June 2000
The Director - Features
Reform Jewish Burial Practices
Understanding the changing burial patterns among reform Jews is esential in order to serve them more effectively
The Reform Jewish community has experienced dramatic changes in its burial practices since I entered the rabbinate 14 years ago. The shift to more traditional Jewish practices, coupled with the increasing rate of interfaith marriage in the Reform Jewish community, poses distinct challenges for the funeral director.
Reform Jewish Burial Practices by Rabbi Jordan M. Parr explains the changes happening in Jewish burial practices and specifically discusses Taharah, which is the Jewish tradition of cleansing and dressing the body, kosher caskets, flowers, preplanning and organ donations as it affects Jewish traditions along with other non-traditional changes.
Parr is the rabbi of Congregation Children of Israel, a Reform Jewish congregation in Augusta, GA.
