Jewish Funeral Practices Committee of Greater Washington records

The Jewish Funeral Practices Committee of Greater Washington grew out of the Tifereth Israel Funeral Practices Study Group in 1976. The Study Group originated after an October 1975 retreat involving a discussion titled "The Righteous Community." A follow up meeting of the Tifereth Israel Social Action Committee on November 9, 1975, chaired by Harris Weinstein laid the groundwork for a funeral practices group to be formed. The group had nine meetings between November 19, 1975 and March 16, 1976. By May of 1976, The Funeral Practices Study Group became a committee within the Tifereth Israel Congregation. The three main points as outlined for the first meeting of November 1975 were simple and became the standard goals of the committee from that time on.

I. Cemetery Problems II. Funeral Directors and Funeral Practices III. Education of the Congregation and the community

With these basic ideas, the group set out to help the Jewish Community understand and manage a funeral in the most traditional as well as stress-free and cost effective way.

The Tifereth Israel Funeral Practices Study Group met with Mr. Edward Knapp, President of the Memorial Society of Metropolitan Washington on January 26, 1976. The meeting took place at the home of Bob Hausman. Mr. Knapp explained how his organization helps its members by negotiating with funeral homes and cemeteries. It also creates contracts with funeral homes, establishing common prices for its members. The Tifereth Israel Funeral Practices Study Group also began participating with the local Rabbinical Assembly and working with the Presidents Assembly to organize a community-wide interest. These actions not only created a name within the community by the work the group was doing, but also by working so closely with established groups with influence over the community.

By mid-June 1976, there was talk of a community organization to be formed and for Harris Weinstein to become the chairman. The Committee was formed and began to incorporate other congregations and interested parties into their meetings. On October 18, 1976, the Washington Hebrew Congregation Minutes of Board of directors Meeting read, "the Committee... has now become an all-Metropolitan area committee operating at varying levels. The Committee is trying to protect the bereaved from being exploited during a weak moment and to help families obtain and acceptable funeral at the lowest possible cost. Creating an educational brochure which would describe what to do and answer various questions on the subject." With the support of various different groups within the Jewish Community and membership from other congregations, the Jewish Funeral Practices Committee continued its work in securing education, prices, and good conditions for the Jewish Community.

Since 1975, people within the Greater Washington Region have been dedicating their time and effort to establish an understanding of Jewish Funeral Practices and to make it easily accessible for anyone who might need these services. The Jewish Funeral practices Committee works diligently to make an already difficult task as manageable as possible while still adhering to laws and customs and creating as little financial strain as possible. The Committee has served its community well and continues to do so today.