The North American Chevra Kadisha Conference

Exploring Jewish Traditions Surrounding Dying and Death

Overview
The first North American Chevra Kadisha Conference will provide training, identify resources and encourage networking among Chevra Kadisha groups and bereavement committees in U.S. and Canadian synagogues and communities. The Conference will bring together 100-200 representatives from large and small communities, both urban and rural, including current Chevra Kadisha members, lay leaders, rabbis, students, funeral professionals, educators, counselors and authors, from all Jewish branches.

The Chevra Kadisha conference will provide needed resources to emerging and established Chevra Kadisha groups. It will focus their energy and provide networking opportunities for the participants. Most important, it will highlight a resource, Kavod v’Nichum, which will provide ongoing assistance and help coordinate the development of this movement.

The two-day Conference will include plenary lectures, small workshops, panels, exhibits, hands-on demonstrations, group brainstorming, and networking. We will present workshops on organizing a Chevra Kaddisha, practical demonstrations on how to do Tahara, discussions of cemetery management, examples of negotiated funeral contracts and hear about community owned non-profit funeral homes. We will explore Chevra Kadisha practices and models that range from simple to comprehensive. We will discuss the history, the current state and the future of the Chevra Kadisha movement. Participants will gain knowledge and leadership skills to start or enhance their local Chevra and they will learn where they can turn to find additional help and resources in their work.

Participants will gain knowledge and leadership skills to start or enhance their local Chevra and they will learn where they can turn to find additional help and resources in their work. Recent authors will be encouraged to present their research and their work.

Please visit http://www.Jewish-funerals.org/conference.htm for conference updates.