100 Chevra Kadisha leaders at OU-NASCK conference
The sacred work of Chevros Kadisha is among the most humble and quietly performed mitzvos, carried out by individuals for whom this final act of kindness is its own reward.
Recently, however, more than 100 men devoted to this ultimate chessed shel emes stepped out from behind the scenes and joined together for chizuk, networking and practical guidance at the Men’s Chevra Kadisha Leadership Conference.
Hosted by the Orthodox Union and NASCK (National Association of Chevra Kadisha), the event brought together administrators and active tahara leaders from more than 50 cities across 17 US states, as well as Canada. Representing Chasidish, Yeshivish, Chabad, Sefardi and Modern Orthodox communities, participants were united in their avodas hakodesh.
“The people who devote the most time and energy to serve Klal Yisrael often go unrecognized, by choice,” says OU Director of Torah and Halacha Initiatives Rabbi Ezra Sarna, who organized the conference together with NASCK Director of Chevra Relations Rabbi Shmuel Fromowitz.
“They do their chessed quietly. Yet to be in a room with others who understand their expertise and who are similarly carrying Klal Yisrael on their shoulders gives them strength.”
Rabbi Elchonon Zohn, founder and president of NASCK and a world-renowned halachic expert in afterlife care, reflect on the achdus cultivated by the diverse community representatives.
“From smaller communities in Seattle and San Francisco to the major Torah centers of Brooklyn, Monsey and Lakewood, the energy and synergy were palpable,” Rabbi Zohn says. “Everyone was engaged — learning, growing, sharing, and united by a common sense of purpose, mission, and the goal to emulate Hashem and His chesed shel emes, as defined by His Toras emes.”
In his keynote address, Rabbi Zohn, who is the director of the Chevra Kadisha, Vaad Harabonim of Queens, underscored the basic precepts of chesed shel emes: to treat each tahara as a singular moment of loss for that specific family and neshama, to perform this selfless mitzvah in the spirit of Hashem’s boundless kindness, and to ensure that every act of chesed is guided by the halachos and minhagim passed down through generations.
Throughout the day, participants attended sessions exploring both halacha and best practices, covering topics such as rechitzah, tahara, tachrichim, and complications that arise in the tahara room.
“The tahara process is not very complicated, but it is highly detailed,” says NASCK Associate Director Rabbi Yaakov Lyons, who coordinates the men’s division of the Boca Raton Chevra Kadisha and presented at the conference. “Every step carries significance, and our goal is to ensure that each individual is treated with the utmost dignity. Modern medical interventions often introduce complexity to the tahara process, so this leadership conference focused on some of those complex scenarios.”
One panel discussion offered insights into how Chevros Kadisha can cultivate positive relationships with funeral homes. Topics included how to communicate the standards of the Chevra Kadisha, and how to encourage funeral homes to promote traditional burial and tahara to the broader Jewish community.
“This is a very important topic because, in most communities, Chevros Kadisha operate independently of funeral homes yet rely heavily on them, making the relationship both essential and delicate,” says Rabbi Fromowitz. “There is also a responsibility to educate and sensitize funeral home staff to the needs of the traditional Jewish community, ensuring that families are cared for in accordance with their minhagim and values. Clear communication is critical.”
For Ari Wartelsky, who oversees the Bergen County Chevra Kadisha, the open exchange of ideas sparked by the networking sessions stood out as particularly valuable.
“While funeral home costs can be challenging, Chevros Kadisha depend on them to serve kehillos with dignity and care,” says Wartelsky, who presented on transporting the deceased in Bergen County.
A conference highlight was the informal networking that took place between sessions and over lunch, where participants exchanged experiences and practical approaches.
“I met a Chevra Kadisha volunteer from New York whose team carries out taharos and related protocols with remarkable care, precision, and efficiency,” says Yisroel Salamon, who oversees Chesed Shel Emes of Connecticut. “I plan to send members of my Chevra to observe how they operate so we can learn from their approach.”
Equally meaningful were two roundtable sessions in which participants divided into small groups, each focusing on a specific area such as meis mitzvah, tahara team organization, volunteer recruitment and retention, shmira, coordination with medical examiners, community education, and cemetery relations.
What stood out most for Salamon was how each Chevra navigates the unique regulations of its state while addressing the needs of its community.
“I moderated one of the discussions where we compared approaches in Connecticut, New Jersey, Ohio, upstate New York, Indiana, and Texas, each with its own challenges and community dynamics,” he says. “While every group brought different practical wisdom and creative solutions, the shared values, goals, and sense of purpose were the same.”
Rabbi Fromowitz reflects that partnering with the OU helped bring valuable experience and a strong understanding of communal needs to the event.
“The OU’s involvement reinforces that this is a national priority for Klal Yisrael,” he says. “Beyond that, there is tremendous value in organizations working together to strengthen and elevate communal infrastructure. We hope this marks the beginning of continued partnerships that will further support these vital efforts.”
Reported by the OU
