Chesed Shel Emes

Chesed Shel Emes was established in 1930 as a non-profit organization with a mandate to prepare members of the Jewish community for burial according to Orthodox tradition.

Each person is treated with the same consideration and respect. No one is refused service due to financial hardship. Chesed Shel Emes is an independent, community based organization. Men and women are carefully chosen and trained as volunteer members of the Chevra Kadisha (Holy Society). Their purpose is to dutifully and lovingly prepare the dead for burial, an act of true loving kindness.^[1]

In Israel the primary Chesed Shel Emes is known as ZAKA, though other organizations exist.^[2]

Similar organizations have existed for hundreds of years across the world. Today, other similar organizations exist across the USA (i.e. New York, Boston, LA, St. Paul, Detroit, Baltimore, Washington DC, Seattle, and many others) and in 17 countries.^[3][4]

References

1. ^ http://www.chesedshelemes.org/
2. ^ http://www.zaka.org.il/index_e.php
3. ^ http://www.jirs.org/jirs/jirs0028ae.html
4. ^ http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=chesed+shel+emes&aq=0&oq=chesed+she&aqi=g8

External links

• Chesed Shel Emes Hompage (engl.)
• ZAKA Search, Rescue and Recovery, Israel (engl.) - a humanitarian rescue, life-saving and recovery non-governmental voluntary organisation responding to tragic incidents in Israel and worldwide. The ZAKA chesed shel emes is recognized by the UN.