Chevra Kadisha

Burial Society

When the family chooses the option of tahara (ritual purification), members of our Chevra Kadisha cleanse and dress the body and place it in the aron (coffin). The Pacific Gardens Chapel, owned by Gary Benito and Vince Azzaro, have graciously provided us with all we need to perform this sacred rite.

The tradition of tahara is centuries old and is currently seeing a resurgence in the Reform Movement, as each community develops its own burial society to suit the needs of its members. Honoring the body in this way is a profoundly shared experience. 

"Being a member of this group is the most profound part of my life as a Jew. The effect of moving through the prescribed ritual for preparing a beloved body for burial, wordlessly, simply, is difficult to describe. . ." LM

"It's a blessing, an honor, a gift, to be able to participate in the mitzvah of traditional Jewish burial rites. I feel connected to all the generations of Jews who have died and been buried this way. Truly holy and sacred." JL

". . .but what I treasure most is how, in meaningful simplicity, a dedicated circle of women gently release a soul and bid farewell with plastic buckets, rubber gloves, and full hearts." LF

For information, contact Holly Blue Hawkins or Rabbi Paula Marcus