Chevra Kavod Hamet, Adath's Bereavment Society

Utilizing the Chevra.
Adath‘s nationally-recognized, award-winning Chevra Kavod Hamet, Society to Honor the Deceased, was founded about 38 years ago by congregants who wanted to reclaim the traditional practice of Jewish burial. The Chevra has since become an integral part of the continuum of congregational life. A Chevra funeral offers emotional and spiritual support to bereaved families, while easing financial burden. All congregants are encouraged to consider this option.

The Chevra honors the deceased by providing a traditional
Jewish funeral with a plain wood casket for any Adath member upon request. Families consistently praise the all-volunteer Chevra for providing meaningful, loving care, along with attention to practical needs at a time when it is needed most. Chevra funerals are simple, dignified, and provided at a modest cost.
 
Here are three documents you may find helpful when in need of assistance from the Chevra Kavod Hamet:

1. An Expression of Guidance by which congregants can formalize their wish in advance to use the Chevra Kavod Hamet at their time of need
   
2. An article on Why Should I be a Shomer?
3. A new Chevra booklet, How Do We Prepare For Death? This booklet is a gift of comfort and information not only for those nearing death, but for the living in many ways.

These documents can also be emailed or mailed to you. The Plain Pine Box, a documentary about the Chevra and its work, is available in the Adath library in video, DVD, and book format.

There are 18 Ways You Can Help identified in the Chevra brochure available in the brochure racks at the main entrance and the spine. Volunteers contribute their time and talents to administrative tasks, education, outreach, or ritual participation, whatever is comfortable for them. There is a role for everyone. Join the hundreds of Adath members who provide meaningful emotional and spiritual consolation to those who have experienced a loss.

Volunteer
Volunteers contribute their time and talents to education, outreach, ritual participation, pre-planning and support of Adath’s bereaved families. Specifically, they provide leadership to the Chevra, initiate Chevra services at the time of a death 24/7, perform tahara (ritual purification), sew tachrichim (burial garments), create a beautiful and meaningful work of art for the shmira room, arrange shomrim, and sit shmira (sit with the deceased until burial). Volunteers do not call attention to their Chevra work, consistent with the tradition that those who care for the deceased provide a service for which they cannot be thanked.

Contact Information

To preplan a Chevra funeral, volunteer or host a Chevra speaker, contact Cindy Dubansky at 612.308.0166 or adathchevra@gmail.com.