3. Body in Hebraism

In Judaism, corporal body isn’t  adored, neither condemned. Bible represents body as the statue that comes to life grace to divine breath (rùach), spirit of God. Body is made with earth so that first man’s name, Adam, comes from the name Adamàch that calls the fertile earth by which is possible to model a statue. Man comes from divine spirit and matter, holy breath of heaven and earth.
Another biblical image represents corporal body as a palace inhabited by the Lord. So body is the material location of God’s breath, for this reason it should be respected and guarded through rules of purity. Corporal practices and rules define the believer’s state of purity and impurity.
      
Body defines purity and impurity

Positive and negative prescriptions are the way by which the body reaches and guards purity. 613 commandments of which 365 negative and 248 positive, are accepted to keep the covenant between God and his people. The Hebrew word mitzvah ("commandment") refers to precepts and commandments as commanded by God given in the Torah. The main principle of the covenant between God and his people is Kedushà, literally “distinction” between purity and impurity. Jews purity includes both the purity of heart and spirit by moral lows and purity of body by body care. Body becomes the place of corporal and spiritual Kedushà by which Israel is called to be holy through obeying God’s precepts.
It’s important to remember plurality within modern Judaism that shows different costumes in different communities. Attention to body commandments of purity is typical of Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox Judaism.

Orthodox Jewish body care and garb

While Reform Judaism don’t care much about, Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox Judaism pay great attention to dress code.
In Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox Judaism with different level of strictness in these communities, the main principle of dress code is modesty, regardless of gender.
Women wear in general skirts, for an explicit biblical verse against cross-dressing in the Torah; however there are rabbis and communities who are lenient on this issue. The orthodox restrictive dress code includes sleeves that cover the elbows, shirts that cover the collarbone, skirts that cover the knees and clothing that is not too tight-fitting. Married women should also cover their hair, with either a hat, snood, scarf or wig.
For men, a kippah also called "skull cap" is a thin, slightly-rounded skullcap traditionally worn at all times. Its use is associated with demonstrating respect and reverence for God. According to Leviticus verses “Do not clip your hair at the temples, nor spoil the edges of your beard. Do not lacerate your bodies for the dead, and do not tattoo yourselves”, observant Jewish men don’t cut their bear and leave two curls at corners of the face and do not tattoo.

Reform Judaism developments 

Reform Judaism tends to adapt Judaism to the changed social, political, and cultural conditions of the modern world, modifying or abandoning many traditional Jewish beliefs, laws, and practices. The movement began early in the 19th century, in Germany, and is nowadays the largest denomination of American Jews. With Progressive Judaisme it also accounts for the largest number of Jews affiliated worldwide.
While traditionally Judaism is based on matrilineal descent, Reform Judaism accepts the child of one Jewish parent (father or mother) as Jewish if the parents raise the child with a Jewish identity. Gender equality is professed, synagogues don’t present sexual distinctions and some women have become rabbi in several communities. Part of Reform Judaism fully accepts gay and lesbian members celebrating religious wedding for Jewish gay and lesbian couples when allowed by local civil law.

Practices

1. Corporal practice: circumcision of Brit Milah

The first rite of passage in the life of a Jewish male is circumcision, the ritual removal of the foreskin of his penis. This ritual is called brit milah, the “covenant of circumcision” and is essential in all Jewish communities. It takes place eight days after birth and defines the child’s entrance into the covenant God made with Abraham and his descendants.
The Bible says “This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.” (Genesis 17, 10-11).
See source 3 [link]Great

2. Immersion commandments in Orthodox Judaism

Some biblical regulations (see source 2 [link]) specify that full immersion in water is required to regain ritual purity. Hebrew Bible mentions the word mikvah as a specific bath used for the purpose of ritual immersion, literally it means a "collection" of water. Archaeologists have discovered ancients mitvah associated to synagogues.
In Modern Judaism only Orthodox and Conservative communities adhere to the classical regulations of ritual immersion. In these communities ritual bathroom has a decisive importance thus it’s planned and built before the synagogue. Nowadays in Orthodox and Conservative communities ritual immersion in mikvah water is required for Jewish married women to achieve ritual purity after menstruation or childbirth, or for a bride before her wedding; for Orthodox Jewish men it is customary to immerse before Yom Kippur (“Day of atonement”, the holiest day of the year for Jewish people) and married women sometimes do so as well. In the customs of certain Jewish communities, men also use a mikvah before Jewish holidays, and in other Jews groups men have immersion before each Shabbat. Men and women use separate mikvah, or use the same at different designated times.
Modern Orthodox Judaism requires also that vessels and utensils must be immersed in a mikvah before being used for food.
Reform Judaism do not put much importance on mikvah, often allegorizing the meaning of biblical regulations. Most Reform Jews will probably never see a mikvah, however, there are growing trends toward using it for conversions or before wedding.
Generally a total immersion is a part of a traditional procedure for conversion to Judaism regardless of gender in many communities of Reform Judaism as well.

3. Body Care for Dead

When a person dies the eyes are closed and the body is placed on the floor and covered. Candles are lit next to the body that is never left alone until after burial as a sign of respect.
Autopsies are discouraged as desecration of the body but they are permitted, however, where it may save a life or where local law requires it; they should be minimally intrusive.
The presence of a dead body is considered a source of ritual impurity. People who have been in the presence of a body wash their hands before entering a home whether or not he has physically touched the body.
Then the body is thoroughly cleaned and wrapped in a simple, plain linen shroud. Dress and coffin should be simple, without remarkable difference between poor or rich. The body must not be cremated or embalmed. Traditionally no organs or fluids may be removed, but nowadays according to some sources, organ donation is permitted because the subsequent burial of the donee will satisfy the requirement of burying the entire body.
The body must be buried in the earth, and coffins are not required, but if they are used, they must have holes drilled in them so the body comes in contact with the earth.

Links to other Modules’ pages
[link to Hebraism module]