| Description | The Chevra Kadisha Committee meets annually. Its minutes are usually very brief, including discussions about the conduct of funerals, with occasional reports of problems that have occurred during funerals, and buying equipment to be used during Taharot, the ritual purification of a body before burial. In February 1915, the Committee decided to include English prayers in funeral services. In 1918, it was suggested that the Beth Hamedrash, Wrottesley St be approached to be represented on the Chevra Kadisha.
Finding watchers, particlarly female watchers, is a perennial problem for the Committee, and this issue frequently appears in the minutes.
Payment of Chevra Kadisha staff and watchers is another issue that is frequently discussed.
The printed Laws of the Chevra Kadisha are enclosed with the minutes of 2 July 1944 and are annotated with changes to the Laws made in 1944. These changes also appear in the minutes.
In 1945, the meeting debated whether to invite ladies onto the Chevra Kadisha. It was suggested that they form a separate committee and send an executive to meetings of the Chevra Kadisha. The issue does not appear again, suggesting that the Committee was never set up. |