Instructions in a Case of Death

Death of a relative is accompanied by deep pain and sorrow. The Haifa Hevra Kadisha shares in the family's sorrow and strives to accommodate families during the entire burial proceeding.

The following is a summary of the information that will enable you to organize the funeral:

Hevra Kadisha is not entitled to bury a deceased person without a burial license, and the family must therefore obtain a license.

When a death occurs in a hospital, the relatives must go to the patient reception office in the hospital to obtain the burial license. When the death occurs at home or in a senior citizens home, the burial license will be issued by the burial licenses bureau in the Ministry of Health district office at 15 Pal-Yam St., 19^th floor. The relatives must go to the burial license bureau with the following documents:

• The identity card of the deceased
• The death notice written by the doctor who determined the death
• Confirmation written by the responsible police officer that the Israel Police does not oppose issuing a burial license

Hevra Kadisha is obligated to transport the deceased for burial without payment if the deceased is within its jurisdiction (the local authority's jurisdiction) during working hours.

The following are the working and reception hours in our offices

Sunday-Thursday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

* On the following morning, contact the deceased removal call center, telephone no. 0120, between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM

Friday and the days before religious festivals 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM

* From Friday at 1:00 PM until Sunday at 8:00 AM, contact the deceased removal call center, telephone no. 0120

Transporting the deceased for burial on the day of the funeral is without payment at all hours. Transporting the deceased to the cemetery or refrigeration room before the day of the funeral is without payment during working hours.

Transporting the deceased before the day of the funeral for guarding in refrigeration after working hours requires payment. Hevra Kadisha will charge the rate set by the National Insurance Institute.

Transporting the deceased outside Haifa from the place of death to the cemetery where the burial takes place – Hevra Kadisha is not obligated to transport the deceased. If it does so, payment will be according to the rate set by the National Insurance Institute.

Click here to enter the National Insurance Institute website on burial matters.

In order to coordinate the location of the burial and the date of the funeral, the family or a representative on its behalf must go to the Haifa Hevra Kadisha offices with the burial license in order to receive a full and detailed explanation of the burial options.

Hevra Kadisha is responsible for providing the following services free of charge

A Sanhedrin (multi-tier) burial plot in the Tel Regev cemetery

Digging and covering the grave

Purifying the deceased's body + providing ordinary shrouds

Funeral services including a cantor and a burial team

Transporting the deceased from the place of death to the location of burial (as described above).

 Burial Free of Charge

A resident of Israel who died in Israel and is buried in the locale of his residence

A resident of Israel who died abroad and is buried in the locale of his residence in Israel (on condition that he is recognized as a resident by the National Insurance Institute).

When is Hevra Kadisha Entitled to Payment?

• When a living person buys a burial plot. The rates, which are determined by law, differ from place to place.
• Burial in an exceptional plot (a plot approved in advance as an exception by the National Insurance Institute).
• Burial in a closed cemetery (a cemetery declared closed because of a lack of burial plots).
• Burial of a deceased resident of Israel whose family wishes to bury him other than in the locale of his residence.

 There is a Regular Price List with the Rates in the Offices of Haifa Hevra Kadisha

A Sanhedrin (multi-tier) burial plot – free of charge.

Family-couple burial in Tel Regev – burial in the earth or in a structure – the deceased is buried free of charge and the charge for the spouse is according to the rate set by the Ministry of Religious Services.

Field burial in Tel Regev – in a plot classified as "exceptional" – for payment.

Field or family-couple burial in the Sde Yehoshua Cemetery in a closed or exceptional plot – for payment.

Field or family-couple burial in the Hof Hacarmel Cemetery in a closed or exceptional plot – for payment.

Top burial in which the deceased is buried above another deceased person in an existing grave is for a payment of NIS 1,800 (not including dismantling and assembling an exceptional tombstone).

The explanations here are general and summarized. In order to obtain a full and detailed explanation, contact the Hevra Kadisha offices at 63 Herzl St. in Haifa, telephone 04-8688000.

Reception hours in our offices are as follows:

Sunday-Thursday - 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Friday and days before religious festivals - 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM

During Hanukah – until 3:30 PM

Purim and Tisha B'Av – until 12:00 noon.

Intermediate days of Passover and Sukkot – until 0:30 PM

Yom Atzmaut (Independence Day) – until 0:30 PM

Night call centers can be contacted after 5:00 PM in order to coordinate funerals:

Mr. Shmuel Adler telephone 053-3123312

Mr. Abraham Chaskalson telephone 053-5237048 (messages can be sent)