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New Community Chevra Kadisha

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New Community Chevra Kadisha For the Community The New Community The New Community Chevra Kadisha is available to individu- Chevra Kadisha als, schools, congregational com- mittees and other community of groups to provide information and educational programs about Greater Pittsburgh the ancient Jewish practice of taharah. We are happy to discuss our mis- sion and the work of the chevra kadisha. The details associated with any specific taharah are kept in the strictest confidence to maintain respect for the de- If you are interested in becoming a ceased and their loved ones. member of the New Community Chevra Kadisha, for further information, or to make a donation, please contact: The Ultimate The New Community Chevra Phone: (412) 422-8044 Kadisha is a volunteer organi- Address: c/o 6441 Forward Avenue Kindness zation working in consultation Pittsburgh, PA 15217 The highest act of gemilut with rabbis from the Conserva- Email: [email protected] chesed (deeds of loving- tive, Reconstructionist and Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/ kindness) is that which is done Reform movements in the NCCKPGH/ greater Pittsburgh area. for the dead, for there can never be any thought of Contributions to the NCCK are repayment. used to further the work and the Tanhuma Vayehi 107A educational activities of the Some material in this brochure is adapted from NCCK. publications of Kavod v’Nichum, the chevra kadi- sha groups of Evanston, IL, and Yonkers, NY, and the Hebrew Free Burial Association of NY, NY. The New Community Chevra Kadisha What is a About the What We Do New Community A chevra kadisha is always on call to Chevra Kadisha? carry out the sacred task of preparing Chevra Kadisha the deceased for burial. When a family In Judaism we believe that all individu- requests a taharah, the funeral home or als have innate dignity, a spark of the The mission of the New Community rabbi notifies the chevra kadisha. At the divine. We are all said to be created in Chevra Kadisha (NCCK) is to: funeral home the chevra kadisha per- God’s image. Judaism holds that death forms the taharah ritual with k’vod does not remove this holiness. Our Perform the taharah ritual in the Jew- hamet (respect for the dead), ensuring bodies retain a remnant of the divinity ish community of greater Pittsburgh. that the traditions of preparing the they once housed. Jewish burial rituals body for Jewish burial are carried out. A Provide an opportunity for all interest- emphasize that all people enter the chevra kadisha’s greatest concern is the ed members of the greater Pittsburgh world as equals and that we leave the sensitive care and dignity of the de- Jewish community to perform the world as equals as well. ceased. mitzvah of taharah. This mitzvah is Taharah, the ritual purification of the the ultimate act of chesed shel emet Members of the chevra kadisha wash dead, is a beautiful and powerful, cen- (true kindness) that one Jew can offer the deceased. The ritual purification turies-old Jewish burial tradition. to another. involves a gentle pouring of water over Death is a part of the cycle of life. Just the body and the recitation of a tradi- as a newborn is washed and dressed so, Act as a resource for the greater Pitts- tional chant. The deceased is dressed in too, the deceased is respectfully burgh Jewish community for education tachrichim (simple white burial gar- washed and dressed in preparation for about the rituals and traditions related ments), wrapped in a cloth, and placed leaving the physical world. to dying, death and funerals. in the aron (casket). Throughout the taharah process the chevra kadisha re- The NCCK adheres to traditional taharah Performing the taharah ritual is the cites special blessings, prayers, and practices. Members of the NCCK repre- work of the Chevra Kadisha, the readings selected from Torah, Proph- sent a diverse spectrum of congregational Sacred Society. ets, and the Song of Songs. affiliations and individuals from the great- er Pittsburgh Jewish community. We wel- Out of respect, the chevra kadisha asks come any member of the Jewish commu- for forgiveness from the deceased and nity who wishes to perform the mitzvah of offers prayers for the soul’s eternal taharah. peace. The aron is then closed. .
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