https://www.sonomajewishburial.org/home daily 1.0 2026-02-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e46bfe4fed24d662efc24a5/1588105710424-RT1LFKH966G54HQIH2MN/Chevra-Kadisha-logo-blue.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e46bfe4fed24d662efc24a5/1587577702097-AFDU82UDJQOHVK8VY63K/tomb-1312869.jpg Home - Requesting the Chevra Kadisha Making this choice will assure you of a beautiful, dignified burial for your loved one according to Jewish tradition. When death occurs call a funeral home, or your rabbi. They will help guide you to arrange for the funeral and burial. Regardless of affiliation, level of observance, or gender identity the Chevra Kadisha will be of service to you at this time. It is helpful to make your desires to use the Chevra Kadisha known to your loved ones. Making pre-need arrangements at a Sonoma County funeral home can be done verbally or preferably in a written document that you share with your loved ones. Completing this in advance will spare your family from having to guess your wishes. Please contact the funeral home, your rabbi or the Chevra Kadisha regarding any questions you may have. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e46bfe4fed24d662efc24a5/1587577579634-AH50BNPGM860MKICFXT3/water-drops-1314995.jpg Home - Taharah: The Ritual of Pouring Water In Jewish tradition, we are all holy beings created in the image of the Divine. This means that when we die, our body is considered a holy thing and should be treated with respect and dignity. Jewish tradition also considers the holy spiritual aspect of a human being, the soul, to be eternal, returning to the Divine upon death. So when a person dies, we have a special ritual to prepare the body for burial and at the same time, midwife the soul from this world to the next. This beautiful ritual is called taharah, from the Hebrew root having to do with purification. The ritual includes physical washing of the body along with a powerful spiritual liturgy, and a pouring of water, all intended to assist the soul on its journey. The tahara ritual is concluded with dressing the deceased in a plain white shroud. The shroud is similar to what the High Priest wore in the Temple when he entered the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur. He was prepared to meet the Divine face to face, just as we prepare the deceased to meet the Divine face to face. The shroud symbolizes that we are all equal in death. The deceased is then placed in a simple, plain wooden casket to symbolize that we are all equal in death. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e46bfe4fed24d662efc24a5/1581785397843-T3726277NUUALSXFPQ0V/cloud+3.jpg Home - Shmirah: The Ritual of Guarding Shmirah is the ritual of guarding the deceased’s body; in some ways it can be likened to an honor guard. Some prefer to call it “accompaniment” as we are ensuring that the soul does not feel alone during this time in which it is adjusting to not having a body. It is traditionally done from the time of death until burial. In some communities shmirah is not begun until after the taharah. It is generally done in shifts, with each person doing the task for a few hours. A shomer watches over the deceased from the time the deceased comes under the responsibility of the Chevrah Kadisha until the funeral and burial. In earlier times, the guarding of Jewish bodies was a physical concern, while today it provides comfort to the soul of the deceased and to the grieving families, and allows community members an additional opportunity to participate in Chevrah Kadisha activities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e46bfe4fed24d662efc24a5/1582564140021-LZB615UN9KW55URXRUYS/forest-of-dreams-Photo+by+Joshua+Maurer+from+FreeImages.jpg Home - Becoming a Volunteer in our Chevra Kadisha There are many different ways to be involved in our Chevra Kadisha. Become a Shomer: Being with the body of the deceased as a guardian or shomer is an important mitzvah. Your presence expresses respect or kevod ha-met for the body and soul of the deceased. The body or met was the vessel that housed the person’s soul during their lifetime. You are there to protect the sanctity of the met and offer consolation to the soul. Therefore, he or she should not be left unattended. In order to accomplish this we have people be with the deceased in two hour shifts from after they are enclosed in the casket (aron) until burial. We welcome new participants to our shmira team. Please contact us if you are interested. (707)322-1631 or (707)546-6043 Participate in Tahara: We welcome new participants to our tahara team. Please contact us if you are interested. (707)322-1631 or (707)546-6043 Other Opportunities to be Involved: We need people to help create educational events, update our web presence, help schedule shmira and other organizational tasks. Please contact us if you are interested. (707)322-1631 or (707)546-6043 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e46bfe4fed24d662efc24a5/1581801410920-KPOVM44GRHJFW0FFDTSR/Adobe+Creek.png Home Petaluma https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e46bfe4fed24d662efc24a5/1581787793093-6EDKP80LHTEZVZZP02YD/logodanielshomepage_ac24d3ddca88480692c1e4ac6d6aa240.png Home Santa Rosa https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e46bfe4fed24d662efc24a5/1581787809679-GNEHOEHHPXJ4QZHG2XQG/logo-smallerer.png Home Santa Rosa https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e46bfe4fed24d662efc24a5/1581787894750-CS4LEV7EL1SAZW69TI4S/logo_w_autumnmountain_s2.png Home Petaluma and Sebastopol https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e46bfe4fed24d662efc24a5/1581801492008-KKK6EIQRA735VJRPQLTK/Pleasan+Hill.png Home Sebastopol https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e46bfe4fed24d662efc24a5/1588012561364-8NFJ9V58IJU0QYVPNDPZ/kvn-logo.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e46bfe4fed24d662efc24a5/1581791285868-9NWRNP6VKB2VHM4BKEX1/gamliel-logo.png Home Check out the many courses and learning opportunities at https://www.sonomajewishburial.org/materials-for-learning daily 0.75 2020-04-27 https://www.sonomajewishburial.org/education-for-teachers daily 0.75 2020-04-28 https://www.sonomajewishburial.org/support-for-communities daily 0.75 2020-04-22 https://www.sonomajewishburial.org/volunteer daily 0.75 2020-04-29 https://www.sonomajewishburial.org/contact-us daily 0.75 2023-06-12