Chevra Kadisha work is sacred. It is also physical, and it comes with real health and safety considerations. From wet floors to lifting and turning the meit/ah/eh, from unexpected medical devices to the possibility of infectious disease, teams are asked to bring their whole selves — mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical — into the Taharah room.
We are proud to share this new resource, Health and Safety in the Taharah Room, which offers practical, accessible guidance for Chevra Kadisha members. Whether you are leading a team or participating for the first time, this guide highlights simple, effective practices to keep everyone safe, so that the mitzvah can be carried out with dignity for the meit/ah/eh and without harm to the team.
This publication builds on the earlier guide, Health and Safety Precautions for Taharah: A guide to understanding potential health risks and injuries while performing the holy work of the chevrah kadisha (second edition, 2019). We are grateful for the foundational work of that resource, which continues to inform and inspire best practices.
We are especially thankful to Elizabeth Feldman, MD, Patricia Cluss, PhD, Shoshana Waskow, MD, Michael Slater, MD, and Steven Fox, MD, for their expertise and contributions to this updated publication. Their knowledge and commitment to both medical safety and sacred care have shaped this resource into something clear and useful for Chevrei across the country.
We hope this updated resource will be a trusted companion — offering clarity, reassurance, and concrete steps for ensuring that caring for each other remains at the heart of Chevra Kadisha practice.