OLAM CHESED:
CHEVRA KADISHA BUILDERS
Strengthening how we care for each other at the end of life
Olam Chesed means a world of loving-kindness.
It means a world where we arrive for one another without judgment, witness each other’s grief, offer our deepest compassion, honor one another, and share our most profound love.
The Chevra Kadisha is a sacred embodiment of these timeless values.
A Chevra Kadisha Builder is someone who feels called to create an Olam Chesed. Someone who is actively working to lead and grow a Chevra Kadisha.
Every Chevra Kadisha faces opportunities and challenges.
Some are unique, and some are universal.
If you are actively building, you might be exploring questions such as:
How can we engage younger people in leadership roles and build a robust volunteer pipeline?
How can we enhance opportunities for death education in our community?
How might we grow our collaborations with community partners?
How can I lead my Chevra Kadisha in a learning process to evolve our gender policies?
How might we transform our orientation and welcoming processes?
What is Olam Chesed?
This six-month cohort-based program is designed to empower individuals involved in building and growing a Chevra Kadisha—a sacred community of volunteers who care for the deceased and comfort the living. It helps leaders expand their vision for their Chevra Kadisha, gain insights and clarity on what is needed, and develop their personal leadership capacity and their Chevra Kadisha’s effectiveness through practical tools.
By integrating Jewish tradition, innovative leadership tools, and contemporary approaches, our program supports participants in building and leading confidently within evolving communities. Participants engage in a mix of online and in-person activities and become part of a supportive national network of Chevra Kadisha Builders, fostering ongoing support and collaboration.
Applications are now open for Cohort 1: November 2024 – March 2025
- You will deepen your self-awareness as a Chevra Kadisha Builder and activate your ability to bring transformational change in your Chevra Kadisha using practical tools.
- You will identify and implement a transformative change initiative in your Chevra Kadisha, aligning it with the needs of its members and your local community.
- You will expand your knowledge of end-of-life traditions and practices to help ground your leadership in the broader spiritual and historical contexts of Chevra Kadisha.
- You will connect with a diverse network that provides continued support beyond the program.
Program Details and FAQ:
Who is this program for?
Olam Chesed Builders welcomes up to 15 individuals with different experiences of Chevra Kadisha who wish to grow their leadership capacities. The program is designed to bring together an intergenerational cohort with a wide range of experiences, knowledge, and perspectives to learn with and from each other.
This program is a great fit for you if you:
- Are a member of a Chevra Kadisha in North America with an active leadership position or aspirations to take on such a role.
- Have experience doing taharah.
- Understand the Chevra Kadisha’s role in your community.
- Are open to growth opportunities for yourself and your Chevra Kadisha.
- Are excited about connecting with a diverse group of people involved in Chevra Kadisha and working collaboratively towards shared goals.
- Understand there is a range of practices and implementations for Chevrei Kadisha across North America (and the world). We honor “Minhag haMakom,” the customs of the local place.
- Have served as part of a Chevra Kadisha for a long time or have only recently been called into this sacred work.
- Resonate with and understand Kavod v’Nichum’s guiding values.
What is the structure of the program?
The program will begin with an online welcome session and be followed by a three-day immersive in-person retreat December 8-10, 2024. Following the retreat, we will meet online as a cohort three more times. These sessions will be held once a month for three months on Sundays, each lasting three hours. In between sessions, there will be self-paced chevruta (partnered study) with a chosen teacher, 1:1 staff check-ins, peer accountability sessions, and participants will dedicate time to work on their projects. Acceptance into the program is contingent upon a commitment to attend the in-person retreat and all online sessions.
What is the personal project?
Each participant will develop an actionable project for implementation at your Chevra Kadisha during the program. You will identify growth opportunities and leverage your unique strengths to create detailed, step-by-step plans for change.
During the three-day retreat, you will focus on your chosen area and design your projects. After the retreat, you will implement your projects within their Chevra Kadisha, supported by ongoing peer-to-peer check-ins, group check-ins, and expert-led learning sessions on topics such as death education awareness, fundraising, and volunteer recruitment.
By understanding the Chevra Kadisha’s role in the community and its connections with other organizations across North America, you will be equipped to address the unique opportunities and challenges of their Chevra Kadisha, implement effective changes, and help your Chevra Kadisha reach its full potential.
Are there any knowledge requirements for participants?
We recognize that everyone has different types of knowledge from study and education, as well as diverse lived experiences. The basic requirement is that participants have experience with the taharah ritual and understand the Chevra Kadisha’s role in their community.
Whether you have knowledge formed through years of deep text study or your knowledge is grown from experience and curiosity, this program is a good fit for you. Kavod v’Nichum will provide pre-readings and access to recorded classes to ensure that the cohort shares foundational language and knowledge that may be necessary for full participation in the Olam Chesed program.
If you are just beginning to explore the Chevra Kadisha, please consider joining us in November for our class Care, Compassion & Community: An Introduction to the Chevra Kadisha
Can two people from the same Chevra Kadisha participate together?
Yes! Involving multiple members from the same Chevra Kadisha can lead to a deeper and more sustainable transformation. Each participant will have an opportunity to work on their own personal project or join together with their colleague in a joint project. Having two members from the same organization allows them to share insights and support each other in creating lasting change well beyond the program.
What is the cost?
The program costs $500-1,500 per person, with a suggested price of $1,000. Individuals may cover the cost themselves, and we also recommend partnering with your Chevra Kadisha or other local institutions to encourage investment in your community and its Builders.
We understand financial situations vary and offer sliding-scale pricing to accommodate different needs: $1,500, $1,000, or $500. Kavod v’Nichum will cover the cost of the retreat, and travel subsidies are available for up to $500 for economy transportation. We can also help you request local funds if needed, and we’re willing to work with applicants to address any remaining financial challenges.
Please reach out to us directly with any questions related to the cost: hello@kavodvnichum.org
What are the program dates?
Meeting #1 : Sunday, November 10th (online)
Meeting #2: Sunday, December 8th -Tuesday December, 10th (in-person, east coast location TBD)
Meeting #3: Sunday, January 5, 2025 (online)
Meeting #4: Sunday, February 2 (online)
Meeting #5: Sunday, March 9 (online)
Meeting #6, Reunion: June 8 (online)
Acceptance into the program is contingent upon a commitment to attend the in-person retreat and all online sessions.
All online sessions will take place from 2:00-5:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. PT
How do I apply?
Applications for the 2024-2025 are open! There is a written application, and eligible applicants will be invited to a Zoom interview on a rolling basis. Additionally, we will reach out to references for eligible candidates as part of the selection process. Applications will close on October 28th, 2024, and the cohort will be announced shortly after.
Meet the Educators and Designers:
Tirtzah Bassel
Program Designer and Lead Facilitator
Tirtzah is an experienced educator, facilitator, and non-profit executive, Bassel has held leadership positions most recently as Vice President of Partnerships and Jewish Learning at OneTable, and previously as Program Director at Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah, and Assistant Director at Brandeis Institute of Music and Art at Brandeis University. She creates collaborative group processes in pluralistic settings, leads arts workshops, and professional development trainings.
As a Consultant Partner at Insyte Partners, Tirtzah helps innovative organizations and leaders align around shared visions and pursue bold, collective action. She is also a Created Equal National Educators Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute. Tirtzah is thrilled to join Kavod v’Nichum in nurturing leaders and volunteers dedicated to the sacred work of Chevra Kadisha across the country.
Rabbi Jonathan Bernhard
Educator and Program Design
After 25 years at a wonderful congregation, Rabbi Jonathan Bernhard decided it was time for a change. Jonathan now works as the Executive Director of the Jewish Initiative For Animals, which works to make the Jewish community more plant-based. He is co-founder of the Valley Chevra Kadisha, an avid Liverpool fan, and has a thing about green burials. He and his wife Laurie live in the San Fernando Valley, and they have three grown sons, three (on average) smallish dogs, and four noisy chickens.
Sarit Wishnevski
Program Design and Facilitation, Executive Director Kavod v'Nichum
Prior to joining Kavod v’Nichum, Sarit (she/her) trained as an end-of-life doula through INELDA (International End Of Life Doula Association) and produced a podcast and a newsletter called The Be.Side Project focused on where Judaism intersected with the end of life. Sarit has worked for a number of Jewish organizations that seek to weave connections to ancient Jewish rituals and values through modern connection and understanding including OneTable, Repair the World, PresenTense, DOROT, and Hillel. Sarit is an alumna of the Wagner School for Public Service at NYU (MPA-PNP, 2012) and the Ruskay Institute for Jewish Professional Leadership (2017). Sarit lives in Maplewood, NJ with her partner, Ari, and their daughter, Adira. Sarit is a member of the Chevra Kadisha at Congregation Beth El in South Orange, NJ.
With deep gratitude to the advisors who helped us conceive of and build Olam Chesed:
Tamar Anitai, Board Member
Rena Boroditsky, Board Member
Rabbi Lisa Goldstein
Heidi Katz
Rabbi Ebn Leader
Janet Lowe
alix lutnick
Dr. Isaac Pollak
Justin Rosen-Smolen, Board Member
Nina Rubin
Rabbi Jamie Weisbach
Chevruta learning offered through a partnership with:
This program is made possible by the generous support of:
