In the case of a bereavement:
Inform the Rabbi via the synagogue office on 01727 860642. Please leave a message and someone will return your call as soon as possible.
Obtain a Death Certificate from the attending doctor or the hospital.
Take the Death Certificate to the Registrar of the District where the death occurred (not where they lived) to obtain a Certificate of Burial (The green form).
Call the Joint Jewish Burial Society on 020 8989 5252 once you have been issued with the relevant documentation. The burial office will advise the next steps.
Once funeral arrangements have been made the JJBS will inform the Synagogue, who will discuss shiva arrangements with you. We can supply shiva chairs and books.
A member of the chevra kadisha will call you to speak about funeral and shiva arrangements.
The Synagogue will send a notification of details to all members
You will need to notify family and friends outside of SAMS of the arrangements.
Click here to read the SAMS Mourning Guide: SAMS Mourning Guide
“For love is as strong as death”
Song of Songs 8:6
SAMS has our own burial society – chevra kadisha – that works alongside the Jewish Joint Burial Society (JJBS) to provide traditional funerals for all members who want one.
In addition, the JJBS has acquired a freehold parcel of land, so both woodland and separate mixed-faith burials are possible. This is the first time that woodland burials are available in a Jewish cemetery in the UK. Members can now choose to be buried in an ecologically friendly way in a natural environment surrounded by newly planted trees.
Our members have peace of mind that, through the synagogue and affiliation to the JJBS, we can provide a Jewish burial for all. Normally funerals are conducted at Western Synagogue Cemetery, Bulls Cross Ride, Cheshunt EN7 5HT.
The JJBS Woodland Cemetery at Cheshunt – which is located adjacent to the existing JJBS cemetery at Bulls Cross Ride – is now fully operational. Funerals for non-Jewish partners of members in either the woodland area or the lawn cemetery are also available.
If you need to make emergency contact concerning a bereavement, please call the synagogue office on 01727 860642 or the JJBS on 020 8989 5252.