COMMUNITY NEWS
The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
mobilizes financial and volunteer resources to
address the communities’ most critical priorities
locally, in Israel and around the world.

A Mitzvah of the Highest Order:
The Dignified Burial Fund
WHEN HARRIETTE DIED last summer at age 75, no one came
to claim her. The formerly homeless woman had struggled with
mental illness and spent her final days in a nursing home, paid
for by her Social Security checks. Her case manager could find no
living relatives.

With no one to bury Harriette, her body lay in storage at a funeral
home, embalmed and alone, for nine days. Then her case manager
remembered something important: Harriette had been Jewish.

Burying the dead is often called among the greatest mitzvot
because it is a favor that can never be repaid. Yet each year our
communities experience the deaths of several indigent Jews —
people who cannot afford the cost of even a minimal dignified
Jewish burial, which can cost between $5,000 and $7,000. Jewish
Federation of Greater Philadelphia-supported Jewish Family &
Children’s Service (JFCS) has also noticed a rise in the need for
burial assistance.

For those reasons, Jewish Federation, JFCS and the Jewish
Federation-supported Female Hebrew Benevolent Society (FHBS)
created a plan last year to combine resources, along with local
cemeteries and funeral homes, to provide dignified Jewish burials
for those in need. The plan came together just as we were notified
about Harriette.

On Sept. 25, Harriette was buried in a donated plot in Montefiore
Cemetery, with all funeral arrangements handled at a reduced
cost by Goldstein’s, and the fee split between JFCS, FHBS and
Jewish Federation.

For our part, funds came from our newly-established Dignified Burial Fund,
which began with a $10,000 allocation and is now fed by purchases of our trib-
ute cards. From now on, when you send a tribute card to honor a loved one’s
memory, you will not only be comforting a community member in their time of
need, but also contributing to a special tzedakah.

To send a tribute card, visit Jewishphilly.org/tributecards.

Two Opportunities to Celebrate Purim as a Family
MISSED PURIM THIS year? Lucky for you, there are two opportunities
March 24 to celebrate Purim with the whole family.

PURIM CARNIVAL AT KLEINLIFE
The Jewish communities of the Greater Northeast invite one and all to a
Purim carnival filled with fun, games, costumes and of course hamantaschen!
EVENT DETAILS
March 24, 2019
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

EVENT LOCATION
KleinLife 10100 Jamison Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19116
26 MARCH 21, 2019
KI PURIM CARNIVAL
Celebrate Purim at KI! Food available for purchase throughout the carnival;
featuring Jules Pizza and carnival snack. Pre-purchase a $10 all-play wristband,
available by March 22 at kenesethisrael.org/purim. $15 wristband available at the door.

For more information, contact admin@jquest.org or 215-887-8704.

EVENT DETAILS
March 24, 2019
12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.

EVENT LOCATION
Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel
8339 Old York Road
Elkins Park, PA 19027
kenesethisrael.org/ JEWISH EXPONENT
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM