Chevra Kadisha Development
Cemetery desecration, such as at Menorah Gardens Cemetery in South Florida, the purchase of many Jewish funeral homes and cemeteries by large multi-national corporations, and the lack of understanding of the baby boomers about Jewish funeral and burial traditions have elevated death and dying issues onto the Jewish agenda. Yet there is little Jewish response by the synagogue movements, rabbis or the federations.
A comprehensive Chevra Kadisha development program is important because it touches so many aspects of Jewish life. Marginal congregants are drawn into the synagogue. Active congregants find this type of volunteer activity rewarding at the practical and spiritual, economic and religious levels. Every synagogue member can contribute and every member will benefit. Helping bereaved families with logistics meets an immediate need. Helping them through their grief provides a special physical and spiritual bond that can be the foundation for a strong synagogue community.
Chevra Kadisha work encourages heightened cooperation between the different branches of Judaism. Synagogues see strengthened intergenerational continuity. Leaders will see new educational and economic opportunities for their Jewish institutions. Individuals will deepen their spirituality and appreciation for life.
The Chevra Kadisha movement is blossoming throughout the United States and Canada. When we experience a death in our family we know that the intercession of the Chevra Kadisha lifts the burden of making arrangements and provides us the space to focus on the memories of our loved ones and the attendant emotions. Bereavement is an emotional and spiritual journey, fraught with physical and psychological barriers. Bereavement is also an opportunity for growth and service. There can be no higher mitzvah than the work of honoring the dead and comforting the bereaved. The work is chesed shel emet, an act of loving kindness, because the dead cannot return that kindness.