A Dignified Resting Place for All
By Eve Siegel
My sister Judith, a single mother living in St Louis, died after a short illness. My parents lived in Detroit. Judith chose to be cremated and my parents were left with the terrible chore of choosing a burial place. In 1979, Jewish cemeteries did not accept cremation remains. My sister’s ashes were kept temporarily on a shelf in my mom’s closet until a beautiful, multi-ethnic cemetery was selected where eventually she and my father were buried.
After watching my family experience this, I am so grateful that we have Beit Olamim in our community. Beit Olamim is an inclusive cemetery for Jews and family members who may not be Jewish, who may have been cremated, and who choose to be buried in a Jewish setting.
Sometimes I find my role of being a contact person for families in urgent need of selecting a plot for a loved one to be heart-breaking and difficult. Almost always, I find it to be a rewarding part of Tikkun Olam, making the world a more gentle, generous place. The Jewish Burial Association of Madison (JBAM) has worked diligently for fourteen years to create a respectful, calm, supportive home for the community in time of grief and life cycle events: burial, memorialization, and visits to those who are no longer alive, but whose spirits are still influential. I encourage all our Jewish community members to join together this holiday season to raise the much needed funds to ensure Beit Olamim will be around for many years to come.
Be a Shamash and Light the Way. Learn more about our campaign to raise $8000 or make a gift today.