As more people learn about the impact and importance of the Chevra Kadisha, our inboxes are filling up with versions of the same question: Our community doesn’t have a Chevra Kadisha. How do we start one?
Sometimes it’s a rabbi who has just officiated at a funeral where no one knew to ask for taharah. Sometimes it’s a funeral director who wants to support more of the community. Often it’s someone who learned how sacred this was through a personal experience, and wants their community to have that too. Right now, many communities across North America are starting and renewing Chevrei Kadisha.
So we took the questions we’ve received and turned our answers into a guide anyone can use as a starting point.
What’s inside
The guide is organized in five phases: Listen, Gather & Engage, Organize & Decide, Train & Prepare, and Launch & Sustain. Each one has clear steps and practical tools, including sample language to share with your community and a Readiness Checklist.
We’re here to help
Kavod v’Nichum supports communities at every stage of this work. If you have questions or would like to share where your community is, write to us at hello@kavodvnichum.org.