Halacha:

Minhagim 

Collections: Rabbi Weinberger: Visiting The Cemetery

Description

Rav Shreira Gaon dicusses the physical and spiritual responsibilities of the relatives to the neshama (soul) that has departed in order to relieve the neshama of punishments, but not to add zechuyos (merit) to the neshama. A Midrash about Rebbi Akiva says that it is possible for a son to add zechuyos to his father's neshama though his mitzvos. The Rashba says that when we have children who live according to the Torah, we continue to live. Giving tzedakah to poor people has a tremendous power to assist neshamos.