According to the Talmud, even the poorest Jew who had become a widower during the first centuries C.E. would engage two flute players and a wailing woman to mourn his dead wife.
Menurut Talmud, bahkan seorang pria Yahudi yang paling miskin pada abad pertama M akan menyewa dua pemain seruling dan seorang wanita peratap sewaktu istrinya meninggal.