century 21^th century

In 17^th and 18^th century we often see the letters SAGDG on tombstones (picture 1). This stands for "Sua Alma Goze Da Gloria", which mans His Soul Enjoys Glory. This is a translation of the common Hebrew text found on many tombstones: תנצבה, which stands for תהי נשמתתו צרורה בצרור החיים

Some end 19th century - early 20th century tombstones have the letters HARIV (picture 2) or ZRZA. According to some, the "A" stand for "Ash". But as we don't cremate, "ash" is not possible.
According to rabbi Serfary, the "A" indeed doesn't stand for "Ash" but rather for the Latin word "Animus", which means "Soul". The word Animus was used in Dutch as a foreign-language word.
Concluding:
HARIV - Haar Animus Ruste In Vrede means: her soul rests in peace.
ZRZA - Zalig Ruste Zijn Animus means: blissful rests his soul.
To avoid future confusion rabbi Serfaty proposes not to use the abbreviation but the words.

picture 1 picture 2

[1] Sefer Chajim Lanefesj, ISBN 90-9002721-1, 1989

[2] Booklet “Het Plaatsen van een grafsteen”, March 1997

[3] Only if there is a minjan.

[4] HRP changed this in the booklet.

[5] E.g. משה בנימין

[6] Notes LAV.

(*) LAV refers the Ashkenazi קצור ספר חיים לנפש edition 1923 page 63. Indeed this text is “strange” and I couldn’t find it in any of our books. Further, London and New York also don’t have it. According to SVD, LAV told him that this was introduced in the 19^th century under kabalistic influences. I didn’t manage to find a conformation for this.