Tikkun of the Month

Thank you for your dedication to doing this mitzva in the best possible way.

Attached is the second video clip on how to use the tahara board easily and efficiently. The combined complete video will be posted on our website.

Using the Tahara Board Clip #2 Immersing and Returning to the Table.

http://youtu.be/jWVvugSgsUo

In addition, we are pleased to let you know of a great opportunity to join a monthly interactive webinar  with Rabbi Zohn, the head of NASCK , the National Association of Chevra Kadisha, and our mentor.  This will be an ongoing opportunity to review and fine tune our methods, have easy access to ask questions and get ready answers.  The programming has already begun and one can view the previous webinar and sign in as outlined below.  We strongly encourage everyone to do so.  

UNITING CHEVROS KADISHA AND ENHANCING KAVOD HA’MES Rabbi Elchonon Zohn President, Founding Director [email protected] Fred Schulman Executive Vice President [email protected] Rabbi Jay Lyons Director, Florida Region [email protected] NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHEVRA KADISHA  www.nasck.org www.peacefulreturn.com UPDATES FROM NASCK Dear esteemed Chevra Kadisha members,Wow, what an evening! It was a tremendous inspiration to join with so many Chevra Kadisha people from throughout North America for an evening of learning. Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, December 10th at 9:00pm EST for the next CHECK session! If you were not able to attend (or even if you were) theShiur is available on our channel at ProjectSinai.org. Click here to see the Shiur. We also plan on uploading many other videos of previous seminars, so please check in regularly to Project Sinai to access those resources. Finally, we are dedicated to providing resources to everyChevra Kadisha member. If there are people on your chevrawho are not on our email list, please encourage them to send me their email address. Tizku L’Mitzvos!   Sincerely, Rabbi Jay Lyons Director, Florida Region NATIONAL ASSOSCIATION OF CHEVRA KADISHA 85-18 117TH STREET, RICHMOND HILL, NY 11418 / 718-847-6280 / [email protected] / wwww.nasck.org NASCK | [email protected] | http://www.nasck.org 85-18 117th Street Richmond Hill, NY 11418

Cheshvan November 2014

We want to take this opportunity to thank you all for the dedicated work you do for the Chevra Kadisha and the people of our community. It is appropriate for us to ask mechilah (forgiveness) if in any way we inconvenienced or bothered or contributed to making the mitzvah more difficult or trying. It is appropriate for the metaharim to forgive each other.  In the course of doing our mitzvah it is so important to be able to get past differences, appreciate the good intentions of the others and work together as a team. As we forgive others, may Hashem forgive us all. May we all be blessed with a year of good health and joy and the ability to continue and progress in being the Almighty’s emissaries in this world, reaping the joy and nachas and satisfaction of doing our best. And as the prophet Yeshaya said (25:8): “May He swallow up death forever, and may Hashem, G-d, wipe away tears from upon every face and remove the scorn of His people from the entire world…”

Being on time for a tahara helps everyone to maximize their time and dedication.  It enables the next team to start on time as well.  If you are going to be delayed please text Judy Schurz(954-309-8738) or Dov (305-978-0205)  as soon as possible.  In addition if you see that your tahara is more complicated and is likely to take longer, please notify Judy or Dov so they can alert the next team to come later and not be inconvenienced.  This will encourage everyone that their time and investment is being used to greatest advantage.

Important Announcement and Offer:  Due to the generosity of Dr. Susan Lurie, and the proactive efforts of one of our Chevra members, we are able to offer Hepatitis B shots to any Chevra member who is interested.
Background Information:  In general, the medical establishment recommends being immunized for Hepatitis B for any medical professionals.  This would seem to apply to the Chevra Kadisha who come into contact with blood and/or body fluids of patients.  There is a difference of opinion amongst doctors if this is necessary, or even advisable for members of the Chevra Kadisha.  Please check with your own doctor.  Anyone interested in receiving the 3 part immunization should contact Dr. Lurie’s office in advance to make sure she has enough of the serum in supply and to schedule an appointment with the nurse.  It does not require a regular or lengthy appointment with the doctor.  The first shot is followed up a month later with the second dose.  The third shot is four months or so later. Members can give their insurance information for the doctor’s office to file to cover costs.  Any additional expense will be Dr. Lurie’s charitable contribution.
Dr. Susan Lurie;  305-763-8080; 960 West 41 Street; Suite 208;       Miami Beach; 33140

Video #6  Proper Attire During a Tahara

Video #7  The Importance of Review

Stay tuned…. A video clip demonstrating the easy use of the new tahara board will be coming shortly!

Dear Chevra Kadisha Member:

THE TAHARA BOARD HAS ARRIVED!

Only agree to go to a Tahara if you have time even for a difficult case. When there, be
efficient and proficient, not fast. Be careful. Don’t rush or take shortcuts. Never rush others.

Tizku LeMitzvos.

The talking at a Tahara should be minimized to that which is absolutely necessary for the Tahara process (pointing out a situation the other metaharim need to be aware of, a problem, or an omission if necessary). Refrain from ANY unnecessary talk. A) Before speaking, make sure what you are about to say needs to be said. B) If it does, then by all means, say it. If not, then by all means, don’t.

Trivial talk (the weather, the latest news, etc.) is unacceptable even if it helps to be more relaxed or “comfortable”. This applies even outside the Tahara room, if any bodies are present, even in a casket, before or after a Tahara. Discussing general things that do not need to be said right then (even issues that should be discussed for next time, such as cleanliness, supplies, lateness, etc.) should still be done outside of Tahara room.

Do not speak in an impatient manner, such as “Let’s get on with this already,” etc. “Please” and “Thank you” are part of being a mentsch and therefore appropriate.

Do not say things that reflect a lack of Kavod for this person or for their family, such as, “What a fancy Aron!” or, “Why would this family use plain Tachrichim?”, etc.

Chag Kasher Ve’Sameach.
Tizku L’Mitzvot

To the Esteemed Members of the Chevra Kadisha of South Florida,

We are re-establishing our Minhag of focusing on one Tikkun, one enhancement each month, relating to our experiences as Metaharim and Metaharos, the Tahara process itself, or our role in elevating the dignity of the deceased in general.

TIKKUN FOR THE MONTH OF ADAR II 5774

Before each Tahara spend one minute to think about these 2 things (30 seconds for each):

1) The person we are about to give kavod (honor) to is created in the image of Hashem, and is also a member of the Am HaNivchar (the chosen nation) about whom it is written, “Banim Atem LaHashem Elokeichem” (“Your are children to Hashem,your G-d”), and is deserving of kavod given to a member of the royal family of Klal Yisroel (the Jewish Nation). You might take 5-10 seconds more to look around and realize the other metaharim, are in the same category.

2) Based on the RM”A in Shulchan Aruch (Y.D. 339:4), it is a mitzvah to be present when the neshama (the soul) leaves the body, so that we can be sensitized to our own mortality and gain the proper perspective on life. This is a zchus (a merit) for the person who died and is therefore another act of chesed (kindness) we can do. Similarly, when we are performing a tahara, we can take this lesson to heart and it is a zchus for the niftar (deceased). Therefore, be thankful for life.