Chevra
Kadisha News - Published by Kavod
v'Nichum
Sivan
5762 - May 2002 - Almost Shavuos
Rabbi Mel Glazer from Beth David Synagogue in Miami was
recently elected to the Kavod v'Nichum Board. His Doctor of Ministry thesis from
1995 on the London
Ontario Hevra Kaddisha: A Critical Reflection on the Nature of the Experience To
Those Who Perform It is now on our web site.
It has hundreds of great quotes from Chevra members who do taharah.
HIV is 100 times less infectious than hepatitis B. Want to
know more about the risk of infection when doing Tahara? See The
Infection Hazards of Human Cadavers and Infection
in the Deceased: A Survey of Management, both published in the Communicable
Disease Report from London in 1995.
The Palm Beach Board of Rabbis has engaged a lawyer to
represent their interests in the ongoing developments at Menorah Gardens
Cemetery. The Florida Attorney General has filed criminal charges against the
Cemetery. Stay tuned for more news from Florida.
Available
from the Reconstructionist Rabbinic Assembly is The Journey of Mourning: A
Reconstructionist Guide by Rabbi Richard Hirsh. This 30 page pamphlet
presents and explains traditions and customs with attention to the variety of
ways in which Jewish communities and individual Jews have found meaning in the
rituals. It covers the funeral, the burial, Shiva - the first week, Sheloshim -
the first month, and Yahrtzeit and Yizkor. Additional sections deal with
interfaith family issues as well as Jewish perspectives on afterlife. Copies are
available for $4 for individual copies, $3 for 5-10 copies and • $2 over 10
copies (includes s/h). Order from RRA, 1299 Church Road,
I
Died Laughing - Funeral Education with a Light Touch
by Lisa Carlson is available for $8.75 from Funeral
Consumers Alliance.
Bechoref
Hayamim - In the Winter of Life - is a new publication of the
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College's Center for Jewish Ethics. Subtitled A
Values-Based Jewish Guide for Decision Making at the End of Life, the 200 page
guide offers practical guidance regarding the dilemmas families face at the end
of life and expert insights into Jewish ways of thinking about end of life
concerns regarding spiritual needs and physical care, while remaining accessible
to lay people. Essays address issues including end-of-life technologies and
choices, challenges accompanying diagnosis, the choices faced by decision
makers, end-of-life care and hospice, the end of life, death and mourning. The
book is available at $20 a copy, plus $2.50 s/h from Gari Weilbacher, RRC Public
Affairs Office, gweilbacher@rrc.edu; 215-576-0800 x141.
Our
Chevra of the Month is Chesed Shel Emes,
the Jewish Community Funeral Chapel in Winnipeg Manitoba. (This is near Grand
Forks, ND for those of us who are geographically challenged.) Chesed Shel Emes
is 72 years old and functions as both the community Chevra Kadisha and the
Jewish Funeral Home. Winnipeg has eleven synagogues and four Jewish cemeteries
each with a representative on the Board. Chesed Shel Emes has two buildings
including a chapel which seats 400, and a second building with a preparation
area, a shomer apartment, and offices. They don't own any vehicles, instead
using private companies to do pickups and transport to the cemetery. Chesed Shel
Emes coordinates 200 funerals a year, most within 48 hours of death. One of
their challenges is that the synagogue bereavement committees are underdeveloped
and often don't provide Shiva services or meals of consolation.
The Jewish Funeral
Practices Committee of Greater Washington (JFPCGW) announced that their
funeral contract for the Maryland - Washington DC area will be moved to the
Hines Rinaldi Funeral Home. The contract
provides for a simple traditional funeral including a casket for about $1,545.
The JFPCGW is a 25 year old umbrella group of synagogues in the Washington Area.
Calling all Chevra Kadisha groups. We are building a contact
database. Please let
us know that you exist and how to reach you by completing the contact form
on our website. If any of our readers knows of a Chevra Kadisha, please let us
know how to get in touch with them. If you'd like to do a survey of Chevra
Kadisha groups in your area, let us know that too. We appreciate any assistance.
Kavod v'Nichum wants to give individuals and organizations a
way of showing support for Chevra Kadisha work. We have set a goal to raise $100,000 to match foundation
grants. So, with this issue of Chevra Kadisha News, Kavod v'Nichum announces the
-- Founding Member Campaign. Founding members will be praised and thanked
and listed on our web site. We've set up two category names with suggested
donations amounts for founding members.