Chevra Kadisha

/ xɛvˈrɑ kɑdɪˈʃɑ; ˈxɛvrə kɑˈdɪʃə /

noun

1. a Jewish burial society, usually composed of unpaid volunteers who provide funerals for members of their congregation

Word History and Origins

Origin of Chevra Kadisha¹

literally: Holy Company

Example Sentences

In the last eleven months of volunteering at the chevra kadisha, I had washed old men who perished on the streets, workers killed in factory accidents, and children taken by illness.

From Literature

“I just spoke with another volunteer at the chevra kadisha. He said that there was a body found at a kosher slaughterhouse two weeks ago. The way he described it, it doesn’t sound like it was a regular accident.”

From Literature

Pain jolted through my tailbone as I slammed into the cold tile floor of the chevra kadisha’s corridor.

From Literature

“And it’s worse, Frankie. It’s so much worse. I was at the chevra kadisha. Harry is dead.”

From Literature

Everything that had happened before this—the ship, the chevra kadisha, the grief and anger—it all felt like preparation for this single moment.

From Literature