Chevra Kadisha
By your side when you have so much to deal with. Burial Preparation. Honoring the deceased with proper respect and dignity.
Who is the Chevra Kadisha?
A dedicated group of Jewish men and women volunteers, known as the Chevra Kadisha, prepare the bodies of deceased Jews for a proper Jewish burial; its final rest until the Resurrection of the Dead in the era of Moshiach.
They carry out this sacred mission purely and discreetly, with the genuine intention of helping another Jew receive a proper Jewish burial.
How is Jewish burial preparation performed?
The two most important elements in preparation for a proper Jewish burial, are showing respect for a corpse, and the Tahara (ritual cleansing) of the body and subsequent dressing for burial.
The Chevra Kadisha oversees the handling of the Jewish body from the location of the death occurrence, ensuring the deceased receives proper respect throughout necessary transports, post-mortem examination or investigation when necessary.
A proper Tahara is a simple, yet dignified ritual that allows the person to meet his Maker with the utmost respect and dignity.
It includes cleansing, ritually washing, dressing the deceased's body in traditional shrouds, and reciting special prayers, beseeching God to lift the soul into the Heavens and eternal rest.