A Plain Pine Box

By Arnold M. Goodman

This book is the story of a group of people, members of Chevra Kevod Hamet (lit. Society to Honor the Dead) of Minneapolis's Adath Jeshurun Congregation, who, in their decision to bury the death... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0870688952
• ISBN13: 9780870688959
• Release Date: June 1981
• Publisher: Ktav Pub & Distributors Inc
• Length: 123 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.

Customer Reviews

a short, simple guide....

to (1) what a Chevra Kadisha (Jewish burial society) does to bury the dead in compliance with Jewish law, and (2) the obstacles one congregation's Chevra Kadisha faced in getting started (mainly, rivalry with a local Jewish funeral home which was unwilling to work with the Chevra Kadisha). Generally well done- though I do wish that this book had been a little more detailed in some respects. (In particular- (1) was the Jewish-owned funeral home in compliance with halacha, and if not, why wasn't the local Orthodox rabbinate siding with the Chevra Kadisha? and (2) how did the halacha that the Chevra Kadisha follows evolve?)

How a Jewish congregation reclaimed traditional simplicity

"A Plain Pine Box" tells the story of how the Adath Jeshurun Synagogue (Conservative) in Minneapolis, alarmed at the rising costs of funerals (not to mention departures from tradition), decided to reclaim the right to care for its own dead. After studying the Jewish laws of burial and the role of the Chevra Kadisha (burial society), they formed their own Chevra and began to offer thier members the option of a plain pine box, to be provided for free by the congregation.This is a reprint of a book that first came out in 1981. At that time, I was living in Minneapolis, where these events took place, so many of the people involved are personally familiar to me. Rabbi Arnold Goodman, the author, was the pulpit rabbi at the synagogue. The story was also featured as a TV documentary, which received wide acclaim at the time. The many challenges that the congregation faced -- ranging from paranoia by the funeral industry to concerns about government burial ordinances to opposition within their own membership -- are all covered here in detail. In addition, Rabbi Goodman discusses many important issues surrounding Jewish funerals. I highly recommend this book as a primer to any congregation -- Jewish or not -- that is considering a return to simple funerals.