Holy Days and Holy Work

In the brief time that I have had the pleasure of serving as CBI’s spiritual leader, I have been repeatedly awestruck at the myriad ways in which the members of our community exert themselves to actualize the Jewish values and ideals that they hold dear. One striking example of this is our community’s maintenance of a Chevra Kaddisha. The Chevra Kaddisha is a group of dedicated volunteers, men and women, who work to ensure that when a member of our community dies their body is treated with respect and dignity and that the burial is carried out according to Jewish law and custom. This is a great mitzvah. It is truly avodat kodesh, holy work.

The High Holydays are a time to reflect on our lives, to engage in honest introspection with the goal of transforming ourselves into better human beings. This year, I encourage you to ask yourself: What do I do in my life that can be considered avodat kodesh? In what ways have I, through my actions, tried to infuse the world with kedushah, with holiness? If your response to these questions leaves you unsatisfied with yourself and motivated to strive for greater kedushah, please consider volunteering with the Chevra Kaddisha.

The Chevra Kaddisha is always looking for people to help with taharah, the ritual preparation of the body for burial. However, the most pressing need is for shomrim. The word shomer means “to guard” or “to watch” and the job of the shomer is to sit with the deceased – usually reciting Psalms or some other appropriate texts -  from the moment of death until the burial. This can be done by a single person, but is usually done by many people working in shifts. Providing shomrim is the community’s way of  demonstrating kavod hamet, respect for the deceased.

CBI also tries to provide a seudat havra’ah, a meal of consolation that is served to the mourners upon their return from the cemetery. This meal is designed to relieve the mourners of the burden of having to prepare food for themselves during such a difficult time, and reminds them that they are loved and supported by the community.

I strongly encourage all who are desirous to fill their lives and the world with holiness, and to have this coming year be more meaningful than the last, to please volunteer with the Chevra Kaddisha by serving as a shomer/shomeret, or in any capacity, please contact:

Men:                  Michael Steinberg
Women:             Ursula Fruehauf or Nancy Feldman

To volunteer to help arrange the seudat havra’ah please contact the synagogue office at 922-0101.