Funeral chains
Chevra Kadisha: Jewish funerals and burial society in South Africa
By Lindiwe Khumalo · 7 min read · Updated 24 June 2026
- Type
- Jewish burial society - communal, non-profit
- Operates in
- Mainly Johannesburg and Cape Town, serving Jewish communities
- Services
- Taharah (ritual washing), shrouding, burial arrangement, bereavement support
- Known for
- Prompt burial, no cremation, dignity for every member regardless of means
The Chevra Kadisha is the Jewish burial society that arranges and conducts Jewish funerals in South Africa, mainly through the Johannesburg and Cape Town societies, performing taharah (ritual washing), shrouding and prompt burial in line with Jewish law as a communal, non-profit body that ensures every member a dignified burial regardless of means. It is a communal, non-profit body rather than a commercial parlour.
When a Jewish person passes away, the family contacts the Chevra Kadisha, which takes care of everything from collecting and preparing the body to arranging the grave and the service, in line with Jewish law (halacha). It exists to ensure every member of the community receives a dignified burial, regardless of means.
This page explains in respectful, general terms what the Chevra Kadisha does and the customs it follows. For anything specific to your family, contact your local Chevra Kadisha directly - they guide families gently through the whole process.
What the Chevra Kadisha is
The Chevra Kadisha is the society within the Jewish community charged with caring for the dead and arranging burial according to Jewish law. The name means "holy society" in Aramaic. In South Africa the best-known are the Chevrah Kadisha in Johannesburg and the Chevra Kadisha in Cape Town.
It is not a profit-making funeral home. It is a communal institution, run for and by the community, and in Johannesburg in particular the Chevrah Kadisha is also a large welfare organisation that supports vulnerable members of the community well beyond burial. Caring for the dead is considered one of the highest acts of kindness in Judaism, because it can never be repaid by the person who has died.
Taharah - the ritual preparation
Central to the Chevra Kadisha's work is taharah, the ritual washing and purification of the body. Trained volunteers of the same gender as the deceased carry this out with great care and respect, accompanied by prayer.
After the taharah, the body is dressed in simple white shrouds (tachrichim), the same for rich and poor alike, expressing equality in death. Many communities also place the person in a plain wooden coffin. Throughout, the body is treated with profound dignity and is not left alone, with a shomer (watcher) often staying with it until burial.
Prompt burial and no cremation
Jewish tradition calls for burial to take place as soon as possible, usually within a day or two, unless Shabbat or a festival intervenes. The Chevra Kadisha works quickly to arrange the grave, the service and the burial so the family can move into mourning without delay.
Jewish law does not permit cremation. Burial is in the earth, in a Jewish cemetery, and the body is not embalmed or displayed. These customs flow from the belief in treating the body, which housed a soul, with respect and returning it naturally to the earth.
The funeral service and mourning
A Jewish funeral is typically simple and brief, led by a rabbi, with psalms, a eulogy (hesped) and the burial itself, at which mourners traditionally help fill the grave. The Chevra Kadisha coordinates the timing, the cemetery and the rabbi with the family.
After the burial the family enters shiva, the seven-day mourning period at home, where the community visits to comfort them. The Chevra Kadisha and the wider community support the bereaved through this time, which is part of why the society holds such a respected place in Jewish life.
How the Chevra Kadisha is funded
As a communal, non-profit body, the Chevra Kadisha is supported by community membership, donations and bequests rather than by selling commercial funeral packages. A core principle is that no Jewish person is denied a proper burial because of cost.
In Johannesburg especially, the Chevrah Kadisha runs broad welfare services - homes, social work and support for those in need - funded by the community. We do not publish fees here because they are handled communally and confidentially; the society discusses any arrangements privately with each family.
How to contact the Chevra Kadisha
If you need the Chevra Kadisha, contact your local Jewish community office or the Chevrah Kadisha in Johannesburg or the Chevra Kadisha in Cape Town directly, usually through their official website or a 24-hour line published by the community. Your synagogue or rabbi can also put you in touch immediately.
We do not publish phone numbers here because they should come from the official community source and we cannot verify them. The society is experienced in guiding families calmly through every step at a painful time.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Chevra Kadisha?
The Chevra Kadisha, meaning "holy society", is the Jewish burial society that prepares the body and arranges Jewish funerals according to Jewish law. In South Africa it operates mainly in Johannesburg and Cape Town as a communal, non-profit body, not a commercial parlour.
What is taharah?
Taharah is the ritual washing and purification of the body carried out by trained Chevra Kadisha volunteers of the same gender as the deceased, with prayer. The body is then dressed in simple white shrouds, the same for everyone, expressing equality in death.
Does the Chevra Kadisha allow cremation?
No. Jewish law does not permit cremation. The Chevra Kadisha arranges burial in the earth in a Jewish cemetery, without embalming or display, in keeping with the tradition of returning the body naturally and respectfully to the earth.
How quickly does a Jewish funeral take place?
Jewish tradition calls for burial as soon as possible, usually within a day or two, unless Shabbat or a festival intervenes. The Chevra Kadisha works quickly to arrange the grave, rabbi and service so the family can begin mourning without delay.
Is the Chevra Kadisha the same as a funeral parlour?
Not quite. It carries out funeral preparation and burial, but it is a communal, non-profit society run by and for the Jewish community rather than a commercial business. In Johannesburg it also runs wide welfare and social services beyond burial.
How much does the Chevra Kadisha charge?
Arrangements are handled communally and privately, on the principle that no Jewish person is denied a proper burial because of cost. We do not publish fees here. The society discusses any arrangements confidentially with each family through the community office.
How do I contact the Chevra Kadisha?
Contact your local Jewish community office, your synagogue or rabbi, or the Johannesburg Chevrah Kadisha or Cape Town Chevra Kadisha directly through their official website or community line. We do not publish numbers here as they should come from the official source.
