| New Recommended Resource | | CREMATION OR BURIAL? A Jewish view By: Doron Kornbluth 
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| JOIN THE EMES CARD CAMPAIGN | | Have your shul or community join the EMES Card Campaign |
| | | VOLUME II / ISSUE 1 September 2012/ Elul, 5772 | |
We wish our friends, Chevra Kadisha members and all of K'lal Yisrael K'siva V'Chasima Tova A Happy and Sweet New Year |
| NASCK LAUNCHES EMES CARD CAMPAIGN An Urgent Project for all Jews | | | NASCK has launched a national initiative that commenced with the beginning of Selichos. The goal is to encourage every adult Jew to first designate a Health Care Proxy and create a Halachic Living Will and then fill out and sign the "EMES Card". The "EMES" (Emergency Medical Education and Signup) Card attaches to one's license in a special plastic sleeve. This card addresses a number of extremely important issues of concern to the Jewish community. In the event of a medical emergency, the EMES card will be found and advise medical personnel with contact information for their Health Care Proxy and Rabbi listed in their Halachic Living Will. Furthermore, the EMES Card is a legal document providing important information regarding one's post-mortem care and wishes. This project is supported by Agudath Israel, NCYI, OU and RCA. It recommends Shuls across the country dedicate a day to educate their members and help instruct them to fill out and sign the EMES Card along with a Halachic Living Will. To bring this campaign to your Shul & community - click here |
EDITORIAL
D'varim M'Rosh - Director's Message
Rabbi Elchonon Zohn | | | The new year of 5773 is almost here. In making a full assessment of our personal achievements and shortcomings, a חשבון הנפש, a review of our communal commitment to חסד של אמת is appropriate as well. בע''ה, the Chevra Kadisha community keeps getting stronger, in numbers of those involved, in proficiency and in the scope of its work. Nevertheless, I believe one area that deserves closer examination is the extent of the outreach we do in our communities to encourage קבורה כהלכה. When describing the prominence Moshe gave to the work of transporting the remains of Yosef from Egypt, the Talmud applies the passage from Proverbs:"חכם לב יקח מצוות" - "the wise of heart grasp Mitzvos". The Mitzvah of giving honor to the dead is chosen by the "wise of heart".(read more) |
HALACHAH - CUSTOMS CORNER Addressing Important Issues Relevant to Chevros Kadisha Rabbi Avraham Steinberg | | | The "Preferred Taharah": Pouring or Mikvah? It is a great obligation upon the heads of the chevros kadisha to oversee meticulously...and not to stray even a little bit [from the accepted customs], for even if a custom is "little" in our eyes, it is "big" in Heaven, and it may be very important for the merit of the deceased... (Chochmas Adam, Hanhagas Chevra Kadisha, Introduction) The Question After the initial washing of the niftar, the Chevra Kadisha performs what the Poskim refer to as the "main taharah" - the primary cleansing, or, more precisely, "purification." As many involved in Chevra Kadisha are aware, there are two common ways in which this taharah is performed. Some pour water over the nifter/es, while others immerse the nifter/es in a mikvah. Some do both. Which is preferred? What is the Halachic and historic background behind the divergence of practices? (read more) |
| NEWS AT NASCK: WHAT WE ARE DOING | | | The Modern-day Mes Mitzvah and the EMES Card Recently, NASCK received calls from a few Lakewood residents who had developed close business and personal relationships with a non-affiliated, "traditional" Jewish man. They had many discussions about religion with him over the years, but never about the Jewish approach to end-of-life issues. Upon his death, his friends were horrified to learn that he had agreed to be cremated. After long discussions with one of his friends and a rabbi, his wife was persuaded to have him buried in his family plot. Sadly, one of his children refused, and he was, indeed, cremated. (read more) |
| PICHIFKES AND TAKANOS Preparing an Aron Efficiently "The Seven S's" | | | Preparing an Aron is an important part of the Tahara process. There are many points to consider that will ensure the greatest Kovod Hames. Here are some suggestions. To make it easier to remember, you may want to think of the "Seven S's". Our Sages say that it is good to create mnemonics to remember important things (See Tractate Shabbos, 104a - "Simanin Aseh BaTorah...). Before preparing the Aron:(read more) |
| RESOURCES AND EDUCATION | | Need a mishnayos sign-up sheet? Nichum Aveilim sign for the shiva home? We've recently updated our website with many resources that are very useful.
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SPONSORS
Funeral Homes Servicing the Jewish Community in Queens | | 
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| COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? | | Do you have a comment or question that you would like NASCK to address? We are always happy to hear your comments.
Email us at contact@nasck.org |
| | National Association of Chevra Kadisha 85-18 117th Street |
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