If you would like Havurah to notify you when the yahrzeit dates of your loved ones are approaching, you can log into your Havurah membership account and add the names and dates there.

If you haven't logged in as a member yet, click on the "login" link in upper right corner of our website, enter the email address where you receive Havurah correspondence, and create a password for yourself. You'll receive an email from Havurah confirming that your password has been received, and then you'll be able to log into your account any time. If you have questions, call 503-248-4662.

A chevra kadisha is a group of men and a group of women who perform the traditional Jewish ritual of preparing individuals for burial. This service is one of chesed shel emet (ultimate kindness). In order to maintain the dignity of the one who has died, the ritual is performed by chevra members who are the same gender as the deceased.

Havurah member Rochelle Rosenberg coordinates Chevra Kavod haMet, a chevra kadisha for several Jewish communities in the Portland area. The following resources explain Jewish traditions concerning death and mourning and how you can arrange traditional Jewish burial rituals in the Portland area.

• Jewish Traditions Concerning Death & Mourning
• Arranging a Traditional Jewish Burial in the Portland Area

Havurah Shalom’s cemetery is located off the Sylvan Hill, just west of downtown Portland, at 5656 SW Humphrey Blvd. You can find directions to the cemetery here.

On Sunday, May 6, we will meet at 10:00 am for our annual gathering to beautify our cemetery. Please bring garden implements and wear appropriate clothing. Check our online calendar to confirm the date and time.

Havurah works closely with Holman’s Funeral Service to coordinate funerals at our cemetery. Holman's is located at 2610 SE Hawthorne Blvd. You can call 503-232-5131 to make arrangements or to learn about preplanning to make the end of life less stressful.

These are some helpful resources for making burial arrangements:

• Cemetery Information and Costs
• Burial Plot Agreement
• Cemetery Debit Payment Authorization Form
• Havurah Cemetery Policies
• Metro Regional Cemetery Policies

Jewish burial services and preplanning are also offered at River View Cemetery on SW Taylors Ferry Road in Portland.

• Commentary and research by Diane Chaplin about Jewish mourning traditions
• Books for Children and Families about terminal illness, aging and death, in a Jewish context
• Books for Adults About Death in a Jewish Context, which can be checked out from Havurah's library
• Reference Information from end-of-life workshops at Havurah by former Havurah member Rabbi Me'irah Iliinsky
• Video of Rabbi Iliinsky's Interactive Play at Havurah on Tahara