Assorted
Minutes of Hebra Kadisha Sheur Meeting (1976)
The fourth Sheur meeting of the Hebra Kadisha (HK) of The Jewish Center was called to order at 8:25 p.m., Sunday evening, 30 Shevat 5736, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Kellman. Rabbi Sidney Applbaum was introduced by the chairman and gave the Sheur on Hilkhot Keriah, continuing from Yoreh Deah, Chapter 340. The following members were present: Mr. Ainsberg, Mr. and Mrs. Bayer, Mr. Gold, Mrs. J. Green, Dr. Gribetz, Mr. Hausman, Mrs. Kahn, Mr. and Mrs. I. Kellman (hosts), Mr. Lerner, Mr. Lunzer, Dr. and Mrs. Offenbacher (chairman), Mrs. Parkoff, Mr. Szmulewicz, and Rabbi Wermuth. Rabbi Applbaum devoted the second half of the Sheur to a discussion concerning his trials and tribulations with the funeral directors, in an effort to make this service conform to halakhic principles. The compromise that evolved was that the funeral directors would observe the Jewish religious laws as pertaining to taharah, shemirah, tachrichim, aron, keriah, and kevurah. The rabbis, on their part, would not interfere with the profit principle of the free enterprise system. This was justified by Rabbi Applbaum by the psychological desire of the mourners to spend money on the deceased, and by the fact that any money saved for the family would not enhance charitable institutions anyway. Rabbi Applbaum also touched on the not too different problems present in the major Israeli cities, which he canvassed in his travels there. A lively and inconclusive discussion followed concerning the morality of the present compromise.After the Sheur, the minutes from the Sheur meeting of December 20, 1975, were read and accepted. Dr. Offenbacher acknowledged a $100 donation from Mrs. Wolfsohn to the HK. Dr. Offenbacher read Mr. I. Kellman’s reply to Mrs. P. Jasne concerning her taharah request. The minutes from the Gabbaim meeting of December 20, 1975, at Dr. Offenbacher’s home were discussed as follows: (a) A separate bank account for the HK of The Jewish Center should be established. (b) A problem with th…
