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In Case of Emergency

What to do if a death occurs

When a death occurs, please call the Shaarei Shamayim office at (608) 257-2944 and ask to speak with Rabbi Laurie. She is there to provide you with support, as well as to explain funeral customs and make arrangements if the funeral is local. If she is not in the office, she can be reached at (608) 628-6814.

If the death occurred in Madison, Cress Funeral Home can be reached at (608) 238-3434.  If you would like the Madison Chevra Kadisha to do tahara (ritual washing of the deceased) please let them know.  Rabbi Laurie can answer any questions about this ritual. The Jewish cemetery (since 2009) is Beit Olamim, located at Sunset Memory Gardens on the far west side of Madison. Some of our members also choose to bury at Natural Path Sanctuary, a green cemetery near Madison.

If Rabbi Laurie is out of town, she is still generally available to talk in the event of a death, and she arranges for other rabbis to do funerals in her absence.

Members of Shaarei Shamayim can also help organize a shiva minyan after the funeral. Please speak with Rabbi Laurie for details.

Tue, March 19 2024 9 Adar II 5784