Upright Jewish Headstone Styles

Funeral and burial customs vary among Jewish people, depending in part on whether the people in question are Orthodox, Conservative, Reform or Reconstructionist Jews and in part on their personal preferences. Some Jewish people opt for cremation but Jews typically choose burial, either in a Jewish cemetery or a secular cemetery, in keeping with their religious beliefs. Several months after the burial of a loved one, Jewish people typically have an unveiling ceremony in which family members remove a covering from the headstone, unveiling it. Jews traditionally do not visit their loved one's grave until the unveiling ceremony.

Single Headstones

Jewish people may select from a variety of upright headstone styles, including single headstones. People choose single headstones when the stone will mark on one person's grave. They may select large, decorative headstones if they prefer, though more Orthodox Jews may prefer smaller, less decorative stones. Jewish people often select headstones with flat tops because it is customary for visitors to the grave to leave stones atop the headstone, indicating that someone has visited the deceased.

Double Headstones

Some Jewish couples prefer double headstones, in which husband and wife lie beside one another in death and share one headstone. Again, they may choose ornate headstones or simple headstones, in keeping with their personal beliefs and preferences, as well as their budget for such things.

Family Headstones

Some Jewish families choose to erect a family headstone, on which they inscribe the family name. They then bury various family members around the family headstone, marked by small ground stones rather than upright headstones for each family member. Families typically opt for this type of stone when many family members wish to lie near one another in death.

Inscriptions

Jewish people may choose a variety of inscriptions on upright headstones, which typically allow more room for inscription than do ground stones. Jewish headstones often bear inscriptions in both English and Hebrew and include the name of the deceased, the deceased's birth date and the date of the deceased's death. In addition, Rochel Chein of Chabad.org explains that Jewish headstones often bear Hebrew letters which form an acronym for the phrase "But my lord's soul shall be bound in the bond of life with the L-rd your G‑d." A Star of David, the six-pointed star that symbolizes the Jewish faith, may adorn the stones. Jewish people may choose other words or artwork on upright headstones, if they wish.

Sources:

My Jewish Learning. http://www.myjewishlearning.com/life/Life_Events/Death_and_Mourning/Burial_and_Mourning/Tombstone.shtml . The Tombstone, the Unveiling, and Visiting the Grave.

Chabad.org. http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/581489/jewish/What-are-the-Hebrew-letters-on-a-Jewish-headstone.htm . What are the Hebrew Letters on a Jewish Headstone?