Bereavement

In the event of bereavement, please contact:

Henry Fried, Stan Cohen or

Joint Jewish Burial Society     0208 989 5252

 

Final intentions

Throughout life we continually make different choices to suit our lifestyle, our finances and our preferences: what furnishings, what lighting, which car.  We generally give very little thought to our choices in death, but there are choices and I have set out below various alternatives. Your choice will depend on many different factors including personal preference, family wishes etc, but just as in life, there are many different choices to make.

  1. Burial or cremation? Burial is more traditional amongst Jews as particularly traditional orthodox Jews frown on cremation. Nowadays around 50 per cent of the deaths JJBS handle are cremations and the figure is growing every year. Cremation is friendlier to the environment than burial in terms of space.
  2. If burial, where? Depending on where you live there are three main choices: the JJBS cemetery in Cheshunt, Whalley Drive, Bletchley where there is a Jewish section, and anywhere else you wish to be buried. Leaving aside over-age payments, JJBS will pay up to £3200 for a burial (which may not cover all the costs). All burials and cremations which take place through JJBS have tahara (ritual cleansing of the body) done. This is not the case if you use a local undertaker.
  3. Woodland cemetery at Cheshunt. There is also an alternative at JJBS for the Woodland cemetery – there are no gravestones only a flag. This is more expensive but there are no stone costs. In time the woodland cemeterywill have many plants etc. It is already a very peaceful and attractive area.
  4. If cremation, where? If JJBS is used, there will be a transport cost. If a local undertaker is used there will not, but you lose the Jewish input. Depending on where you live, any of the local crematoria can be used, eg Crownhill.  If JJBS is used, cremation will usually be at Hoop Lane in Golders Green.
  5. I’m Jewish – my partner isn’t. There are two areas at Cheshunt where you can be buried with a non-Jewish partner: the Woodland and another area. It is possible to pay a subscription in the same way as a member does and hold associate membership. Please contact me if you wish to pursue this.

If you have not visited Cheshunt or the woodland cemetery I would encourage you to do so before making firm plans. This is only a brief outline. Please contact me for further information.

Henry Fried, Senior Warden