in case of death

What To Do In Case of Death?

Chevra Kadisha "Netzach Israel" extends its condolences and will make every effort to ease the burial process for families.

Below is a concise guide to help you organize the funeral:

Please pay attention to a few important details:

Contact a Chevra Kadisha representative.
Place of death.
Burial permit.
Transportation of the deceased.
Arrangement of the funeral.

Death at Home or at the Nursing Home:

In the event of death at home or at a private location that is not a medical facility, a doctor or an ambulance must be called to confirm the death and issue a death notification.

Additionally, you must wait for the arrival of a police officer in order to obtain a burial permit.

If the death was confirmed by a paramedic, a death declaration form and medical report must also be provided, along with the deceased's ID.

If transportation of the deceased is necessary, you may contact Chevra Kadisha outside of business hours (not on Shabbat). The transportation is free of charge, as is storage in refrigeration for up to 24 hours from the time of transportation, and on Fridays and holiday eves, up to 48 hours from the time of transportation.

Death in a Hospital or an Institution:

In the event of death in a hospital, a death notification signed by a hospital doctor must be obtained.

If the death occurs in a public hospital, a burial permit will be issued by the hospital's reception office.

In case of death in a medical institution, a nursing home, or a private residence, a burial permit must be obtained from the Ministry of Health.

Arrangement of the Burial Permit:

Chevra Kadisha cannot bury a deceased person without a burial permit, therefore, the family must obtain one.

If the death occured in a hospital, the family must go to the hospital's reception office to obtain the burial permit.

If the death occured in a nursing home, the burial permit will be issued by the Burial Permits Division at the regional Ministry of Health office (15 Pal-Yam St., 19th Floor). The family must bring the following documents:

The deceased's ID.
The death notification from the doctor who confirmed the death.

If the death occured at home, the burial permit will be issued by the Burial Permits Division at the regional Ministry of Health office (15 Pal-Yam St., 19th Floor). The family must bring the following documents:

The deceased's ID.
The death notification from the doctor who confirmed the death.
A signed approval from a police officer confirming that there are no objections from the Israel Police to issuing a burial permit.

If the Ministry of Health is closed, the contact number for the on-duty doctor can be obtained through a Chevra Kadisha representative at 04-8621910.

Transportation of the deceased

Transporting the deceased from home, the hospital, or an institution to the cemetery is free of charge within the jurisdiction of the Haifa area during business hours.

Storing the deceased in refrigeration is done by Chevra Kadisha for 24 hours from the time of transportation. After that, a daily storage fee will apply until burial, as regulated by the National Insurance Institute.

Arrangement of the Funeral:

Chevra Kadisha’s services are provided free of charge as part of the burial services package covered by the National Insurance Institute.

Burial fees are paid directly by the National Insurance Institute to Chevra Kadisha or any legally authorized burial organization that has an agreement with the National Insurance Institute.

These services are free of charge only if the burial takes place in the deceased's registered city of residence according to the Population Registry.
The National Insurance Institute covers burial expenses and related services on the day of burial only.

Below is a list of burial services that Chevra Kadisha provides free of charge:

Allocating a burial plot according to Chevra Kadisha’s burial arrangements.

Preparing the deceased for burial, including purification and dressing in traditional burial shrouds.

Digging the grave, transporting the deceased on the day of burial, and placing a temporary marker on the grave.

A burial ceremony with the participation of a cantor and a burial team (at least two participants).

Transportation of the deceased from the place of death to the burial site within the local municipality’s jurisdiction and during standard working hours.

To arrange the funeral date, the family or its representative must contact the Chevra Kadisha office and prepare the following documents:

The death notification, the deceased’s ID (including the appendix), and the burial permit.
If the death occurs outside office hours, please prepare the documents listed above and call 04-8621910 to arrange the funeral date.

Chevra Kadisha’s Paid Services:

Paid services offered by Chevra Kadisha "Netzach Israel" under National Insurance regulations include:

Purchasing a burial plot in advance at legally regulated prices.
Storage in refrigeration until the funeral date: beyond the first day, which is covered by the National Insurance.
Linen burial shrouds.
For a death abroad of an Israeli resident entitled to burial services: The family must cover transportation from the airport to the cemetery and pay release and Ministry of Health fees.

Purchasing Burial Plots:

Burial in plots defined by the National Insurance Institute as special or closed plots, as well as reserving a burial plot in advance, requires payment according to law and Chevra Kadisha's price list. (Free burial applies only to plots classified as exempt by the National Insurance Institute.)
Foundation for a tombstone: Tombstone builders must pay directly to Chevra Kadisha for the foundation built by Chevra Kadisha.

Death of an Israeli Resident Abroad:

In the event that an Israeli resident dies abroad, the family must present proof of residency from the National Insurance Institute stating that the deceased was a resident of Israel. Without this confirmation, the family will have to pay for burial as if the deceased were a non-resident of Israel, who is not entitled to burial services.

In exceptional cases where obtaining the confirmation immediately is not available, a security check can be deposited and cashed if the confirmation is not provided within a reasonable time.

The family is responsible for transporting the deceased from abroad. Chevra Kadisha's responsibility begins once the deceased arrives at the cemetery. The family must pay airport release fees and Ministry of Health fees.

Chevra Kadisha can assist in arranging private transportation from the airport to the cemetery. This service is private and incurs a fee. The release process at the airport includes obtaining a burial permit.

Death of a Foreign Resident in Israel:

A foreign resident who dies in Haifa is entitled to free burial in Haifa as a resident of Haifa, in plots defined as exempt on the National Insurance website.

Death of a Foreign Resident Abroad:

A foreign resident who dies abroad and is not entitled to burial in Israel under National Insurance regulations but wishes to be buried in Israel, must have the family contact Chevra Kadisha before the transfer to Israel to arrange both the burial site and all related logistics.

Only after all matters are settled, will Chevra Kadisha issue an approval for the transfer of the deceased from abroad to Israel.

Chevra Kadisha will then handle the deceased from the arrival at the airport, including payment of fees, handling of the coffin, etc., until after the burial.

Important Notes for Families:

You should contact Chevra Kadisha and coordinate the funeral date soon after the death. This coordination is essential to check the availability of the company's staff and to arrange same-day or night funerals.
Chevra Kadisha will schedule the funeral according to its timetable while attempting to accommodate the family's preferences. Burials are typically conducted soon after the death, even in late night hours.
Chevra Kadisha "Kehillat Yerushalayim" conducts funerals on weekdays until 11:00 PM and on Saturday nights until 11:30 PM to avoid delaying the burial. However, when setting the funeral date, consider the time needed to inform the family about the death and allow them to attend the funeral.

During Funeral Arrangements:

If you wish to have linen burial shrouds, please specify this explicitly.

If you are concerned that a minyan (ten men over the age of 13) may not be present at the funeral, please inform the funeral coordinator, and we will arrange a minyan for the recitation of Kaddish.