Chevra Kadisha

Chevra Kadisha
The truest Jewish act of kindness that can never be repaid is honoring our dead. Stamford's Chevra Kadisha does just that. The Chevra Kadisha volunteers provide the important service of making sure that Jewish individuals are properly prepared for burial and are properly attended to until internment.

Chevra Kadisha means "Sacred Society," but it is more commonly translated as "Jewish Burial Society." The tradition of having a Chevra Kadisha goes back more than 2000 years (in Stamford, more than 100 years). As Jewish communities formed throughout the world, a Chevra Kadisha was one of the first groups to be organized in each community. It was, and is, considered a great honor to be a member, and its work is considered nothing less than holy. Their work is called chesed shel emes, the ultimate good deed, since they can never be repaid for their kindness. Indeed, they are often called upon to serve with little or no notice, since they must spring into action promptly upon death.

The primary function of a Chevra Kadisha is the preparation and burial of the deceased in accordance with Jewish law (halachah). The three major aspects of the work are: Shmira (maintaining a vigil so that the deceased's body is never left alone, it is designed to comfort the neshama (soul) before it ascends to heaven); Tahara (the preparation of a deceased's body involving washing and dressing, by someone of the same gender, accompanied by prayers seeking forgiveness from the deceased and asking for eternal peace), and Tachrichim (clothing the body in shrouds of simple, hand-made, white linen, and, if appropriate, a tallit). Notably, the Tachrichim are in the form of a hat, shirt, pants, shoes, coat and belt, but do not have pockets signifying that no material possessions go along on the final journey. The garments are modeled on the uniform that the Kohen Gadol (high priest) wore into the Holy Temple once a year on Yom Kippur.

Once a year, Chevra Kadisha organizations throughout the world gather to remember those who have passed away during the previous year. This date is always in the month of Adar, which is the month of Moses' birth and death. Stamford's Chevra Kadisha commemorates its dead each year with a gathering and dinner. The Chevra Kadisha also conducts training sessions for those interesting in assisting in this worth cause.

Information concerning the Chevra Kadisha, its operations and programs may be obtained by contracting Agudath Sholom's office during normal business hours.