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Home  »  Taharah Demonstration

Taharah Demonstration Video
with Extensive Question and Answer Session

Featuring Rick Light and Members of the
Atlanta Chevrah Kadisha

Filmed at the 8th Annual Kavod v’Nichum North American
Chevrah Kadisha and Jewish Cemetery Conference
June 6th, 2010, in Atlanta, Georga


Rick Light developed a step-by-step taharah training Powerpoint presentation for the June 2006 Chevrah Kadisha and Jewish Cemetery Conference. This Powerpoint has been used again in many conferences since then.

At the 2010 Conference, the taharah demo was filmed.  During the demo, Rick refers to a Powerpoint slide show. The video, however, does not capture the detail of the Powerpoint, so it is recommended to open the Powerpoint PDF file separately on your computer or in a different browser window. This way, you can refer to the Powerpoint appropriately as you watch the video.

Below you will find this demo divided into five video recordings, each approximately 30 minutes in length. The first recording plus half of the second one comprise the demonstration itself. The remainder of Part 2 and Parts 3-5 are the question and answer discussion following the demo.

Together, the Powerpoint and the video, provide the best taharah visual teaching tools available. To view the these videos, click on the link and enter the password: gamliel2


Taharah Training Powerpoint      (download or view of PDF file)

Taharah Training Video – Part 1

Taharah Training Video – Part 2

Questions included in Part 2:

    • fluid flows
    • medical devices
    • showing respect
    • false teeth
    • organ and tissue donations
    • autopsy
    • leader’s responsbility
    • discussing issues in advance
    • taharahs for murder victims
    • suicides
    • right to taharah
    • young people participating
    • observers
    • buckets or pitchers
    • halacha vs minhag

Taharah Training Video – Part 3

Questions included in Part 3:

    • tefila translations

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Taharah Training Video – Part 4

Questions included in Part 4:

    • shomer as a lead-in to taharah
    • distinction between rechitza and taharah
    • egg and vinegar
    • muslim traditions – rose water
    • family members watching or participating
    • identification viewing
    • chevra as policeman
    • debriefing
    • at the head of the meit/a
    • seeing the face after the taharah
    • identification before taharah
    • open caskets
    • taharah for someone being cremated
    • assimilation
    • reform taharah teams
    • ethical wills

 Taharah Training Video – Part 5

Questions included in Part 5:

    • non-Jews helping
    • instructing non-Jews
    • standing at the head
    • facing the body
    • pants vs. robe
    • ripping tachrichim
    • does minhag override halacha
    • taharah for someone well known
    • taharah for someone you know
    • reading the obituary
    • spiritual impact
    • reaction to seeing a dead body
    • making a taharah “not rote”

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