The series focuses on the evolution of Jewish language, literature, communal life and religious ideology outside of the Land of Israel and in relation to it. The approach is inter-disciplinary with an emphasis on mutual influences between Jews and their non-Jewish environment. The series welcomes studies that span different periods and a variety of geographical areas.This volume examines in inter-disciplinary perspective the degree to which the medieval Ashkenazi were innovative in the area of communal activity surrounding burial and mourning customs. The topics cover liturgical poetry as well as statutory prayers; confessions, final testimonies and acts of charity; funeral and mourning rites; the influences of the surrounding non-Jewish; the effects of major acts of persecution."Der von Reif, Lehnardt und Bar-Levav herausgegebene Band bietet einen umfassenden und sehr anregenden Einblick in ein Forschungsfeld, das innerhalb der Judaistik zu Unrecht (noch) ein Randphänomen darstellt."Susanne Talabardon in: Theologische Literaturzeitung 5/2016
