 Participating in the needs of a burial or even
walking a distance of six feet behind the coffin at a
funeral fulfills the mitzvah.
 Deuteronomy 34:6; Mishna Peah 1:1; Shabbos 127
 Our sages record that the mitzvah of burying the dead
demonstrates a sincere act of altruism since it cannot be
reciprocated. A "Mais Mitzvah" (a person's remains that
need burying) is a mitzvah that supersedes all others. Even a
Kohen (member of priestly class), who normally is not
allowed contact with the dead, is required to bury a fellow
Jew if there is no one else to do so. The Torah describes a
person as "tzelem elokim," created in the image of G-d and
therefore earthly remains have a sanctity that requires
immediate burial. Jewish law forbids any unnecessary delay
in burial. Cremation is expressly forbidden under any
circumstance
 Participation in carrying the dead, walking before the
coffin, and saying a eulogy for him or her are all further
expressions of this mitzvah.
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