Part of Everendium's Faith, Culture & Traditions guides.
Choosing a Jewish Funeral Home or Chevra Kadisha
Reviewed by Everendium Editorial Team · Last reviewed August 23, 2026
Quick answer
A chevra kadisha (burial society) traditionally handles ritual preparation of the body - washing and dressing in simple linen shrouds - according to Jewish law, and many communities have one connected to a synagogue or as an independent nonprofit. Some funeral homes specialize in Jewish services and coordinate directly with a local chevra kadisha; asking a rabbi for a recommendation is often the most reliable starting point.
Coordinating a Jewish funeral often involves two different pieces working together — a funeral home handling logistics, and a chevra kadisha handling the specific ritual preparation of the body — and understanding the difference helps families know what to actually ask for.
What a chevra kadisha does
A chevra kadisha, or burial society, is traditionally a group — often volunteers from within a Jewish community — who perform tahara, the ritual washing and purification of the body, and dress it in simple linen shrouds called tachrichim. This work is done according to specific Jewish law and tradition, generally with considerable care, modesty, and respect, and is often kept private rather than witnessed by family members directly.
How this connects to a funeral home
Some funeral homes specialize specifically in Jewish services and have an established, direct relationship with a local chevra kadisha as a routine part of how they operate. In other cases, a family working with a more general funeral home can still arrange for a chevra kadisha separately — the funeral home coordinates logistics and timing, while the burial society handles the specific ritual preparation.
Finding a chevra kadisha
A rabbi or synagogue is typically the fastest, most reliable way to connect with a chevra kadisha, since many are directly affiliated with a specific congregation or a broader Jewish communal organization in a given area. This is a genuinely good early call to make — often before finalizing every other funeral detail — since timing matters given Jewish tradition’s general preference for burial as soon as possible.
When there’s no dedicated Jewish funeral home nearby
Not every area has a funeral home that specializes in Jewish services, particularly in smaller communities. Many general funeral homes are experienced in accommodating Jewish requirements even without specializing in them — asking directly about their familiarity with Jewish burial practices, and whether they’ve coordinated with a chevra kadisha before, is a reasonable and useful question during the selection process.
Questions worth asking directly
Whether working with a specialized or general funeral home: how quickly can arrangements move given the preference for prompt burial, do they have an existing relationship with a local chevra kadisha, and are they familiar with providing a simple wooden casket without embalming, consistent with traditional practice.
Availability and practice vary by community and location - a rabbi is generally the most reliable first call for making these connections.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly does a chevra kadisha do?+
Members perform tahara, the ritual washing and purification of the body, and dress it in simple linen shrouds called tachrichim, all according to specific Jewish law and tradition. This is generally done with great care and modesty, often by volunteers from within the Jewish community rather than funeral home staff.
Do all Jewish funerals involve a chevra kadisha?+
It's traditional and common, particularly in Orthodox and many Conservative communities, though practice varies - some Reform families choose a more conventional funeral home process. A rabbi can advise on what's typical for a specific community and family's own practice.
How do we find a chevra kadisha?+
A rabbi or synagogue is usually the most direct path - many chevra kadisha organizations are connected to a specific synagogue or a broader Jewish communal organization, and clergy typically know how to make the connection quickly when needed.
What if there isn't a Jewish funeral home nearby?+
Many general funeral homes are experienced in coordinating with a chevra kadisha and accommodating Jewish burial requirements even without specializing in Jewish services specifically - it's reasonable to ask directly about their experience with Jewish funerals when choosing.
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