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JCGC Conservative Cemeteries

Conservative Cemeteries Religious Policies

  1. The status quo, as of June 30, 2008, shall be maintained with regard to the Northern Hills/ B’nai Avraham Cemetery in Covedale, the Love Brothers Cemetery in Price Hill, and the Adath Israel Cemetery in Price Hill and section in the Montgomery Cemetery.
  2. For any new Conservative cemetery areas, all religious questions shall be decided by the Conservative Subcommittee. This Subcommittee consists of senior rabbis of Adath Israel Synagogue, Northern Hills Synagogue–Congregation B’nai Avraham, and Congregation Etz Chaim and any other rabbis whom these rabbis may invite to join them.
  3. Burials shall not take place on Shabbat or major Jewish festivals (the first, second, seventh, and eighth days of Pesach; both days of Shavuot; the first and second days of Sukkot; Shemini Atzeret; Simhat Torah; both days of Rosh Hashanah; and Yom Kippur). However, if there is a great need, a congregational rabbi may allow burial on the second day of Yom Tov (excluding Rosh Hashanah). Additionally, if a congregation in the future decides to observe only one day of Yom Tov, then burial may occur on what would have been the second day of Yom Tov (excluding Rosh Hashanah).
  4. The preference is that all bodies to be buried in the cemetery area shall be prepared with Taharah and Takhrikhin.
  5. A wooden casket shall be used. A cement container (e.g., grave liner) or bottomless vault shall surround it.
  6. No rituals or ceremonies inconsistent with the teachings of Judaism shall be performed in the cemetery area, and no symbols or insignia inconsistent with the teachings of Judaism shall be displayed there, whether permanently or temporarily.
  7. Disinterment shall be permitted only in exceptional circumstances and only with permission of one’s congregational rabbi, or in the case of an unaffiliated person, with the permission of the Conservative Subcommittee.
  8. The burial of a non-related male next to a non-related female is not permitted in the Love Brothers Cemetery.
  9. A monument or marker shall be placed on each occupied grave no more than 24 months after burial. Either a flat marker or an erect monument may be used, in accordance with JCGC’s Rules and Regulations otherwise.
  10. The interpretation of the above policies and of all other religious practices, requirements, or policies shall be in the hands of the Conservative Subcommittee. These individuals shall act in their capacities as interpreters of halacha in general and of the decisions of the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards of the Rabbinical Assembly in particular.