Chevra Kadisha at Mount Sinai
Chevra Kadisha Mortuary at Mount Sinai®
At Mount Sinai, we are committed to assisting families who wish to plan a traditional Jewish funeral, with all the rituals that have provided comfort over the generations.
According to traditional Jewish practices, the Chevra Kadisha, חברה קדיש is an organization traditionally composed of volunteers who ensure that the deceased is prepared for burial according to halacha (Jewish law) and kept in a protected and dignified environment until burial.
Today, Mount Sinai functions as a Chevra Kadisha for the entire Los Angeles Jewish community, offering strictly Orthodox burial preparation. Every aspect of the practice is aimed at preserving the dignity of the deceased. Male Chevra Kadisha members perform tahara (ritual purification) on deceased men, while women do so for women. Those rituals complete, the deceased is then clothed in tachrichim (traditional Jewish burial shrouds). A person known as the shomer, or guard, stays alongside the deceased until interment, reading psalms or poems, and making sure that he or she is always surrounded with peace and dignity.
To learn more about traditional Jewish funeral practices, click here.
Traditions Program
The Chevra Kadisha Mortuary at Mount Sinai® Traditions Program makes a traditional Jewish burial accessible for everyone. This program of mortuary services is available whether you choose Mount Sinai’s Memorial Parks or any other cemetery.
Traditional Jewish burial focuses on simplicity and a deep respect for the deceased. The Traditions Program fulfills these requirements including tahara (ritual purification), shmira (guarding the deceased), tachrichim (traditional Jewish burial shrouds) and a simple pine casket.
The total mortuary cost for our Traditions Program is $4,300 plus applicable taxes. This includes basic services of the mortuary, transfer of your loved one into our care (LA/Orange & Ventura Counties), tahara, shmira, linen tachrichim, obtaining required documentation and permits, and funeral coach. This compares favorably with other Jewish mortuaries in Southern California.
When making arrangements, please be sure to consider the additional costs of burial related to the cemetery. These may include an outer burial vault, cemetery fees to open and close the burial site, fees for cemetery staff and facilities, and copies of a death certificate.