The ceremony of the laying down is called?

• A. Altar
• B. Kriah
• C. Hashkava
• D. Shirma

Answer: (C)

Hashkava is the act of laying the deceased to rest in the coffin and preparing for burial. It literally means “laying down,” and it is a specific ritual in Jewish funeral practice performed as the body is placed in its final resting position, often with prayers or readings.

This differs from kriah, the mourning gesture of tearing one’s garments to express grief, which is done by mourners. It also differs from shmirah, the vigil where someone watches over the body until burial. The term altar isn’t used in this context and doesn’t describe a Jewish funeral rite.