Ask the Rabbi Title Visiting the Cemetery Question B'H Custom aside, is there a specific reason rooted in jewish law that: (1) forbids the placing of live (or dead) flowers on a grave? or in the funeral home prior to burial? Also, (2)placing pebble(s) on the gravestone when a gravesite is visited? Is the number of pebbles important? and, is this practice found in both the ashkenazic and sefardic communities? Thank you and shavua tov. Dr. Saul Gefter, Executive Director, Cong. Judaica P'Nei Or Petrępolis Brazil saul@gefter.net Answered by: Rabbi Zohn We are not aware of a Halachic objection to the placing of flowers in a grave. As a matter of custom, this is not done in our communities. It is generally considered to be a gentile practice which has no source in Jewish tradition. Placing a pebble on the monument is customary in many communities. One reason given for this practice is that the pebble is viewed as an addition to the monument and therefore a display of additional memorial to the memory of the deceased. Another reason given for the practice mantains that the pebble is a lasting indication that the grave has been visited and is therefore a showing of respect testifying that the memory of the deceased lives on and is continually honored by visits to the grave. Regardless, the custom is for each visitor to place a single pebble upon the grave per visit.The halacha records several appropriate practices for those leaving the gravesite after the funeral in the end of Yoreh Deah siman 376. Return. Question of the Week pet food Question I have heared that pet foods may require hashgacha. Is this true? why must animals eat kosher? Answer Halacha recognizes two types of forbidden substances. Isurei Achilah, forbidden food from which benefit may be derived so long as they are not eaten and Isurei Hanaah, substances from which we may not benefit in any way. Nearly all pet food contains non-kosher animal proteins. However, it is important to note that while it is certainly forbidden to prepare or serve these pet foods with kosher utensils, one is permitted to feed them to his animals. Check the ingredients! Many pet foods contain beef protein as well as a milk derivative such as casein, rendering the mixture Bassar V'Cholov, a classic example of Isurei Hanaah, which we may not feed to our animals.It should be noted that chicken protein combined with a milk derivative is Bassar V'cholov Derabanan-which is not considered Isurei Hanaah and may therefore be fed to Jewish-owned animals. Most pet foods contain Chometz, another example of Isurei Hanaah. They should not remain in Jewish possession during Pesach.Due to the complexity of the many ingredients one should not rely upon a reading of the ingredient panel or an inquiry with the company to detirmin if a given pet food contains chometz. For year-round use I cannot say that hashgacha is a requirement-provided that the ingredients are checked for Bassar V'cholov. However, the use of an approved product will certianly rule out the danger of unwittingly purchasing a Bassar V'chalav product (the lables are quite similar) and benefiting from it-an Issur D'oraysoh. Evanger's brand of dog and cat foods is approved for pets by the Chicago Rabbinical Council. Though it is not kosher,the CRC certifies that it is free of Bassar V'chalav and Chametz.