Lakota and jewish Death practices

Gail is teaching World religion. Just finished a section on Indigenous people-using Lakota as an example. Here is
Lakota Native American tribe "Keeping the Soul" ceremony.-Death practice

The White buffalo woman (messianic figure who is credited with giving Lakota their ceremonies. As part of their original ceremony asked them to make an alter of red earth.

Main "shma" like statement of lakota is "We are all related" -all creation. Our value is ohave habriote-love all creation.

There is no word for religion-their life is completely interwoven with "religion."

When someone dies, they are buried but a lock of their hair is cut, purified over burning sweet grass or sage, the sacred pipe is smoked, (the human acts a bridge, the exhaled smoke goes up to the spiritual realm-it functions as a portable alter) the hair is then wrapped in a piece of buckskin and put in the care of a designated soul keeper. The soul keeper, is someone who volunteered for this duty, a family member or a close friend. In order to fulfill this requirement, they have to live in state state of purity and harmoniously, for a year. The soul bundle is kept in the tee pee of the soul keeper. After a year, the bundle is taken outside, the sacred pipe is smoked , the bundle is opened and the soul is released to be reunited with the GREAT SPIRIT. The soul is judged and the soul may be sent for correction before it can join with the Great Spirit and ancestors. It is a place of bliss

1.Jewish-family members must say kaddish for deceased for a month 3x a day, except for parents which is 11 months.
2. Soul is judged (Maimonides principle of faith 11 of 13.
3. Afterwards, soul lives in Olam Habah, world-to-come-with God, in a state of bliss.