A Guide for Families

Jewish End-of-Life Ritual Services for Boulder County

The Boulder Chevra Kadisha is devoted to providing traditional Jewish end-of-life care with deep respect for the dignity of every individual.

Established in 1996 as a community-wide volunteer organization, we uphold the sacred traditions of honoring those who have passed and comforting those who mourn — acts known as chesed shel emet (the ultimate kindness).

Regardless of the level of observance or connection to the Jewish community, we are here to support every Jew in Boulder County. When a loss occurs, our dedicated volunteers step forward quietly and respectfully to perform shmira and tahara. We carry out each act with care, intention, and compassion.

“The highest act of gemilut chasadim (acts of loving kindness) is that which is done for the dead, for there can never be any thought of repayment. ”
— Tanchuma Vayechi 107A

Jews have always taken care of their dead in respectful and loving ways ― the details and the methods have evolved, but the kavanah (intention) has remained the same.

Shmira: Watchful Presence
Through the tradition of shmira, our community provides a watchful and comforting presence for your loved one by sitting with the deceased in a quiet, respectful vigil — traditionally reading Psalms and other meaningful texts.

Tahara: Ritual Preparation
The practice of tahara is a sacred way of physically and spiritually preparing your loved one for burial — gentle cleansing, purification, and dressing in tachrichim is carried out with traditional prayers and readings.

FAQ for Families

  • The Boulder Chevra Kadisha serves all members of the Boulder County Jewish community, regardless of their level of observance or affiliation.

  • Participating in shmira is a beautiful way to honor your loved one. If interested, please complete the Guest Shomrim Registration on our website. We will provide you with some information and guidance to participate.

  • To maintain the sacred nature of tahara and protect the well-being of the family and tahara team, we do not permit family members to participate in tahara.

  • In keeping with the tradition of simplicity and equality in death, the only family-supplied items we place in the aron are a tallit (prayer shawl) and a kippah. If you wish to have other meaningful items placed in the aron, please arrange it with the mortuary.

  • We perform a ritual called Final Kindness for K’rovei Israel (non-Jews who are part of the Jewish community). Final Kindness follows the spirit of the Jewish rituals with honor and respect for the deceased.

  • Yes. When a family requests cremation, we will perform the sacred rituals of shmira and tahara to honor the deceased.

  • As a volunteer organization, we strive to provide as much coverage as possible, but we cannot guarantee 24/7 presence. If this is a priority for your family, please let the mortuary know.

  • In keeping with Jewish law, we do not perform tahara on Shabbat, Yom Kippur, or on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot.

  • We ask for a fee of $275 for our services.