The Spiritual Activities of Female Ritualists

Death is a mystical journey often made easier by the presence of those who offer prayers and rituals at the gravesite. Often considered a male occupation, I was surprised to discover spiritual activities that are led by female ritualists—zogerins (prayer leaders and shamanesses), shprekherins (exorcists), klogerins (professional mourners and feldmesterins (cemetery and grave measurers).

 

Zogerins led prayers in the women's section of the synagogue while the other professions appear to be cemetery-based, exorcising demons, praying for those who have no one to pray for them and preparers of a gravesite.