Chevra Kadisha
An excerpt of Psalms. (Photo by Joachim Schnürle via Pexels)
September 14, 2026, 2:33 pm
Jewish burial society seeks volunteers for ‘true loving kindness’
'You're helping someone and they can't repay you'
By Adam Reinherz
Rabbi Elisar Admon, a mohel and chaplain major in the U.S. Army Reserve, tends to a baby post-bris in South Korea. (Photo courtesy of Tovi Admon)
March 27, 2026, 11:05 am
From Squirrel Hill to Seoul, military mohel makes global trip for bris
'We live in a community where there’s food, restaurants and everything. These people do holy work for us. We should help them'
By Adam Reinherz
New Community Chevra Kadisha is working with members to ensure Jewish burial reflects dignity and respect. (Photo by RDNE Stock Project via Pexels)
June 20, 2025, 9:27 am
New Community Chevra Kadisha adopts gender-inclusive rituals in Jewish burial practices
'The time has come for the Jewish community, locally and broadly speaking, to pay attention to part of our community that has been hidden, and that has been hiding for various reasons'
By Adam Reinherz
A placard bearing a quote from former NCCK member Jonathan Schachter was placed on each table at the Adar 7 dinner. (Photo by Adam Reinherz)
March 25, 2024, 12:17 pm
At 20, New Community Chevra Kadisha preserves a history
For two decades, a small group of Pittsburgh's Jews have buried their own. On Adar 7, members told the story.
By Adam Reinherz
Rabbi Daniel Wasserman teaches students how to clamp boards for a casket. (Photo by Adam Reinherz)
August 1, 2022, 3:57 pm
Gesher HaChaim rethinks the post-Wasserman burial landscape
“We are trying to take what was not entirely a one-man job — from a person-led endeavor to a community-involved endeavor.”
By David Rullo
Rabbi Wasserman reviewing the portion with my Gabe Small. Photo by Stephanie Small.
July 4, 2022, 1:44 pm
Rabbi Daniel Wasserman: A rabbi for all seasons
“He was the ultimate rabbi."
By David Rullo
Dr. Jonathan Weinkle pours water as part of the Oct. 3 ritual completion of Taharah Ruchanit. Photo by Adam Reinherz
October 4, 2021, 1:43 pm
New Community Chevra Kadisha completes ritual, asks for forgiveness
Jewish burial society recognizes those who died between March 2020 and June 2021
By Adam Reinherz
Malke Frank and Rabbi Elisar Admon represented Pittsburgh's Jewish burial societies during the Oct. 27 commemoration in 2019. Photo by Joshua Franzos
October 26, 2020, 11:47 am
Pittsburgh’s Jewish burial societies persevere amid pandemic
City's two groups ensure respect for the dead doesn't end during a pandemic
By Adam Reinherz
A man stands near the body of Holocaust survivor Aryeh Even, 88, and the first man to die in Israel from the Coronavirus epidemic, at the Har HaMenuchot Cemetery in Jerusalem, early on March 22, 2020. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90
April 2, 2020, 7:43 pm
Tradition and safety require painful balance for city’s Jewish burial societies
Pittsburgh's chevra kadisha members grapple with faith, practice and health as COVID-19 continues.
By Adam Reinherz
The Tree of Life building days after the attack. (Photo by Adam Reinherz)
October 23, 2019, 8:17 pm
Cleaning up, after the unimaginable
Memories of a two week effort still surface one year later.
By Adam Reinherz
A few of the stones that were placed on each seat before the Pittsburgh panel. Photo courtesy of Alisa Fall
June 19, 2019, 10:16 pm
Pittsburgh Jewish burial societies offer insights at national conference
Learning is an act of remembrance and preparation.
By Adam Reinherz
Dan Leger (left), Rabbi Daniel Wasserman and Stefanie Small shared thoughts on the value of a chevra kadisha. Photo by Adam Reinherz
March 14, 2019, 2:20 pm
Chevra kadisha program offers insight
Those intimately familiar with Jewish accompaniment and burials shared information on the value and practices.
By Adam Reinherz
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