And Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, at Kiriath-arba — now Hebron — where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned. Isaac was a hundred and eighty years old when he breathed his last and died. He was gathered to his kin in ripe old age; and he was buried by his sons Esau and Jacob. B’reysheet / Genesis 35:27–29
The death of our patriarch Isaac is actually the third death noted in our Torah portion and all are described with remarkable brevity.
Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and was buried under the oak below Bethel; so, it was named Allon-bacuth. B’reysheet / Genesis 35:8
They set out from Bethel; …Rachel was in childbirth, and she had hard labor… Rachel died. She was buried on the road to Ephrath — now Bethlehem. Over her grave Jacob set up a pillar; it is the pillar at Rachel’s grave to this day. B’reysheet / Genesis 35:16-20 (Excerpted)
The multiplicity of these deaths in Jacob’s circle feels especially impactful given our community’s recent experience of losing so many members of our kahal in rapid succession. Simultaneously one observes the strong sense of loss pervading the congregation as well as the outreach and support being shared with those who are mourning. This is a remarkable reflection of Rodef Sholom’s strength and commitment to each other.
I would like to highlight one small group who have a vital but hidden role in this process, namely, our Chevra Kadisha. While often translated in English as “Burial Society” the literal meaning is “Holy Community” reflective of the sacred task of preparing the deceased for their final physical journey, doing so with delicacy, sensitivity, and respect for the deceased.
The Torah shares very few details regarding the burial process. What we can glean from the deaths described here as well as what we learned from the burial of Abraham and Sarah is that a burial takes place quickly after the person’s death, the burial place must be properly marked, and that the responsibility for doing so falls to the family of the deceased.
The existence of the Chevra Kadisha allows those who have experienced a loss to focus on each other and other immediate necessities knowing that their loved one is well tended. This is especially true in a small community such as ours where the members of the Chevra Kadisha are performing a Tahara for someone with whom they may have prayed in the sanctuary, shared in a simcha, or worked together on behalf of the Jewish community.
Beyond the performance of this Chesed Shel Emet, an act of true kindness, love, and respect participants in the Chevra Kadisha create powerful bonds and deep interpersonal connections. The Chevra Kadisha invites you to join them in their sacred work by first learning more about the process of performing a Tahara and other aspects of the Chevra Kadisha. The class will be held on Sunday, January 4 at 10AM in the Nachman/Levin Library.
Shabbat Shalom –
Rabbi David M. Eligberg
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