Halacha:

Minhagim 

Collections: Rabbi Weinberger: Visiting The Cemetery

Description

After a person died we can address the soul (Ramah). There is a custom not to go to graves of ancestors because it would appear as if talking to the dead (Beis Brisk, Volozhin, Vilna Gaon, German Jews). Allowed to pray to Hashem at graves in merit of the deceased (Bach). Allowed to go to a Jewish cemetery to pray at grave of tzaddikim who died physically because they are still considered living. When visiting a grave we remember that life is not going to go on forever. We feel humbler and do teshuvah (repent). The dead in the grave speak to Hashem to have pity on the Jewish people. Opinions on speaking to angels for help (i.e. speaking to Hashem via an intermediary).