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Hi. I am sorry if this is redundant, but after reading the responses to this TARGET, I feel I have to add a bit more, and clear up some facts. Placing rocks on tombstones is a Jewish tradition. It is not associated with any holiday, but is done whenever one visits a grave site. The origins of it are not exactly known, though the desert burial explanation makes a lot of sense. The_Jewish book of why_ says, "This is a symbolic act indicating that members of the family and friends have not forgotten the deceased." Not so helpful. _A time to mourn, a time to comfort_ by Ron Wolfson, says "Many leave some grass or sod on the grave and a stone on the marker as a sign of reburial." This makes sense, because it is a "mitzvah" (commandment/good deed) to give the dead a proper funeral. By placing a rock, you get "credit" for the mitzvah. I remember reading somewhere that it is a superstition, but I can't find the source. My father told me that the reason Jews leave a stone, is that it is a non-Jewish custom to leave flowers, so Jews don't do that. Of course, that is not completely true today. Sorry I couldn't have been more helpful, I hope this clears thing up some. Yapha Nussbaum izzypg7@mvs.oac.ucla.edu