“The highest act of gemilut chesed (acts of loving kindness) is that which is done for the dead, for there can never be any thought of repayment. “

– Midrash Tanchuma Vayechi 107A

About Us

The Community Hevra Kadisha of Rhode Island is dedicated to honoring the sanctity and dignity of each person in death through the sacred act of tahara—ritually preparing the deceased for burial in accordance with Jewish tradition.

We are a pluralistic organization, welcoming and uniting individuals from across the spectrum of Jewish practice in service to our shared values. Rooted in compassion, respect, and humility, we aim to care for the deceased and support their loved ones during times of loss.

We are equally committed to educating our community about Jewish end-of-life rituals and practices, fostering greater awareness and understanding of the spiritual, cultural, and ethical significance of taharah. By empowering individuals with knowledge and opportunities for engagement, we ensure that this sacred tradition is preserved and cherished for future generations.

In all that we do, we seek to firm the inherent dignity of every human being, and to uphold the principles of chesed shel emet—true kindness— which is one of Judaism’s most important mitzvot.

Tahara

Tahara is a centuries-old Jewish practice of ritually washing and dressing the body of our deceased for burial. Just as there are Jewish traditions in welcoming a new life into the world, there are prescribed customs to prepare our dead as they leave this world.

Tahara is performed by a Hevra Kadisha (Holy Society), trained volunteers from the community, who approach this ritual with the utmost dignity, respect, and compassion. The Community Hevra Kadisha of RI is a pluralistic association made up of Jews from all backgrounds.  Preparing our dead is seen as a “true act of loving-kindness” or chesed shel emet, as the recipient can not repay it.

Tahara is performed at both Jewish funeral homes in RI (Sugarman-Sinai in Providence and Shalom in Cranston), and takes between 1-2 hours. 

The ritual consists of four elements:

1.       Cleaning the body of the deceased met(male)/metah(female)/meyteh(non-binary) 

2.      The pouring of water over the met/metah/meyteh

3.      Dressing the met/metah/meyteh in tachrichim (simple white linen or cotton shrouds)

4.      Wrapping and placing the met/metah/meyteh in a specially prepared aron (casket)

During the tahara, ancient texts are read and chanted that extol the inherent beauty and value of every human being.  The Hevra Kadisha works as a team to treat the met/metah/meyteh gently and modestly in an atmosphere of sacredness and humility that defines the process.

We are dedicated to providing this ancient beautiful ritual to the RI Jewish community in an inclusive manner, free of charge. We operate with the support and guidance from the Rhode Island Board of Rabbis.

 

Our Mission

The Community Hevra Kadisha of Rhode Island is a pluralistic group dedicated to performing taharot (ritual preparations of the deceased for burial in accordance with Jewish tradition), educating the community about Jewish end-of-life rituals, and upholding the values of dignity, compassion, and chesed shel emet (altruistic acts of kindness).

Our Vision

We strive to honor the deceased, support the living, and ensure the preservation of these sacred Jewish traditions for future generations.
We envision a world where these rituals surrounding end-of-life are demystified and accessible, and where individuals are empowered to talk openly about life and death.

Our Core Values


Dignity (Kavod HaMet) Honoring the inherent dignity of every individual through sensitive, compassionate care and respect for the deceased.


Education (Chinuch) Demystifying end-of-life rituals, removing taboos around death, and empowering the community to engage thoughtfully with these sacred traditions.


Pluralism (K'lal Yisrael) Embracing individuals from diverse backgrounds and practices, fostering a community united by shared values and mutual respect.


Continuity (L'Dor V'Dor) Preserving and transmitting Jewish ancestral end-of-life practices to future generations as a shared and sacred responsibility.

FAQs

  • Tahara is a centuries-old Jewish practice of ritually washing and dressing the body of our deceased for burial. Just as there are Jewish traditions in welcoming a new life into the world, there are prescribed customs to prepare our dead as they leave this world. 

  • Usually translated as ”holy society,” a Hevra Kadisha is a group of dedicated, trained volunteers who are on-call to prepare a deceased person for burial according to time-honored Jewish traditions. The Hebrew for a deceased person is met (male), metah (female), or meyteh (nonbinary). The Hevra Kadisha’s ultimate concern is to care for our dead with respect and kindness and compassion. With deep respect for the deceased and their family, strict confidentiality encircles the care that is offered.

  • The Community Hevra Kadisha of Rhode Island is committed to providing the sacred and compassionate service of tahara at no charge to families. This mitzvah is performed by dedicated volunteers who offer their time and care with deep reverence and humility.

    Of note: The funeral home will supply and charge for the tachrichim (burial shrouds.)

    While we do not charge for these services, we gratefully accept donations in honor of the volunteers who perform this sacred work. Your generous contribution helps sustain our efforts, ensuring that the traditions of tahara continue to be accessible to all members of our community, now and in the future.

  • If you are making arrangements for a deceased person, tell your funeral director that you would like us to perform Tahara for your loved one. They will reach out to us and make the necessary arrangements.

    Jews who are planning for a future loss can indicate in a letter to their family members or in end-of-life documents the preference to have Tahara done by the Community Hevra Kadisha of Rhode Island.