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If someone has died, or is close
Any hour of any day. Nothing else needs to be decided before you ring.
Chesed shel emes
We run the Bay Area Chevra Kadisha — the Jewish Burial Society of the Bay Area — a concierge service for the end of life. One call arranges the Taharah, a Shomer, a rabbi, the mortuary, the plot, the Minyan and everything after it. For every Jew, whatever their background, and whatever they can pay.
The ritual washing and the dressing in tachrichim — plain white linen shrouds, the same for everybody, with no pockets. It is done in silence but for the verses that are said, by people who did not know the person and will never say who they were. This is the heart of the whole thing.
From the moment of death until the burial, a Shomer sits with the body reading Psalms, so that the person is never left alone. Through the night, and for as many nights as it takes.
The mortuary, the cemetery, the plot, the rabbi, the timing, the paperwork, the death certificate, the notices, the transport, and getting family in from out of town. We know what each step costs and how long each one takes, and we will make the calls with you or for you.
A minyan in the Shiva house, morning and evening, so that Kaddish can be said. Meals. Somebody to explain the mourning practices as you reach them rather than all at once. What shiva involves and the year of mourning are both written out in full.
The Taharah and the shmirah are given, not sold. They are paid for by people who will never meet the families who receive them, which is exactly what makes this the truest kindness there is — the one the person it is done for can never repay.
Shrouds, the room, the volunteers’ costs, and the burials of Jews who died with nothing all come out of the same place.
If nobody has died and you simply want to understand how this works, or want to plan ahead, write to us here. If it is happening now, ring the number at the top instead.
The Chevra Kadisha has its own site at jmemorial.org, and its own address: info@jmemorial.org. Either reaches the same people as 408-910-2034.
This form is for questions that can wait a day. If someone has died or is close to death, please call rather than write.