BEIT EMANUEL
Progressive Synagogue
END OF LIFE
“The Eternal has given and The Eternal has taken away.” (Job 1:21)
There is perhaps no time when the support of a rabbi and a religious community is more important in a person’s life than at a time of mourning. For this reason, the death of a loved one is an occasion when a member of the shul is available to help members at any time of the day or night. For the full information of the process Click Here.
What To Do In The Event Of Passing
We understand that when someone close to you passes you will experience heightened emotions and stress. To help you cope, here is a comprehensive list of steps to follow after the death.
Contact Beit Emanuel – 011 646 6170 (during the week) / during Shabbat and a Sunday or out of office hours during the week contact Christine McIntosh on 083 302 7259
If a body needs to be removed out of normal office hours, please contact Christine McIntosh on 083 302 7259 who will arrange collection for either cremation or burial
If the death is expected at home or in hospital, the attending doctor or your home doctor must be asked to issue the death certificate by stating the cause of death. Keep this certificate as you will need it for various legal and statutory regulations.
If the death is unexpected/accidental/suspicious, the police must be informed and there may be a delay in getting a death certificate stating the cause of death
The certificate in all circumstances to be filled in and signed by a medical practitioner is the B1-1663. This document must be given to the deceased closest next-of-kin or the funeral undertaker responsible for the funeral arrangements
Death must be registered with the Department of Home Affairs and this can be done through the Johannesburg Chevra Kadisha for
burials and Beit Emanuel appointed undertakers (for cremations)
The Chevra Kadisha/Beit Emanuel undertakers will provide the authorized burial order (B1-14) before either can take place
In all cases where you require advice on legal procedures relating to a death, please consult the Chevra Kadisha or the Funeral Undertaker
Our Mourners
Jewish law and tradition deems that you only mourn for your father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, husband or wife
Cremation Or Funeral
Cremation
Cremation is contrary to Jewish tradition. The only recorded biblical instances being burned was as a form of punishment, which reflects the view that cremation negates the mitzvah of honouring the dead. In extreme cases, communities may regard those choosing cremation as having cut themselves off from the Jewish tradition
Progressive Rabbis, generally do not decline request to officiate at some form of memorial service for a person who has elected to be cremated. It is however, recognized in Progressive Jewish communities and Rabbis, that cremation presents problems over and above the “tradition vs freedom of choice issue”.
Among These Are:
The tragedy of the Shoah, it images of the cremated and partly-cremated bodies of the murdered Jews has tainted “objective” views on cremation. The practice caused many Jews to become traumatized
Different generations of Jewish families could follow different forms of Judaism and as such this could cause conflict within the family. For a child to be torn between honoring a parents’ final wishes and being asked to perform’ an action which violets their beliefs and emotional needs as a mourner creates an agonizing dilemma
Many bereaved people also express a greater sense of loss as there is no grave to visit
Cremation (a combustion process) causes energy consumption, environmental damage and pollution, which cause offence against important Jewish values
If you have chosen cremation, following the instruction in a will or a decision made by a person with legal rights such as the next-of-kin or executor of the estate, DO NOT contact the Chevra Kadisha. Follow the following process:
Process After Death Or Cremation
Contact Beit Emanuel office on 011 646 6170 or in the case of an after-hours death, Shabbat/Festival/Sunday, contact Christine McIntosh on 083 302 7259
Beit Emanuel will arrange for the removal of the body and for the cremation with their appointed funeral directors
Documents will have to be filled in at Beit Emanuel where you will be asked to show the deceased’s ID book and the Death Certificate
No cremation may take place on a Shabbat or Festival or in the case where it is delayed pending a post mortem examination by a pathologist
Memorial Services for a Funeral or Cremation
Cremation Memorial Services:
Held in the Slome Auditorium. If large numbers are expected, then the service will be held in the Main Synagogue. No service is conducted at the crematorium
Rabbi to be introduced to the principal mourners prior to the service and to be given full Hebrew name of the deceased, if known
If the hesped (eulogy to the deceased) is not delivered by a family member of close friend, the rabbi needs to be given enough information in order to deliver the hesped on behalf of the family
The service is brief consisting mainly of psalms and memorial prayers and concluded with the reciting of the kaddish by the mourners, led by the rabbi, or someone else in the absence of a rabbi. If the mourners are unable to recite the kaddish another elected person will perform the mitzvah
Progressive Judaism does not exclude woman from reciting kaddish
Memorial services are offered to those who opt for cremation and also for those who donate their bodies to science as a service to society
Funeral
Contact Beit Emanuel office on 011 646 6170 (during weekly working hours) or call Christine McIntosh on 083 302 7259 if out of working hours/Shabbat/Sundays. A meeting will be arranged with the Rabbi Koster or person designated to carry out funerals
Contact Chevra Kadisha (during office hours) 011 532 9600, after-hours contacts: 011 673 2057/8, 011 321 000 Code 4284, 083 704 3994 who will make the arrangements to remove the body
Beit Emanuel’s Rabbi / or designated person, will confirm the day/time of funeral with the Chevra Kadisha so that the notices may go out. The Rabbi will always take into account mourners travelling from overseas
No funeral may take place on a Shabbat or Festival or in the case where it is delayed pending a post mortem examination by a pathologist
At West Park Jewish Cemetery, the Chevra Kadisha staff will ask mourners if they wish to perform the ritiual of keriah (tearing of a piece of clothing, normally a shirt/blouse) as a sign of grief and mourning. If you do, they will guide you through the process. If you don’t you may decline
It is practice at West Park to draw up a list of people who will act as pallbearers (custom dictates that your list is in order of importance: closest family and friend but EXCLUDING the mourners). You can get the form at the cemetery to fill in prior to the funeral. Progressive practice allows for woman to act as pallbearers if they wish to and the family agrees and to shovel soil into the grave
If a relative has to travel far to the funeral and may not have seen the deceased in some time, they may ask to see the body. However, it goes against Jewish tradition as it is felt to dishonor the deceased and may cause offence to the community or family
At the conclusion of the funeral, mourners will be invited to pass through two lines of people attending the funeral. These people will then pay their respects and offer condolences (the mourners are guided through the entire service by the Westpark officials
A typical fee charged by the Chevrah Kadisha for a funeral is R22 000
Beit Emanuel’s Rabbi is free of charge to members, however the Rabbi will also perform services for non-members (rates can be obtained from the office by calling Christine McIntosh on 083 302 7259