Interested in joining the NCCK?

In performing the mitzvah of taharah, members of the chevra kadisha can discover another expression of their connection to the Jewish community. Members find the experience to be richly rewarding and deeply spiritual.

Members of the NCCK represent a diverse spectrum of individuals from the greater Pittsburgh Jewish community. Our members include people of various ages and walks of life. We welcome any member of the Jewish community who wishes to perform the mitzvah of taharah.

FAQ

Do I need to belong to a synagogue?

No, you do not need to belong to a synagogue. Unaffiliated members of the Jewish community are welcome to join.

Do I need to speak Hebrew?

The liturgy combines English and Hebrew text, but you do not need to know how to read or speak Hebrew.

What about taharah and gender?

Traditionally, women have performed taharah for women and men have performed taharah for men. Most NCCK taharot are performed by the women’s or men’s teams, each with a corresponding taharah liturgy. The NCCK also has developed a gender-expansive taharah liturgy and offers the option for queer taharah for Jews of any gender, performed by a team of queer and/or queer-adjacent NCCK members. This taharah team may use whichever manual is most aligned with the deceased person’s stated wishes (if known) or gender identity, according to those closest to them or the person named as health care agent at the time of death. .

What is the training process like?

You will be trained in the ritual process by experienced members of the community. For your first taharah, you will be assigned primarily to observe and help in small ways. As you become more experienced and decide you are ready, you will begin to participate fully in the taharah.

What does the taharah process involve?

The taharah includes washing, purifying, and dressing the meit/ah/eh in shrouds. The ritual purification involves a gentle pouring of water over the body and the recitation of a traditional chant. The deceased is dressed in tachrichim (simple white burial garments), wrapped in a cloth, and placed in the aron (casket). Throughout the taharah process the chevra kadisha recites special blessings, prayers, and readings selected from Torah, Prophets, and the Song of Songs.

How long does a taharah take?

The entire process usually takes between 45 and 90 minutes.

Do I need any specialized medical knowledge?

Most of our members are not medical professionals. Although we all have accumulated some medical knowledge as part of our participation in the NCCK, we do have a specific need for members who are knowledgeable about and comfortable with medicine and healthcare.

It is often very helpful to have a nurse, physician, or other medical professional in the room.  Many individuals for whom we perform this mitzvah come to us from hospitals and nursing homes, and have bandages, tubes and other remainders of end-of-life medical care. Participation of members with some clinical knowledge ensures that we are able to prepare each individual with the sensitivity and dignity required. 

How many taharot do I have to commit to performing?

If you join the NCCK, your commitment is to participate in a taharah team when you are able to do so. Some members perform dozens of taharot each year and others many fewer. Whatever you can do will be helpful.

How often does the NCCK perform taharot?

Last year, we performed about 125 taharot, an average of about two per week. However, there may be a cluster of taharah requests in one week and then, sometimes, weeks can go by without a request.   

Where does the NCCK perform taharot?

Currently, about 95% of the taharot are performed at Schugar’s Funeral Home on Centre Avenue in Shadyside. Most others are performed at D’Alessandro’s in Lawrenceville.  A few each year are performed at other locations, occasionally outside of Pittsburgh in small, neighboring communities.

How many people are on a taharah team?

A team typically has 4-5 members, but we have done taharot with fewer if needed. 

Will the family know who performed the taharah?

As per tradition, the deceased’s mourners are not told the identity of individual members who participated in the taharah. One of the beauties of this mitzvah is that the mourners know their community is taking care of their loved one—it could be anyone they pass on the street who has cared for their person.

However, the NCCK works to educate the broader Jewish community about taharah and other traditional Jewish practices for death and dying. It is perfectly acceptable to identify yourself as a member of the chevra through that work and by talking about it to others who might be interested in joining the NCCK.

How do the logistics work?

When a request for taharah is received by the team coordinator, there generally is a 24 to 48-hour window in which to pull a team together and perform the taharah before the funeral.  Some members will have signed up for specific time slots for a given month in advance. Others do their best to respond to a taharah request when notified by email that a team is needed. Most taharot start between 7:00 and 7:30 on weekday mornings. Some are performed in the early evening or on Sunday. We do not perform taharah on Shabbat or on (the first day of) Jewish holidays.