Considerate Cremation & Burial Services

1. Sherman’s Flatbush Memorial Chapel – Jewish Funeral Planning When a member of the Jewish faith passes away, their family does not have the luxury of time before they start planning a service. It is a process that has specific customs and rituals which must be started immediately following a loved one’s death. Because there is very little time to spare, it is important to understand ​how to plan a Jewish funeral​. To make this process easier, the staff at Sherman’s Flatbush Memorial Chapel has prepared this helpful ​Jewish funeral planning guide​ to assist you. Over the years, our Jewish funeral home in Brooklyn has helped hundreds of families plan a Jewish funeral for their loved one. With a team of caring and knowledgeable funeral professionals, we have the experience to help your family say a meaningful goodbye while respecting our faith. If you need help planning a Jewish funeral, the information below should be beneficial to you. The Jewish funeral checklist below outlines some of the important decisions you will need to make when planning a Jewish funeral service. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ​contact us​. A member of our staff would be happy to assist you. Planning the Jewish Burial Following the death of a loved one, one of the first steps to be taken is arranging where your loved one will be buried. Contact the funeral home to see if our loved one had prearranged their service. If so, review the plan and follow it accordingly. If no arrangements have been made, follow the following steps. ● Decide upon the cemetery you would like to have your loved one buried at ● Decide if the deceased will be buried with their tallit or if it will be kept as an heirloom ● Select a charity for donations to be made to in lieu of flowers Informing People of Your Loss It’s very important that you notify friends and loved ones as soon as possible. A Jewish funeral typically occurs the day after death occurs. If people need to travel to attend the service, it is best to give them as much notice as possible. The first people you should notify immediate are family members. If you can, it is best to deliver this news in person. After the immediate family members have been notified, make a list of everyone who should know about the passing. This includes people like friends, neighbors, work colleagues and extended family. After creating this list, make sure to reach out to everyone and let them know. If you are still working on the funeral arrangements, provide as much information as you can. Let them know to expect a follow up when the arrangements have been finalized.

2. Planning A Jewish Funeral Service Planning the actual funeral service is the most in-depth part of the arrangement process. The first thing you should do is notify your loved one’s synagogue and select who will conduct the ceremony. When you meet with the funeral home, the funeral director will walk you through the process and help you select things like the location of the service, logistics for transportation, stationery and prayer cards to include and much more. Some other choices you will need to make include: ● Who will participate in the service (eulogy, readings etc.) ● Who will serve as pallbearers ● If you will take part in the tradition of Kriah ● What readings and prayers will be said. Seudat Havra’ah (Meal of Consolation) Following the service, many families will share a traditional meal called a “seudat havra’ah”. This light meal will be organized by the rabbi, friends and extended family. The purpose of the meal is so that grieving family members are not left alone following the funeral. Planning the Shiva Shiva is a seven-day period of mourning ​where immediate family members stay home to grieve and receive visitors. If you will be sitting shiva, make sure to plan for the following: ● Inform your employer of your absence ● Set scheduled visiting hours ● Discuss any additional needs with the funeral home and synagogue http://www.shermanschapel.com/